The Necromancer is Underpowered Reason 14: Elite items

We're almost done. I have mixed feelings about even posting this one. Unlike class-exclusive items, elite items in general can be used by anyone. But for players that have access to the best possible equipment and that bring their characters to the highest level, this one just might count more than any of the other reasons.

By elite items, I mean certain runewords, unique items, and set items, generally ones which can only be equipped by high-level characters. Some items that are powerful enough to be the best end-game options in certain circumstances are technically exceptional, rather than elite. But whatever, those count too. For an optimal character build in Hell, almost every piece of equipment will be one of these items. The necromancer is no exception.

Part of the problem is that some of the most powerful items, the ones that make the biggest difference, are melee weapons, usually runewords: Breath of the Dying, Grief, Last Wish, Death, and so on. The necromancer just can't take advantage of these weapons in the way that other classes can. The amazon is mostly left out as well, but she has the option of using some equally powerful runeword bows, such as Faith, Ice, Brand, and Phoenix. The sorceress isn't even really left out: with enchant, she can still use runeword weapons easily.

One of the most powerful benefits of elite equipment is the option to use "oskills." These are weapons and armor that grant one character the ability to use a skill from another class. Some of them are class-exclusive items that the necromancer doesn't have access to, but for the most part, the necromancer is capable of equipping them. None of the oskills add necromancer skills (in fact, the necromancer and the assassin are the only two classes that don't have any of their skills as oskills on items), so the necromancer doesn't lose out in that way. The option to use skills from other classes might seem to be an advantage. And the necromancer does benefit greatly from the Enigma runeword, which grants him Teleport. It's only a level 1 Teleport, but it definitely helps. Unfortunately, Enigma is just about the only one that really works for necromancers. The fire skills from the Trang-Oul's set are viable, but don't really do all that much damage. The necromancer's skill kit just doesn't offer him anything that really lets him take advantage of the other oskills. I might test the Passion runeword for its Zeal on a melee Necromancer, but at the moment, it looks like this is about it.

Elite equipment can also add auras when worn. These can be extremely powerful. My auradin is nearly through Hell and has been more dominant than any other character so far, thanks to doubling up on Holy Fire (Hand of Justice and Dragon) and Holy Shock (dual Dreams) auras through equipment. I plan on using dual Dreams for my enchantress and the Might aura from Last Wish on my kicker assassin, although they are not high enough in level yet to use those items. My bow amazon uses Faith for a Fanaticism aura and gives her mercenary a Pride weapon for its Concentration aura. My hammerdin had his mercenary wield an Insight weapon so that he could have full mana at all times. There are other options (Harmony for its Vigor aura is pretty nice too), but none of them really benefit poison or bone necromancers and the use of auras to improve skeletons is vastly overrated. I have used Beast for its Fanaticism aura on my summoner, but it doesn't really seem to help. Having a mercenary hold Pride or Infinity for their auras does even less I ended up just having my mercenary wield Obedience).

Another powerful option available from elite equipment is to use effects that proc on attacking or on striking. And again, the necromancer is in the worst spot for trying to use these. And many of these give other classes access to necromancer curses, hence my earlier title of "Curses sure are useful (to paladins)." Amplify Damage, Decrepify, and Life Tap are all readily available from elite equipment through chance to cast on striking procs, generally at sufficient levels to make them reliable. The only necromancer curse that other classes can't make better use of than necromancers is Lower Resist. Because they lack a melee skill kit other than curses, necromancers are in no position to take advantage of all the other abilities that can proc from melee weapons.

While other classes can use equipment to make good skills better, necromancers are forced to use equipment to shore up deficiencies.