Necromancer

Unlock the full potential of the Necromancer class in Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth. Learn about Wraith summoning, powerful skills like Life Exchange and Fierce Shield, and optimal build strategies.

The Necromancer is a unique class in Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth that relies on summoning and commanding Wraiths to perform various actions. These Wraiths can be summoned through several skills and can be utilized for offense, defense, and support.

Recommended Race(s): Celestrian

Possible equipment: Coffin, Light Armor, Clothes

Necromancer skills revolve around Wraiths. Basically the user tries to summon Wraiths and then commands the Wraiths to do various skills, often these skills kill a chosen Wraith. Summon Wraith must be activated manually, but fortunately it can be performed outside of the battle so that the party starts the battle with Wraiths. There are also two other skills to summon Wraiths, either by Gravekeeping on Reincarnation. However, Wraiths summoned with these skills don't have the bonus HP granted to the ones summoned with Summon Wraith skill. It should be noted that highest level Wraith Mastery skill you have applies to all Wraiths, regardless of how they were summoned or who summoned them (in a party with multiple Necromancers). With Wraiths on the field, the user can perform Life Exchange (restores health to party), Wraith Cry (single target defense debuff), Soul Candy (party elemental defense buff), Fierce Shield (absorbs all damage until the Wraith dies), Poison Bomb (Ailment, targets all enemies) and Flame Bomb (Fire damage to all enemies).

Although Necromancer can wear a higher armor tier than Warlock, it’s not advised to put a Necromancer in the front row - Especially the default race, Celestrian, which has low VIT and HP. Necromancer appreciates having front liners to protect it, although Fierce Shield can also do the job. Do not use Necromancer with a Rover because Necromancer wants all 3 Summon slots, but Dragoon is a good partner if you do not use their Decoy Bunker skill.

Skill Progression:

The first point should be put on Summon Wraith as the other skills depend on it. For early build, Poison Bomb may be useful in clearing random enemies since its infliction chance is quite high and its base poison damage is quite absurd to be handled by most of the enemies. It's recommended to invest four points in this skill as soon as possible, and then nine points after reaching 2nd Stratum. Wraith Cry is a good debuff when fighting strong opponents, and Life Exchange may be useful for healing after battle if you don't have a dedicated healer in the party. Early Fierce Shield is not really that good since those Wraiths are still weak and can't tank more than two hits. Gravekeeping and Reincarnation can be learned if there is no party member that can fill up the summon slot.

Necromancer Skills

• Wraith Mastery (Passive): Increases Wraith's damage output by 15%, and increases the chance of Wraith's normal attack to inflict Paralysis to 5%. If there are multiple Necromancers on the field, all Wraiths on the field will gain effect of a Necromancer with the highest level of this skill. If Necromancer levels up this skill, the improvement only takes effect on the Wraiths summoned afterwards. This skill also increases Wraiths' chance of inflicting any binds when someone activates Therian's Binding Force Union Skill.
• Summon Wraith (Support): Consumes 15% of own current HP to summons one Wraith with 80% HP bonus. Likewise Necromancer, Wraith also has their own stats, and their level matches their summoner's level. Can be used while navigating in the labyrinth. Wraiths can't recover HP except through Life Exchange. It's possible to divert Wraith's attention towards an enemy with Rover's Target Arrow debuff. (TP: 5, Cost: 12)
• Life Exchange (Heal): Sacrifices a Wraith to restore HP, including other Wraiths. Can be used while navigating in the labyrinth. (TP: 12, Cost: 24)
• Wraith Cry (Debuff): Sacrifices a Wraith to decrease DEF by 35% for 6 turns. (TP: 6, Cost: 15)
• Soul Candy (Buff): Sacrifices a Wraith to increase elemental DEF by 34% for 6 turns. (TP: 6, Cost: 15)
• Fierce Shield (Support): The chosen Wraith will absorb all damages inflicted to any party members until it dies or the end of turn. The Wraith also takes 25% reduced damage. If multiple Necromancers use this skill at the same time, somehow the skill level of the last Necromancer will overwrite the other Necromancers, even though they choose different Wraith. (TP: 3, Cost: 8)
• Gravekeeping (Passive): Has 25% chance to summon Wraith at the end of turn if the user doesn't take any damage during the current turn. HP consumption effect of Summon Wraith is not treated as damage. It's still possible to activate this skill when the user dies at the beginning of turn and then gets revived near / at the end of turn. With the Reincarnation it's possible to end up with more Wraiths at the end of turn.
• Reincarnation (Passive): Has 33% chance to summon another Wraith if the user sacrifices a Wraith to perform Wraith-related skill. With the Gravekeeping it's possible to end up with more Wraiths at the end of turn.
• Poison Bomb (Attack): Sacrifices a Wraith to to have 95% chance to inflict Poison. Base poison damage: 60, Max Lv base poison damage: 360. (TP: 6, Cost: 20)
• Flame Bomb (Attack): Sacrifices a Wraith to deal fire damage. (TP: 15, Cost: 30)