Necromancer Bone Spear Build With Masquerade

Last updated on Jun 03, 2025 at 09:00 by Deadset 51 comments
Build Variations Updated for Season 35, Patch 2.7.8 Main Build Solo Greater Rift Progression Nephalem Rift Farming
1.

Introduction

Using the powers of the dedicated Masquerade of the Burning Carnival set, this Necromancer build focuses on a unique amalgamation of Simulacrums and Bone Spear to produce a crafty sniping playstyle that can take its time setting up fights due to its impressive endurance. This build is available in a Greater Rift pushing and standard rift speed farming variations (see links just below).

2.

Quick Reference

2.1.

Skill Setup

The basic skill setup of the Masquerade Bone Spear Necromancer is displayed below. Read the dedicated Skills page for detailed information on choices, alternatives and build customization.

Active Skills
Left Mouse Button Grim Scythe Icon Grim Scythe Frost Scythe Frost Scythe Right Mouse Button Bone Spear Icon Bone Spear Blighted Marrow Blighted Marrow 1 Bone Armor Icon Bone Armor Dislocation Dislocation 2 Decrepify Icon Decrepify Borrowed Time Borrowed Time 3 Blood Rush Icon Blood Rush Potency Potency 4 Simulacrum Icon Simulacrum Reservoir Reservoir
Passive Skills
2.2.

Gear Setup

The required gear setup for the Masquerade Bone Spear Necromancer is listed below. Check the Gear page for detailed information on choices, alternatives, gemming, Kanai's Cube and Paragon distribution.

2.2.1.

Altar of Rites

The former Season 28 theme, the Altar of Rites, has been revised and re-added to Diablo 3 as a permanent character progression mechanic. — For virtually all builds and players of all skill levels — from casual to advanced — we recommend progressing through the Altar tree using the path outlined below. The suggested path is geared towards maximum quality of life first, then amplifying damage, and then mopping up the tree with defensive and edge case utility nodes.

Note that while they require reaching them with a Seal, Legendary Potion Powers are not part of the Seal cost system; Potions unlock with a separate resource called Primordial Ashes, obtained from salvaging Legendary or Set items of Primal (red bordered) quality. Upgrade them as soon as possible, and in the order shown below (courtesy of Caleko's Altar of Rites planner).

Altar of Rites Planner

You can read more on the Altar of Rites, Seals and Legendary Potion Powers in our dedicated Altar of Rites Mechanics guide.

2.3.

Legendary Gems

2.4.

Kanai's Cube

2.5.

Season 35 Theme — Eternal Conflict

This Season revives the Pandemonium Kill Streak buff from Season 19. Each stack grants a bonus to movement speed and damage, capping at +50% movement speed and +100% damage at 1000 kills. Hitting specific kill thresholds unleashes powerful effects. Read more in our dedicated Season of the Eternal Conflict Mechanics Guide!

While speedfarming sees limited use from this theme, Greater Rift pushing benefits significantly. Effects like Geysers (150), Meteors (400), and Angels (500) can clear elites and Rift Guardians instantly. Players may reset streaks after 150 kills to repeatedly trigger Geysers or push for 500+ kills near boss fights, often using Nemesis Bracers Nemesis Bracers to spawn extra enemies.

Because the most potent effects (Geysers, Meteors, Angels) can obliterate Rift Guardians instantly up to GR150, players can retool builds for efficiency and comfort. Here’s how:

2.5.1.

Legendary Gem Considerations

Since you can rely on killstreak procs to clear the Rift Guardian, Bane of the Stricken Bane of the Stricken can be safely omitted in favor of:

2.5.2.

Equipment and Skill Flexibility

Adjust your equipment to items that favor durability, health sustain, and ease of movement. Consider adjusting non-essential skills for the build to ones that pull, reposition, or otherwise displace enemies to facilitate large pulls of enemy packs. In more concrete terms, this means:

  • For class-specific items, Necromancers should consider Dayntee's Binding Dayntee's Binding if it's absent from the build; this is a powerful damage reduction item that incentivizes you to be mindful of utility skills by spreading curses on as large of an enemy pull as possible (especially in conjunction with popular Necro passives such as Spreading Malediction Spreading Malediction). This synergizes well with the killstreak theme.
  • For additional options that balance between defense and offense, the class-specific amulet Wisdom of Kalan Wisdom of Kalan extends the Bone Armor Bone Armor stack maximum and can fit into several builds, while other helpful cross-class jewelry includes Unity Unity (combined with the same ring on the follower plus a follower immortality token), and the Endless Walk set (The Traveler's Pledge The Traveler's Pledge and The Compass Rose The Compass Rose).
  • Situational items that can bolster your defenses include Stone Gauntlets Stone Gauntlets, the drawbacks of which are negated via CC-immunity effects like Ice Climbers Ice Climbers, or the Altar of Rites CC-immunity node. The class-specific Razeth's Volition Razeth's Volition and the class-agnostic Aquila Cuirass Aquila Cuirass are powerful and popular choices for low Essence-spending builds, especially ones built around generators like LoD Poison Scythe. A final niche consideration is Mantle of Channeling Mantle of Channeling, which balances between defense and offense for channeling builds, often built around Iron Rose Iron Rose.
  • Utility items like Nemesis Bracers Nemesis Bracers are essential as more elites mean more killstreak maintenance and faster progression. When soloing, they should be equipped by your follower; in groups, at least one party member should commit to wearing them. When focusing strictly on speed, Steuart's Greaves Steuart's Greaves can be a powerful inclusion for scouting, but builds that are locked into other items for the slot can turn to niche options like Warzechian Armguards Warzechian Armguards or Krelm's Buff Belt Krelm's Buff Belt. To facilitate large pulls, consider using a Follower equipped with The Ess of Johan The Ess of Johan, a proc-based analogue to an enemy-pulling skill (albeit outside your control).
  • Skill-wise, make sure to include at least one movement skill tool like Blood Rush Blood Rush. While Necromancers lack an easily available enemy-pulling tool (Rathma Necros build around Army of the Dead Army of the Dead Death Valley Death Valley, but are an exception), a stunning skill like Bone Armor Bone Armor Dislocation Dislocation can help manage large packs of enemies and doubles as a Krysbin's Sentence Krysbin's Sentence proc. Take a look if you can include passives like Final Service Final Service (for a cheat-death) or Fueled by Death Fueled by Death (for extra movement speed).
3.

Changelog

  • 03 Jun. 2025 (gear page): Added Season 35 Eternal Conflict killstreak recommendations.
  • 03 Jun. 2025 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 35.
  • 03 Jun. 2025 (this page): Added Season 35 Eternal Conflict killstreak recommendations.
  • 20 Jan. 2025 (gear page): Added Season 34 Angelic Crucible recommendations.
  • 20 Jan. 2025 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 34.
  • 20 Jan. 2025 (this page): Added Season 34 Angelic Crucible recommendations.
  • 22 Oct. 2024 (gear page): Added Season 33 advice for 4th Kanai slot.
  • 22 Oct. 2024 (skills page): Passive recommendations revised to include S33-specific changes.
  • 22 Oct. 2024 (this page): Added Season 33 advice for 4th Kanai slot.
  • 10 Jul. 2024 (gear page): Added Season 32 advice for ethereal weapons.
  • 10 Jul. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 32.
  • 10 Jul. 2024 (this page): Added Season 32 advice for ethereal weapons.
  • 10 Apr. 2024 (gear page): Added Season 31 advice for the unbound Kanai's Cube slots.
  • 10 Apr. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 31.
  • 10 Apr. 2024 (this page): Added Season 31 advice for the unbound Kanai's Cube slots.
  • 10 Jan. 2024 (gear page): Revised guide for the permanent addition of the Altar of Rites, and added Season-specific Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 10 Jan. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 30.
  • 10 Jan. 2024 (this page): Revised guide for the permanent addition of the Altar of Rites, and added Season-specific Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 13 Sep. 2023 (gear page): Added Season 29 Paragon Cap and Gearing recommendations.
  • 13 Sep. 2023 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 29.
  • 13 Sep. 2023 (this page): Added Season 29 Paragon Cap and Gearing recommendations.
  • 22 Feb. 2023 (gear page): Added Season 28 Altar of Rites recommendations.
  • 22 Feb. 2023 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 28.
  • 22 Feb. 2023 (this page): Added Season 28 Altar of Rites recommendations.
  • 26 Aug. 2022 (gear page): Added Season 27 Angelic Crucible recommendations.
  • 26 Aug. 2022 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 27.
  • 26 Aug. 2022 (this page): Added Season 27 Angelic Crucible recommendations.
  • 14 Apr. 2022 (gear page): Guide reviewed for Season 26.
  • 14 Apr. 2022 (skills page): Guide reviewed for Season 26.
  • 14 Apr. 2022 (this page): Guide reviewed for Season 26.
  • 08 Dec. 2021 (gear page): Added Season 25 Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 08 Dec. 2021 (skills page): Reviewed for Season 25.
  • 08 Dec. 2021 (this page): Added Season 25 Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 22 Jul. 2021 (gear page): Added S24 Ethereal recommendation.
  • 22 Jul. 2021 (skills page): No changes necessary for Season 24.
  • 22 Jul. 2021 (this page): Added S24 Ethereal recommendation.
  • 01 Apr. 2021 (gear page): Minor build revision and added follower recommendation.
  • 01 Apr. 2021 (skills page): Minor build revision.
  • 01 Apr. 2021 (this page): Minor build revision and added follower recommendation.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (skills page): Fixed rotation to properly reflect S22 skill lineup.
  • 19 Nov. 2020 (gear page): Revision of item recommendations, alongside advice for Season 22 changes.
  • 19 Nov. 2020 (skills page): Revision of skill, rune, and passive recommendations.
  • 19 Nov. 2020 (this page): Revision of item, skill, and passive recommendations, alongside advice for Season 22 changes.
  • 03 Jul. 2020 (gear page): Guide added.
  • 03 Jul. 2020 (skills page): Guide added.
  • 03 Jul. 2020 (this page): Guide added.
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