PoE Chains of Command Necromancer | Absolution League Starter

Note: The gear and passive tree displays on this page will be filled in as soon as possible. Until then, every item, gem link and passive tree is written out below, with a link to each tree, and the full build is in the Path of Building: https://pobb.in/-iGZou8aEm2a

Chains of Command Necromancer is a Witch(Necromancer) build that levels with Absolution and Summon Raging Spirit, then swaps to Chains of Command so a single Animate Guardian does the killing. Every time the Guardian kills an enemy, it triggers Animate Guardian's Weapon, so the screen fills with animated weapons that splash damage around them.

How the build works

1. Animate Guardian is your main minion. It hits with the weapon you give it.

2. Chains of Command triggers a level 20 Animate Guardian's Weapon each time the Guardian kills an enemy.

3. The supports in your body armour support those animated weapons.

4. Each animated weapon gives the Guardian 5% increased damage, and all of them splash.

What the Animate Guardian wears

The Animate Guardian its own weapon, offhand, helmet, body armour, gloves and boots, and that gear is the main source of damage. It starts on Terminus Est, moves to a unique set built around Paradoxica, Leer Cast and Gruthkul's Pelt, and ends on Voidforge. Your own gear runs the auras (Envy with Generosity, Precision and Haste) and your defences.

The journey, in ten setups

- Act 1 to Act 10: Absolution and Summon Raging Spirit with a Midnight Bargain, adding a Carnage Chieftain spectre, a Lightning Golem and, from Act 5, an Animate Guardian.

- Absolution Geared (late maps): a 6-link Absolution in Zahndethus' Cassock, with Dying Breath and Leer Cast

- Chains of Command (early maps): swap once you can wear Chains of Command (level 70) and Ancient Skull (level 73). Spectres, golems and Summon Raging Spirit stop working from here; the Animate Guardian does the killing, starting on Terminus Est.

- Mid Game: a full unique set on the Animate Guardian, and Aegis Aurora and Uul-Netol's Vow for you.

- Voidforge Endgame: Voidforge on the Animate Guardian, cluster jewels, The Agnostic and an Elegant Hubris.

Strengths

- One main minion, so there is little to manage or resummon.

- The Guardian's gear is mostly cheap uniques until Voidforge.

- Your own gear slots go to auras and defences.

Weaknesses

- Chains of Command blocks every non-animated minion: no spectres, golems or Raging Spirits after the swap.

- Damage depends on Guardian kills, so single target is slower than clearing.

- A lot of the build is reservation, so mana is tight until the reservation nodes and jewels are in.

Path of Building

Every setup in this guide is in the Path of Building: https://pobb.in/-iGZou8aEm2a

Use the tree, item set and skill set menus to switch between setups. Their names match the setups in this guide. The PoB is saved at one character level for every setup, so change the level at the top left to match your character.

Credits

Necrem, for helping put all the Path of Building files together.

Special thanks to Rusei on YouTube. His videos and builds were the main inspiration for this guide.

Gear by stage

Campaign (Act 1 to Act 10)

Any wand until level 20, then Midnight Bargain for minion damage and an extra spectre. Everything else is whatever you find with the right sockets for your links.

Absolution Geared (late maps)

Weapon: Dying Breath

Helmet: Leer Cast

Body Armour: Zahndethus' Cassock (holds the 6-link Absolution)

Gloves: Asenath's Gentle Touch

Boots: Windscream

Red maps: add The Jinxed Juju and Darkness Enthroned.

Chains of Command Swap (early maps)

Swap once you can wear Chains of Command (level 70) and Ancient Skull (level 73).

Weapon and offhand: two Foulborn Severed in Sleep (Envy aura)

Helmet: Ancient Skull

Body Armour: Chains of Command

Amulet: Hyrri's Truth (Precision aura)

Belt: Belt of the Deceiver

Flasks: The Writhing Jar, Witchfire Brew

Guardian: Terminus Est

Mid Game (maps)

Offhand: Aegis Aurora

Helmet: Ancient Skull, corrupted with Socketed Skill Gems get a 90% Cost & Reservation Multiplier

Amulet: Uul-Netol's Vow (holds the 7th support for the Chains of Command link)

Belt: Darkness Enthroned, with two Ghastly Eye jewels

Guardian: Paradoxica, Victario's Charity, Leer Cast, Gruthkul's Pelt, Asenath's Gentle Touch, Kahuturoa's Certainty

Voidforge Endgame

Your gear stays the same as Mid Game.

Guardian: Voidforge (two-handed, so no offhand) and Gravebind replace Paradoxica and Asenath's Gentle Touch.

How to equip the Guardian

Drop the Guardian's items on the ground and cast Animate Guardian on them. They go on the Guardian, not on you.