User:Jaesmyn/Rt/N MinionMaster

The Explosive Creation build deals damage throughout and upon the creation, life, and death of animated minions. This build takes advantage of Spawning Power's ability to affect minion creation as well as spirits.

Attributes and Skills
[build prof=ritua/necro spawni=12+1+3 deathm=12 restor=3+1][boon of creation][explosive growth][animate bone minions][optional][death nova][blood of the master][signet of creation][flesh of my flesh][/build]
 * Optional should be:
 * Animate Flesh Golem → For general corpse-heavy usage.
 * Aura of the Lich → For very light or heavy corpse areas.
 * Jagged Bones → Recommended for heroes.

Equipment

 * Possible Weapon set options:
 * An Insightful staff of Enchanting, possibly with an Inscription of "Aptitude, Not Attitude", which gives HCT of Death Magic (20%)
 * A weapon/focus combo:
 * Poisonous Sword/Axe/Spear of Enchanting with +5 Energy mod ("I Have the Power" inscription, a weapon from a crafter like Shichiroji, a collector weapon, etc).
 * Bortak's Bone Cesta or Armind's Focus.
 * Best Vigor rune possible and superior Spawning Power. All other minor runes to conserve health.
 * Survivor or Radiant Insignia. Runes of Vitae and/or Attunement are also recommended.

Usage

 * Keep Boon of Creation and Explosive Growth up when creating minions.
 * Create a Flesh Golem when you do not have one.
 * Create Bone Minions when you already have a Flesh Golem. This doubles the Explosive Growth damage and provides two targets for Death Nova. With Boon of Creation, this skill almost entirely recovers its energy cost upon successful cast.
 * If you still have minions before a battle, activate Signet of Creation, cast Death Nova on all of them, and rush them into battle, preferably near a large group of enemies. The Signet should keep most or all of them alive to attack your foes for up to 30 seconds, and then kills them all simultaneously, activating Death Nova's explosions.
 * Use Blood of the Master to keep minions alive between battles.

Check General minion mastery guide for an in depth discussion of minion usage.

Counters

 * Remove the enchantments upon which the build depends.
 * Exploit the corpses with faster-casting Necromancer Corpse exploitation.
 * Use Smiting Prayers, which double damage against undead creatures.
 * Use high-level magical Area of Effect damage against the low-level minions before they come into Death Nova range.

Variants

 * Use Shambling Horrors and/or Jagged Bones for longer lasting (and renewable) undead followers and to trigger Explosive Growth and Boon of Creation when they die and create Jagged Horrors.
 * Use Taste of Death, Putrid Flesh or Feast for the Dead instead of Signet of Creation to focus on killing off specific minions, specifically the Flesh Golem to create a new one, to trigger Death Nova when required, and to self-heal.
 * Use Generous Was Tsungrai with a few extra points towards Restoration when low on health and immediately drop to heal.
 * Reduce Spawning Power, increase Restoration, and add spirits such as Recuperation (breakpoint 4 ranks) to help your teammates and minions last longer.
 * If a resurrection skill is necessary, leave out Blood of the Master. If you increase Restoration, take Flesh of My Flesh.
 * Use Rotting Flesh to spread disease, Bitter Chill for spammable damage, Vile Miasma for damage and degen, Deathly Swarm for groups of enemies, or Putrid Bile / Rising Bile for alternate AoE spikes.
 * Swap out Blood of the Master for Spirit's Gift.
 * Swap out Signet of Creation for Spirit Light or Putrid Bile if using Heroes.
 * Swap out Flesh Golem/Aura of the Lich for Reclaim Essence (bring along a spirit), Spirit Channeling, or Attuned Was Songkai for superior Energy management.
 * Various PvE-only skills, such as Necrosis, Ebon Battle Standard of Honor and Ebon Battle Standard of Wisdom may be effective.