ESO: Necromancer Class Overview

The Necromancer is one of the most unique and versatile classes in The Elder Scrolls Online, offering a dark, thematic playstyle centered around raising the dead, manipulating corpses, and harnessing destructive elemental magic. Unlike other classes, Necromancers consume fallen enemies to fuel their abilities, making them a high-risk, high-reward choice..

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the Necromancer’s strengths, weaknesses, skill lines, and optimal playstyles, helping you determine whether this powerful and sinister class is the right choice for your adventures in ESO.

ESO Necromancer Overview

The Necromancer in The Elder Scrolls Online is a powerful and versatile class that commands undead minions, manipulates life and death, and wields destructive elemental magic. With three class-focused skill lines: Grave Lord (DPS), Bone Tyrant (Tank), and Living Death (Healer) the Necromancer can effectively adapt to any combat role in both PvE and PvP.

Necromancer	Overview
	Skill Lines: Grave Lord, Bone Tyrant, Living Death Class Synergies: Grave Robber, Pure Agony Class Features: Corpse Manipulation, Summoning, Damage over Time, Survivability Class Armor: Death Shroud Melee Style: Clawing Shadows, Dark Tendrils Specialties: Undead Minions, Battlefield Control, Corpse-Based Healing & Buffs

The Necromancer class in ESO is perfect for those who wield dark magic and command the dead. Mastering this class requires careful corpse management, as many abilities are enhanced by consuming fallen enemies.

ESO Necromancer Strengths & Weaknesses

The Necromancer class in ESO offers a versatile and powerful toolkit, excelling in damage, tanking, and healing roles. However, mastering its corpse-based mechanics and resource management requires skill and strategy. This section highlights key strengths and weaknesses to help you determine if the Necromancer playstyle suits you.

ESO Necromancer Skills Lines & Abilities

The Necromancer in ESO Necromancer Skills lines, each specializing in a different combat role — damage dealing, tanking, or healing. Unlike other classes, the Necromancer’s abilities interact with corpses, making corpse management an essential part of mastering the class.

Each skill line offers a variety of active and passive abilities, allowing for powerful burst attacks, area-of-effect (AoE) damage, high survivability, and healing potential. Below is a detailed breakdown of the Necromancer’s skill lines, abilities, and their best uses.

Grave Lord (DPS – Elemental & Corpse-Based Damage)

"Raise relentless undead and unleash elemental destruction."

The Grave Lord skill line focuses on offensive magic, dealing Fire, Frost, Shock, Disease, and Poison damage. This skill line is best suited for DPS roles, allowing the Necromancer to summon undead minions, command elemental forces, and consume corpses to fuel destructive spells.

ESO Necromancer Active Abilities

Ability	Description	Unlock	Cost	Cast Time (Duration)	Range/Radius (Target)
Flame Skull	Throws a fire skull at an enemy. Every third cast deals 50% increased damage.	Rank 1	2700 Magicka	Instant	28m (Enemy)
Venom Skull	Converts to Stamina, deals Poison Damage, and casting any Necromancer ability counts towards the third skull.	Rank IV	2295 Stamina	Instant	28m (Enemy)
Ricochet Skull	Third cast bounces to two additional enemies, dealing AoE damage.	Rank IV	2700 Magicka	Instant	28m/8m (Enemy)
Boneyard	Creates a necrotic zone that deals AoE Frost Damage over 10s. Consuming a corpse increases damage by 30%. Allies can activate Grave Robber synergy.	Rank 20	2970 Magicka	Instant (10s)	28m/6m (Ground)
Unnerving Boneyard	Applies Major Breach, reducing enemy Spell/Physical Resistance by 5948.	Rank IV	2970 Magicka	Instant (10s)	28m/6m (Ground)
Avid Boneyard	Allows self-activation of synergy instead of waiting for an ally.	Rank IV	2970 Magicka	Instant (10s)	28m/6m (Ground)
Skeletal Mage	Summons a skeletal mage that attacks every 2s for 20s. Creates a corpse on death.	Rank 30	2970 Magicka	Instant (20s)	Self
Skeletal Archer	Converts to Stamina, deals Physical Damage, and each attack increases damage by 15%.	Rank IV	2525 Stamina	Instant (20s)	Self
Skeletal Arcanist	Deals Shock Damage to all nearby enemies instead of a single target.	Rank IV	2970 Magicka	Instant (20s)	4m (Area)
Shocking Siphon	Drains energy from a corpse, dealing Shock Damage over 20s to all nearby enemies. While slotted, increases damage done by 3%.	Rank 42	-	Instant (20s)	28m (Ground)
Detonating Siphon	Converts to Disease Damage. Corpse explodes at the end, dealing additional AoE damage.	Rank IV	-	Instant (20s)	28m (Ground)
Mystic Siphon	Restores 150 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery while siphoning.	Rank IV	-	Instant (20s)	28m (Ground)

ESO Necromancer Ultimate Abilities

Ultimate Ability	Description	Unlock	Cost	Cast Time (Duration)	Range/Radius (Target)
Frozen Colossus	Summons a giant undead Flesh Colossus that smashes the ground three times, dealing Frost Damage per hit and applying Major Vulnerability (30% increased damage taken for 12s).	Rank 12	175 Ultimate	Instant (3s)	28m/8m (Ground)
Pestilent Colossus	Deals Disease Damage instead of Frost. Each smash increases in damage and applies Diseased status effect.	Rank IV	175 Ultimate	Instant (3s)	28m/8m (Ground)
Glacial Colossus	Final smash stuns all enemies for 4s and Major Vulnerability lasts 17s instead of 12s.	Rank IV	175 Ultimate	Instant (3s)	28m/8m (Ground)

ESO Necromancer Passive Abilities

Passive	Description	Unlock
Reusable Parts	Casting Skeletal Mage, Blastbones, or Spirit Mender reduces the cost of the next summon by 50%.	Rank 8
Death Knell	Increases Critical Strike Chance by 8% per active Grave Lord ability when attacking enemies under 25% Health.	Rank 14
Dismember	While a Grave Lord ability is active, gain 1500 Spell and Physical Penetration.	Rank 22
Rapid Rot	Increases damage over time effects by 10%.	Rank 39

Bone Tyrant (Tank – Defensive & Health Sustain)

"Bend the dead to your will, fortifying yourself with their remains."

The Bone Tyrant skill line is focused on defensive and self-sustaining abilities, allowing Necromancers to mitigate damage, control the battlefield, and absorb health from enemies.

ESO Necromancer Active Abilities

Ability	Description	Unlock	Cost	Cast Time (Duration)	Range/Radius (Target)
Death Scythe	Slashes in a cone, dealing 1742 Magic Damage and healing for 2400 per target hit (scales with Max Health). The heal increases by 800 per additional target, up to 5.	Rank 1	3240 Magicka	Instant	7m (Cone)
Ruinous Scythe	Converts to Stamina, deals Bleed Damage, applies Hemorrhaging, and Off Balance (7s).	Rank IV	2754 Stamina	Instant	7m (Cone)
Hungry Scythe	Applies a Heal-over-Time effect for 10s after hitting enemies.	Rank IV	2970 Magicka	Instant	7m (Cone)
Bone Armor	Encases in bone armor, granting Major Resolve (5948 Physical & Spell Resistance) for 20s. Creates a corpse when it expires.	Rank 4	2700 Magicka	Instant (20s)	Self
Beckoning Armor	Pulls ranged enemies every 2s while active. Reduces cost.	Rank IV	2430 Magicka	Instant (20s)	Self
Summoner's Armor	Reduces the cost of Blastbones, Skeletal Mage, and Spirit Mender by 15%.	Rank IV	2700 Magicka	Instant (20s)	Self
Bitter Harvest	Consumes corpses, granting 2 Ultimate per corpse and healing for 682 per second (2s per corpse). Reduces damage taken by 3% while slotted.	Rank 20	-	Instant	12m (Area)
Deaden Pain	Doubles duration (4s per corpse) and grants Major Protection (-10% damage taken).	Rank IV	-	Instant	12m (Area)
Necrotic Potency	Generates 6 Ultimate per corpse instead of 2.	Rank IV	-	Instant	12m (Area)
Bone Totem	Places a totem at feet, granting Minor Protection (-5% damage taken) to allies for 11s. After 2s, fears enemies every 2s for 4s.	Rank 30	4050 Magicka	Instant (9s)	6m (Area)
Remote Totem	Totem can be placed up to 28m away. Reduced cost.	Rank IV	3240 Magicka	Instant (9s)	28m/6m (Ground)
Agony Totem	Increases duration (13s). Allies can activate Pure Agony synergy (2100 Magic Damage over 5s, applies Minor Vulnerability (5% more damage taken)).	Rank IV	4050 Magicka	Instant (13s)	6m (Area)
Grave Grasp	Summons skeletal claws in a line. The first patch slows (-30%, 5s), the second immobilizes (4s), and the third stuns (3s). Applies Minor Maim (-5% damage for 10s).	Rank 42	3780 Magicka	Instant (1s)	18×5m (Area)
Ghostly Embrace	Increases snare, immobilize, and stun durations (7s/6s/5s).	Rank IV	3780 Magicka	Instant (1s)	18×5m (Area)
Empowering Grasp	Buffs allies with Empower (increased Light Attack damage) and boosts Skeletal Mage/Spirit Mender healing by 1000.	Rank IV	3510 Magicka	Instant (1s)	18×5m (Area)

ESO Necromancer Ultimate Abilities

Ultimate Ability	Description	Unlock	Cost	Cast Time (Duration)	Range/Radius (Target)
Bone Goliath Transformation	Transform into a giant undead creature, increasing Max Health by 30,000 for 20s and instantly restoring 30,000 Health. While transformed, Light Attacks restore 319 Health and Fully Charged Heavy Attacks restore 800 Health.	Rank 12	250 Ultimate	Instant (20s)	Self
Pummeling Goliath	Bash attacks now hit multiple enemies in a cone and deal 1799 Physical Damage, scaling off offensive stats.	Rank IV	250 Ultimate	Instant (20s)	Self
Ravenous Goliath	Deals AoE Magic Damage every second and heals for the same amount while transformed.	Rank IV	250 Ultimate	Instant (20s)	Self

ESO Necromancer Passive Abilities

Passive	Description	Unlock
Death Gleaning	Restores 666 Magicka and Stamina when a nearby enemy dies in combat.	Rank 8
Disdain Harm	Reduces DoT damage taken by 15% while a Bone Tyrant ability is active.	Rank 14
Health Avarice	Increases Healing Received by 2% per Bone Tyrant ability slotted.	Rank 22
Last Gasp	Increases Max Health by 1250.	Rank 39

Living Death (Healer – Support & Resurrection)

"Harness life and death itself to restore your allies."

The Living Death skill line specializes in healing, support, and resurrection, using corpses to enhance healing abilities.

ESO Necromancer Active Abilities

Ability	Description	Unlock	Cost	Cast Time (Duration)	Range/Radius (Target)
Render Flesh	Heals you or an ally for 1232 Health but applies Minor Defile (-8% Healing Received, 4s).	Rank 1	4320 Magicka	Instant	28×12m (Area)
Resistant Flesh	Grants the target Physical & Spell Resistance equal to half the amount healed (3s).	Rank IV	4320 Magicka	Instant	28×12m (Area)
Blood Sacrifice	Consumes a corpse to heal a second target.	Rank IV	4320 Magicka	Instant	28×12m (Area)
Expunge	Removes up to 2 negative effects and reduces ability costs by 3% while slotted.	Rank 4	1940 Health	Instant	Self
Expunge & Modify	Restores 515 Magicka and Stamina per effect removed.	Rank IV	1940 Health	Instant	Self
Hexproof	Removes up to 4 negative effects.	Rank IV	1670 Health	Instant	Self
Life Amid Death	Heals you and allies for 821 Health. If a corpse is consumed, grants additional 795 Health over 5s.	Rank 20	3510 Magicka	Instant	8m (Ground)
Renewing Undeath	Consuming a corpse also removes up to 3 negative effects.	Rank IV	3510 Magicka	Instant	8m (Ground)
Enduring Undeath	Can consume multiple corpses, increasing the duration of healing over time.	Rank IV	3510 Magicka	Instant	8m (Ground)
Spirit Mender	Summons a spirit for 16s that heals the lowest-health ally every 2s for 695 Health. Creates a corpse when it expires.	Rank 30	4320 Magicka	Instant (16s)	Self
Spirit Guardian	Transfers 10% of the damage you take to the spirit instead.	Rank IV	4320 Magicka	Instant (16s)	Self
Intensive Mender	Lasts only 8s but heals twice as much.	Rank IV	2160 Magicka	Instant (8s)	Self
Restoring Tether	Siphons a corpse to heal for 4842 over 12s to yourself and allies between you and the corpse. Increases Healing Done by 3% while slotted.	Rank 42	-	Instant	28m
Braided Tether	Also heals allies in a radius around you.	Rank IV	-	Instant	28m
Mortal Coil	Restores 170 Magicka and Stamina every 2s while siphoning the corpse.	Rank IV	-	Instant	28m

ESO Necromancer Ultimate Abilities

Ability	Description	Unlock	Cost	Cast Time (Duration)	Range/Radius (Target)
Reanimate	Instantly resurrects up to 3 allies at the target location.	Rank 12	335 Ultimate	Instant	28m, 12m radius (Ground)
Renewing Animation	Restores 5300 Magicka and Stamina per resurrected ally.	Rank IV	335 Ultimate	Instant	28m, 12m radius (Ground)
Animate Blastbones	Consumes up to 3 corpses to summon Blighted Blastbones after resurrecting allies.	Rank IV	320 Ultimate	Instant	28m, 12m radius (Ground)

ESO Necromancer Passive Abilities

Passive	Description	Unlock
Curative Curse	Increases healing done by 8% while affected by a negative effect.	Rank 8
Near-Death Experience	Healing critical strike chance increases (up to 20%) based on the target’s missing health.	Rank 14
Corpse Consumption	Using corpse-based abilities generates 10 Ultimate (16s cooldown).	Rank 22
Undead Confederate	While a Necromancer summon is active, Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery increase by 200.	Rank 39

Necromancer Gameplay & Tips

• Utilize Corpses Effectively: Many abilities rely on consuming fallen enemies.
• Control the Battlefield: Abilities like Agony Totem and Grave Grasp provide powerful crowd control.
• Manage Resources: The Necromancer has strong sustain tools, but poor resource management can hinder effectiveness.
• Focus on AoE Damage: Abilities like Boneyard and Frozen Colossus are highly effective in group fights.
• Be Cautious in Cities: Some Necromancer skills are considered criminal acts, triggering city guards' aggression.

Necromancer Gear Recommendations

The right gear is essential for maximizing a Necromancer’s effectiveness. Below are recommended sets for each role:

• PvE DPS Gear:
  • Magicka DPS: Mother’s Sorrow, Law of Julianos, Deadly Strike
  • Stamina DPS: Briarheart, New Moon Acolyte
• Tank Gear: Ebon Armory, Plague Doctor, Torug’s Pact
• Healer Gear: Spell Power Cure, Vestments of Olorime

Сonclusion

The Necromancer ESO class is ideal for players who enjoy complex mechanics, powerful AoE damage, and hybrid combat styles. Whether focusing on DPS, tanking, or healing, the Necromancer has a diverse skill set that rewards strategic gameplay. And ESO Boosting Services can provide the support you need - skip the grind and focus on what matters most dominating the battlefield and enjoying Tamriel to the fullest.

FAQ

Stay in touch

Don't miss out on special deals exlusive to Discord users⚡

Service request Join Discord

Change Log

• 19.03.2025 - ESO: Necromancer Class overview published.