Diablo 4 Necromancers have a 'Book of the Dead' for customizing undead armies

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A new Diablo 4 dev update breaks down the Necromancer class

Diablo 4 necromancer
(Image credit: Blizzard)

Diablo 4's Necromancer class will have a new class mechanic called 'Book of the Dead' that lets you customize and fine-tune your undead army.

The Necromancer was revealed as Diablo 4's fifth and final class during this past weekend's Xbox/Bethesda showcase, but we didn't get a whole lot of details about its abilities, mechanics, and so forth. Now, Blizzard has published a rather comprehensive breakdown of the Necromancer class that reveals a brand new mechanic to the series.

Diablo 4 director Joe Shely explains that, while the game allows you to go hog wild with undead summons, the Book of the Dead feature is designed for "players who want a more independent playstyle." Basically, it allows you to decide what types of summons you have at your disposal and how many you want at the ready. You can also upgrade units in your army or decide to bench some or all of them in exchange for permanent buffs to your own character's stats.

"Our goal with this system is that there should be something for everyone to be excited about," Shely says. "There are relevant, powerful options to choose from whether players want to play with the full army, part of the army, or even for those who wish to forgo their army completely and play solo."

Opening the Book of the Dead will display a menu with three customizable summons: Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and the Golem. From there, you can decide which specialization your various summons have when you raise them. For example, you'll be able to set your Skeletal Warriors be Skirmishers, Defenders, or Reapers. Skirmishers have increased damage but a smaller health bar, Defenders have increased health but standard damage, and Reapers have slower, AoE attacks and have a special wind-up move that's especially punishing.

Diablo 4

(Image credit: Blizzard)

If you're interested in Diablo 4's Necromancer class, today's full dev update is undoubtedly worth mining for new information. Shely goes over more of the Necromancer's abilities, powers, weapons, and high-level playstyles so you can get a sense of what to expect when the game launches next year.

Looking for something new? Check out these solid games like Diablo to check out.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
Staff Writer

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.