View source for Skills/Necromancy

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'''Necromancy''' is the dark art of death magic. Necromancers curse their enemies, drain them with pain and poison, raise the dead, summon familiars and take on monstrous forms. It runs on its own spellbook and its own five reagents, and every spell is fuelled by [[Skills/Spirit Speak|Spirit Speak]].

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== At a glance ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Skill cap
| 100 (Grandmaster)
|-
! Spellbook
| [[File:NB_NecromancerSpellbook.png|link=|Necromancer spellbook]] necromancer spellbook (115 gold at mages)
|-
! Reagents
| [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]] [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]] [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]] [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]] [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]] bat wing, daemon blood, pig iron, nox crystal, grave dust
|-
! Partner skill
| [[Skills/Spirit Speak|Spirit Speak]] sets the damage and duration of most spells
|-
! Stats it trains
| None
|}

== How Necromancy works ==
* Drop necromancy scrolls onto your '''necromancer spellbook''' to learn them, then cast from the book like any other spell.
* Each spell has a '''required Necromancy'''. At that level you have no chance yet; your chance rises until it always succeeds 40 points higher. Casting from a scroll always works once you have the required skill.
* Each spell uses '''mana''' and '''reagents''', just like [[Skills/Magery|Magery]].
* '''Spirit Speak''' powers the spells: higher Spirit Speak means more damage and longer effects. Many spells are weakened by the target's [[Skills/Resisting Spells|Resisting Spells]].
* '''Every necromancy spell lowers your karma.''' Slower spells cost more.

=== Reagents ===
{| class="wikitable"
!  !! Reagent !! Price at mages
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]
| '''Bat wing''' || 3 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]
| '''Daemon blood''' || 6 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]
| '''Pig iron''' || 5 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]
| '''Nox crystal''' || 6 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]
| '''Grave dust''' || 3 gold
|}

== Spells ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!  !! Spell !! Necromancy needed !! Always succeeds at !! Mana !! Reagents !! Effect
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_AnimateDead.png|link=|Animate Dead]]
| '''Animate Dead''' || data-sort-value="40" | 40 || 80 || 23 || [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood || Raises a nearby corpse as an undead servant that fights for you. The kind of undead depends on the corpse and on your Necromancy and Spirit Speak.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_BloodOath.png|link=|Blood Oath]]
| '''Blood Oath''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || 60 || 13 || [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood || Binds you to a target: damage it deals to you is also dealt back to it. Lasts 8 seconds plus (your Spirit Speak minus its Resisting Spells) / 8.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_CorpseSkin.png|link=|Corpse Skin]]
| '''Corpse Skin''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || 60 || 11 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust || Turns the target's skin dry and corpselike for 40 seconds plus (Spirit Speak minus its Resisting Spells) / 2.5.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_CurseWeapon.png|link=|Curse Weapon]]
| '''Curse Weapon''' || data-sort-value="0" | Any || 40 || 7 || [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron || For Spirit Speak / 3.4 + 1 seconds, half the damage your weapon deals is added to your health.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_EvilOmen.png|link=|Evil Omen]]
| '''Evil Omen''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || 60 || 11 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal || Halves the target's Resisting Spells until the next harmful thing happens to it, and that next blow does 25% more damage. Lasts Spirit Speak / 12 + 1 seconds.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_HorrificBeast.png|link=|Horrific Beast]]
| '''Horrific Beast''' || data-sort-value="40" | 40 || 80 || 11 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood || Transforms you into a hulking beast whose health regenerates much faster. You can't cast most other spells in this form (''You cannot cast that spell in this form.'').
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_LichForm.png|link=|Lich Form]]
| '''Lich Form''' || data-sort-value="70" | 70 || 110 || 23 || [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal || Transforms you into a lich. While in this form you lose 1 hit point every 2.5 seconds.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_MindRot.png|link=|Mind Rot]]
| '''Mind Rot''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || 70 || 17 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood || The target's spells cost 25% more mana (double against creatures) for 20 seconds plus (Spirit Speak minus its Resisting Spells) / 5, and twice as long against creatures.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_PainSpike.png|link=|Pain Spike]]
| '''Pain Spike''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || 60 || 5 || [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron || Deals 18 + (Spirit Speak minus the target's Resisting Spells) / 10 damage, 30 more against creatures. A player gets the health back 10 seconds later; casting it again before then adds only 3 to 7.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_PoisonStrike.png|link=|Poison Strike]]
| '''Poison Strike''' || data-sort-value="50" | 50 || 90 || 17 || [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal || A burst of poison that hits the target for about 43 to 48 damage at 100 Spirit Speak and splashes onto others within 2 tiles, weaker the farther they stand.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_Strangle.png|link=|Strangle]]
| '''Strangle''' || data-sort-value="65" | 65 || 105 || 29 || [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal || Chokes the target with damage that repeats and grows, from 4 up to (Spirit Speak / 10 + 1) &times; 3 per tick. Lasts about 34 seconds at 100 Spirit Speak.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_SummonFamiliar.png|link=|Summon Familiar]]
| '''Summon Familiar''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || 70 || 17 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust [[File:NB_Reagent_DaemonBlood.png|link=|Daemon blood]]&nbsp;Daemon blood || Calls a familiar to serve you. See the table below.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_VampiricEmbrace.png|link=|Vampiric Embrace]]
| '''Vampiric Embrace''' || data-sort-value="99" | 99 || 120 || 23 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron || Transforms you into a vampire.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_VengefulSpirit.png|link=|Vengeful Spirit]]
| '''Vengeful Spirit''' || data-sort-value="80" | 80 || 120 || 41 || [[File:NB_Reagent_BatWing.png|link=|Bat wing]]&nbsp;Bat wing [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron || Summons a revenant that hunts the target for Spirit Speak &times; 80 / 120 + 10 seconds (about 77 seconds at 100).
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_Wither.png|link=|Wither]]
| '''Wither''' || data-sort-value="60" | 60 || 100 || 23 || [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal [[File:NB_Reagent_GraveDust.png|link=|Grave dust]]&nbsp;Grave dust [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron || Everyone within 5 tiles of you takes cold damage. Targets with good karma take more.
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Necro_WraithForm.png|link=|Wraith Form]]
| '''Wraith Form''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || 60 || 17 || [[File:NB_Reagent_NoxCrystal.png|link=|Nox crystal]]&nbsp;Nox crystal [[File:NB_Reagent_PigIron.png|link=|Pig iron]]&nbsp;Pig iron || Transforms you into a wraith that can pass through other people.
|}

=== Familiars ===
'''Summon Familiar''' lets you pick a familiar from a menu. You can only have one at a time (''You already have a familiar.''). Each needs both skills:

{| class="wikitable"
! Familiar !! Necromancy and Spirit Speak needed
|-
| [[Bestiary/Horde Minion|Horde Minion]] || 30 / 30
|-
| [[Bestiary/Shadow Wisp|Shadow Wisp]] || 50 / 50
|-
| Dark Wolf || 60 / 60
|-
| Death Adder || 80 / 80
|-
| Vampire Bat || 100 / 100
|}

=== Transformation spells ===
'''Horrific Beast''', '''Lich Form''', '''Vampiric Embrace''' and '''Wraith Form''' change your body. Cast the same spell again to return to normal.

== Training Necromancy ==
* Every cast is a chance to gain, as long as the spell is inside its range (required skill to 40 above). Fizzles count too.
* Cheap spells like '''Curse Weapon''' (pig iron only) and '''Pain Spike''' carry you through the early levels.
* Train [[Skills/Spirit Speak|Spirit Speak]] alongside; it powers everything you cast.
* '''Below 10.0''' you gain on every attempt, sometimes several tenths at once. Above that, each attempt has a chance to gain 0.1.
* The '''harder the attempt''' is for your skill level, the better your chance to gain. Your chance also drops as you get closer to your Necromancy cap and to your total skill cap of '''700'''.
* If you've set Necromancy to go down (the arrow in your skills list), gains elsewhere can lower it to make room under your total cap. Lock skills you want to keep.
* Reaching 100.0 adds Necromancy to the '''Skills Mastered''' count on your achievements.
* Mages will train you for gold: up to a third of their own skill, at most '''42.0''', for '''1 gold per 0.1''' points. Ask them (or use their context menu) to train the skill, then drop the gold on them.

'''Stats:''' this skill doesn't raise any stats.

=== Suggested path ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Necromancy !! How to train
|-
| 0 to about 33 || Buy it from a mage.
|-
| 33 to 50 || Pain Spike and Evil Omen.
|-
| 50 to 70 || Horrific Beast (cast it on and off) or Mind Rot.
|-
| 70 to 85 || Wither or Poison Strike.
|-
| 85 to 100 || Strangle, then Lich Form or Vengeful Spirit.
|}

== Tips ==
* '''New necromancers start with a necromancer spellbook''' holding Animate Dead, Evil Omen, Pain Spike, Summon Familiar and Wraith Form, plus a bag of reagents.
* '''Evil Omen first.''' Open with it to halve the target's resistance and make your next attack hit harder.
* '''Watch your karma.''' Every cast pushes it down.
* '''Leave Lich Form when you're done''': it slowly drains your health.

== See also ==
* [[Skills/Spirit Speak|Spirit Speak]] · [[Skills/Magery|Magery]] · [[Skills/Inscription|Inscription]] · [[Skills/Meditation|Meditation]] · [[Skills/Resisting Spells|Resisting Spells]]

[[Category:Skills]]