[Zizaran] GhazzyTV's Skeleton Mages Necromancer guide - 3.17

For a full blown written guide check out this link: https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/mage-skeleton-necromancer-build-guide > PLAYSTYLE < > Clear < Since Convocation does not work on Summon Skeleton you will simply rely on casting new mage skellies on the field as required. This combined with both Pierce Support & any of the Projectile increasing support gems such as GMP, LMP, Volley, Greater Volley. This means the build will require a gem swap for optimal single-target damage output, it is however designed to avoid requiring this for clearing map bosses. > Bossing < Make sure you have all possible skeletons summoned and then you simply make sure to have your Offering skill up and apply the mark curse on the enemy as it becomes attackable. Do keep in mind that if you have a "Trigger socketed spells" craft you make sure to simply spam any ability that you have to get the Offering up and running. > LEVELING < To avoid spending a ton of regret orbs you're very limited in what options you have in terms of levelling. Below you'll see a solid yet straight forward easy way to bring yourself from Level 1 all the way to being able to purchase Dead Reckoning Threshold Jewel so you can start playing Mage Skellies. You start of with the simple approach of using a combination of Freezing Pulse, Stormblast Mines, Orb of Storms & Frost Bomb. You'll be using these till you gain access to VItality which is after fighting Brutus requiring level 10. Once Vitality becomes available you can weave in Raise Zombie to use as meat shields as you want to pick up Absolution at level 12 which becomes your main source of damage and can now remove everything else you've been using except Vitality, Zombies Frostblink (or Flame Dash). The next big step becomes available during Act 2 in which you'll add Skitterbots but most importantly Herald of Purity to allow for even more meat shields & decent damage output. This makes the campaigns feel very safe & easy to manage. After this the only big change should be when you are able to find or afford the Dead Reckoning Jewel and will switch to the end-game set-up of this build. > ASCENDANCY NODES < A lot of this comes down to a matter of personal preference but rushing Unnatural Strength is recommended where the last 2 nodes doesn't really matter in which order you take them. If resistance is a problem then picking up Commander of Darkness as well as Mistress of Sacrifice can help a lot but you'd gain more damage via Unnatural Strenght node. > VARIATIONS < Armageddon Brand is based of Patch Notes possibly an incredible skill to use early on to level with, however, you'd want to invest in to spell damage nodes on the tree eventually resulting in an opportunity cost to use anything but minions to level with. Minion Instability leveling works as well if that's something you'd prefer to use. > BEFORE DEAD RECKONING < You have 2 "main" options to level with before you're able to afford the Dead Reckoning Jewel which enables the build by turning your skeletons in to mages. 1) Absolution which doesn't have any noticable fall-offs in terms of efficiency as you can use this with the same skill-tree as this build and still clear higher red tier maps 2) Melee Skellies which falls off around higher yellow / red tier maps. > CRAFTING GEAR < > GEAR < A lot of the geared used in the low budget approach of this build is far cheaper to purchase than to try & craft yourself. For more specific upgrades; Gloves: Look to use Essence of Fear on gloves till you hit a decent life roll combined with any attributes and/or resistance needed. Helmet: Fossil crafted with Bound and/or Pristine Fossils for the lower budget version(s). Shield: Fossil crafted with Pristine Fossils. Wand: You don't craft this, you simply use any 1h wep that drops with +1 level of spell or minion skill and if there's an open suffix you bench-craft the trigger craft. Amulet: Normally just alteration crafted, augmented, regaled all done whilst praying Chris Wilson will bless your RNG and finish it of with that big juicy bench-craft. (Modifier prio being + skeleton) Rings: Either found or purchased since they are literally there for life & extra resistance. Do keep in mind that the above mentioned methods are for the lower end-version whilst the higher budget routes one can take with this build can go from expensive to hilariously expensive very quickly. In-Depth Crafting Guides can be found here: https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/ghazzy-craft-guide-hub > JEWEL & CLUSTERS < It is crucial to note that the build benefits a lot from the medium cluster jewel notable "Blessed Rebirth", this is very easily alteration crafted on a medium cluster jewel yourself. The second modifier on this jewel isn't mandatory but can still be beneficial. The large cluster jewel is not needed to get the build started, if you are able to get any large cluster with minion damage the # passive count doesn't matter and the mods don't matter that much. Item level below 50 is both super cheap & mega easy to roll for Call to Slaughter & Feasting Fiends. Main purpose of the large cluster is to fit the medium cluster and also to have 2 slots for both Covenant jewels as if they are placed inside cluster jewels the negative impact they bring completely dissapears. This is clearly among the last things you'll look to invest to. Regular jewels are way too expensive to normally craft early on so making sure you have an actual Life roll on each jewel is crucial then combine that with 1 damage providing modifier such as flat cold, lightning or fire damage or #% minion dmg when you've used a min skill recently. > SPECTRES < Since skeletons are duration based minions we are not able to guarantee that they will have 3 frenzy and/or power charges at all times, due to this we will be running 2 Carnage Chieftains and if you are able to run 3 or even 4 spectres based of the raise spectre gem you'll just add Host Chieftains. They can both be found in Ashen Fields Act 7. > ANIMATE GUARDIAN < For a full understanding of how the AG works I would strongly recommend watching this video: https://youtu.be/5SOX9WNAjTM The TL;DR low budget set would look like this: Victario's Flight Dying Breath Southbound Gloves Leer Cast Ambu's Charge Crusader Chainmail > COMMON MISTAKES < - Thinking it's a tanky build, this is a ranged minion build. Positioning is key to stay alive on lower budget(s). - Spell, Elemental or ele specific damage modifiers does NOT work for your minions as they are separate entities and will only scale from modifiers that specifically state that they affect minions. - Selling your minion gems to a vendor with a GCP when they hit level 20. To get 20% Quality. Make sure you NEVER "flip" a minion gem that you're actively using. - Not levelling a bunch of Summon Skeleton gems in your off-slot weapon(s)/shield to make sure you get a level 21 gem early FOR MEGA SUPER DUPER EXPENSIVE MIRROR TIER VERSION CHECK THIS OUT: https://pastebin.com/wbriLd5U