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Recently, a classic build in Diablo 2: Resurrected—the Poison Necromancer—and I was blown away by how devastatingly powerful it still is. Even though I hadn’t touched this build in ages, the moment I geared up and got back into the action, it was clear: this build melts through enemies. From Pit runs to Chaos Sanctuary and even Terror Zones, the Poison Necro proves itself to be an incredible choice for farming, especially when equipped with the right gear.

If you’re looking to dive into this build yourself, I’ve got a detailed guide coming up that will cover every aspect you need, from skill distribution to D2R Items recommendations. But first, let’s take a moment to discuss what makes this build so special and how you can maximize its potential.

Why the Poison Necromancer?

The Poison Necromancer, often called the "Poison Nova Necro," focuses on dealing massive area-of-effect (AoE) poison damage with the Poison Nova skill. This build stands out because of its ability to inflict huge damage over time, making it perfect for clearing out hordes of monsters quickly. What really surprised me was the speed at which it demolished even high-health enemies, especially with almost perfect gear.

Key Gear: Death's Web (Dweb)

When it comes to the Poison Necro, one piece of gear stands out as absolutely transformative: Death's Web. This unique wand is the cornerstone of any top-tier Poison Necro build, thanks to its massive negative enemy poison resistance stat. If you’ve been using a different weapon and switch to Death's Web, the difference in kill speed is immediately noticeable—it's like doubling your power almost overnight. The negative resistance on Death's Web allows your poison damage to cut through enemies, even in higher player count games like Player 7.

Aside from Death's Web, my build guide suggests using Spirit as an off-hand item. It’s a solid option, providing resistances, Faster Cast Rate (FCR), and extra skills. However, for fun, I opted to experiment with Darkforce Spawn, a unique necromancer head that grants an additional skill point to Poison and Bone Skills, along with 30% FCR. This makes it easier to reach important FCR breakpoints while keeping the build thematic.

Skill Point Allocation

Building a powerful Poison Necro revolves around focusing your skill points in a few key areas:

1. Poison Nova - Max this skill as it is your primary source of damage. It releases a wave of poison that damages all nearby enemies over time.

2. Poison Explosion - Max this synergy to boost the damage of Poison Nova even further.

3. Poison Dagger - Another synergy that is essential to max for the same reason.

4. Corpse Explosion - Once enemies are weakened by Poison Nova, Corpse Explosion can clear out entire packs using a combination of fire and physical damage. It’s also helpful against poison-immune enemies.

5. Summon Skeleton - Put a few points into this to create a small army of skeletons for additional crowd control and to distract enemies while you cast your spells.

Gear Breakdown: From Essentials to Unique Choices

Let’s dive deeper into the key gear choices that elevate the Poison Necro from good to great:

· Helm: Harlequin Crest (Shako) is a staple for its +2 to all skills, life, and mana boosts. If you’re looking for a bit more style, Andariel's Visage can be a decent pick, though it’s generally used more for mercenaries.

· Armor: Enigma is invaluable for its teleport ability, which greatly enhances mobility and efficiency during farming runs. It also provides life, strength, and +2 to all skills. If Enigma is out of reach, Vipermagi can be a good option for its +1 to skills and resistances.

· Weapon: As mentioned, Death's Web is the go-to choice for its reduction in enemy poison resistance. However, for players starting out, a Blackbog's Sharp can work until you obtain the Death's Web.

· Shield: Spirit is great for a balance of resistances, FCR, and mana. If you want to stick to the necromancer theme, Darkforce Spawn provides a unique alternative.

· Rings: Aim for rings that provide FCR to help reach breakpoints, such as Stone of Jordan (SoJ) for the +1 to all skills or Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band for added survivability.

· Belt: Arachnid Mesh is perfect for the additional +1 to skills and FCR. It helps you hit the 75% or 125% FCR breakpoints, which are crucial for casting spells faster.

· Gloves and Boots: Trang-Oul's Claws add poison skill damage and FCR, making them a perfect fit for this build. For boots, Sandstorm Trek provides solid resistances, faster hit recovery, and strength bonuses.

· Mercenary: An Act 2 mercenary equipped with Infinity and Fortitude is ideal for breaking enemy poison immunities with the Conviction aura and providing extra damage support. Keeping your mercenary alive is key, as his Conviction aura significantly boosts your effectiveness.

Running Player 7 and Targeting High-Value Areas

With the right setup, the Poison Necro can take on tougher difficulties, including Player 7 runs, without breaking a sweat. My go-to areas include:

· The Pits: A classic farming area where high-level monsters drop valuable loot, making it a perfect choice for Poison Nova’s wide-area damage.

· Chaos Sanctuary: With its tightly packed monsters and high density, this is another ideal location for spreading poison.

· Terror Zones: These zones provide a fresh challenge, with scaled-up monster levels and better loot. When certain bosses like Andariel or Mephisto become terrorized, switching to a sorceress may be more efficient, but for most other zones, the Poison Necro can handle them with ease.

Drops, Runes, and Notable Finds

During my playthroughs, I managed to score some impressive drops, including normal Diablo II: Resurrected gold, mid-runes like Mal, skillers, and even some high-value bases like ethereal armors and weapons. It’s always exciting to see what the RNG gods have in store, especially when you’re running on higher player difficulties. On a recent run, I came across a perfectly rolled Mara’s Kaleidoscope, an amulet that complements any build, and a 3-socket Diadem, which is great for rolling rare runewords.

When the occasional Terror Zone lines up just right, I dive in to see how the build holds up against stronger enemies. For instance, facing off against a terrorized Act Boss like Andariel with a poison-based build isn’t ideal, as her poison resistances can be tough to overcome, but it’s all about finding the right matchups and knowing when to switch to a different character for more efficiency.

Conclusion: A Classic Build with Timeless Power

Playing the Poison Necromancer has been a blast, reminding me why it’s one of the most fun and effective builds in Diablo 2: Resurrected. Its ability to clear areas with ease, combined with the satisfaction of watching enemies wither away under a wave of poison, makes it an experience that never gets old. If you’re looking to try out a build that can hold its own in high-player settings while dishing out consistent damage, the Poison Necro is definitely worth your time.

So, whether you’re a seasoned veteran looking to revisit a classic build or a newcomer eager to try something new, give the Poison Necromancer a shot. Gear up, dive into those high-level farming zones, and watch the monsters melt away. Happy hunting, and may the drops be ever in your favor!