Best Diablo 4 Bone Spirit Necromancer Build in Season 5

The Necromancer continues to dominate the meta in Season 5 of Diablo 4, with the Bone Spirit build being one of the most effective setups. Learn how to construct this build for both leveling and endgame content, and discover if it is a viable option for PvP battles.

The Bone Spirit Necro build centers around the use of this long-standing move as the primary offensive skill, combined with other spells and gear that enhance its effectiveness. This build is considered top-tier in the current meta, making it an excellent option for Priests of Rathma who desire more than simply commanding minions.

We will then proceed to explain the best ways to enhance your endgame build, including recommended skills, items, Aspects, and Glyphs to strive for during your journey. Additionally, for PvP enthusiasts, we will provide our thoughts on the effectiveness of the Bone Spirit Necro in this season.

A screenshot of a Necromancer in Diablo 4 — Blizzard Entertainment

The Necromancer is a master of bone magic and death.

Best Bone Spirit Leveling Build in Diablo 4 Season 5

As you progress through the campaign or the new Season 5 content, it is important to prioritize your skill selection in the following order:

Level	Skill
1	Bone Splinters
2	Bone Splinters
3	Unliving Energy
4	Unliving Energy
5	Unliving Energy
6	Imperfectly Balanced
7	Imperfectly Balanced
8	Imperfectly Balanced
9	Hewed Flesh
10	Hewed Flesh
11	Hewed Flesh
12	Blood Mist
13	Enhanced Blood Mist
14	Ghastly Blood Mist
15	Bone Prison
16	Enhanced Bone Prison
17	Ghastly Bone Prison
18	Spiked Armor
19	Grim Harvest
20	Fueled by Death
21	Fueled by Death
22	Fueled by Death
23	Decreptify
24	Enhanced Decreptify
25	Abhorrent Decreptify
26	Death’s Embrace
27	Death’s Embrace
28	Death’s Embrace
29	Amplify Damage
30	Amplify Damage
31	Amplify Damage
32	Corpse Tendrils
33	Enhanced Corpse Tendrils
34	Plagued Corpse Tendrils
35	Bone Spirit
36	Enhanced Bone Spirit
37	Dreadful Bone Spirit
38	Bone Spirit
39	Bone Spirit
40	Bone Spirit
41	Bone Spirit
42	Compound Fracture
43	Compound Fracture
44	Compound Fracture
45	Evulsion
46	Evulsion
47	Evulsion
48	Rapid Ossification
49	Rapid Ossification
Renown 1	Rapid Ossification
Renown 2	Ossified Essence
Renown 3	Inspiring Leader
Renown 4	Inspiring Leader
Renown 5	Inspiring Leader
Renown 6	Serration
Renown 7	Necrotic Carapace
Renown 8	Necrotic Carapace
Renown 9	Necrotic Carapace
Renown 10	Hellbent Commander

Having these skills will assist you in creating the perfect Bone Spirit build. However, it is important to have unlocked the Renown points. If you have not, simply proceed without the last ten upgrades until you have obtained them.

By selecting the skills mentioned above, you can enhance your proficiency with Bone Spirit and decrease its cooldown time. In case you deplete your Essence, you can still rely on Bone Splinters, but as you progress in levels, this will become less and less necessary.

The Bone Spirit can home in on its victim.

Best Book of the Dead Setup for Leveling

For a Bone Spirit build utilizing the Necromancer’s Book of the Dead skills, we suggest choosing the following:

Skeletal Warriors – Skirmishers
Skeletal Mages – Bone
Golems – Iron

The ideal setup for this build is the Book of the Dead, as it allows your Skirmisher Skeletal Warriors to excel in melee combat while your Mages utilize Bone Magic from a distance. This strategic positioning allows for increased damage output from bone skills.

The Iron Golem has been chosen for this Book of the Dead setup because it will enable your Golem to shield your Mages and yourself from mobs and elites while you unleash a barrage of attacks.

Best leveling rotation

Summon Minions – If not already active
Decreptify
Corpse Tendrils
Bone Prison
Bone Storm
Bone Spirit – Main Skill

After that, use Corpse Tendrils to incapacitate your foes and improve the chances of generating additional corpses to replenish your minion horde.

Now you have the ability to utilize your top two skills, Bone Prison and Bone Spirit. After casting Bone Storm, unleash a barrage of Bone Spirit into the battle. If necessary, you can also rely on Bone Splinters.

Bone Spirit can be enhanced by 5 points and two upgrades.

Best Bone Spirit Build for Endgame in Diablo 4 Season 5

Upon reaching endgame in Season 5 by completing the story, reaching level 50, and unlocking the Paragon Board, you will have the option to respec your character into the endgame version of the Bone Spirit Necro build. The endgame build is similar to the leveling build, but there are additional elements to take into account.

There is no need to reallocate your skills, however, the following will still be required:

Active Skill	Upgrades	Points allocated
Bone Splinters	–	2
Bone Spirit	Enhanced, Dreadful	5
Blood Mist	Enhanced, Ghastly	1
Decrepify	Enhanced, Abhorent	1
Corpse Tendrils	Enhanced, Plagued	1
Bone Prison	Enhanced, Ghastly	1

Here are the recommended Passive Skills that you should choose:

Passive Skill	Points
Unliving Energy	3
Hewed Flesh	3
Spiked Armor	1
Fueled by Death	3
Imperfectly Balanced	3
Amplify Damage	3
Death’s Embrace	3
Grim Harvest	1
Serration	1
Compound Fracture	3
Necrotic Carapace	3
Evulsion	3
Inspiring Leader	3
Rapid Ossification	3
Ossified Essence	1

Best endgame Book of the Dead setup

The setup for the Book of the Dead in endgame remains unchanged from the leveling build.

Skeletal Warriors – Skirmishers
Skeletal Mages – Bone
Golems – Iron

Naturally, if you are not interested in utilizing minions, you have the option to Sacrifice them and gain strength for yourself.

Best Endgame Rotation

When engaging in endgame battles, utilize this skill rotation when approaching mobs:

Summon Minions – If not already active
Decreptify
Corpse Tendrils
Blood Prison
Bone Storm
Bone Spirit – Main Skill

The rotation of attacks during the endgame continues to be identical to that used for leveling with this build.

Best Legendary Aspects

As you progress to endgame, you will gain access to a wider variety of Legendary Aspects that can enhance your build and provide special abilities to strengthen your main skills. While some may be familiar from your leveling build, there are now even more to discover. Below, you can find out where and how to obtain them.

Aspect	Power	Dungeon	Region	Gamble Obols
Swelling Curse	Increased critical strike chance for Bone Spirit	Hive	Scosglen	–
Grasping Veins	Increased critical strike chance for Corpse Tendrils	Corrupted Grotto	I develop	–
Might	20% basic damage	Dark Ravine	Dry Steppes	–
Disobedience	Boosts defense based on your minion damage output	Halls of the Damned	I develop	–
Torment	Critical Strikes with Bone Skills increases your Essence regeneration	Black Asylum	Fractured Peaks	–
Edgemaster’s	Skills deal 5-20% damage	Oldstones	Scosglen	–
Requiem	Boost to Essence	Vault of the Forsaken	Scosglen	–
Wind Striker	Critical Strikes improve movement speed	Shiva Ruins	I develop	–
Occult Dominion	Increased Skeleton Warriors by 2	–	–	Helm
Serration	Ossified Essence increases critical strikes	–	–	Focus
Concussive Strikes	Attacks have 20% chance to Daze enemies	–	–	Focus
Shielding Storm	Bone Storm generates Barrier	–	–	Pants
Hardened Bones	You and your minions get damage reduction	–	–	Pants
Shattered Spirit’s	Casting Bone Spirit also casts Bone Splinters	–	–	Ring
Imprisoned Spirit’s	Casting Bone Spirit also casts Bone Prison	–	–	Focus
Blood Getter’s	Skeeltoal Priests now empower you 55-70	–	–	Helm
Metamorphosis	Evade triggers Unstoppable for 2.5 seconds	–	–	Boots

Don’t forget, you also have the option to remove these Aspects from their original item and transfer them to a different item of your choice.

Necromancer with minions — Blizzard Entertainment

The Necromancer can field a small army of minions to fight for him.

Paragon Board Game

After reaching level 50, you will no longer earn skill points and will instead earn Paragon points. This leveling method operates in a unique manner, requiring you to choose upgrades from a variety of boards containing various themes and enhancements.

Each path is unique, but the positive aspect is that as you progress through the Paragon Board and focus on different Glyphs, you will enhance your Bone Spirit Necro in the most important aspects for the build.

Refer below to determine the first Glyphs you should focus on.

Best Glyphs

Fifteenth level

‍Grave keeper
‍Corporeal
‍Control
‍Essence
Deadraiser
‍Amplify
Control

Level 21 remains unchanged.

‍Essence
Grave keeper
‍Corporeal
‍Amplify
Deadraiser

After reaching Paragon Level 15, focus on acquiring the aforementioned Glyphs. As you continue to earn points, you will unlock even more options on the Paragon Board. However, prioritizing these specific Glyphs in the given sequence will ensure the most optimal path for the Necro Bone Spirit build.

Recommended Bone Spirit Endgame Item Build

Item	Socket	Item type	Power
Runic Skullcap of Might	Ruby for extra life	Helm	Bone Spear leaves behind exploring echoes
Runic Mail of Disobedience	Ruby for extra life	Chest Armor	Bone Storm has chance to trigger Barrier
Edgemaster’s Runic Gloves	Ruby for extra life	Gloves	Bone Spear makes enemies vulnerable
Runic Leggings of the Protector	Ruby for extra life	Pants	Increased Minion damage
Wind Striker Runic Cleats	Ruby for extra life	Boots	Increased Skeleton Priest damage
‍Sparr of Swelling Curse	2x Emeralds for poison damage	Main Hand	Chance to cast Bone Spear twice
–	–	Offhand	–
Amulet of Torment	Diamond for extra attack power	Amulet	Boosts Evulsion and Compound Fracture
Requiem Band	Diamond for extra attack power	Ring 1	Boosts Torment
Band of Grasping Veins	Diamond for extra attack power	Ring 2	Boosts Grasping Veins

Tracking down this specific set may require some time, but once you acquire it, this will serve as your ultimate endgame gear. While you have the freedom to choose and mix your gear, this setup will undoubtedly give you an advantage.

Alternative Build for Necromancer PvP: Bone Spirit Variation

What’s great about utilizing the Necromancer Bone Spirit build for PvP is that it remains unchanged from the build we’ve already discussed in our endgame and leveling sections. This build has been given an A-tier rating for PvP this season, which means it may not be the top choice, but it is still highly effective and a solid option for defeating other players.