Is the necro a secret (or failed) ranged character?

Ever wonder why one of the highest starting stats of the necro is dexterity? (Starts with 25, same as energy) especially compared to the sorc, who also starts with 25 dex but also 35 in energy, and the Amazon also only starts with 25 dex.

And ever wonder why the

Pus Spitter exists? Why some bows can fire magic

Arrows? Or exploding

Arrows? (When the Amazon has better versions)

And ever wonder why some throwing weapons can spawn with +necro skills?

The answer has been in front of us this whole time, some have even dared explore it: the necromancer is a physical ranged character!

Not convinced?

You say the necromancer could never do enough physical damage?

Amplify Damage!

You say the necromancer could never hit anything?
Seek out the “ignore targets defence” modifier (or others that reduce defence per hit - much better)

You say the necromancer is too squishy?
Skeletons much? Bone armour?

You say the necromancer could never deal with physical immunes?

Bone Spear!

But why wouldn’t the necromancer have any skills that directly improve his ranged attacks?
Oh I think there were! Throwing daggers are a thing,

Poison Dagger is a skill. I think in an earlier version of the game the

Poison Dagger skill would effect throwing daggers. They can roll +necro skills! The only other classes that they roll +skills for are barb and Amazon… who conveniently have ranged attack skills. Coincidence? I think not!

But then there was probably a staff meeting with the devs where they were reviewing all the skills and someone said “wait… poison damage on throwing daggers? We just did the Amazon skills and she’s got

Plague Javelin. Just keep it to stabby-stabby daggers!” “But we’ve also got…” “Enough! Just move on to the paladin, I really like that guy”

I submit to you, the necro shouldn’t be using a

Wand as his primary weapon and just dump all his stats into vitality, with every version of him revolving around

Corpse Explosion. I submit the necro has the support skills to be a potent ranged attacker!

All he needs is the right equipment!

Part 2: His gear
Gimme a couple days to come up with some gear options. Feel free to post any recommendations, or if anyones ever tried a necro-bowa tell us a tale!

Part 2.1 - the weapon?

Well I looked through the unique bows and crossbows, there’s definitely a bunch that would be useful when leveling up and tick all the boxes, but nothing that would be end-game… so I checked the rune words…

Brand! Brand is the BiS for a necro-bowazon, hereafter called the necro-azon!

Just look at those stats, when looking at them with a necro in mind it’s obvious really.

Synergisable proc(

Bone Spear)? Check
Ignores target def? Check
Bonus to attack rating? Check
Fires explosive

Arrows? Check
Knock back and prevent monster heal and 20% deadly strike? Yes please!

My mind was blown…
Sure there’s not any attack speed increase , but you could use act 1 Faith merc (which would also buff all the sekelies).

This just got interesting

Nate wrote: 2 years ago

This just got interesting

Beast on weapon swap, and now you're a bear, slapping bonespears all over the place.

They know too much!

Looks like this build has been explored a bit:

You could probably get a high level

Enchant as well from some other swap gear.

I’d also pre-buff with Peace/Harmony to get a decent

Valkyrie

Also a better name from phantomotap is bowamancer

I like Bo[w]nemancer better, has a better ring to it...

You can get L23

Enchant from

Demon Limb, but be mindful of the 133 STR requirement.

Ravoc wrote: 2 years ago

I like Bo[w]nemancer better, has a better ring to it...

You can get L23

Enchant from

Demon Limb, but be mindful of the 133 STR requirement.

Yeah Bownemancer is a good play on words
I was thinking of

Bone Armor and getting str to 110 for good plate. 133 is a bit much but could be worth it. Can't tell until we test these things out

You could have

Larzuk socket it and slot a

Hel. That should lower it to 107 probably.

Well I’m playing a new necro with bows/Xbows. Only got to lvl20.

Used

Raven Claw and

Witherstring, but landed on a 3os

Repeating Crossbow with 3 x +15 max damage jewels.

It’s fun after all, but it’s still low enough level that any character could play this style. I’m excited to level up a bit more for some special gear/runewords.

What do you think about this budget option for the skelbow build?
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/3801uowi

I just put in stuff I currently have that could make it work and whatever I don't yet have for it I put in with the min. values (even tho they are easy to get/make).