Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)
Last updated on 06/10/2024
DIablo 4 Builds
General Notes
General Notes for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build in Vessel of Hatred
Note: This leveling guide is optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).
If you want to level without a minion, this Blood Surge Necromancer is a good alternative. The build is extremely simple to play and is already really strong without any Legendary Aspects, especially against large groups of monsters. Bosses take a little longer, but are also no problem thanks to Overpower damage.
Until when is this leveling build playable? You can play this and all my other leveling guides on Vitablo.com for as long as you like. Some of them still perform well at Torment difficulty 4, others have their limit at Torment difficulty 3. As soon as your build no longer feels strong enough, you can switch to one of my endgame builds.
Playstyle
Playstyle for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
- Against small groups of monsters, all you have to do is use Blood Surge until everything is dead.
- For elite enemies, you should use Iron Maiden for higher damage and Bone Prison for vulnerability.
- You can save Blood Wave for particularly strong enemy groups or bosses to deal damage and create Blood Orbs.
- If you run out of Essence, you can use Iron Maiden and Bone Prison on groups of enemies to regenerate it. You can also use your basic attack Hemorrhage.
- You can save Blood Mist for emergencies to become Immune. If you never need it, you can also just use it for the higher critical hit chance on bosses and elite monsters.
Skills
Skills for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
Note: Level up all your active skills first and work your way down to your Key Passive as quickly as possible. If you are missing skill points to progress on your way through the skill tree, you can invest them in some passive skills. As soon as you have leveled up all active abilities and your Key Passive Ability, continue with the missing passive skills.
Skill tree notes:
- If you have problems with survival and have enough Essence, you can replace Iron Maiden with Decrepify. If that's not enough, you can replace Blood Wave with Soul Rift.
Specialization
Specialization for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
Skeletal Warriors → Skirmishers → Sacrifice
Your Critical Strike Chance is increased by X%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors.
Skeletal Mages → Bone → Sacrifice
Your Overpower damage is increased by X%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Golem → Blood → Sacrifice
Your Maximum Life is increased by X%, but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
Aspects
Aspects for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
Aspect of Hardened Bones
You and your Minions gain X% increased Damage Reduction.
Wildbolt Aspect
Every X seconds, Distant enemies are Pulled In to you and take X% increased damage for X seconds.
Blood Boiling Aspect
When your Core Skills Overpower an enemy, you spawn X Volatile Blood Drops. Collecting a Volatile Blood Drop causes it to explode, dealing X Physical damage around you. Every X seconds, your next Skill is guaranteed to Overpower.
Aspect of the Prudent Heart
After being damaged for at least X% of your Maximum Life at once, you become Immune for X seconds. Can only occur once every X seconds.
Aspect of the Cursed Aura
You automatically Curse enemies around you with Decrepify and Iron Maiden. Curses inflicted this way spread to surrounding targets every X seconds and last X seconds outside of the aura.
Sacrificial Aspect
Your Sacrifice bonuses are increased by X%.
Aspect of Potent Blood
Blood Orbs grant X Essence.
Blood-bathed Aspect
Blood Surge's nova echoes again after a short delay, dealing X% less damage.
Aspect of Rathma's Chosen
Whenever your Blood Skills Overpower you gain X% Attack Speed for X seconds.
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
General tips about your Gear
- Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
Helmet
- Life
- Intelligence
- Cooldown Reduction
- Essence per Second
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of Hardened Bones
Blood Innovation
- Blood Surge Nova Size
- Hemorrhage explosion size
- Blood Lance Duration
100% maximum
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Chest Armor
- Essence per Second
- Life
- Intelligence
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Wildbolt Aspect
Blood Innovation
- Blood Surge Nova Size
- Hemorrhage explosion size
- Blood Lance Duration
100% maximum
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Gloves
- Ranks to Blood Surge
- Ranks to Core Skills
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Intelligence
- Life
- Overpower Damage
- Blood Boiling Aspect
Blood Finesse
- Blood Attack Speed
- Blood Damage
- Blood Overpower Damage
- Damage while Fortified
Blood Innovation
- Blood Surge Nova Size
- Hemorrhage explosion size
- Blood Lance Duration
100% maximum
Pants
- Life
- Intelligence
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of the Prudent Heart
Blood Innovation
- Blood Surge Nova Size
- Hemorrhage explosion size
- Blood Lance Duration
100% maximum
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Boots
- Movement Speed
- Essence per Second
- Life
- Intelligence
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of the Prudent Heart
Blood Innovation
- Blood Surge Nova Size
- Hemorrhage explosion size
- Blood Lance Duration
100% maximum
Necromancer Motion
- Movement Speed
- Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
- Movement Speed during Blood Mist
Amulet
- Intelligence
- Ranks to Tides of Blood
- Ranks to Coalesced Blood
- Ranks to Imperfectly Balanced
- Ranks to Amplify Damage
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Movement Speed
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Sacrificial Aspect
Blood Finesse
- Blood Attack Speed
- Blood Damage
- Blood Overpower Damage
- Damage while Fortified
Necromancer Efficiency
- Ultimate Cooldown Reduction
- Golem Active Cooldown Reduction
- Bone Spirit Cooldown Reduction
- Ranks to Rapid Ossification
Rings
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Intelligence
- Overpower Damage
- Life
- Aspekt des mächtigen Blutes
- Aspect of Potent Blood
Blood Finesse
- Blood Attack Speed
- Blood Damage
- Blood Overpower Damage
- Damage while Fortified
Worldly Stability
- Resource Generation
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Restore X% Primary Resource
2H Mace
- Intelligence
- Life
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Overpower Damage
- Blood-bathed Aspect
Blood Augments
- Chance for Blood Surge to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Blood Lance to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Hemorrhage to Hit Twice
- Chance for Blood Wave to Deal Double Damage
Blood Finesse
- Blood Attack Speed
- Blood Damage
- Blood Overpower Damage
- Damage while Fortified
Cruor's Embrace
Maximum Life
Blood Surge Drains X Times from Elites
Ranks to Blood Surge
Ranks to Tides of Blood
Casting Blood Surge consumes nearby Corpses to cause mini novas, dealing X damage. This damage is increased by X% for each enemy drained by your initial cast, up to X%, as well as by X% for each Corpse consumed.
Lord Zir
Necromancer
Blood Moon Breeches
Maximum Life
Overpower Damage
Curse Duration
Ranks to Curse Skills
Your Minions' attacks have a X% to randomly inflict Decrepify or Iron Maiden. You deal X% increased Overpower damage to enemies affected by your Curses.
Duriel, Andariel
Necromancer
Heir of Perdition
Damage to Angels and Demons
Critical Strike Chance
Lucky Hit Chance
Movement Speed
Ranks to Core Skills
Succumb to hatred and earn Mother’s Favor, increasing your damage dealt by X%. Briefly steal Mother’s Favor from Nearby allies by slaughtering enemies.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Harlequin Crest
Maximum Life
Maximum Resource
Armor
Cooldown Reduction
Gain X% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +X Ranks to all Skills.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Tyrael's Might
Ignore Durability Loss
Movement Speed
Maximum Resistance to All Elements
Resistance to All Elements
Damage Reduction
While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing X damage.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Ring of Starless Skies
Resistance to All Elements
Attack Speed
Critical Strike Chance
Lucky Hit Chance
Ranks to Core Skills
Spending your Primary Resource reduces the Resource cost of your Skills and increases your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Runewords
Runewords for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.
1st Runesword: Lith + Lum (Chest Armor)
Lith
Gain: 25 Offering
Stand still for X seconds.
Lum
Required: 5 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Restore X Primary Resource. (Overflow: Increased Resource Restored)
Note: If you already have enough Essence, you can replace the Lum Rune with a Thul Rune or Yom Rune.
Thul
Required: 400 Offering
Cooldown: 2 Second
Evoke the Sorcerer's Mystical Frost Nova, inflicting Freeze and Vulnerable onto enemies. (Overflow: Increased Size)
Yom
Required: 500 Offering
Cooldown: 5 Seconds
Evoke the Druid's Petrify, Stunning enemies and gain Resource.
2nd Runeword: Tam + Ohm (2H Weapon)
Tam
Gain: 25 Offering
Cast a non-Channeled Core Skill.
Ohm
Required: 600 Offering
Cooldown: 2 Seconds
Evoke the Barbarian's War Cry, increasing your damage dealt. (Overflow: Increased Duration)
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
WeaponRuby
Weapons: Overpower Damage
Armor: Strength
Jewelry: Fire Resistance
ArmorTopaz
Weapons: Basic Damage
Armor: Intelligence
Jewelry: Lightning Resistance
JewelryGems and Skulls
You'll need at least 70% to all resistances. If you haven't reached those numbers yet, change your gems accordingly. If you have too many resistances on your items, you can also use skulls, but you shouldn't exceed the armor cap of 1,000.
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
General tips about the Paragon-Board
- Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes and its Additional Bonus is unlocked. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes and the Glyph receives its Legendary Bonus.
- Skill Order: The Essential Layout shows you the most important Glyphs and Nodes that you should skill first. As soon as you're finished, you can switch to the Final Layout and fill in any missing Paragon Nodes or adjust the board layout and Glyphs as required.
Sacrificial
Rare Glyph "Sacrificial"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage while you have no active Minions.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Bloodbath"
DealX% increased Overpower damage.
Rare Glyph "Corporeal"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You and your Minions deal X% increased Physical damage and you gain X% Movement Speed for each active Minion.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Physical damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Blood Begets Blood"
Blood Orbs grant X% increased damage, up to X%, for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Amplify"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: Enemies affected by Curse Skills take X% increased damage from you and your Minions.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Injured enemies.
Legendary Node "Frailty"
Cursed enemies take X% increased damage from you and your Minions, increased by X% each second they are Cursed, up to X%.
Rare Glyph "Dominate"
For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, you deal X% increased Overpower damage.
Additional Bonus: When you Overpower an enemy, all damage they take from you and your Minions is increased by X% for X seconds.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased Overpower damage.
Legendary Node "Scent of Death"
With at least X Corpses Nearby, you gain X% Damage Reduction. With no Corpses Nearby, you deal X% increased damage.
Rare Glyph "Eliminator"
Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Noch in Arbeit.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
Primary Mercenary: Varyana
Massacre
You and Varyana stack Massacre together on kills. Certain stack thresholds grant Movement Speed. Massacre resets after X seconds of not killing an enemy.
Cleave
Varyana swings two axes in an arc in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Dual Axes
Basic Attack: Double Strike
Varyana slashes enemies with dual axes, dealing X% Physical damage. She has a X% chance to also deal X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Hysteria
You gain X% Attack Speed for X seconds whenever Varyana damages an enemy, up to X%.
Recklessness
Varyana's Cleave inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.
Shockwave
Varyana slams the ground for a brutal shockwave in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down enemies for X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Two-Handed Mace
Basic Attack: Heavy Strike
Varyana batters enemies with a mace, dealing X% Physical damage with X% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Crushing Force
When Varyana deals damage to an enemy, she has a X% chance to Knock them Down for X seconds.
Reprisal
If you become Crowd Controlled, Varyana leaps towards the enemy that inflicted it, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down surrounding enemies for X seconds on impact. This can only occur once every X seconds.
Bloodthirst
Varyana enters Bloodthirst, gaining X% Attack Speed, X% Movement Speed, and Unstoppable for X seconds. Varyana's Bloodthirst grants X% Attack Speed to you for the same duration.
Intimidated
While Varyana has Bloodthirst, enemies around her deal X% reduced damage.
Bloodlust
Varyana's Bloodthirst further increases your Attack Speed by X%.
Whirlwind
Varyana spins violently in a line, repeatedly dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
No Escape
Varyana's Whirlwind Pulls In enemies every X seconds and gains X% Size.
Taste of Flesh
When you or Varyana deal direct damage to an enemy inflicted with any of her Bleeding effects, you Heal for X% of your Maximum Life.
Earth Breaker
Varyana crushes the ground with her mace, leaving a tremor that deals X% Physical damage over X seconds and Knocks enemies Down repeatedly.
Rampage
You deal X% increased damage to enemies afflicted by any of Varyana's Crowd Control effects.
Dismembering
Enemies damaged by Varyana's Earth Breaker are left exposed, causing your next hit against them within X seconds to be a guaranteed Overpower. This may only occur on the same target once every X seconds.
Ancient Harpoons
Varyana launches three harpoons ahead of her, piercing enemies for X% Physical damage. She then rips them back, Pulling In and Stunning enemies for X seconds.
Annihilator
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons additionally Slow enemies by X% for X seconds. During this time, you gain X% Lucky Hit Chance against those targets.
Iron Grip
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons travel X% farther and reduce enemies' Impairment Resistance by X% for X seconds.
Reinforcement: Raheir
Supports you with:
Crater
Is triggered by:
Blood Surge
Video Showcase
Video Showcase for the Blood Surge Necromancer Leveling Build
Changelog
- 10/02/24 – Optimized for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)