Necromancer Damage Dealer

The corpse exploder. Your skills leave corpses, your next skills blow them up, and every explosion makes you stronger.

Update 52 (PTS)PvE · Damage DealerPure classIntermediateMeleeStaminaCorpsesLast reviewed 2026-10-27

Update 52 (PTS) version

This page is the Update 52 version of this damage dealer build. Update 52 is on the PTS until January 19, 2027, so numbers can still move. Skill and set tooltips still show the live Update 51 text; hover one that changes to see what's new. For what works in game today, switch to Update 51 in the version picker (top right, or in the menu on phones). The full list is in the Update 52 patch notes.

Overview

Skinnycheeks' Corpse Exploder runs entirely on Grave Lord. Blighted Blastbones and Venom Skull leave corpses, Detonating Siphon and Unnerving Boneyard use them up, and Corpseburster makes each consumed corpse explode for area damage and Minor Breach. Skinnycheeks rates it S tier, and it's strong on single targets and packs alike.

Nothing Wasted gives you a stack of Weapon and Spell Damage and Max Health for every corpse you consume, and Cycle Unending adds up to 25% damage whenever one of your skeletons dies while you have more Health than your target. Unnerving Boneyard puts Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability on the boss for the group.

The skeletons have a delay and can lose their target, so the build takes a little getting used to, and corpse skills can be buggy. Shattered Paths Signet means you hold your Ultimate instead of casting it.

Strengths

Strong on bosses and packs with the same bars.
Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability on the boss from Unnerving Boneyard.
Your own Major Brutality and Savagery, so the potion can be a defensive one.

Weaknesses

Corpse skills can be buggy, and skeletons can lose their target.
You hold your Ultimate all fight for Shattered Paths Signet.
Needs pure Necromancer for the Class Masteries.

Buffs and debuffs you bring on bosses

You get

Enemies get

Class Mastery

Pure-class characters with all three class lines at rank 50 can slot two Class Mastery passives (added in Update 50).

Nothing Wasted
Each consumed corpse gives a stack of Max Health and Weapon and Spell Damage, up to 10.
Cycle Unending
Up to 25% more damage when a skeleton dies while you have more Health than your target.

What changes in Update 52

Update 52 is on the PTS (patch 12.2.0, from 26 October 2026) and goes live on 19 January 2027. This version follows the first PTS week, so numbers can still move. Skill and set tooltips on this page still show the live Update 51 text.

Class. Glacial Colossus goes back to 175 Ultimate and hits 75% harder on monsters that already have Major Vulnerability. This build holds its Ultimate for Shattered Paths Signet, so the change matters most when you do cast it.

Traits. Nirnhoned weapons rise to 20% more weapon damage (from 15%) and Precise to 7.4% Critical Chance (from 7.2%), while Charged drops to 225% (from 235%). Nirnhoned main hands get a little stronger against Charged ones; the gear table stays as written until PTS numbers settle.

DPS Simulation

The Boss setup played by the DPS Simulator on the 21 million Health Trial dummy, with its group buffs and debuffs, Light Attack weaving and a full Ultimate bar to start. It's #8 of 16 for single target on the tier list, #4 overall.

Simulated DPS: 147,497
Fight: 142.4 s
Front bar: 6,695 damage · 57% crit · 125% crit damage

Where the damage comes from

Venom Skull21.5%
LALight Attack13.3%
Stampede8.6%
Blighted Blastbones7.3%
Carve7.2%
Detonating Siphon6.8%
Unnerving Boneyard6.3%
Barbed Trap4.7%
…Everything else24.3%

Damage type

Frost6.8%
Flame5.1%
Disease16.6%
Shock5.5%
Magic0.4%
Poison27.8%
Physical25.3%
Bleed12.7%

72.3% direct, 27.7% over time.

Group buffs it leans on most

Major Vulnerability−14.0k
Major Courage−11.2k
Aggressive Horn−9.7k
Major Slayer−8.5k
Roar of Alkosh−7.2k
Major Breach−7.2k

DPS lost if the group didn't bring it.

A simulation, not a parse: it uses UESP tooltip numbers, plays a clean rotation and assumes you sustain it. Light Attack, status effect and pet damage are estimates. Open this run in the DPS Simulator to change gear, buffs or the rotation and see the full breakdown.

Skill Setups

Every damage dealer build has a Boss setup for single targets and a Trash setup that swaps a slot or two for packs. The gear stays the same for both.

Single target: every slot either hits the boss harder or buffs you. Keep your damage over time effects and buffs up, then spam your spammable in between.

What this setup brings

You get

Enemies get

Front bar

Dual Wield

1

2

3

4

5

R

Back bar

Two Handed · Greatsword

1

2

3

4

5

R

Slot	Skill	Why it's slotted
Front 1	Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.	Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.
Front 2	Blighted Blastbones Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 8 secondsCost: 1,836 Stamina A skeleton that runs at the target and explodes for Disease Damage and Major Defile, then leaves a corpse.	A skeleton that runs at the target and explodes for Disease Damage and Major Defile, then leaves a corpse.
Front 3	Detonating Siphon Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 20 secondsCost: Free Drains a corpse for 20 seconds of area damage, then blows it up. Major Savagery while it runs, and more damage done while slotted.	Drains a corpse for 20 seconds of area damage, then blows it up. Major Savagery while it runs, and more damage done while slotted.
Front 4	Venom Skull Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresCost: 2,295 Stamina Your spammable. Every third cast hits 50% harder and leaves a corpse, and any Necromancer cast counts towards the third.	Your spammable. Every third cast hits 50% harder and leaves a corpse, and any Necromancer cast counts towards the third.
Front 5	Unnerving Boneyard Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 10 secondsCost: 2,970 Magicka 10 seconds of frost damage that puts Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability on the boss. It consumes a corpse to hit 30% harder.	10 seconds of frost damage that puts Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability on the boss. It consumes a corpse to hit 30% harder.
Front R	Flawless Dawnbreaker Fighters Guild Cast time: 0.4 secondsDuration: 6 secondsCost: 125 Ultimate Slotted for its passive: 300 Weapon and Spell Damage while it's on your bar. Cast it on a pack when it's full.	Slotted for its passive: 300 Weapon and Spell Damage while it's on your bar. Cast it on a pack when it's full.
Back 1	Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.	Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.
Back 2	Stampede Two Handed Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresDuration: 15 secondsCost: 4,590 Stamina Gap closer that leaves a burning patch under the boss. It procs your weapon glyph over and over, and with Merciless Charge it adds direct damage.	Gap closer that leaves a burning patch under the boss. It procs your weapon glyph over and over, and with Merciless Charge it adds direct damage.
Back 3	Carve Two Handed Cast time: InstantCost: 3,510 Stamina Area bleed that gets 10 seconds longer each time you refresh it, up to 32 seconds, and a small shield. The first skill to drop for a situational one.	Area bleed that gets 10 seconds longer each time you refresh it, up to 32 seconds, and a small shield. The first skill to drop for a situational one.
Back 4	Barbed Trap Fighters Guild Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,240 Stamina Bleed trap that gives you Minor Force (10% Critical Damage) while it's out. Recast it as it ends.	Bleed trap that gives you Minor Force (10% Critical Damage) while it's out. Recast it as it ends.
Back 5	Skeletal Arcanist Grave Lord Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 2,970 Magicka A skeletal mage that zaps the boss and everything near it for 20 seconds, and Major Brutality for you. Leaves a corpse.	A skeletal mage that zaps the boss and everything near it for 20 seconds, and Major Brutality for you. Leaves a corpse.
Back R	Glacial Colossus Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 3 secondsCost: 150 Ultimate Held for Shattered Paths Signet. Cast it at the end of a fight, or when the group needs its Major Vulnerability.	Held for Shattered Paths Signet. Cast it at the end of a fight, or when the group needs its Major Vulnerability.

Scribing

Scribed skill

Shocking Banner

Banner Bearer · Shock Damage / Cavalier's Charge / Heroism

Cast time: Instant
Radius: 8 metres
Cost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds

Shock Damage

Focus script: Increases damage done with direct damage by 6%.

Cavalier's Charge

Signature script: Increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 6 for every 1% bonus Movement Speed, up to a max of 450.

Heroism

Affix script: Grants Minor Heroism, generating 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds.

6% more direct damage, 6 Weapon and Spell Damage for every 1% of Movement Speed you have (at least 60 from Celerity, much more right after a cloak), and Minor Heroism for faster Ultimates. Swap the affix to Berserk or Courage if you drink Heroism potions.

Open the Boss setup in the Build Editor to change skills, gear and stats.

Simulate it on the Trial dummy to see its DPS, where the damage comes from and what each buff is worth.

On trash, Ghostly Embrace takes Venom Skull's slot: it hits the pack and still leaves a corpse. Skinnycheeks' sets for trash are Sul-Xan's Torment or Coral Riptide in place of Slivers on the body.

What this setup brings

You get

Enemies get

Front bar

Dual Wield

1

2

3

4

5

R

Back bar

Two Handed · Greatsword

1

2

3

4

5

R

Slot	Skill	Why it's slotted
Front 1	Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.	Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.
Front 2	Blighted Blastbones Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 8 secondsCost: 1,836 Stamina A skeleton that runs at the target and explodes for Disease Damage and Major Defile, then leaves a corpse.	A skeleton that runs at the target and explodes for Disease Damage and Major Defile, then leaves a corpse.
Front 3	Detonating Siphon Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 20 secondsCost: Free Drains a corpse for 20 seconds of area damage, then blows it up. Major Savagery while it runs, and more damage done while slotted.	Drains a corpse for 20 seconds of area damage, then blows it up. Major Savagery while it runs, and more damage done while slotted.
Front 4	Ghostly Embrace Bone Tyrant Cast time: InstantCost: 3,780 Magicka Three patches of frost claws in a line, and a corpse if it hits anything. Better than Venom Skull on a pack.	Three patches of frost claws in a line, and a corpse if it hits anything. Better than Venom Skull on a pack.
Front 5	Unnerving Boneyard Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 10 secondsCost: 2,970 Magicka 10 seconds of frost damage that puts Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability on the boss. It consumes a corpse to hit 30% harder.	10 seconds of frost damage that puts Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability on the boss. It consumes a corpse to hit 30% harder.
Front R	Flawless Dawnbreaker Fighters Guild Cast time: 0.4 secondsDuration: 6 secondsCost: 125 Ultimate Slotted for its passive: 300 Weapon and Spell Damage while it's on your bar. Cast it on a pack when it's full.	Slotted for its passive: 300 Weapon and Spell Damage while it's on your bar. Cast it on a pack when it's full.
Back 1	Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.	Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars.
Back 2	Stampede Two Handed Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresDuration: 15 secondsCost: 4,590 Stamina Gap closer that leaves a burning patch under the boss. It procs your weapon glyph over and over, and with Merciless Charge it adds direct damage.	Gap closer that leaves a burning patch under the boss. It procs your weapon glyph over and over, and with Merciless Charge it adds direct damage.
Back 3	Carve Two Handed Cast time: InstantCost: 3,510 Stamina Area bleed that gets 10 seconds longer each time you refresh it, up to 32 seconds, and a small shield. The first skill to drop for a situational one.	Area bleed that gets 10 seconds longer each time you refresh it, up to 32 seconds, and a small shield. The first skill to drop for a situational one.
Back 4	Barbed Trap Fighters Guild Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,240 Stamina Bleed trap that gives you Minor Force (10% Critical Damage) while it's out. Recast it as it ends.	Bleed trap that gives you Minor Force (10% Critical Damage) while it's out. Recast it as it ends.
Back 5	Skeletal Arcanist Grave Lord Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 2,970 Magicka A skeletal mage that zaps the boss and everything near it for 20 seconds, and Major Brutality for you. Leaves a corpse.	A skeletal mage that zaps the boss and everything near it for 20 seconds, and Major Brutality for you. Leaves a corpse.
Back R	Glacial Colossus Grave Lord Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 3 secondsCost: 150 Ultimate Held for Shattered Paths Signet. Cast it at the end of a fight, or when the group needs its Major Vulnerability.	Held for Shattered Paths Signet. Cast it at the end of a fight, or when the group needs its Major Vulnerability.

Scribing

Scribed skill

Shocking Banner

Banner Bearer · Shock Damage / Cavalier's Charge / Heroism

Cast time: Instant
Radius: 8 metres
Cost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds

Shock Damage

Focus script: Increases damage done with direct damage by 6%.

Cavalier's Charge

Signature script: Increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 6 for every 1% bonus Movement Speed, up to a max of 450.

Heroism

Affix script: Grants Minor Heroism, generating 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds.

Open the Trash setup in the Build Editor to change skills, gear and stats.

Simulate it on the Trial dummy to see its DPS, where the damage comes from and what each buff is worth.

Flex skills

Swap these in when the fight or your group calls for it.

Skeletal Archer
More single-target damage than Skeletal Arcanist, but its targeting can be poor. It doesn't give Major Brutality.
Traveling Knife
Scribed status knife: doubles the boss's status effect chance. Takes Venom Skull's slot.
Camouflaged Hunter
Major Savagery and Minor Berserk, in Banner Bearer's slots if you don't run a banner.
Resolving Vigor
Self-heal for fights with constant damage. Takes Carve's slot.

Passives

The passives that shape this build. They come with the skill lines, so there's nothing to slot.

Death Knell
20% more Critical Chance against enemies under 33% Health: a strong execute.
Dismember
Offensive Penetration while a Grave Lord skill is active, which is always.
Rapid Rot
10% more damage over time.
Twin Blade and Blunt
Two daggers on the front bar: Critical Chance from each.
Heavy Weapons
The back-bar greatsword adds Weapon and Spell Damage.
Slayer
3% more Weapon and Spell Damage with a Fighters Guild skill slotted.
Dexterity
14% more Critical Damage from 7 Medium pieces.

Gear

Skinnycheeks' all-round setup. Corpseburster on the belt, two jewellery pieces and both daggers makes every corpse you consume explode for Disease Damage and Minor Breach. Slivers of the Null Arca on five Medium pieces adds Critical Chance and builds crystals from your crits, Slimecraw is a one-piece helm for Critical Chance, and the mythic Shattered Paths Signet adds 1% damage against monsters with status effects for every point of Ultimate you hold. Merciless Charge on the back-bar greatsword turns Stampede into a damage buff.

Buffs and debuffs with this gear

Gold entries come from your gear; the rest come from your skills and passives.

You get

Enemies get

Slots

Slot	Set	Type	Trait	Enchant
Head	Slimecraw Medium (monster)	Medium (monster)	Divines	Stamina
Shoulders	Slivers of the Null Arca Medium	Medium	Divines	Stamina
Chest	Slivers of the Null Arca Medium	Medium	Divines	Stamina
Hands	Slivers of the Null Arca Medium	Medium	Divines	Stamina
Legs	Slivers of the Null Arca Medium	Medium	Divines	Stamina
Feet	Slivers of the Null Arca Medium	Medium	Divines	Stamina
Waist	Corpseburster Medium	Medium	Divines	Stamina
Neck	Corpseburster Jewellery	Jewellery	Bloodthirsty	Increase Physical Harm
Ring 1	Corpseburster Jewellery	Jewellery	Bloodthirsty	Increase Physical Harm
Ring 2	Shattered Paths Signet Jewellery	Jewellery	Bloodthirsty	Increase Physical Harm
Front: main hand	Corpseburster Dagger	Dagger	Charged	Poison
Front: off hand	Corpseburster Dagger	Dagger	Charged	Flame
Back bar	Merciless Charge Greatsword (two-handed)	Greatsword (two-handed)	Infused	Berserker

Sturdy and Divines are interchangeable on armour. Tri-Stat glyphs on jewellery are a fine swap if you need more resources.

What the sets do

SlimecrawMonster

1 piece · Wayrest Sewers I (veteran) + Undaunted chest

Only 1 of 2 pieces, so the top bonus is off.

(1 item)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
(2 items)Adds 113 Critical Chance.
(2 items)Gain Minor Berserk at all times, increasing your damage done by 5%.

Slivers of the Null ArcaTrial

5 pieces · Lucent Citadel

(2 items)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
(3 items)Gain Minor Slayer, increasing damage done to monsters by 5%.
(4 items)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
(5 items)Dealing Critical Damage gives you a stack of Sliver for 10 seconds, up to once every 0.5 seconds. Upon gaining your third stack, they merge into a crystal that launches at the last enemy you damaged, dealing 1952 Physical damage. This effect scales off the higher of your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage, and you cannot gain Sliver for 4 seconds after the crystal is launched.

CorpsebursterClass

5 front / 3 back · Infinite Archive (Necromancer class set)

Full bonus on the front bar only.

(2 items)Adds 129 Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.
(3 items)Adds 129 Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.
(4 items)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
(5 items)Consuming a corpse causes the corpse to explode, dealing 1298 Disease Damage to enemies within 5 meters and applying the Diseased status effect and Minor Breach to them for 5 seconds, reducing their Physical Resistance and Spell Resistance by 2974. This effect can occur once every 0.5 seconds, scales off the higher of your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage, and deals 10% more damage for each Grave Lord ability slotted.

Shattered Paths SignetMythic

1 piece · Antiquities

(1 item)Increase your damage done to monsters with status effects by 1% for every 1 Ultimate you have, up to 133%. The cap is halved if Feral Guardian is active. While you have 133 or more Ultimate, your Light and Heavy Attacks apply a random status effect, up to once every 2 seconds. While equipped, applies Minor Timidity to you, consuming 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds in combat.

Merciless ChargeArena

2 pieces · back bar · Maelstrom Arena (veteran)

(2 items)Activating Critical Charge stirs up a barbarous lust for battle within you for 18 seconds, increasing your damage done with direct damage attacks by 1%, up to a maximum of 12%. This effect scales off the higher of your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.

Alternative sets

Coral Riptide
Body swap for area fights.
Sul-Xan's Torment
Body swap for trash, where enemies die often enough to leave soul fragments.
Mora Scribe's Thesis
Skinnycheeks' easier all-round body set.
Azureblight Reaper
Very strong next to Corpseburster in area fights, if nobody else in the group runs it.
Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet
Mythic swap if the fight makes you cast your Ultimate.
Huntsman's Warmask
Another mythic swap for fights where you can't hold Ultimate.

Champion Points

Slottable stars only. Spend passive points in each tree along the path to these stars.

Warfare

Deadly Aim
More damage with single-target attacks. Swap it for Biting Aura on trash.
Master-at-Arms
More direct damage.
Wrathful Strikes
Weapon and Spell Damage on every damaging skill.
Fighting Finesse
Critical Damage until your group's buffs take you to the 125% cap.

Fitness

Boundless Vitality
Max Health, so one-shot mechanics don't kill you.
Fortified
Armor, for the hits you can't block.
Celerity
10% Movement Speed, which Banner Bearer's Cavalier's Charge turns into Weapon and Spell Damage.
Rejuvenation
Recovery for all three resources.

Craft

Steed's Blessing
Run between pulls faster.
Gifted Rider
Faster mount.

Good swaps

Biting Aura
More damage with area attacks. Swap it in for Deadly Aim on trash.
Thaumaturge
More damage over time, for builds whose damage is mostly DoTs.
Untamed Aggression
Weapon and Spell Damage, in place of Fighting Finesse once you sit at the 125% Critical Damage cap.
Backstabber
Critical Damage when you hit from the flank. Strong when the tank turns the boss away.
Exploiter
More damage against Off Balance targets, if your group keeps Off Balance up.
Bloody Renewal
Heals you when you kill an enemy. Good on trash with a fragile build.

Race

Dark Elf
Max Magicka and Stamina. Race makes little difference here; every race can clear everything.
4-playerKhajiit
Critical Damage and Healing. Better in dungeons, where you rarely hit the Critical Damage cap.

Mundus

The Thief
More Critical Chance. Divines on the armour makes it bigger.
PenetrationThe Lover
Penetration, if your group doesn't bring Crusher, Alkosh or Tremorscale.

Attributes

64 Stamina

Every skill you cast scales from Max Stamina and Weapon and Spell Damage. Food and Boundless Vitality give you enough Health for normal content; move points into Health only if you keep dying to mechanics while you learn a fight.

Food

Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables
Max Health and Max Stamina with Stamina Recovery. Enough Health to live, and Stamina for damage.
no HealthHearty Garlic Corn Chowder
More Stamina and recovery, once you don't need the Health.

Potions

Armor potion
Skinnycheeks' go-to: Skeletal Arcanist and Detonating Siphon already give you Major Brutality and Savagery, so the potion keeps you alive instead.
UltimateHeroism potion
Minor Heroism for more Ultimate. Swap Banner Bearer's affix to Berserk or Courage when you drink these.

Gameplay

1Cast Blighted Blastbones on cooldown: it's your main corpse maker.
2Keep Detonating Siphon, Unnerving Boneyard, Skeletal Arcanist, Barbed Trap, Carve and Stampede up, consuming the corpses as they appear.
3Fill every other global with Venom Skull, weaving a Light Attack before each skill.
4Hold your Ultimate for Shattered Paths Signet, and only cast it as the boss dies or when the group needs Glacial Colossus.

FAQ

What's the difference between the Boss and Trash setups?

On trash, Ghostly Embrace takes Venom Skull's slot: it hits the pack and still leaves a corpse. Skinnycheeks' sets for trash are Sul-Xan's Torment or Coral Riptide in place of Slivers on the body. Your gear stays the same.

What gear do I need for the Necromancer damage dealer?

Slimecraw, Slivers of the Null Arca, Corpseburster, Shattered Paths Signet, Merciless Charge. The Alternative sets list easier sets to start with.

Why do I hold my Ultimate?

Shattered Paths Signet adds 1% damage against monsters with status effects for every point of Ultimate you hold. Cast it only as the boss dies, or swap the mythic for Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet in fights where you must cast it.