Necromancer (5e Optimized Character Build)
Build
The premise of this class is to raise a huge undead army with the spells animate dead and create undead.
Race
High Elf: They get +1 to Intelligence (your primary ability) and gain an additional wizard cantrip.
Ability Scores
Assuming standard array your final ability scores should look like this:
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 12
- Constitution: 13
- Intelligence: 14
- Wisdom: 10
- Charisma: 15
Class
Go Wizard for all 20 levels.
- Command Undead
Choose a mummy lord. They are easily the strongest undead that cannot repeat the saving throw. They gain advantage, so use bestow curse if you have it.
- Signature Spell
Choose animate dead for one of your signature spells. If you do so you can now cast animate dead at its lowest level without using any spell slots, once before needing to complete a short or long rest.
Spells
For spells, the only ones that matter are fire bolt for damage, enlarge/reduce, animate dead, and create undead. This build assumes that you have access to all of the corpses and time you need.
- Animate Dead and Enlarge/Reduce
Use 2nd level spell slots to enlarge the size of minotaur skeletons to Huge. Use 3rd, 4th, and 5th level spell slots to animate/maintain these bones as well as others.
- Create Undead
The wording of create undead allows an exploit where you can maintain control over any three creatures animated by the spell, even wights, mummies and ghasts, so use all of your high level out of combat spell slots to make them, and use 6th level slots to maintain them. Wights make zombies under their control, which adds to your army.
Homebrew
If you are allowed to use Homebrew feats and spells, I recommend the following:
- Feats
necromancer, and undead mastery
- Spells
enlighten undead, greater gentle repose, control undead
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Optimized Character Builds