5 Must-Have Spells for a D&D Necromancer

[@Nerdarchy]

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[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Nerdarchy if you’re gonna be bad the least you can do is be good at it!

[@MorphicGalaxy]

One thing you forgot: Negative Energy Flood doesn’t specify Humanoids. You can bring ANYTHING back as a zombie.

[@RobKinneySouthpaw]

Maybe an adventure guild has someone who casts clone as part of high-risk contracts. Start the campaign as the party wakes up in the guild catacombs after a tpk, deeply in debt.

[@Nerdarchy]

Sounds like a fun idea. Nerdarchist Dave

[@DougVehovec]

That is an amazing idea!

[@micahwroten6085]

Does your insurance agency cost your life savings for a clone spell? We offer clones at HALF THE COST of our competitors! Find a courier mage in any major city and Send Message to us today!

[@MaximumZombie]

I've always wanted to create a "Self-Necromancer" that creates a Clone of themselves and then when it is matured they cast Touch of Death on themselves to kill themselves bringing their now dead husk back as a soulless zombie follower permanently under your control and your actual soul waking up in the freshly grown Clone body. Repeat this several times as gold and time allow for a nice entourage of permanent self-zombie followers, the shenanigans are endless.

[@kacpersulik4219]

I had a similiar idea with very liberal interpretation of true polymorph. A warlock who worked with his patron to create weaker copies of himself to serve their common schemes.

[@kacpersulik4219]

@@MaximumZombie I like to think of wish as a spell that, outside of the "safe" listed options casters practically don't use. And for my idea? I need a reliable way to shape matter into life. Ability to conjure up a CR9 or lower creature, everyday, for a couple of years, is the real wonder of the true polymorph. Wish can backfire way too easily.

[@nephilimshammer9567]

Your raised dead dont stay forever

[@MaximumZombie]

@@nephilimshammer9567 they do if you recast control of them every day as part of preparation. It's also not much of a stretch to preserve the bodies with formaldehyde or a gentle repose type spell. They would at least last long enough to get a very large self zombie following.

[@NinjaSushi2]

So Emporer Palpatine from the Dark Horse comic series?

[@clarkside4493]

Ah, my favorite school of magic. I never understood why more necromancers don't just rely on clones rather than becoming a lich. Also, in case necromancers out there weren't aware, the best official thing in the edition you can target with Command Undead is a Nightwalker, from Tome of Foes. The next best thing, something Monster Manual specific, is a Mummy Lord, but they're harder to catch.

[@nickwilliams8302]

Clone kicks the arse of being a Lich. What's the point of being immortal if you're a goddamn walking corpse?

[@ashenwuss1651]

@@nickwilliams8302 I don think insane people are worried about keeping their pretty hair and skin when there's larger goals to deal with

[@jaredmabbutt6142]

Clone lets you choose the age of your clone, so that necromancer could pretend to be a small child to say walk right up to a king and cast finger of death. Or become an old person and ask the knight for a hand, before leading them into an ambush.

[@christinebainbridge8774]

Maybe they just hate life by that point, having worked with negative energy for so long. More practically, undeath cuts down on meal prep time, and you know how wizards can get cranky over interrupting their research. Easier to pop an old soul into the phylactery than to stop every several hours to eat and crap.

[@dyanaforest7174]

Clones are expensive which makes liches more financially efficient. You can have both though can't you?

[@v1v10rnitier]

Currently making a Necrodancer (Lore Bard6/warlock6) create/control undead+ aura of vitality (or the one that adds 1d4 damage to all allies within 30 feet.) I can spawn undead all day, toss them into a bag of holding, turn invisible and fly over my enemies to rain undeath upon them.

[@virtualhimeji462]

Bag of holding can only hold 500 pounds. Try a portable hole instead

[@devin5201]

And this ''Necrodancer'' does he have a Crypt to call his own? Something like a Crypt of the Necrodacer?

[@AbsoluteMongoloid]

@@virtualhimeji462 You can climb out of a Portable Hole, and quite easily with a DC 10 Strength Check. Don't want the Horde escaping early, now do we?

[@ricohoard9307]

Looks like I'm going to have to multiclass my death cleric with wizard for some of these spells.

[@Draegn]

A necromancer could also make flesh golems.

[@franciscop6295]

Definitely possible, but super expensive. 60days + 50,000 gold and only one use from a single manual

[@thelousygitarist6830]

Jup, that's why I always raise skeletons or zombies for finding traps. We had a hunter once who was specialized in finding an disarming traps. He felt useless when I just ordererd my undead minion to open the doors or activated the traps. Wanted j to use him to disarm them? Nope, just use it as a means to find out if there was a trap or not. Sometimes when it's dark I placed torches on the undead minion and walked it in frond of us. Easy peasy. However he did got pierced by a piercer and it was a sight to behold

[@Thornshock]

One thing I love about create dead is if you summon a wight they can become a major in your army as they too can have undead minions they command

[@landremon]

good job guys, minor point, time stamps on a list videos is a must. way more enjoyable when you listen the video more than once

[@thurismundbotheric7598]

I realize it was just a joke for the skit, but Ted's idea does sound like a good idea for a future video

[@GNParty]

The video is 15 minutes long. Which joke?

[@devin5201]

Necromancy is not inherently evil. Okay okay wait before you tear me apart for suggesting this just consider, most if not all arguments for it being inherently evil are either societal or take into account only our understanding/beliefs of the afterlife so what if we lived in a world where being useful to the kingdom is a really big deal and so after you die the clerics of the kingdom make your body into a zombie/mummy so that you are useful even after death and it is considered like a huge honor. I haven't worked out all the details but you just gotta give it a chance, give necromancy a chance.

[@dyanaforest7174]

Necromancy was not evil and was actually used in its initial practices. The point was to commune with the dead usually for investigation. It was due to the new religions that they started banning necromancy and made it a tradition. There are some cultures who think that it taints the souls of the dead though because their own understanding and interpretation of after life

[@-POISON-]

Basically Blood of Vol.

[@notsocrazytank707]

Turn ressurected skeletons of ancestors into a sort of bone automatons, with symbols of honour and soul support sigils all over. I dunno, use an expensive gem as a spell conductor and stick it in the forehead of the skull, so that the skeleton has to be raised only once. It would be considered an honour to serve the nation, being allowed to fall into slumber whenever your services are not required. To quote 40k Dreadnoughts, "Even in death I still serve"

[@BlackenedGold]

these guys give off the vibe their warlock uncles hahah

[@gregoryfloriolli9031]

You could take Enervation and use your Concentration and Action to do a 4d8 Damage, which is pitiful for a 5th level spell, and the spell ends if the target just moves out of range. Or, you could take Animate Objects, animate your pocket change, and use your Concentration to 10d4 + 40 damage every round as a Bonus Action. Most Necromancy spells are underpowered because WotC hates Necromancy.

[@MFewwy]

Yep

[@Bluecho4]

With the Clone spell, the fact that a villain has a few in reserve can even be turned into an adventure unto itself. After all, if the PCs realize this villain has some extra lives stored in physical locations, they can try to track them down and destroy them (or take them hostage). Also, because the Clone spell can return the person in a younger body, it's totally a method by which a character may have a form of immortality. The PCs might first encounter the villain after they've gone through multiple bodies over many centuries. Elves are even better for this, due to their already impressive lifespans. As a cherry on top, maybe have the villain NOT be, themselves, a Necromancer. They are a non-Wizard villain who long ago contracted the services of a powerful Wizard, to have many of these Clones produced. The villain is protective of the Clones he has, because that powerful Wizard was long ago, and their kind is not in the world today. Unless the old spell can be recovered/rediscovered and a new Wizard become powerful enough to cast it, the villain is limited to whatever Clones he has left. Meaning if the Clones are threatened, there's no telling what the villain might do.

[@thesenate5291]

Wither and Bloom can be very impolite for a Necromancer to utilise, hurting the grunt front line of an enemy to heal one of their buffer goons

[@itsduhg]

Whatever edition comes next whether 6e or 5.5e I really hope they make the necromancer viable as a necromancer. These spell levels are way too high for what they do.

[@bye1551]

Yeah, necromancer is just so weak, the wizard subclass really needs to be high level for any of the features to matter, and the spells... They suck frankly considering other spells of their level.

[@lord6617]

@@bye1551 I looked to past editions in one of my games for necromancy spells to fill out the early levels and make me less dependent on just raising undead. Worked with my DM and he was pretty happy with the translations/updates, especially since they are free game for his NPCs to use as much for me to find or research. It made playing a necromancer, especially more of a "gray" necromancer, a lot more fun.

[@Hakaze]

Yeah, the number of necromancy spells is so low, that you have very little choice, and if you're going for a horde build, there aren't much to boost them with. No auras, mass buffs or anything like it, so you just end up using all your slots for skeleton archers. Kinda cool, but not very exciting after a while

[@badmojo0777]

i disagree, i understand some necormancer spells seem weake,r but when use dALONG with a small (evne 4-8) undea dminions, they are stronger than epopel think.. that being said there DEFINATELY a few REAL STINKERs.

[@gotpaladin]

For my Necromancer player I went back into 3.5 and took some lower level Necromancer spells and let her slowly unlock them (translated to 5e) then started to obtain cohorts based on her actions and spell prowess

[@rogerswil97]

Yes this is exactly what I need for my next campaign! Can’t wait to build a necromancer and bring down righteous dark fury on my companions... I mean enemies!

[@RedPenDragon3]

So do the wights under your control still have the ability to control 12 zombies by killing them with their special attack? So by proxy you can get 12 bonus zombies for every wight?

[@Nerdarchy]

Yes just beware how you word your commands to the wights. Nerdarchist Dave

[@RedPenDragon3]

@@Nerdarchy Duely Noted

[@Teufeltusken]

Shame 'Harm' is only Death Cleric. :-(

[@FriendlyArchpriest]

Does Clone works across planes? I was thinking that using Demiplane and putting a Clone on it is a way to always have a safe way to come back to life.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Interesting

[@dirkbaldorad3634]

But how do you get out of your demiplane?

[@zevil_2469]

@@dirkbaldorad3634 cast demiplane

[@dirkbaldorad3634]

Gauge Bezayoff that spell opens a portal to a demiplane

[@zevil_2469]

@@dirkbaldorad3634 welp I'm out of Ideas

[@Johnny_Nitro]

When are you guys gonna do more episode reviews for the 1980's D&D cartoon?

[@Nerdarchy]

We've got a few shot. Interest in them seems kind of low though. After put up the one's we've shot we'll decide if we'll keep going or not. Nerdarchist Dave

[@smile-tl9in]

vampiric touch force you to be in melee...As a wizard...You don't see the problem ? It is a bad spell. Enervation do pityful damage and healing for a 5th level spell, and there are much more powerful things to use your concentration on (wall of force). Worst : it use your actions each turns. You could use your actions each turns to cast cantrips it would do about as much damage and still let you concentrate on other things. If you absolutly have to concentrate on a damage dealing spell an upcasted flaming sphere or a cloud kill for the same level do better (you can even use your undead minions to grapple, throw nets or hinder your ennemies inside the poisonous cloud : they are immune, THAT is a true necromancer move). It is a bad spell.

[@Nerdarchy]

Send your familiar to lay down some bad touch. Nerdarchist Dave

[@smile-tl9in]

@@Nerdarchy it doesn't work, vampiric touch have a range of self. Plus your familliar is even more squishy than you, even if it worked the ennemy just have to kill your familliar to waste your spell.

[@MFewwy]

Agree. Both enervation and vampiric touch are pretty bad spells

[@raikirah975]

TL;DR - Vampiric Touch is bad for any Wizard that doesn't want to be in melee, and Enervation is bad for all of the same reasons that Witch Bolt is bad. D&D 5E really has a hate boner for Necromancers.

[@LazyVideosGAME]

There are non-combat situations in an RPG. Vampiric Touch could be quiet useful for intimidation or torture-sessions.

[@JPF.94]

If harm is cast on a player does that mean they are easier to straight up be killed from damage when they go into negative max hp?

[@Nerdarchy]

I would say yes. Their maximum hit points are lowered. Nerdarchist Dave

[@sylvaincousineau5073]

I also like Dance Macabre for fast minions on demand to creat last minute meat shield and cannon fodders .

[@liamkirkwood8690]

the trouble with that is you already need a few people dead and at that point is it really worth doing the fight must be already wrapping up unless your fighting like 20 people

[@sylvaincousineau5073]

@@liamkirkwood8690 there is always a good chance to find some old bones lying around in a dusty dungeon . Or carry your own personnal ossuary with a Portable Hole . 😏 And called it The Pit of Bones .

[@liamkirkwood8690]

@@sylvaincousineau5073 forgot about just taking corpses with you but at that point why not just use animate dead on them instead

[@sylvaincousineau5073]

@@liamkirkwood8690 The point of Dance Macabre is to create fast minions on the spot or assembling last minute skeleton crew for a job . Both options are valide for the all -good- evil necromancers tool box .

[@oneringtorulethemagicarp7199]

@@liamkirkwood8690 as a necromancer, you make your undead right before a long rest so that you have the spell slots avaliable in an emergency, danse macabre is a wonderful little tool to simply raise a couple of your previously defeated minions again in the middle of combat... and this time their angrier ;)

[@madmanwithaplan1826]

I think the part of create undead that I think some people miss is that the early version can still be cast to reassert control over your wights you created with later versions

[@MitchT97]

*Me having 12 sets of dice hearing there’s discounted dice**sighs* “Sorry about this bank account.” But really I liked this video. I’m currently running the new Chronurgy Wizard class and I like mixing some of the necromancy spells available to Wizards. I will definitely be getting Finger of Death as it’s already available and maybe a few others maybe with the Magical Initiate or Ritual Caster feats.

[@drakependragon8439]

3.5 e with the dread necromancer was my favorite necromancy thing haven't played 5 e yet but wish they had the DN.

[@loganphillips2166]

Finger of death, make undead, into the bag of holding they go and then repeat. The BBG says "you and what army?" and you are glad they asked.

[@jtb6737]

Twinning Finger of Death, with multiclassing

[@troydombrosky359]

I want that Gelatinous Cube shirt! Where did you get it???

[@afoolishmortal5265]

something i like to do with finger of death is when i kill a humanoid with it is put the zombie in a bag of holding and keep doing that unless i need a minion at the moment. i use them for things like. Guarding the house, workers, and waiting until i have a army and using them to assault a city.

[@Arnsteel634]

I would like to see necromancy be more than just animating the dead

[@virtualhimeji462]

Charge nobles a bunch of money to cast it for them. But at the same time make a clone of yourself right next to it. Then mister noble will gaurd your clone and his at the same time.

[@magma90]

Cool

[@MrGary10k]

I'm trying out a lizardfolk Necromancer. They are wired different, so he feels like he's using tools available. It's about survival. He's not evil, but he uses necromancy to help him survive. I thought it would be interesting to play a necromancer who isn't evil. Life and death is a balance lizardfolk understand much differently. What are your thoughts?

[@robertwilson4834]

I've always wondered how Gift of the Ever-Living Ones works with spells like Vampiric Touch and Enervation, not had the opportunity for it to come up in a game that I was a player in so I've never been sure of how to treat the die, since the spells both deal damage but also heal the character, I know that the target of the spell wouldn't be taking full damage but would the caster get the full healing possible from the spell rather than basing it on the damage dealt to the target?

[@AgentGreen13]

Been playing Tyranny for a bit, we're a month from the final Council Meeting. I've just received a letter from Rothan, and he's calling in his favor for making a moonlight graveside misunderstanding go away.. It seems my traveling associates require death. I've sent a Simulacrum back home, to raise Skeletons and hand out bows and arrows. The terrain is riddled with Glyphs of Warding on tombstones to cast Danse Macabre when an adjacent Glyph of Warding goes off. This has been a downtime activity for about 6 weeks in-game (7 months IRL), setting up defense for the location of my Clone. About 10 feet into the footpath, adjacent to 2 Danse Macabre Glyphs, is a Glyph prepared with Otto's Irresistible Dance. The Simulacrum is to Ambush us 15 minutes from my home. It should be noted that 1: The Party (with the exception of the Rouge who is nosey) believes that I am an Evoker that specializes in Magic Missile, because of precision. 2: I sold the Bard and Cleric that I was attempting to clear my name for the deeds of my twin brother. 3: They also believe I teleport home bi-weekly to look after my 3 Children. 4: I have no family. Our group has had a traitor mechanic since Session 2, because instead of Spy missions, we kicked in doors in the name of the Order of the Gauntlet. And we never vetted new recruits. Of course a spy would be planted. While Dr. Brendlschur never joined a cult, he does pay back favors that save his life. Didn't consider pulling Harm on the party, but you've sold me.

[@damonkirk5035]

A old wizard villain could use clone to infiltrate the party as a younger version of them selfs

[@christinebainbridge8774]

No Tiny Servant? But how else will I animate my lovable undead army of critters? How else will I pull a skeletal bunny from a hat? How else will I manifest tiny hands on this severed zombie hand?

[@valasafantastic1055]

A note about alignment and Necromancy; Clone isn’t evil, the ones that animate corpses as your undead slaves are... People need to keep Alignment in mind if you are playing with alignment. Almost no one who even pretends to be good would use undead rather than just destroying it. This information is obviously PERFECT for a villain however. And I’m not saying you can’t play an evil campaign. You totally can! I’m suggestions you admit to yourself and everyone else that you are playing an evil character. But indeed clone doesn’t even hurt anyone. And damaging enemies is basically the same if it’s necromancy or fire, etc. Now if the WAY undead works on the world you are playing on makes them neutral animated corpses rather than evil tortured beings THEN the argument could be made it’s a neutral thing. Okay I just had to add my opinion on this because I wasn’t even addressed or brought up in the video. Overall the video was well presented, organized and fun. The add was not annoying. And the list aspect made me want to see how and why you ranked the spells. The criteria of ‘most like a classic necromancer was also clearly stated at the beginning which was very helpful in understanding your descriptions! Great video thanks.

[@Nerdarchy]

We shot this awhile ago. I don't think we were saying clone is an evil spell just that it's great for a villain. Nerdarchist Dave

[@valasafantastic1055]

@@Nerdarchy I didn't mean to imply YOU said that. my comment was more about me sharing my opinions that It isn't, that any undead creation and control spells are evil and the others are more neutral.

[@braddooley2122]

So harm followed by chill touch to keep the lost max hp off if there is a healer.

[@sanitater7639]

I just want to know what pet should I get myself for a Necromancer......

[@dragonmaster613]

In explaining Clone, Did Dave just say that Snoke is Palpatine and will return in Episode 9? (Palpatine is actually Plagius) Also Mr Sinister uses(abuses) the Clone Spell!

[@atomicash2475]

In some older star wars stuff, he used the stuff to make the clone army to clone himself, and upon death use the force to posse the new body

[@dragonmaster613]

@@atomicash2475 he learned that from his master (Plagius the wise) who learned it from his. Read the novel about Plagius the wise.

[@loadnlock357]

Danse Macabre is my favorite. has the potential for some insane damage

[@loadnlock357]

Use control undead on a white dracolich. Burn through it's legendary resistance with other stuff. You are now the night king, congratulations

[@dnddude9652]

“No Views” “2 Likes” What

[@Fektthis]

it's KZbin. best not to think about it.

[@RoundRobin0]

Five must have smells for Necromancers: Dead Skunk Raw Sewage Boiled Cabbage Rotting Garbage Dirty Laundry (especially socks and undergarments) Honorable Mention: Spoiled Milk Garlic Stew Limburgher Cheese

[@bossu5648]

my brain skipped “smells” and i got super confused for a sec 💀💀

[@Tyler-Kearney]

Please do videos for the other wizard schools

[@barbarnyak]

As a newby I have a question: do wizards (school of necromancy) have the spell of True Resurrection? The Handbook and every website say that is for clerics and druids... Thanks for the help ;)

[@ZombieSurvivor99]

Wizards do not have access to the True Resurrection spell

[@rob5541]

You guys are awesome, and I really like your green shirt. Where can I get one?

[@Corithaniel]

How do you guys feel about danse macarbre?

[@Dicemyth]

So I realized that you can have an absurd amount of undead with 1 4th level spells and 8 sorcerer points. First take 6 levels of wizard going necromancer of course, then take at least 8 levels of sorcerer. Cast Animate dead, at 4th level giving you 3 zombie/skeletons twin cast it making it 6 then, (because your a wizard.) You get two more because you cast animate dead twice giving you 8 minions.

[@dirkbaldorad3634]

Iirc twin spell is only usable with single target spells. And every corpse or skeleton is a target, making this a multiple target spell without even twinning it.

[@Dicemyth]

@@dirkbaldorad3634 oh, yep your right. I over looked that. Thank you.

[@murkyh3745]

Just wanted to mention that HARM is a cleric only spell :S not a necro wizard spell

[@TheCHAIRMENMAO]

Can you use the spell fabricate as an offensive spell ie if you see a knight in full plate armor can you turn the armor into a big pipe with him in it?

[@marcperez2598]

I mean I suppose but fabricate has a long casting time so it's not worth it. And I'm not sure you can mess with things people are wearing

[@christinebainbridge8774]

Yes... if you have 10 minutes to cast, if no one notices you and disrupts your spell during that time, if the armor is nonmagical, and if your DM rules full plate as raw materials. Fabricate lets you alter clothes even if someone's wearing them, but generally I'd think you'd have to have their consent or have them unable to stop you to pull it off. Think Cinderella's fairy godmother-- someone will probably notice if you are casting on their clothes.

[@MegaGaming11]

So. Slight gripe with D&D Beyond. You can't access any of the good shizz from the base books without having an account while creating a character.

[@leviangel97]

Yeah... it's a paid service

[@MegaGaming11]

@@leviangel97 I know, and I dislike that it is. I'm whining about it, yes, but there are no rules saying I can't do that.

[@thelordscrusaders387]

*simple sight intensifies*

[@angearrighi8674]

For ever the nécromancie

[@sanguineaurora8765]

Wait? Negative energy flood is not an aoe? You are mistaken mate.

[@Jason-96]

Wait a minute... Where did the new haircut go???

[@Nerdarchy]

Mahahahaha! Nerdarchist Dave

[@MFewwy]

Necromancers are pretty bad in 5 edition. Only way to be a good necromancer is to abuse skeletons. Most of the necromancy spells deal bad damage and don't scale well. Constitution saving throws are the worst one in the game so each necro spell with a con save are even more garbage.

[@quincybriley4113]

Enervation is such a bad spell. It's like the worst combat spell witch bolt, but take a slot that you can be casting much better spells with

[@billpowell6131]

And coming in 4th...

[@TVMAN1997]

I heard clerics make the best necromancers

[@d22268]

Cleric necromancers are more like "i deal damage", while wizard necromancers are more like i summon massive horde of zombies and skeletons, etc...(i know there are more necro classes than just wizard and cleric, but just wanted to specify those 2)

[@petyu3908]

2:08

[@landddo1341]

You guys should roll for the crit hit on subscribe and then the bell 🤣

[@tylerdavis6389]

Best necromantic cantrip: Toll The Dead.

[@reyrojo616]

MY Spell are real i can raise dead undas people

[@FromAgonyToLight]

There is no true PC necromancer in 5e. So pathetically weak except for clone.

[@CrimsonKrakhorn48]

3rd

[@helgemeff5555]

[@batmanbinladen8085]

Lame

[@jamesdeek7039]

God these guys are the definition of neckbeards. Go to the gym