Summon Reaper of Revenants
Necromancer Build

Updated for Patch 3.29

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The light blue variant of the Reaper Skill lets you summon additional Reaper Minions, which are admittedly weaker than the regular Reaper, but you can have more of them. With Congregation Support and The Dark Monarch, you'll be able to summon 14 Reapers. They are rudimentary allies that deal high Physical Attack Damage with very low Attack Speed, so to fix it, equip Replica Maata's Teaching. This weapon sets their Attack Speed to a reasonably high level, which we can then increase. Employ them to inflict Poison at a rapid pace: all that is needed are Ghastly Abyss Jewels with Chance of Poisoning on them.

For the Ascendancy, pick Necromancer. Unholy Might from Unnatural Strength Converts all Minions' Physical Damage to Chaos and grants them a chance to inflict Withered on Hit; a debuff that increases damage taken. Bone Barrier and Commander of Darkness boost your character's survivability. We can focus on that aspect of the build a bit more since getting enough damage is simple and limited in practice. Acquire a high Life Pool with Maximum Life and boost it with Energy Shield. ES can be recovered with the Divine Shield Keystone or Aegis Aurora. Armour is also a key component to reduce Physical Damage taken. Add to that Endurance Charges with the Deflection notable and Flesh and Stone. Life is Recovered with Minions' Leech, basic Regeneration, or maybe even a Life-on-Block mod on a Rare Shield. You'll also have capped Spell and Attack Block Chance at 75 to 80%. It's quite a sturdy build.

1. Gameplay

The only Skills you will use are Shield Charge for travel, Arcanist Brand (With Despair and Flesh Offering attached) to be used against bosses, and Reaper for when they die. Your passive skills are Malevolence, Determination, Tempest Shield, and Haste (or Flesh and Stone). Molten Shell and Convocation are automated. Desecrate may be used in pinnacle boss arenas to cast Flesh Offering.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Leveling a Minion build is often done with Absolution. It's a Physical/Lightning Minion Spell that has no requirements. We have a separate build guide for this archetype specifically; you can check it here. It has a leveling section, so we won't repeat all of it here. An important thing to mention is that the Reaper of Revenants build requires a high character level to be any good: you have to have Congregation Support (level 72) and The Dark Monarch (level 84). You'll also need many Jewel Sockets and the Abyss Jewels with Chance to Poison equal to 100%. You should already be running T16 maps by the time you're ready for this build, so having a backup Minion starter is crucial. Of course, Absolution is not the sole option, but it is the most popular one, especially at the league start. You won't need to make any significant adjustments to the Skill Tree after the swap.

Bandits:

An additional Passive Skill Point seems like the best option.

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

108 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster or Unique Jewels)
123 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Mindless Aggression
2. Unnatural Strength
3. Commander of Darkness
4. Bone Barrier

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of the Brine King: You cannot be Stunned if you've been Stunned or Blocked a Stunning Hit in the past 2 seconds; 100% chance to Avoid being Frozen; 50% reduced Effect of Chill on you

Minor God: Soul of Gruthkul: 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Summon Reaper setup
	Summon Reaper of Revenants - This version of Reaper doesn't have the Dash command or any interaction with Bleeding, but you can summon more of them: 4 at level 26.
	Congregation Support - You can summon 42% more Reapers at Gem Level 4.
	Empower Support - Additional Levels for Summon Reaper for more damage and Minion survivability.
	Unbound Ailments Support - More Damage and increased duration of Poison, your main damage type.
	Void Manipulation Support - More Chaos Damage, inability to deal Elemental Damage.
	Greater Multistrike Support - Improves Minions' Attack rate while lowering their damage slightly.

[UTILITY] Arcanist Brand setup
	Flesh Offering - Increased Attack and Movement Speed of your Reapers.
	Despair - A Curse that lowers Chaos Resistance. It's your only Curse.
	Arcanist Brand - Linked Spells are triggered via Brand while attached, saving you a button to press.
	Lifetap Support - Linked Skills cost Life instead of Mana. If you have enough Mana, replace it with Desecrate.

[UTILITY] Automation setup
	Automation - Linked instant Spells are Triggered automatically.
	Molten Shell - A Guard Spell that absorbs some of the incoming damage. It scales with your Armour, and if you don't have high Armour yet, replace it with Steelskin.
	Convocation - Recalls your Minions back to you, keeping the character safe.
	Lifetap Support

[MOBILITY] Shield Charge setup
	Shield Charge - The movement ability for Shield users. It can be replaced with Flame Dash or Frostblink if these suit you better.
	Faster Attacks Support - Increased Movement Speed for Shield Charge. If you use a movement Spell, replace it with Cooldown Recovery Support.
	Lifetap Support

[UTILITY] Reservation setup
	Determination - Added and increased Armour; the main defensive layer against Physical Hit Damage. It's also great with Aegis Aurora.
	Haste - Increased Attack and Movement Speed. It's a very expensive Aura, so we heavily recommend exchanging it for Flesh and Stone for much better durability.
	Tempest Shield - Shock Immunity with added Spell Block Chance that should be capped at 75%.
	Enlighten Support - Linked Spells Reserve less Mana.

[UTILITY] Malevolence setup
	Malevolence - Additional Damage over Time Multiplier and increased Skill Effect Duration.
	Generosity Support - The DoT Multiplier will affect only your Minions, and the Aura Effect gets increased because your character doesn't need it at all.

[UTILITY] Desecrate setup
	Desecrate - Spawn Corpses to fuel Flesh Offering. If you have Corpsewalker Boots' effect, you won't need it.

5. Gear Setup

The Damage comes from Minions inflicting Poison with their Physical and Chaos Damage, so you'll need to grant them 100% Chance to Poison on Attacks and add flat damage to their Attacks, which is done by increasing the Minion's Gem Level. Minions' base Attack Speed is high thanks to Replica Maata's Teaching, but it can still be increased. They also inflict Withered on Hit thanks to the Ascendancy passive, so you don't need to worry about that. Overall, Reapers are unpopular, and the specific Unique items for this build are cheap. To increase your own defences, seek Maximum Life, Maximum ES, Armour, and Life Regeneration. Recovery is sourced mainly from your Shield. We also recommend looking for a Vestigial mod on your global-drop Unique items for an additional Abyssal Socket where possible. Try to include Runegraft of the Fortress here for increased Global Defences.

(Helmet) The Dark Monarch - Look for a Dark Monarch with the Reaper mod specifically to double their maximum number and double your damage thusly.

+(50-100) to maximum Energy Shield +1 to Level of all Minion Skill Gems +(27-37)% to Chaos Resistance 50% reduced Light Radius Maximum number of <random minion type> is Doubled Cannot have Minions other than <random minion type>

(Body Armour) Skin of the Lords - Increases Armour and Energy Shield by 100% and adds 2 Levels to Socketed Gems (including Support Gems), which is extremely good for us.

Has no Attribute Requirements or Energy Shield (Hidden) Sockets cannot be modified +2 to Level of Socketed Gems 100% increased Global Defences You can only Socket Corrupted Gems in this item Has 6 Linked Sockets (Hidden) Cannot have White Sockets (Hidden) <Random Keystone>

(Body Armour) The Brass Dome - Unique Body Armour can be imbued with Vestigial Implicit such as Dendrobate's Chance to Poison or something to improve durability. You can also Corrupt them for "+2 to Level of Socketed Minion Gems". Brass Dome is the best candidate for these operations.

(350-400)% increased Armour +(1-5)% to all maximum Elemental Resistances Strength provides no bonus to Maximum Life Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes

(Weapon) Replica Maata's Teaching - Reapers have very low Attack Speed, so this weapon improves their Attack Rate significantly. Use Harvest crafting to improve its Attack Speed, or Corrupt it for an Attack Speed implicit.

26% increased Elemental Damage +(30-40) to Intelligence (8-16)% increased Attack Speed Minions have (15-30)% increased Movement Speed Non-Spectre Minions' Base Attack time is equal to the Attack time of your Main Hand Weapon

(Off-hand) Aegis Aurora - We like this Shield the most since the character of ours has high Armour and not insignificant ES to match it, which results in a lot of instant ES on Block, which is capped. Great defensive tool.

(300-400)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +10% to all Elemental Resistances +5% to maximum Cold Resistance +6% Chance to Block Recover Energy Shield equal to 2% of Armour when you Block (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

(Off-hand) Rare Shield - Fossilized Spirit Shield can roll Minion mods, so it's often used in such builds. Look for Gem Level to Minion Skills and add a Life-on-Block mod to have any Recovery. It should have high Block Chance and Maximum Life.

Min. requirements: +1 to Level of all Minion Skill Gems +80 to Maximum Life Recover (3—5)% of Life when you Block (Shaper/Warlord Suffix) Optional affixes: Minions deal increased Damage Resistances High Block Chance

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves will be simple: Maximum Life, Dexterity, and Resistances. Add Armour or Armour with Energy Shield via Prefixes if able. For Eldritch mods: increased Minion Damage and Life Leech, for Shield Charge.

Min. requirements: +50 to Dexterity +80 to Maximum Life 40% total Resistances Optional affixes: Minions deal increased Damage (Essence of Fear Prefix) high Armour and Maximum Energy Shield Life Regeneration

(Gloves) Hands of the High Templar - Hands have decent Explicit mods, but they can be improved with additional Resistances, Life, ES, or an extra Hex Curse on Hit (Enfeeble or Punishment preferably) by Corrupting them.

Can be modified while Corrupted Can have up to 5 Implicit Modifiers while Item has this Modifier (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield (7-12)% increased maximum Life +(20-30)% to Fire and Lightning Resistances

(Boots) Rare Boots - On Rare Boots, seek Movement Speed, Maximum Life, Resistances, and Armour or Life Regeneration. For the Eldritch mods: increased Life Regeneration Rate and Chaos Resistance or increased Flesh Offering Effect.

Min. requirements: 30% increased Movement Speed +80 to Maximum Life 80% total Resistances Optional affixes: high Armour and Maximum Energy Shield Life Regeneration

(Boots) Corpsewalker - Corpse Walk skill creates Corpses, so you won't have to use Desecrate. They are barren in any real stats except for Life Regeneration and Movement Speed, so you may extract the Skill as a Vesigial Implicit to put them on Rainbowstride or Death's Door.

Triggers Level 20 Corpse Walk when Equipped (80-120)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield 25% increased Movement Speed For each nearby corpse, 1% increased Movement Speed For each nearby corpse, Regenerate 8.00 Life per second

(Belt) Darkness Enthroned - This Belt can host 2 Abyssal Sockets and possibly double their effect, so it's an obvious choice. Look for a high roll on it and socket your two best Jewels in it.

Has 1 Abyssal Socket Has 1 Abyssal Socket (50-100)% increased Effect of Socketed Abyss Jewels

(Amulet) Replica Dragonfang's Flight - Three additional Gem Levels for Reaper Skill with the correct variant, which is already excellent for the Amulet, and it has Resistances, Attributes, and Reservation Efficiency on top.

+(10-16) to all Attributes +3 to Level of all <Random Skill> Gems +(5-10)% to all Elemental Resistances (5-10)% increased Reservation Efficiency of Skills Items and Gems have (10-5)% reduced Attribute Requirements

Recommended Anointments: Deflecion

(Ring) Rare Rings - Use Bone Rings, as they can roll Minion Mods: increased Damage and Movement Speed are the best. Minion's Attack Speed is also good. Add Maximum Life, Resistances, and Attributes.

Min. requirements: Minions deal increased Damage +80 to Maximum Life 40% total Resistances Optional affixes: Minions have increased Movement Speed Minions have increased Attack Speed Life Regeneration Attributes Non-Channelling Skills have -7 to Total Mana Cost (Crafted Prefix)

(Jewel) Amanamu's Gaze - With 4 other Ghastly Abyss Jewels, your Minions gain +30% DoT Multiplier for Poison.

+(5-10) to all Attributes Minions have +6% to Damage over Time Multiplier per Ghastly Eye Jewel affecting you, up to a maximum of +30%

(Jewel) Elegant Hubris - Caspiro grants Supreme Ostentation, which will be very good here, as accumulating Attributes is a hassle. Additionally, seek Slum Lord Notable upgrades for 80% increased Damage.

Commissioned (2000-160000) coins to commemorate <Cadiro • Caspiro • Victario> Passives in radius are Conquered by the Eternal Empire Historic

(Jewel) Fortress Covenant - Minions have increased Damage and additional Block Chance. Socket it in a Cluster Jewel so it won't interfere with the Skill Tree.

Minions deal (35-45)% increased Damage Minions have +(10-12)% Chance to Block Attack Damage Minions have +(10-12)% Chance to Block Spell Damage Notable Passive Skills in Radius are Transformed to instead grant: Minions take 20% increased Damage

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Get as many Ghastly Abyss Jewels as are required to reach 100% Poison Chance for Minions. One can roll up to 15%, so that's 5 with perfect rolls on them and on Darkness Enthroned. Also, pick other mods from the list.

Recommended affixes: Minions have #% chance to Poison Enemies on Hit Maximum Life Minions deal additional Physical or Chaos Damage Armour Attributes Resistances Minions Leech #% of Damage as Life

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - One or two Minion Damage Large Cluster Jewels will improve your damage and create space for more regular Jewels.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Skeletal Atrophy 1 Added Passive Skill is Feasting Fiends 1 Added Passive Skill is Call to the Slaughter 1 Added Passive Skill is Renewal

(Flask) Witchfire Brew - This Flask can inflict a strong Despair Curse on demand, and it can save you a lot of Mana, but it won't last permanently.

20% more Evasion Rating Creates a Smoke Cloud on Use (-10-10)% increased Charges per use Grants Level 21 Despair Curse Aura during Effect

Other suggested Flasks and Tinctures: Quicksilver Flask with crafted Life Regeneration Basalt Flask with increased Armour Granite Flask with increased Movement Speed Amethyst Flask with reduced effect of Curses on you Life Flask with Bleed removal

If you have any other build requests, please leave that in the comments below.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.