MN Playing with landmines in a graveyard (Necro Pets/Thorns Theorycrafting Build)

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by SeraphimKensai last updated Jun 29, 2017 ( Patch 2.6 )

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Skills

Bone Spikes Sudden Impact
- Bone Spikes
Generate: 24 Essence

Summon bone spikes from the ground dealing 150% weapon damage as Physical per second.
Sudden Impact

Bone spikes stun enemies for 1 second.
Skeletal Mage Skeleton Archer
- Skeletal Mage
Cost: 40 Essence

Raise a skeleton from the ground to attack your foes dealing 400% weapon damage as Physical over two attacks. Lasts 6 seconds.
Skeleton Archer

Raise a Skeleton Archer that deals 400% weapon damage as Cold.

Skeleton Archers increase your attack speed by 3% for 5 seconds each time they deal damage. Max 10 stacks.
Command Skeletons Frenzy
- Command Skeletons
Cost: 50 Essence

Active: Command your skeletal minions to attack the target and increase their damage against it by 50%.

Passive: Raise skeletons from the ground every 2 seconds to a max of 7 skeletons. Skeletal minions deal 50% weapon damage as Physical per attack.
Frenzy

Commanded skeletons go into a frenzy, gaining 25% increased attack speed while they attack the target.
Revive Oblation
- Revive
Target an area reviving up to 10 corpses within 20 yards for 15 seconds.
Oblation

Increases the damage of revived creatures by 20% but each Revive now costs 3% health.
Army of the Dead Unconventional Warfare
- Army of the Dead
Cooldown: 120 seconds

Raise a massive skeletal army to pummel the targeted location dealing 12000% weapon damage as Physical in a 15 yard radius.
Unconventional Warfare

Skeletons will rise from the ground and attack random targets for 50000% total weapon damage as Physical over 4 seconds.
Frailty Aura of Frailty
- Frailty
Cost: 10 Essence

A crippling curse that kills enemies with less than 15% health. Lasts 30 seconds.
Aura of Frailty

Becomes an aura that curses all enemies within 15 yards.

The range of this effect is increased by 50% of your gold pickup radius.

Extended Servitude
- Extended Servitude
Increase the duration of your Skeletal Mage and Revive minions by 25%.
Aberrant Animator
- Aberrant Animator
Your minions gain 200% of your Thorns.
Eternal Torment
- Eternal Torment
Your curses cost 50% less Essence and last forever.
Spreading Malediction
- Spreading Malediction
Receive a 1% damage bonus for each enemy afflicted by one of your curses.

Items

Rathma's Skull Helm

Set Helm

21 - 24 Armor

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence
Sockets (1)

Bones of Rathma
Rathma's Skull Helm
Rathma's Spikes
Rathma's Ribcage Plate
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
(2) Set: Your minions have a chance to reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
(4) Set: You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 50 stacks.
(6) Set: Each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of your minions and Army of the Dead by 250%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Rathma's Spikes

Set Shoulders

59 - 68 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 4 - 7%.

Bones of Rathma
Rathma's Skull Helm
Rathma's Spikes
Rathma's Ribcage Plate
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
(2) Set: Your minions have a chance to reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
(4) Set: You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 50 stacks.
(6) Set: Each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of your minions and Army of the Dead by 250%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
The Traveler's Pledge

Set Amulet

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51 - 55%

Endless Walk
The Traveler's Pledge
The Compass Rose
(2) Set: While moving, damage taken is reduced by up to 50%.
While standing still, damage dealt is increased by up to 100%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Rathma's Ribcage Plate

Set Chest Armor

51 - 68 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Sockets (1)

Bones of Rathma
Rathma's Skull Helm
Rathma's Spikes
Rathma's Ribcage Plate
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
(2) Set: Your minions have a chance to reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
(4) Set: You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 50 stacks.
(6) Set: Each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of your minions and Army of the Dead by 250%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Sanguinary Vambraces

Legendary Bracers

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 1.5–2.0%
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

+3–4 Thorns Damage
Chance on being hit to deal 1000% of your Thorns damage to nearby enemies.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+24–29 Dexterity

+24–29 Strength

+24–29 Intelligence
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces

Set Gloves

42 - 55 Armor

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 7 - 10%

Bones of Rathma
Rathma's Skull Helm
Rathma's Spikes
Rathma's Ribcage Plate
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
(2) Set: Your minions have a chance to reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
(4) Set: You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 50 stacks.
(6) Set: Each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of your minions and Army of the Dead by 250%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
String of Ears

Legendary Belt

145 - 164 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
+416 - 500 Vitality

Secondary Stats

Reduces damage from melee attacks by 25 - 30%.

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates

Set Pants

33 - 38 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Sockets (1)

Bones of Rathma
Rathma's Skull Helm
Rathma's Spikes
Rathma's Ribcage Plate
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
(2) Set: Your minions have a chance to reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
(4) Set: You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 50 stacks.
(6) Set: Each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of your minions and Army of the Dead by 250%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons

Set Boots

30 - 35 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
+416 - 500 Vitality

Bones of Rathma
Rathma's Skull Helm
Rathma's Spikes
Rathma's Ribcage Plate
Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
(2) Set: Your minions have a chance to reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
(4) Set: You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 50 stacks.
(6) Set: Each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of your minions and Army of the Dead by 250%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Circle of Nailuj's Evol

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26 - 50%

Secondary Stats

You now raise an additional Skeletal Mage with each cast and they last an additional 2 - 4 seconds.

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
The Compass Rose

Set Ring

Endless Walk
The Traveler's Pledge
The Compass Rose
(2) Set: While moving, damage taken is reduced by up to 50%.
While standing still, damage dealt is increased by up to 100%.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Spear of Jairo

Legendary Spear

60.6 Damage Per Second

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence

Secondary Stats

Your Thorns is increased by 10 - 15% for every enemy afflicted by one of your curses.
One of 7 Magic Properties (varies)

+(1199 - 1490) Physical Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Fire Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Lightning Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Cold Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Poison Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Arcane Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Holy Damage

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Bone Ringer

Legendary Phylactery

Primary Stats

+1.471363E-43 Maximum Damage
+626 - 750 Intelligence
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 7 - 10%

Secondary Stats

The damage bonus of Command Skeletons increases by 25 - 30% per second they spend attacking the same target.
One of 1 Magic Properties (varies)
+1.443337E-43 Minimum Damage

+ 3 Random Magic Properties

More Details

Head
- Rathma's Skull Helm
- Stat Priority: None
Shoulders
- Rathma's Spikes
- Stat Priority: None
Amulet
- The Traveler's Pledge
- Stat Priority: None
Torso
- Rathma's Ribcage Plate
- Stat Priority: None
Wrists
- Sanguinary Vambraces
- Stat Priority: None
Hands
- Rathma's Macabre Vambraces
- Stat Priority: None
Waist
- String of Ears
- Stat Priority: None
Legs
- Rathma's Skeletal Legplates
- Stat Priority: None
Feet
- Rathma's Ossified Sabatons
- Stat Priority: None
Rings
- Circle of Nailuj's Evol
- The Compass Rose
- Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
- Stat Priority: None
Weapon
- Spear of Jairo
- Hack
- Stat Priority: None
Offhand
- Bone Ringer
- Stat Priority: None

Legendary Gems
- Bane of the Trapped
  Bane of the Trapped
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Increase damage against enemies under the effects of control-impairing effects by 15%.
- Boyarsky's Chip
  Boyarsky's Chip
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Adds 16000 Thorns.
- Enforcer
  Enforcer
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Increase the damage of your pets by 15%.

Kanai's Cube

Hack

Legendary Axe

3.25 Damage Per Second

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence

Secondary Stats

75 - 100% of your Thorns damage is applied on every attack.
One of 7 Magic Properties (varies)

+(1199 - 1490) Physical Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Fire Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Lightning Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Cold Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Poison Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Arcane Damage

+(1199 - 1490) Holy Damage

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
Hack
Heart of Iron

Legendary Chest Armor

87 - 107 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Vitality
+5334 - 7696 Thorns Damage
+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence

Secondary Stats

Gain Thorns equal to 250 - 300% of your Vitality.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Heart of Iron
Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Ignores Durability Loss
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 4 - 7%.
Attack Speed Increased by 5 - 6%
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5 - 6%
Reduces all resource costs by 5 - 7%.

Secondary Stats

Reduce the remaining cooldown of one of your skills by 1 second when you hit with a resource-spending attack.

+ 1 Random Magic Properties
Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

This build is designed all around the interaction of the Spear of Jairo has with mass cursing targets with Aura of Frailty and then applying your thorns with your minions via Aberrant Animator. Since pets are imperative to this build we're looking at Rathma's set to maximize our usage of army of the dead, and we pump out skeletal mages to boost the damage of our minions (I'm pretty sure that it doesn't boost our minions thorn damage but I could be wrong, which would make give this build even more credit, I'm still working on testing/gearing).

It should go without saying that in any thorns based build you absolutely want as much thorns damage on every item as you can get. You'll notice on the linked d3planner build, I don't focus on crit at all as thorns damage doesn't crit, as such you'll want to slot a topaz in your weapon. Because of the synergy of Heart of Iron, I've slotted Amethysts in all armor slots for the extra vitality to pump into our thorns damage at 300%. For you're helm you'll want a diamond to help with the cdr of army of the dead.

Paragon Priorities

Core

Movement Speed
Vitality
Primary Stat
Maximum Resource

Offense

Attack Speed
Cooldown Reduction
Critical Hit Chance
Critical Hit Damage

Defense

Life
Armor
Resist All
Life Regeneration

Utility

Area Damage
Resource Cost Reduction
Life on Hit
Gold Find

Since we're currently non-seasonal, I assume that most players have at least 800 paragon points which maxes out Offense, Defense, and Utility automatically. Under Core your priorities are bringing movement speed to 25% (in conjunction with a 12% rolled on your boots, you'll need 26 points here for an additional 13%), followed by vitality.

Note, that I'm still testing this build so this may change as necessary.

Build Guide

The idea is to run into a group of mobs which will apply the Frailty Curse due to Aura of Frailty to any target within 15 yards, due to Eternal Torment, that application will last forever (it appears the curse drops off when moving more than 1 screen away). Your Spear of Jairo increases the thorns damage for each cursed mob by 15%, so if you have say 30 mobs cursed, that's 450%, which if you have thorns damage on all your gear, have a boyarksy's chip, and a topaz in your weapon really adds up.

Given that, because of Abberant Animator, your minions have double of your thorns damage, so if I'm doing my math right, you could potentially get them to about 2.5 million thorns. Which, if the formula interaction is similar to how an Invoker Crusader plays, is before other modifiers such as elemental damage (which thorns are physical), enforcer, bane of the trapped (which I have to test if it applies to minion damage, but I think it does), and spreading malediction (which because of that Aura of Frailty, everything should be cursed)

Mine you this build has a lot to test still, but I feel has the potential to be a strong contender for the new way to play thorns based builds moving forward due to the massive amount of thorns output on the necro's pets. I'm open to discussion on this, and curious if anyone has tried something similar.

Here's the D3Planner build I made for this, and note that it is using Primal Ancients with lvl 70 Caldanns Depair's, so realistically your numbers will be lower than what you see with the build's.

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