Pokemancer (Summoner Necromancer Walkthrough/Guide)

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Zartok
Rust Claw
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The Pokemancer
(Summoner Walkthrough/Guide)


Introduction
Welcome to my first ever made guide, after some seasons I become sad that no one remade the summoner necro guide, so in the end.. I shall be the one doing it. The thing is, I am not the best median player, but that might this guide even better? If I can do it, so can you!

The build is focused to be a pure summoner and rely on your faithful minions to clear all the gyms (bosses), so that you can brag about all those nice badges (trophies) you have collected as a true pokemancer. I hope you get something out of this, the build will grow as I grow my self, feedback is more than welcome!
PS: I know you can be more effective going other skill trees at the start, but this is not the way of a true pokemancer!

***UPDATE ON PATCH 2.6***
DEATHSPEAKER
Mold the Flesh: removed, effects moved into embalming

SUMMON
Resurgence: Now has half the hard point scaling and a maximum base level of 10
It went from 5 point max, to 10 point max.
Damage scaling per point is reduced by 50%.
This means the total from 10 points would net the same as 5 points.
Overall a super minor nerf as we now have 1 less skill point to play around with.

Always fun times to see the changes and love necro summoners get each patch.
Have a great time summoning in 2.6


This is a mostly SFF log journey and a guide! Update comes as I progress
PS: There is a super short version with a TL;DR section in the next post below the journey section of the guide.


Pros & Cons
Pros
Can be played easily as solo self found.
Lazy/Relaxing build, minions to do all the works.
Deathless Campaign. A lot of health, defense and avoidance with little points into vitality (6.5k hp with 200 vitality).
Destroy everything in the early game.
Easy going through hell and the early challenges.


Cons
Passive Playstyle - Minions do all the work..?
You put your hands in the faith of the minion AI to be a good boy.


If you wish to learn more about other summoner classes and information about each minion, there is a huge guide on everything summoner related on this page: viewtopic.php?p=442229


The pokemancer journey
(recommended to follow along for newer players!)

***Pre-Journey Section*** (D2Stats item filter and such)
Item filter
► Show Spoiler

Minion Resistance
► Show Spoiler


Normal + Nightmare | Act 1 - Act 5
► Show Spoiler


Hell | Act 1 - 5 + Easy Challenges while doing the campaign
For Videos of me doing the ubers, check the post below in the "Ubers and Video" Section

► Show Spoiler


Level 110-115, the farm and moderate challenges
► Show Spoiler


Honorific and Shrine Crafting Section
► Show Spoiler


Level 115-120, more farm and moderate-hard challenges
► Show Spoiler


***Check the next post for the TL;DR version and ubers done in the 2.5 update with videos!***
Edited by Zartok 8 months.
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Zartok
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TL;DR, give me the super short version!
The Mercenary Section
► Show Spoiler


Early Game(Normal + Nightmare)
► Show Spoiler


Mid Game (Hell + Very Easy to Moderate challenges)
► Show Spoiler


Mid - Late Game (Moderate -> Hard challenges)
► Show Spoiler


End Game (Optimized gear)
► Show Spoiler


Ubers And Videos
This is also a great resource for rewards and maps of zones: https://tsw.vn.cz/quests/
**If you wish to see more information about me and the ubers, check out the journey section**
Thanks to Siosilvar for the inspiration to make a star system from 1 to 4 based on how the ubers are on this build.
★☆☆☆ - Very easy, can just sit back and relax while watching your minions clean the uber up.
★★☆☆ - Some mechanics may kill you, and therefore your minions.
★★★☆ - Hard, got to be quick and require some more specific items.
★★★★ - Super hard, maybe impossible on a summoner. May have to switch to another build.

Level 105 Ubers - "Very Easy"
► Show Spoiler


Level 110 Ubers - "Easy"
► Show Spoiler


Level 115 Ubers - "Moderate"
► Show Spoiler


Level 120 Ubers - "Hard"
► Show Spoiler


Level 125 Ubers - "Very Hard"
► Show Spoiler


Level 135 Ubers - "Extreme"
► Show Spoiler
Edited by Zartok 8 months.
nob4242
Vampiress
39 | 1
Been enjoying summon sinner from crafted Necro shield. The new version scales much better with minion stats and casts apoc. The chaotic spark summon is cool but only on staves where sinner is wand or shield aside from relic.
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Zartok
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nob4242 wrote:Been enjoying summon sinner from crafted Necro shield. The new version scales much better with minion stats and casts apoc. The chaotic spark summon is cool but only on staves where sinner is wand or shield aside from relic.


Thanks for the tip, will check it out when I start doing Tainted/Magical crafts.
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CircaG
Balrog
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Really well done guide! This is awesome, just starting a summoner now to try it out :)

I know you give 2 options for leveling TUs. What would you prefer for the wep tho? Lord of Thorns or Black Heart variant? LoT gives max minions, which I think would be good, but I'm curious to hear what you leveled with.
mattbnr
Destroyer
7 | 1
as a 20 year lover of the summoner class i was sad to see no one recommended playing one on this game and the last guide hadn't been updated since 1.2 was out. im new to median so i understand sorta where to put points but the items is the hard part. love the guide which as reignited my love for the class once again.

on a side note- did you do anything special to d2stats? or just use the default one?
Extr4w1
Cultist
24 | 1
Might be good for endgame with these:
Weapon:
Shadowfiend
Shadowfiend
Marrow Staff (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: 45 to 49
(Necromancer Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 275
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.06 per Strength)%
+8 to Necromancer Skill Levels
(50 to 70)% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+100% to Summoned Minion Life
+(125 to 200)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(25 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+(100 to 130) Life after each Kill
10% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (6)
for 2h or
King's Desire
King's Desire
Grim Wand (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 39 to 44
(Necromancer Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 172
Item Level: 105
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.06 per Dexterity)%
Veil King: +25% Total Damage
Night Hawks: +10% Total Damage and +2 Extra Hawks
+(1 to 4) to Necromancer Skill Levels
25% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(16 to 30)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+100 to Strength
+(501 to 1000) to Life
Physical Resist -5%
Socketed (2)

Offhand:
Gloom
Gloom
Necromancer Shields

'LuxHem'
Runeword Level: 105
Abyss Knights Reduce Enemy Magic Resistance by 10%
+(4 to 5) to Necromancer Skill Levels
+(20 to 25)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(50 to 60)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+10% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+200% Enhanced Defense
Elemental Resists +15%
Physical Resist 5%
(15 to 25)% Magic Find
for RW,
Grim Silhouette
Grim Silhouette
Gargoyle Head (Sacred)

Defense: (3694 - 4389) to (4792 - 5617)
Chance to Block: 2%
(Necromancer Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 443
Item Level: 105
Veil King: +100% Life and Damage
+(3 to 5) to Necromancer Skill Levels
+(31 to 60)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(75 to 150)% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+(130 to 180)% Enhanced Defense
+(500 to 1000) Defense
Maximum Cold Resist +(1 to 2)%
Elemental Resists +(15 to 25)%
Socketed (4)
for VK buff or
Back To The Abyss
Back To The Abyss
Demon Head (Sacred)

Defense: 1448 to 1766
Chance to Block: 2%
(Necromancer Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 445
Item Level: 120
Abyss Knights Die After Being Summoned
+(2 to 3) to Necromancer Skill Levels
+150% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(101 to 150) to Energy
+300 Life Regenerated per Second
Decrease Maximum Life -10%
Physical Resist 20%
50% Magic Find
Socketed (4)
if you want to burn your mana resummon those AKs.
Stone Guardian
Stone Guardian
Spiked Shield (Sacred)

Defense: (1818 - 2323) to (2169 - 2771)
Chance to Block: Class%
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 550
Item Level: 105
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
30% Cast Speed
+50% to Summoned Minion Life
+(10 to 20)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(10 to 25)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+(80 to 130)% Enhanced Defense
+(15 to 50) to Strength
Maximum Life +(2 to 3)%
+(50 to 250) to Mana
(15 to 50)% Bonus to Defense
Socketed (6)
might be good transition from mid to end.
Helm:
Rathma's Blessing

Rathma's Blessing
Circlets

'OrtGlaThulGla'
Runeword Level: 100
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+50% to Summoned Minion Life
+25% to Summoned Minion Damage
+50% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Lightning Resist +25%
Cold Resist +50%
+10 Cold Absorb
(15 to 20)% Magic Find
might be good; Magical or tainted depending from needs or keep the
Through Death's Veil
Through Death's Veil
Mask (Sacred)

Defense: (1880 - 2350) to (2008 - 2510)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength:
330
Item Level: 1
+(1 to 2) to Necromancer Skill Levels
+(21 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(100 to 150)% Enhanced Defense
Maximum Mana +20%
Requirements -45%
Socketed (4)

Satanic Mantra
(Necromancer Summoner Set)
.
Body:
Hratli's Craft
Hratli's Craft
Ring Mail (Sacred)

Defense: (6628 - 7311) to (7292 - 8043)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
330
Item Level: 105
+1 to All Skills
25% Cast Speed
50% Hit Recovery
+(41 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+75 to Dexterity
Physical Resist 10%
40% Magic Find
Requirements -40%
Socketed (6)
(if you want cheap),
Goetia Plate
Goetia Plate
Full Plate Mail (Sacred)

Defense: (8467 - 9339) to (10376 - 11445)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 700
Item Level: 120
+3 to All Skills
+1 to Maximum Necromancer Minions
+(151 to 200)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(51 to 75)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+150 Life Regenerated per Second
+750 to Life
+375 to Mana
-4 to Light Radius
Socketed (6)
,
Thelema

Thelema
Body Armors

'LewIuHel'
Runeword Level: 110
+4 to All Skills
55% Cast Speed
+(80 to 95)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(200 to 250)% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(120 to 150) to Vitality
15% to Vitality
+(101 to 125) Mana when Struck by an Enemy
, or
Lend Me Thy Light
Lend Me Thy Light
Scale Mail (Sacred)

Defense: (4960 - 6200) to (5538 - 6922)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 575
Item Level: 1
+(1 to 3) to Necromancer Skill Levels
+(0 to 1) to Maximum Necromancer Minions
+(100 to 150)% Enhanced Defense
+250 to Mana
Physical Resist 10%
+2 to Light Radius
Socketed (6)

Satanic Mantra
(Necromancer Summoner Set)
, your choice.
Gloves:
Aiwass
Aiwass
Gloves

'ZodKa'
Runeword Level: 105
+15% Malice Skill Damage
+3 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+(30 to 35)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+293 Defense
(21 to 35)% to Strength
+(1 to 100) to Life
Regenerate Mana +(5 to 10)%
+15 Life after each Kill
maybe the only choice here.
Belt: Magical or tainted craft.
Boots:
Overseer's Slippers
Overseer's Slippers
Boots

'HemIo'
Runeword Level: 105
Abyss Knights: Chance to cast Chaos Nova on Kill Doubled
4% Chance to cast level 11 Force Blast when Struck
+1 to Necromancer Skill Levels
Attacker Flees after Striking 10%
+(25 to 30)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(31 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+50% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+200% Enhanced Defense
-111 Defense
+(200 to 250) to Energy
(25 to 30)% Magic Find

Amulet: Either
Felblood
Felblood
Amulet

Required Level: 10
Item Level: 1
Metal Solace: Also Regenerates Totem Life
+(1 to 2) to Necromancer Skill Levels
5% Life stolen per Hit
+4 to Life (Based on Character Level)
3% Reanimate as: Random Monster
for lots of MO slots or rare, devs probably hate summoners, who knows.
Rings:
Der Nebelring
Der Nebelring
Ring

Required Level: 110
Item Level: 105
+(20 to 30)% to Summoned Minion Life
+15% to Summoned Minion Damage
+1000 Defense
+400 to Life
Physical Resist (4 to 6)%
+(40 to 50) Life after each Kill
+2 to Light Radius
x2 or paired with
Seal of the Nephalem Kings
Seal of the Nephalem Kings
Ring

Required Level: 100
Item Level: 120
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
(10 to 15)% to Strength
(10 to 15)% to Vitality
(10 to 15)% Bonus to Defense
(10 to 20)% Gold Find
if Aiwass don't do enough.

Stats for rare and crafts: Basically anything with high minion AR, Res, and Damage (this one for
Overseer's Slippers
Overseer's Slippers
Boots

'HemIo'
Runeword Level: 105
Abyss Knights: Chance to cast Chaos Nova on Kill Doubled
4% Chance to cast level 11 Force Blast when Struck
+1 to Necromancer Skill Levels
Attacker Flees after Striking 10%
+(25 to 30)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(31 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+50% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+200% Enhanced Defense
-111 Defense
+(200 to 250) to Energy
(25 to 30)% Magic Find
).
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Immortal2563
Grubber
345 | 10
I have 4 Sinwar and there I have a 100% dmg / hp bonus to Veil King and one is missing this bonus.

On Grim Silhouette I have +2 projectiles to ....

Back To The Abyss I don't have an orange bonus at all.

Why do I have my Sinwar and Silgouette bonuses reversed? The last two has same bonuses. Its bugged or they are from previous patches.

I checked in the item database Grim Silhouette has a bonus to Veil King and Sinwar has nothing.

I don't know, maybe I should move it to the error section?
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Zartok
Rust Claw
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CircaG wrote:Really well done guide! This is awesome, just starting a summoner now to try it out :)
► Show Spoiler


Thank you :) I would go for LoT, it saves you a bit time for farming, and the defensive options from having the offhand is not needed as you have a lot of meat shields.
The +1 max minions is a huge dps increase when you have fewer total number of summons.
At LoT tier 1 and 2 there is a chance for it to have the affix with +1 max, but at tier 3 and 4 its a 100% chance for it to have the increase.
If you get a +1 to max minions at level 11 which is the earliest it would be possible to equip it (really low chance to find it tho). At level 12 when you get your first Abyss Knight it would mean +100% dps increase from the Abyss Knight, and +25% DPS from the skeletons.
So, 100% LoT :) Maybe I should remove the other option in the early game section?


mattbnr wrote:as a 20 year lover of the summoner class i was sad to see no one recommended playing one on this game and the last guide hadn't been updated since 1.2 was out.
► Show Spoiler


Thanks :) Good idea, I'm actually using D2Stats a lot. I added a pre-journey section for information such as custom item filters for leveling a summoner.


Extr4w1 wrote:Might be good for endgame with these:
► Show Spoiler


Thank you for the endgame suggestion, will add it as one option for now :) What is your thoughts on minion AR? I heard that it was really hard to find out what effects they had, as its a hidden stat ingame.


Immortal2563 wrote:I have 4 Sinwar and there I have a 100% dmg / hp bonus to Veil King and one is missing this bonus.
► Show Spoiler


Yeah, this looks 100% like a bug. It seems that the name of the first "
Sinwar
Sinwar
Demon Head (Sacred)

Defense: 1448 to 1766
Chance to Block:
4%
(Necromancer Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 445
Item Level: 105
+(5 to 6) to Necromancer Skill Levels
2% Base Block Chance
+100 Spell Focus
+(20 to 30)% to Spell Damage
-30% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
-10% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Physical Resist 15%
Cannot Be Frozen
Total Defense = 0
Socketed (4)
" is actually the item
Grim Silhouette
Grim Silhouette
Gargoyle Head (Sacred)

Defense: (3694 - 4389) to (4792 - 5617)
Chance to Block: 2%
(Necromancer Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 443
Item Level: 105
Veil King: +100% Life and Damage
+(3 to 5) to Necromancer Skill Levels
+(31 to 60)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(75 to 150)% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+(130 to 180)% Enhanced Defense
+(500 to 1000) Defense
Maximum Cold Resist +(1 to 2)%
Elemental Resists +(15 to 25)%
Socketed (4)
.
Did you play single player, then updated the game, and then using an old char / item?
Edited by Zartok 1 year.
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Immortal2563
Grubber
345 | 10
Sp of course. Items are not cheated. I do not remember where I got these items. These two have completely swapped stats as if someone called them the other way around, and the next two have an inverse orange bonus. Marco was here today, maybe he'll come over and tell me how it's possible.

As for the AR, I did not bother with it.