Diablo 4 Season 8 has arrived, and with it comes a fresh wave of updates, mechanics, and build optimizations. The Necromancer class has always stood out as a fan favorite thanks to its unique theme and versatile toolkit, and in Season 8, it continues to shine. Whether you prefer summoning an army of undead or harnessing dark elemental powers, there's a build for every type of Necromancer player.

In this article, we'll break down the most effective Necromancer builds in Diablo 4's Season 8, focusing on their performance in endgame content, especially The Pit. The following tier list is based on Patch 2.2 and evaluates the builds according to their damage output, survivability, utility, and ease of play.

S Tier - Best Necromancer Builds for Season 8

These builds dominate the current meta and are ideal for high-end content like Pit pushing and boss farming. If you're looking for the strongest builds to climb the leaderboards or push your limits, start here.

Bone Spear Necromancer

Bone Spear has reclaimed its throne as one of the strongest builds for the Necromancer, thanks to fixes that resolved long-standing bugs that previously held it back. Now, it's one of the most efficient and powerful setups in Diablo 4 Season 8.

• Strengths: High burst damage, excellent scaling, strong synergy with other bone-related skills.

• Playstyle: Focuses on precise skill usage, combining Bone Spear with other bone-based passives and enhancements.

• Ideal For: Pit pushing, boss hunting, high-tier content.

With strong single-target damage and area-of-effect potential, the Bone Spear Necromancer remains a consistent top-tier choice in Patch 2.2.

Blood Wave Necromancer

Although it received nerfs in Season 8, Blood Wave is still a viable and potent endgame build. It may not perform as well in fast-paced overworld scenarios, but it holds its own in structured, tougher content.

• Strengths: Massive wave-based damage, effective in controlled environments.

• Weaknesses: Cooldowns can be an issue in open-world or fast-clear situations.

• Ideal For: Pit pushing, targeted encounters, elite packs.

Players who enjoy a more deliberate and planned playstyle will find Blood Wave satisfying despite its reduced raw output.

Bone Spirit Necromancer

Bone Spirit is one of the most well-rounded and devastating builds for the Necromancer. Its primary strength lies in massive, grouped enemy damage and potent boss burst capabilities.

• Strengths: Excellent damage scaling, reliable against bosses, effective in The Pit.

• Weaknesses: Requires enemy grouping for maximum efficiency, not ideal for fast farming.

• Ideal For: High-level content, elite mob clearing, dungeon runs.

Bone Spirit continues to be a staple for endgame players who prioritize power over speed and consistency.

A Tier - Strong and Reliable Necromancer Builds

These builds are highly effective but may have some limitations compared to the S tier. Still, they're strong enough to compete in most endgame scenarios.

Sever Necromancer

Sever has seen significant improvements in Season 8. New mechanics allow for more frequent overpower effects, increasing both their consistency and damage.

• Strengths: Improved reliability, effective in both AoE and single-target fights.

• Playstyle: Mixes damage-over-time with direct hits for solid performance.

• Ideal For: Pit pushing, general gameplay.

This build finds a comfortable niche in Season 8, particularly for players who enjoy spell-based, sustained damage.

Blight Necromancer

Blight remains a versatile and effective choice for players who prefer damage-over-time effects. With Season 8 introducing new boss-enhancing powers, Blight Necro can now scale more effectively into the late game.

• Strengths: Excellent for sustained engagements, scales with boss mechanics.

• Weaknesses: Slower-paced, may lack burst power.

• Ideal For: Dungeons, elite packs, and slower methodical content.

Blight works well in players' hands who know how to position and play around enemy movement and fight duration.

Blood Surge Necromancer

Blood Surge is still a solid option in Season 8, especially for those who prioritize farming and clear speed over high-tier boss content.

• Strengths: Great for speed clearing, AoE explosions from enemy deaths.

• Weaknesses: Struggles in single-target and longer fights.

• Ideal For: Overworld farming, Helltides, low-to-mid-tier Pit tiers.

Its ability to quickly eliminate groups of enemies makes Blood Surge a fan favorite for players wanting efficient resource and Diablo 4 Gold collection.

Blood Lance Necromancer

Blood Lance, while still capable in the Pit, has lost some of its flair due to tweaks and changes. It's no longer as fun or effective in AoE scenarios, but it still does respectable damage with the right setup.

• Strengths: Decent boss damage, piercing mechanics.

• Weaknesses: Weaker AoE performance, situational effectiveness.

• Ideal For: Targeted fights, hybrid builds.

Though no longer dominant, Blood Lance still finds value in the hands of experienced players with good gear.

B Tier - Niche but Playable Necromancer Builds

These builds are functional but struggle in high-end content or require specific gear and rune setups to perform well.

Minion Necromancer

The classic summoner build sees some love in Season 8, thanks to new synergies with runes like Xan that enable minions to overpower. However, it still falls short in terms of overall power and scaling.

• Strengths: Thematic and fun, semi-viable with the right setup.

• Weaknesses: Gear-dependent, minions are still underwhelming in late-game scaling.

• Ideal For: Casual play, thematic builds, low-end content.

Minion Necromancer is still more about style than raw strength, but some dedicated players can make it work.

C Tier - Underperforming Necromancer Builds

These builds may offer unique mechanics or playstyles, but they generally struggle to keep up with the demands of high-tier endgame content.

Infinimist Necromancer

Once a more prominent build thanks to its ability to chain corpse explosions, the Infinimist now sits comfortably in mediocrity. It's capable of World Tier 4 content but fails to scale effectively beyond that.

• Strengths: Corpse explosion loops are still satisfying, adequate for casual play.

• Weaknesses: Poor damage scaling, outclassed by other builds.

• Ideal For: Leveling, thematic experimentation, and low-tier farming.

If you enjoy triggering chain reactions and don't mind lower damage output, this build might still bring some fun, but it's far from optimal for endgame content.

Summary of the Necromancer Tier List in Diablo 4 Season 8    

Season 8 has brought notable changes to the Necromancer class in Diablo 4. With Patch 2.2, balance adjustments and mechanic reworks have shuffled the meta, placing old favorites like Bone Spear back at the top and introducing new potential in builds like Sever and Blight.

Each build caters to different playstyles—some prioritize burst damage, others excel at control or consistent damage over time. While S Tier builds are recommended for players aiming to complete the hardest content in the game, the A and B Tier options provide flexibility and fun for a broader audience. C Tier builds, though less effective, still have their place in Diablo 4's vast sandbox, especially for those who prefer off-meta experimentation.

Ultimately, the best Necromancer build for you in Season 8 depends on your goals—whether you're pushing The Pit, speed farming, or just enjoying the thrill of commanding the undead. With new mechanics, gear options, and balance changes in place, there's never been a better time to explore what the Necromancer class can truly do.

Would you like help with Diablo IV items gear recommendations for any of these builds?