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LoD Death Nova Necromancer Guide

Last Updated: January 16th 2024

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Introduction

LoD Death Nova Solo Push
View all variants

Season 27 brought updates to the Death Nova Necromancer with buffs to Funerary Pick and Iron Rose. While these changes were intended for the Trag'Oul's Avatar Blood Nova build, you can make very similar setups using Legacy of Dreams or Grace of Inarius. This one is generally better for farming because it has more room for utility options and ranks on a different solo leaderboard.

All the power comes from having large pulls that scale your AoE damage through the roof. As a result, pushing high in solo typically requires a Rift Guardian that spawns adds consistently (e.g. Saxtris, Eskandiel) or using one or multiple saved Pylons with Nemesis Bracers to spawn extra targets that can fuel Bloodtide Blade. Even with the massive damage bonus of Funerary Pick fights against single targets bosses can take forever on the highest tiers.

While not being very consistent at pushing, it can be really fun to decimate huge pulls in just a few casts with this build. Especially when playing on higher tiers in a group where you don't have to worry about pulling or killing the boss, this build can be the most effective. The main parts of the describe the solo pushing variant, adjustments for different game modes can be found below.

High toughness ✔
Simple DPS rotation ✔
Incredible AoE damage ✔

Rewards good positioning ✔

❌ Requires GR fishing
❌ Simulacrums can die
❌ Has to stand still a lot
❌ Struggles on single targets

Core Setup

Core Item Build

Items

  • Bloodtide Blade adds 400% increased damage to Death Nova for each nearby enemy, up to 10 stacks.
  • Funerary Pick provides another steady 200% damage bonus after stacking it with Siphon Blood Power Shift as well as an extra bonus against 1-3 targets.
  • Iron Rose casts Blood Nova automatically while siphoning. These are replicated by Simulacrums, which can also proc Area Damage.
  • Haunted Visions makes our Simulacrums last forever.
  • Krysbin's Sentence gives us 100% against slowed or 300% extra damage against stunned (etc.) enemies.
  • Convention of Elements fits in well with the rotation-based gameplay of the build to provide another 200% extra damage during our nukes.
  • Dayntee's Binding adds 50% damage reduction while any nearby enemy is cursed.
  • Stone Gauntlets is another huge bonus to survivability by providing up to 250% extra armor, easily doubling toughness (or more, for details check out damage reduction mechanics). Its negative effects are typically negated by wearing Ice Climbers (in solo) or through Ignore Pain Mob Rule (in groups).
  • Illusory Boots is great to position yourself inside a pull for maximum Area Damage value.
  • Aquila Cuirass gives us another 50% damage reduction while at full resource, which will generally be the case outside of nuke phases.
  • Mantle of Channeling synergizes with our Channeling-based playstyle.

Season 30 Soul Shards

Soul Shards are powerful socketable items that initially dropped during Season 25 but they are returning for Season 30! There are 4 available for Weapons based on the Lesser Evils, with another 3 for Helmets based on the Prime Evils. They drop at Rank 0 and be upgraded three times with the brand new Hellforge Embers to unlock additional powers, or be used in the Kanai's Cube as Augments. Here's how they progress:

  • Rank 0: Soul Shards begin with a unique static Legendary Power. Creates a Rank 50 Augment.
  • Rank 1: Gives all powers from the normal gems. Creates a Rank 75 Augment.
  • Rank 2: Grants one additional powerful stat. Creates a Rank 100 Augment.
  • Rank 3: Unlocks 1 of 3 bonus Legendary Powers unique to that Soul Shard. Creates a Rank 125 Augment.

Warning: Leoric's Crown and Broken Crown do not work with Soul Shards!

Read our Soul Shards Guide written by Chewingnom for full details on how they work. What you should prioritize on them for Solo Pushing is the following:

  1. The Correct Soul Shard & Rank 3 Power
    The best shards for Solo Pushing are:
    • Helmets: We want to use Sliver of Terror for the massive damage buff from our abilities on cooldown. For the Rank 3 power take the Ring of Fire to unleash a devastating AoE blast for big leaderboard pushes!
    • On the higher end when time-attacking GR150, you can use Shard of Hatred for the massive 50% damage buff when surrounded by a lot of monsters. For the Rank 3 power, take the additional damage per stack for a tremendous 100% damage buff in density!
    • Weapons: We want to use Essence of Anguish for the Movement Speed and Cooldown Reduction. For the Rank 3 power take the 50% increased Poison Damage, which actually applies to all damage done! Hint: Make sure to get a Poison Damage Range on your Weapon so it can proc the shard automatically.
  2. The Rank 2 Stat
    The stats that come from the second upgrade are not equal. Here's what we're looking for on them:
    • Helmets: We want either Main Stat for damage or Melee/Ranged Damage Reduction to survive. Avoid Armor and All Resistance as their stat ranges are far too low compared to the others options.
    • Weapons: We want either % Damage or Physical Damage to boost our character's power the furthest. Avoid Attack Speed and Critical Hit Chance as their stat ranges are too low compared to the others.
  3. The Stat Ranges on the Rank 1 and 2 Powers
    This is just icing on the cake because the ranges will not make or break your build. Still, look for the Soul Shards with the best stat ranges, especially on the offensive stats.

For the other game modes, other Soul Shards can be used. Check the Variants below to see what's used there.

What about extra Soul Shards? Either salvage them for gems, or upgrade and use them in Kanai's Cube for Augments.

Global Stat Priorities

Our offensive priorities are: Death Nova Damage > Critical Hit Damage > Physical Damage > Critical Hit Chance > Area Damage. As a channeling skill, Siphon Blood has specific breakpoints and we want to either have 1.53 APS (12 frames), 1.67 APS (11 frames) or 1.83 APS (10 frames) together with the Swift Harvesting. Keep in mind that Frenzied increases your Attack Speed by 25% with the Altar of Rites. Make sure to stay below 2.02 APS with the buff active.

All remaining stats go towards defense in the following order: Vitality > Armor > Life % > Elite Damage Reduction > All Resistance.

Assembling the Build

Item Stat Priorities

Gems

Skills

Passives

Paragon Points

Paragon Points

Follower

Gameplay

Hardcore

Variants

Nephalem Rifts
GR Solo Speeds
GR Solo Push
GR Group Trash Killer
LoD Nova T16

Concept
We have more than enough damage in T16, so we include all the extra speed we can: Krelm's Buff Belt, Steuart's Greaves, Warzechian Armguards, Boon of the Hoarder. Instead of channeling Siphon Blood, we cast Death Nova manually for faster pops using Echoing Fury.

Gameplay
Use Blood Rush to go fast and hunt big packs or elites as much as possible. Keep up Bone Armor & Simulacrum and rejoice as Briggs' Wrath pulls enemies (and their loot) to you!

Spam Devour at all times. If this is too tedious, you can also switch its rune to Devouring Aura for a more laid back approach.

Setups
If you find yourself running out of Essence too often, you can replace Andariel's Visage with either Pride's Fall or Leoric's Crown + Flawless Royal Topaz. Another option is to switch Fueled by Death to Dark Reaping.

If your damage is generally way too low, replace Echoing Fury with Scythe of the Cycle.

For bigger AoE at the cost of some damage, switch your Elemental Damage rolls to Poison and use Death Nova Unstable Compound.

In groups, replace Warzechian Armguards and Rechel's Ring of Larcency with Nemesis Bracers and Avarice Band.

Select Build Version

Low Tiers/Fast Setup
LoD Nova Low Solo Speeds

Concept
This is a speedier version designed for sub 2min runs. Instead of channeling Siphon Blood, we cast Death Nova manually using Scythe of the Cycle to allow faster pops and a hit-and-run playstyle. We include Briggs' Wrath and Strongarm Bracers for more Area Damage and Steuart's Greaves to run faster. Aim for a GR level where the boss dies in around one CoE rotation.

Gameplay
Keep up Bone Armor (note that you "spend" its duration by casting Death Nova) and use it on elites for extra damage from Krysbin's Sentence. Whenever you engage valuable targets, simply tap Death Nova until everything is defeated. On the boss, time Bone Armor to land during the Physical cycle.

This build has no way of regaining Essence besides Devour. Pay special attention to your resources and don't waste your casts when there's no chance to finish off your target. If you run out of Essence, you can find some corpses to refill it.

Pay special attention to effects that produce large bursts of damage, such as dying Grotesques or Molten Explosions. These can easily kill your Simulacrums and leave you with a long cooldown before they come up again.

Setups
If you find yourself running out of Essence too often, you can replace Andariel's Visage with either Pride's Fall or Leoric's Crown + Flawless Royal Topaz. Another option is to switch Fueled by Death to Dark Reaping.

LoD Nova Solo Push

Concept
This is the main variation described in the other parts of the guide. We play around Bloodtide Blade while getting all of our multipliers up for short, high DPS bursts.

Gameplay
At the start of the run, carefully gather 5 stacks of Stone Gauntlets, then summon your Simulacrums to improve their survivability.

Make sure to create large pulls and don't waste your time on small pulls or leftover elites. Instead, try to kite them to another group of enemies. Keep up Bone Armor and use all damage multipliers (Krysbin's Sentence, Convention of Elements, Funerary Pick) for your nukes. Make sure your Simulacrums are positioned well inside the pull. Rinse and repeat. Before the boss, save a pylon or two (not Conduit) to spawn enemies during the Rift Guardian fight after stacking Bane of the Stricken for 1-3 minutes.

Pay special attention to effects that produce large bursts of damage, such as dying Grotesques or Molten Explosions. These can easily kill your Simulacrums and leave you with a long cooldown before they come up again.

Setups
Once you feel tanky enough, you can add Cooldown Reduction on Shoulders and Flawless Royal Diamond in the Helm or go with Andariel's Visage for more damage.

LoD Nova Group TK

Concept
This variant is very similar to the solo version. The main difference is that we are tankier through party buffs and don't have to kill the boss. We include some extra items for more damage: Stone of Jordan, Andariel's Visage and Zei's Stone of Vengeance.

A slightly stronger but more difficult version is available using Scythe of the Cycle instead of Funerary Pick. For that, switch the Siphon Blood rune to Drain Life and make sure to not channel it too much between your CoE rotations as each Nova reduces the remaining duration of Bone Armor, which has to be refreshed more often. This version is especially useful for more coordinated high-end pushes with a separate Rift Guardian Killer in the party.

Gameplay
At the start of the run, carefully gather 5 stacks of Stone Gauntlets, then summon your Simulacrums to improve their survivability.

Coordinate with your team about where to make pulls and when to nuke. Keep up Bone Armor (be careful to not interfere with your Supports making a pull for you) and the Funerary Pick buff, then use all damage multipliers (Krysbin's Sentence, Convention of Elements, Funerary Pick) for your damage phases. Make sure your Simulacrums are positioned well inside the pull. Jump into Oculus Rings when you see them and target elites as much as possible for the bonus from Funerary Pick.

Pay special attention to effects that produce large bursts of damage, such as dying Grotesques or Molten Explosions. These can easily kill your Simulacrums and leave you with a long cooldown before they come up again.

Setups
Once you feel tanky enough, you can replace Dayntee's Binding with The Witching Hour for more damage.

You can swap your chosen curse between Frailty Early Grave, Decrepify Wither or Leech Osmosis depending on what your party needs.

Video Guide

Guide Video

Mechanics

Iron Rose

Funerary Pick

Simulacrum

Summary

  • Put together the core items and level up the Legacy of Dreams gem.
  • Always keep up Bone Armor.
  • Make large pulls to benefit from Bloodtide Blade the most.
  • Move your Simulacrums into position before a nuke.
  • Prioritize high HP targets and elites with Siphon Blood for the bonus from Funerary Pick.
  • Save pylons to kill the Rift Guardian more easily with extra enemies in a solo push.

Good luck!

Credits

Guide & updates by wudijo
Reviewed by Northwar

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