Diablo 4 Necromancer Book of the Dead Guide

Diablo 4's Necromancer class is among the strongest due to its summoning abilities. This Diablo 4 Necromancer Book of the Dead guide will help you unlock the undead minions and their best upgrades.

What is the Book of the Dead?

The Necromancer's unique class mechanic, The Book of the Dead, gives players more options than ever for customizing their undead army.

The three customizable undead minions in this Book of the Dead mechanic are Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and Golems. All of these can be upgraded as more options come available via leveling up. 

When entering Sanctuary, players are given the Book of the Dead skill. But once they reach Level 5, they can modify it.

Book of the Dead Upgrades & Sacrifices

There are three different specializations available for each of the three categories, and each of these can be upgraded with special abilities. Moreover, the player has the option of Sacrifice their summoning ability in exchange for a buff to themselves. To apply an upgrade to your summons, highlight the Upgrade or Sacrifice in the Book of the Dead that you wish to activate and interact with it.

Skeletal Warriors

Skirmishers – Fast-attacking and have increased damage but reduced Life.

• Upgrade 1 – You can raise one additional Skirmisher Warrior.
• Upgrade 2 – Each time you Critically Strike, your Skirmishers Warriors' next attack Critically Strikes and deals 50% bonus Critical Strike damage. It can only happen every 3 seconds.
• Sacrifice Buff – Your Critical Strike Chance is increased by 5%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors.

Defenders – Sword and board wielders that have bonus Life.

• Upgrade 1 – Defenders negate the next instance of direct damage they are dealt for 8 seconds.
• Upgrade 2 – Defenders increase the number of thorns they inherit from your character to 50%
• Sacrifice Buff – You gain 15% Non-Physical Resistance but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors.

Reapers – Scythe-wielding creatures that have a slower attack, deals AoE in front of them, and have a wind-up attack that deals a high amount of damage.

• Upgrade 1 – Reduces the cooldown of their powerful wind-up attack by 2 seconds when they attack immobilized, Slowed, Stunned, or Vulnerable enemies.
• Upgrade 2 – Reapers have a 10% chance to form a corpse from the flesh of their enemies. This effect only occurs every 5 seconds.
• Sacrifice Buff – You deal 10% increased Shadow Damage, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors.

Skeletal Mages

Shadow – Mages that use Shadow Bolts to damage enemies.

• Upgrade 1 – When your Shadow Skeletal Mages attack, they have a 10% chance to Stun for 2.13 seconds. This can only happen every 5 seconds on the same enemy.
• Upgrade 2 – For every 6th attack, your Shadow Mage will fire an additional shadow bolt.
• Sacrifice Buff – Your maximum essence is increased by 15, but you can no longer summon Mages.

Cold – Mages that use frost to damage and freeze enemies.

• Upgrade 1 – Players gain x2 essence each time your Cold Mage damages enemies with their primary attack.
• Upgrade 2 – Enemies your Cold Mages freeze or damage while frozen will be Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
• Sacrifice Buff – You deal 15% more damage to Vulnerable enemies, but you can no longer raise Mages.

Bone – Mages that use their own life force to deal damage.

• Upgrade 1 – Your Bone Mage attacks will gain a reduction to their life cost by 5%. Any Bone Mage alive for 5 seconds will deal 40% increased damage.
• Upgrade 2 – Any time a Bone Mage dies from its own attack, it will leave a corpse behind and Fortify you.
• Sacrifice Buff – Your Overpower damage is increased by 30%, but you can no longer raise Mages.

Golems

Unsurprisingly, among all the Necromancer Book of the Dead minions in Diablo 4, Golems are the strongest form of summon. As you reach level 25, you can unlock Golems and start the Call of the Underworld quest.

Bone Golems – Tanks hits

• Upgrade 1 – Your Bone Golem sheds a corpse every time it takes up to 20% of its max life as damage.
• Upgrade 2 – Increases your Golem's maximum life by 10% and the number of thorns they inherit from you by 50%.
• Sacrifice Buff – You gain 10% attack speed, but you lose your Golem.

Blood Golems – Health-stealing abilities

• Upgrade 1 – Your Golem will absorb 15% of the damage you would take.
• Upgrade 2 – While healthy, your golem will gain a 25% damage reduction, and 25% increased damage.
• Sacrifice Buff – Your maximum life is increased by 10%, but you lose your Golem.

Iron Golems – Charging abilities

• Upgrade 1 – Every 5th Golem attack will send a shockwave, dealing 16% damage to the enemies in front of them.
• Upgrade 2 – Your Golem Slam makes enemies Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
• Sacrifice Buff – You deal 30% more critical-strike damage, but you lose your Golem.