School of Necromancy Wizard Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Dark Arts in D&D 5e

The School of Necromancy Wizard is the ultimate master of death magic, specializing in raising undead minions, draining life from enemies, and commanding necrotic power. Introduced in the Player’s Handbook, this subclass is perfect for players who want to create an army of the dead, wield dark magic, and harness necrotic energy for both destruction and survival.

Unlike other Wizards, Necromancers excel in summoning undead, manipulating life energy, and creating a battlefield filled with their own minions, making them one of the most unique and resource-efficient subclasses in D&D 5e. If you love the idea of commanding skeletons, draining life force, and bending death to your will, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a School of Necromancy Wizard?

Key Benefits

• Best Wizard for Summoning & Minion Control – Raise an undead army to fight for you.
• Drain Life from Enemies – Gain HP when you kill creatures with necromancy spells.
• Enhanced Undead Minions – Your undead are stronger and more durable than normal.
• Excels in Both Offense & Defense – Control the battlefield while increasing your own survivability.
• Perfect for Players Who Love Dark Magic & Death Themes – Play as a dark sorcerer, a gothic scholar, or an undead warlord.

Compared to other Wizards, Necromancers are the best at battlefield control through minions, resource management, and sustainable damage output.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Grim Harvest (Level 2)

• When you kill a creature with a spell of 1st level or higher, regain HP equal to twice the spell’s level (or three times if it’s a necromancy spell).
• Doesn’t work on constructs or undead.
• Example: Kill a group of goblins with a 3rd-level Fireball and instantly regain 9 HP!

Undead Thralls (Level 6)

• When you cast Animate Dead, create an extra skeleton or zombie.
• Your undead gain:
  • Bonus HP equal to your Wizard level.
  • A bonus to damage rolls equal to your proficiency bonus.
• Example: Summon two skeletons instead of one, each with more HP and stronger attacks!

Inured to Undeath (Level 10)

• You gain resistance to necrotic damage.
• Your HP maximum can’t be reduced (prevents effects like Life Drain from wraiths).
• Example: Become immune to undead abilities that sap HP and avoid one of the worst death mechanics in the game!

Command Undead (Level 14)

• Use magic to take control of an enemy undead creature (even intelligent ones).
• If they have Intelligence 8 or higher, they get advantage on the saving throw.
• Example: Steal control of a vampire’s minions or force a lich’s skeleton warriors to obey you!

These abilities make Necromancers one of the most sustainable and resilient Wizards, capable of commanding the battlefield through minions and self-sustaining life-stealing mechanics.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Intelligence – Boosts spellcasting and necromancy effectiveness.
• Secondary: Constitution – Helps with survivability and Concentration saves.
• Tertiary: Dexterity – Improves AC and initiative for faster casting.

Recommended Races

Since Necromancy Wizards rely on Intelligence, durability, and control over undead, the best races include:

1. Gnome (Rock or Forest) – Superior Intelligence bonus and resistance to mind-affecting spells.
2. Tiefling (Levistus or Zariel) – Bonus Charisma, resistance to fire, and access to dark magic.
3. Warforged – High Constitution and resistances make them ultra-durable Necromancers.
4. Human (Variant) – Start with a feat like Tough or War Caster for improved survivability.
5. Reborn (UA/Gothic Lineages) – Thematic choice for an undead-like Wizard who resists poison and disease.

Playing as a School of Necromancy Wizard

Role in a Party

• Primary Summoner & Battlefield Controller – Fill the field with undead minions to control fights.
• Self-Sustaining Damage Dealer – Drain HP from enemies to keep yourself alive.
• Master of Dark Magic & Death Manipulation – Utilize necrotic spells to cripple foes while boosting your own power.

Compared to other Wizards, Necromancers are the best at sustaining themselves in combat, keeping up consistent damage, and overwhelming enemies with numbers.

Tips for New Players

• Always keep a supply of corpses for Animate Dead – More minions = more battlefield control.
• Use Grim Harvest to regain HP – Kill weaker enemies with necromancy spells to heal mid-fight.
• Command Undead can turn enemy minions against their masters – Use it on powerful undead for maximum impact.
• Pair skeletons with ranged weapons – They become effective archers when given bows.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons & Arcane Focus

• Staff of Necromancy – Enhances necrotic damage and undead control.
• Tome of the Damned – Grants extra necromancy spells and better minion control.

Armor & Defensive Items

• Cloak of Protection – Increases AC and saving throws.
• Ring of Spell Storing – Keep extra Animate Dead or Shield spells ready.

Magic Items

• Wand of the War Mage – Boosts spell attack rolls.
• Amulet of the Revenant – Grants resistance to necrotic damage.
• Bone Ring of the Necromancer – Improves undead minion durability.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your necromancy-themed gameplay with these exquisite dice sets:

• Death’s Embrace Dice Set: For black and silver hues symbolizing dark magic, consider the Black Obsidian Gemstone DND Dice Set. Hand-carved from genuine black obsidian, these dice exude a deep, glossy black finish, capturing the essence of death's embrace.
• Soul Reaper Dice Set: To represent necrotic energy with swirling green tones, the Green Fluorite Gemstone (Chlorophane) DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Crafted from genuine green fluorite, these dice showcase natural green hues, embodying the life-draining energies wielded by a soul reaper.
• Undying Master Dice Set: For deep purples and eerie blues reflecting death magic, the Purple Gemstone Amethyst DND Dice Set offers a mesmerizing purple hue, symbolizing the arcane powers mastered by those who transcend mortality.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for a Necromancy Wizard

1. Tough – Boosts HP to help you survive long battles.
2. Resilient (Constitution) – Improves Concentration saves for maintaining undead control spells.
3. War Caster – Helps maintain Concentration while raising undead in combat.
4. Lucky – Reroll crucial attack rolls, ability checks, or saving throws.
5. Ritual Caster (Cleric or Warlock) – Expands necromantic spell options for better versatility.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Necromancy Wizard 5 / Cleric (Grave Domain) 15 – The Undead Shepherd

   • Best for: Combining necromantic healing with undead control.
   • Strategy: Use Cleric spells to buff undead and manipulate life energy.

2. Necromancy Wizard 6 / Warlock (Undead or Hexblade) 14 – The Dark Pact Mage

   • Best for: Gaining Eldritch Blast and Hex for extra damage output.
   • Strategy: Combine necromantic minions with Warlock invocations for massive damage.

3. Necromancy Wizard 10 / Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) 10 – The Shadow Lord

   • Best for: Enhancing necrotic spells with Sorcery Points and Metamagic.
   • Strategy: Use Twinned or Quickened Spell to enhance necrotic damage.

The School of Necromancy Wizard is one of the most sustainable, minion-focused, and dark magic-based Wizard subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at raising undead, draining life, and overwhelming foes with sheer numbers.