Necromancer Wraithlord Endgame Build for Last Epoch (Patch 1.2)

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Last updated on May 01, 2025 at 02:30 by GhazzyTV and Lavender

Welcome to our Last Epoch Necromancer Wraithlord build guide for the Acolyte class. Here you will learn everything about the Necromancer play style, passives, skills, strengths, and weaknesses to conquer the world of Eterra.

Build Variations

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

Build Introduction

Command the Wraithlord, one of the strongest minions in Last Epoch, to obliterate enemies with Necrotic Beams! This build, unlike the Wraithlord Army, focuses entirely on the Wraithlord's own DPS capabilities.

All Last Epoch video showcases contain footage of 300 Corruption or higher. If a video has a previous patch listed in the intro, it does not mean the video is dated, it simply means the build still plays the same as it did in the past and there was no need to update the video attached to this written guide. This video is only supplementary! It's not meant to explain more than surface level information, and should instead be used to see if you enjoy the playstyle of the build before committing to it.

Strengths

Low Mana requirements.
Low input requirements; build is accessible for all types of players.
The Wraithlord deals a ton of damage out of the box, allowing the build to be used very early on.

Weaknesses

If the Wraithlord dies, you may have to play a bit frantically in order to survive and get him active again.
Wraithlord movement is highly dependent on the player directing him, either through commands or Transplant.

Skill Selection

With all of our focus being on the Wraithlord for this build, we'll be attempting to buff this minion's damage as much as possible. We do this through the use of Infernal Shade, Dread Shade, and the Summon Wraith passive tree. Dread Shade ensures 100% Crit Chance, Infernal Shade provides important buffs such as Cast Speed, chance to Shred Armor, and massive damage gains, and the Wraith tree scales the Wraithlord just as it would scale a normal Wraith.

While the Wraithlord is semi-autonomous, Transplant and Bone Curse are both used by the player to provide movement (to both the player and the Wraithlord) and some additional damage to the build. Both of these skills are capable of summoning extra, sacrificial minions that will bolster the Wraithlord's damage upon consuming them.

Class and Skill Passive Trees

Class Passives Skill Passives

Acolyte Necromancer Warlock

Summon Wraith Dread Shade Infernal Shade Bone Curse Transplant

Our base class is Acolyte, which fills the role of mixed spell caster and minion summoner in Last Epoch. Upon finishing Act 1 in the campaign, your character will be offered an opportunity to select an Advanced Mastery. Each base class has three possible Masteries to choose from. For Acolyte, you can choose between Passive Trees for Lich, Necromancer, and Warlock. Upon selecting a Mastery and placing 20 Passive Points into the Mage Tree, you'll then be able to place Passive Points into the Mastery Trees.

Necromancer is the Advanced Class used for this build, and also where the majority of our Passive Points will come from. The Necromancer Tree will focus around picking nodes that increase our minion's Attack Speed, Necrotic Damage and Critical Multipliers. Minor points are taken to bolster our own Health Regen, helping to keep us alive through both Health and Ward layers of defense. Warlock is used minimally to gain some extra damage for the Wraithlord and provide a bit of extra Mana.

3.1.

Acolyte Passive Points

8 points in Forbidden Knowledge: Boost to Necrotic Resistance and Intelligence.
5 points in Dark Rituals: Taken specifically for Minion Attack Speed.
1 point in Stolen Vitality: Increased Minion Health, but also boosts Vitality.
1 point in Mania of Mortality: Traversal node.
5 points in Unnatural Preservation: Taken for Ward Retention, but also supplies important Resistances.
1 point in Soul Aegis: Minions gain 3 Armor per your own character level.

Wraithlord Build Planner

3.2.

Necromancer Passive Points

8 points in Elixir of Hunger: +40 Health and you gain access to Hunger upon potion use. This boosts Wraithlord Cast Speed and provides 10 Health on hit.
8 points in Risen Army: Increased Minion Damage and Cast Speed.
3 points in Cursed Blood: Forced for pathing, but does increase Minion Necrotic Damage.
7 points in Blood Armor: Increases ours and our Minion's Health Regen.
8 points in Aegisfall: 200% Chance for Minions to Shred Armor.
5 points in Frantic Summons: Increased Cast Speed for Minions.
8 points in Tyrant: Increases our own Health at the cost of your Minion's Health.
10 points in Moonlight Pyre: +10 Fire and +10 Necrotic Damange for Minions.
10 points in Rite of Undeath: Necrotic Resistance, Elemental Resistance, and Increased Necrotic and Elemental Damage for Minions.
10 points in Blades of the Forlorn: Taken for the Minion Critical Multi.
5 points in Veins of Malice: Casting a spell grants your Minions Haste and Frenzy for 5 seconds at the cost of your own Health.

Wraithlord Build Planner

3.3.

Warlock Passive Points

5 points in Chaos Flames: Increased Necrotic Damage for the Wraithlord.
5 points in Occultist's Mind: Intelligence, and Mana per Intelligence.

Wraithlord Build Planner

In this section, we will break down each skill and highlight the key passives we have selected to make the skill shine in the build. While some of these skills do allow for some variation to exist depending on your own custom choices, we recommend utilizing the skill trees as presented until you have a strong understanding of the build itself.

3.4.

Summon Wraith

Summon Wraith is now only used to summon the Wraithlord. The Wraithlord himself will summon an extra two Wraiths that will follow us around, but overall are majorly inconsequential to the build. The important thing here is we keep the Wraiths capped at two, since the Wraithlord will always summon Wraiths to your maximum. The Wraithlord deals all the damage here, attacking quickly with hard hitting Necrotic Beams.

3.4.1.

Order of Skill Points

5 points in Reapers: Adds 20 Necrotic Damage base to Wraiths.
3 points in Necrotic Hunger: More Necrotic Damage and allows Wraiths to Leech Health with Necrotic Damage.
2 points in Wraith Bringer: Traversal node. We will not be summoning except for the initial summon for the Wraithlord.
1 point in Spirit Link: Pathing node; Dread Shade provides 100% Crit Chance.
2 points in Dawn of the Fall: Pathing node; Dread Shade provides 100% Crit Chance.
3 points in Dusk of the Living: Adds Critical Multiplier for Wraith hits.
1 point in Locus Of Resurrection: Traversal node.
2 points in Haunting: Wraiths gain 40% Health.
1 point in Twin Spirits: Wraith Health no longer decays, and you're limited to two Wraiths (not counting the Wraithlord).
3 points in Sequel of Avarice: Massive Health and Damage gains for the Wraithlord.
2 points in Flame Wraith: Provides a chance for Wraiths to become Flame Wraiths when summoned, giving them ranged capability.

Wraithlord Build Planner

3.5.

Dread Shade

Dread Shade is taken for the sole purpose of maximizing the DPS potential of the Wraithlord. This gives the Wraithlord 100% Crit Chance and a huge DPS boost. Dread Shade is permanent, so you won't need to worry about re-applying it unless your Wraithlord dies. Be careful with this skill, as there is a long cooldown associated with it. If it's placed on a normal Wraith, you will need to wait until the skill can be used again before killing enemies. Summoning the Wraithlord further away from you will make it easier to avoid mis-clicking Dread Shade.

3.5.1.

Order of Skill Points

2 points in Spectral Presence: Pathing node.
1 point in Lone Watcher: Dread Shade no longer drains Health, but is limited to once instance being active.
3 points in Dying Coven: 24% Increased Cast Speed for the Wraithlord.
4 points in Grim Fate: 60% more damage for the Wraithlord.
3 points in Lingering Doom: Adds 9 Necrotic Damage.
1 point in Blind Fury: 40% Increased Cast Speed for the Wraithlord.
1 point in All For One: No aura buffs, but the Wraithlord gains 40% more damage.
1 point in Egoism: Grants 100% Crit Chance for the afflicted minion.
1 point in Pernicious Pact: Forced pathing node to gain more damage, but applies Everlasting Poison to the Wraithlord, ramping damage over time with poison stacks that never expire.
3 points in Doomed Wrath: 45% more damage.

Wraithlord Build Planner

3.6.

Infernal Shade

Similar to Dread Shade, Infernal Shade provides a large buff to your Wraithlord. And just like Dread Shade, Infernal Shade never expires. You may want to reapply the buff every so often if you see the damage ticking too high on your Wraithlord and you would rather not de-summon him due to being in combat already.

3.6.1.

Order of Skill Points

3 points in Influence: Forced pathing node; the size of Infernal Shade does not matter.
1 point in Devour in Flames: Infernal Shade can be placed on minions.
1 point in Subjugation: Minions afflicted by Infernal Shade gain up to 180% more damage, ramping over time.
3 points in Manic Pyre: 12% Movement Speed and Cast Speed for minions.
1 point in Soulfire: Infernal Shade now never expires. It will eventually kill the minion it's attached to unless the duration is reset by pressing the skill again.
2 points in Torment Beacon: Pathing node.
1 point in Baneful: Pathing node.
1 point in Blood Shade: Infernal Shade is converted into Physical. This doesn't really mean much, and it taken more-so for the next node.
4 points in Corrosion: Enemies afflicted with Infernal Shade gain 200% chance to Shred Armor.
3 points in Fanning the Flames: Not really a great option, but we run out of useful nodes for minions at this point.

Wraithlord Build Planner

3.7.

Bone Curse

Bone Curse boosts the damage Wraiths deal by afflicting enemies hit with Shred Armor and Marked For Death. While it would be wise to reapply it manually if needed, this build automates Bone Curse with Transplant, allowing for more aggressive and mobile gameplay and avoiding the cast time associated with Bone Curse itself. On top of this, Bone Curse comes with a Kill Threshold of 12%, which becomes increasingly more valuable the higher in Corruption you go.

Since the Wraithlord gains damage by sacrificing non-Wraith minions, we can use Bone Curse's ability to summon throw-away mobs to our advantage.

3.8.

Order of Skill Points

4 points in Conflation: Forced for pathing, but increases the size of Bone Curse, making it beneficial.
1 point in Sigil of Mortality: Marks enemies for death for 2 seconds.
2 points in Reaper's Mark: Doubles the duration for Mark for Death to 4 seconds.
1 point in Misery: Converts Bone Curse into Necrotic Damage.
5 points in Defile Defenses: Applies Shred Armor stacks on application of Bone Curse.
2 points in Iron Maiden: Bone Curse now deals more damage. Taken to path to the next node.
3 points in Brittle Bones: 12% Kill Threshold.
1 point in Entreat the Damned: 10% chance when enemies inflicted with Bone Curse die to summon a Skeleton Vanguard.

Wraithlord Build Planner

3.9.

Transplant

Transplant is more than just a mobility skill; it automates Bone Curse, applies Bone Armor, and activates Haste and Frenzy. Since this build is played at near 0 Health anyway, Transplant costs next to nothing to use. Once casted, Transplant will provide an extra 15 Melee Damage to all Minions.

3.9.1.

Order of Skill Points

2 points in Acolyte's Fervor: Grants Haste and Frenzy on Transplant usage.
1 point in Sticky Blood: Detonations leave behind pools of blood that slow enemy movement.
1 point in Reign of Blood: Pathing node.
1 point in Doom Bringer: Automates Bone Curse, which allows us to apply Marked For Death when using Transplant.
3 points in Fleeting Form: Reduced cooldown.
1 point in Marrow Blades: Pathing node.
1 point in Simulacrum: Summons a Bone Minion on use. Used to sacrifice to the Wraithlord.
1 point in Bone Armor: Allows for safety when playing a bit more risky by adding Armor and Damage Reduction when Transplant is used.
3 points in Apostasy: Increases Bone Armor's duration by 3 seconds.
3 points in Scarlet Rain: Pathing node.
1 point in Ethereal Body: Converts Transplant into a Necrotic skill.
1 point in Squeamish: Fears enemies on departure.
1 point in Thanatophobia: Fears on arrival.

Wraithlord Build Planner

Build Mechanics and Playstyle

The playstyle for this build is rather laid back; The Wraithlord will do the majority of the work for this build just by existing. Admittedly, the worst part of the build is the portion that requires player input, and that is controlling minion movement. The Wraithlord, if left to his own devices, will tend to almost skate around maps, and won't attack while moving around haphazardly. To rectify this, the Experimental Affix that allows you to teleport minions on Traversal Skill usage is used, relying on Transplant. It will force place the Wraithlord to the location you aim Transplant, and as long as that is within range of enemies, he won't need to move. Between Transplant usage, using the Minion Command hotkey is going to be your best friend, and should be mapped to a key that feels comfortable for you to press.

4.1.

Health and Ward, Defensive Layering

In previous interations of minion builds, prior to Patch 1.2, Low Life was the way to go simply because of how strong Ward was, and how weak other options were in comparison. Patch 1.2 balanced things well enough to where this is no longer the case. With that being said, this build uses a hybrid mix of Health Regen and Ward generation to create a multi-layer, defensively sound character. This is done through the use of two Unique items, the chest Wall of Nothing and the relic Vessel of Strife. These two items have a lot of synergy with each other, and work to bolster both Ward and Health Regeneration at the same time. Effectively what this means is unless you make a terribly bad play, or you're one-shot, your character will have time to regenerate both Health and Ward, making you much harder to kill. Unlike Low Life builds, you can also take full advantage of Endurance as well.

4.2.

Optional Wraithlord Gameplay

You may notice in the build planner, the Summon Wraith passive tree has some points leftover. While there isn't much more to take that would benefit your Wraithlord, there is a single point that can. However, it makes your Wraiths stationary. This is the node Locus Of Death. The reason it is not included in the original planner is simple; the only way to move your Wraith now is through the use of Experimental Affix use (which is included anyway) and extremely reliant on the cooldown of Transplant. It does increase the Wraithlord's damage output substantially, but we suggest only doing this as you enter even high Corruption (above 1,000) and you actually need the extra 45% damage multiplicative. This does fix the weird movement problem the Wraithlord has though, and some players may opt to take this node early simply to avoid this issue. It should be noted that in the case of making the Wraiths stationary, you will want two Flame Wraiths. This is because of the Flame Wraith's ranged attack. While they won't deal nearly as much damage as the Wraithlord will, their Armor Shred is important for maximizing the Wraithlord's damage. If movement is removed from the Melee Wraiths, they likely won't ever be able to attack at all.

Equipment and Gear Affixes

For all suggested gear pieces, please see the planner provided below. Specific Unique item interactions will be listed further down the page.

Wraithlord Build Planner

5.1.

Uniques

The items listed below have either been selected in order to make the build function, or to provide defensive layering in order to climb Corruption.

Wraithlord's Harbor – The Black Sun (Echo Rewards)
- Mandatory for the build to function as intended. This allows you to summon the Wraithlord, and the build will not work without it.
Death Rattle – The Age of Winter (Echo Rewards)
- A fantastic amulet for minion builds, this adds a maximum of 65% more Crit Multiplier to any minion under your control, increases their damage output, and increases their critical hit chance. If you decide to run this build before dropping one of these, we suggest at bare minimum having an Exalted Torquoise Amulet in it's place.
Usurper's Mandate – Reign of Dragons (Echo Rewards)
- There are a lot of options for how you may want to scale the build, however with testing we found the best option was a two-handed weapon, specifically a Bone Scythe base. Usurper's Mandate satisfies that criteria while providing us an additional 2 points in Minion Skills and a large amount of flat Health. Prior to using this weapon, make sure you have Legendary Potential on it, as you will want the Minion Spell Damage and Minion Necrotic Penetration affixes to run it. It should be noted, this weapon is extremely accessible through gambling with Rune of Ascendance with a 25% chance of getting one, however items received this way will have a lower chance of having Legendary Potential.
Wall of Nothing – Harbinger of Treason (Fall of the Empire)
- This Unique Chest is taken to synergize with the Unique Relic, Vessel of Strife. This chest will increase our Ward Decay Threshold, our Endurance Threshold, and add a portion of our Endurance Threshold as Ward Decay Threshold. As a bonus, there's also a moderate chance of just... not taking damage at all!
Vessel of Strife – Temporal Sanctum (Julra Tier 4)
- This Unique Relic is taken for the defensive properties present on it. Which is primarily the fact it converts a portion of your Health Regen into Ward Regen. This is a very powerful item to use when building around hybrid Health and Ward Regen. Be mindful, this only drops from Tier 4 Julra, and the drop rate isn't fantastic, so it may take a few keys.
Julra's Obsession – Temporal Sanctum (Julra Tier 3 or higher)
- These gloves are very strong for minion builds, as all stats on them reflect onto your minions. They can be ran at LP 1, however LP 2 is a better choice. Priority here is T7 Cast Speed, allowing your Wraithlord to attack much faster.

Idols

Idol slots are gained through the campaign, unlocking small bonuses and unique affixes for the player to discover and augment their builds with. The Idol screen consists of a grid system for the player to fill out with different sized Idols, eventually filling in every part of the grid. As the Idol shape increases (1x1, 1x2, 1x3, 1x4, etc.) the stronger an affix you might find for your build.

All suggested Idols for this build will hard target defenses. Aim for Idols that increase Health, Ward per Second, and Ward Decay Threshold, unless for some reason your Resistances are low. In the event you run stationary Wraithlord, getting Flame Wraith Idols is suggested, as Melee Wraiths will have an issue attacking, and their Armor Shred is helpful.

Blessing

Blessings are permanent buffs that are applied to your character. These come in two different powers, Standard and Grand. Grand blessings are significantly stronger than the Standard Blessings. In total, there are 10 Blessing Slots, one for each Monolith Timeline. When you complete a Monolith and defeat the final boss you will be awarded a choice of three blessing with a random value.

Blessing Name	Affix	Timeline
Grand Greed of Darkness	Ward Gain on Kill and Ward Decay Threshold	The Black Sun
Grand Rhythm of the Tide	Health Regen	Ending the Storm
Grand Vigor of Jormun	Endurance Threshold	The Age of Winter
Grand Resolve of Humanity	All Resistances	Reign of Dragons
Grand Embers of Immortality	Endurance	Spirits of Fire

Changelog

01 May 2025: Guide added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GhazzyTV is a professional content creator that knows all about theory crafting builds in Path of Exile and Last Epoch and has been teaching players how to build their characters for over 9 years. He is a huge Blizzard fan with thousands of hours invested into Diablo 3 and 4 and is a frequent World of Warcraft Classic player. His builds will be helpful content for new players and veterans alike. You can find his PoE Vault Guide Hub here and his LE Guide Hub here. You can follow him on Twitch, YouTube or Twitter.

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Necromancer Wraithlord Endgame Build for Last Epoch (Patch 1.2)

Build Introduction

Skill Selection

Class and Skill Passive Trees

Acolyte Passive Points

Necromancer Passive Points

Warlock Passive Points

Summon Wraith

Order of Skill Points

Dread Shade

Order of Skill Points

Infernal Shade

Order of Skill Points

Bone Curse

Order of Skill Points

Transplant

Order of Skill Points

Build Mechanics and Playstyle

Health and Ward, Defensive Layering

Optional Wraithlord Gameplay

Equipment and Gear Affixes

Uniques

Idols

Blessing

Changelog