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All five classes inDiablo 4offer players a unique mechanic that helps to spice up their gameplay and build variety. While Sorcerers, Druids, andRogues need to complete queststo unlock their unique class mechanic inDiablo 4, Barbarians and Necromancers are lucky in that they don’t need to do anything except level up to get theirs.
Necromancers' unique mechanic is the Book of the Dead, which details the three types of summons that the class can use. As Necromancers level up to Level 25, more skeletons become available, eventually culminating in a special quest tolearn how to summon a Golem. But the Book of the Dead isn’t just about summoning – it’s also about sacrificing minions for personal power.
Updated July 14, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: In Diablo 4, the Book of the Dead is the unique Necromancer class feature that gives players significant control over their army of undead minions. For Necromancers, the Book of the Dead specifically lets you alter your three types of minion (Warrior, Mage, Golem) to give them new abilities, or sacrifice thementirely for enormous passive stat boosts. After several updates since the launch of Diablo 4, the Book of the Dead system still works essentially the it always has, but most of the specifics have been updated over the last six seasons. This guide to the Diablo 4 Necromancer Book of the Dead system has been updated to reflect the current stats and effects of each Spirit Boon in Diablo 4 Season 6.
How To Unlock the Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead is one of the easiestclass mechanics to unlock inDiablo 4as it only has one requirement: reach Level 5. Upon reaching Level 5, players will be able to see their Book of the Dead one tab over from the Character/Inventory page. The main page has three categories: Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and Golems.
When a Necromancer clicks on one of these categories, another screen comes up, this time with three sub-classes that are available for that type of summon. Upgrades for these sub-types, and additional sub-types, are earned automatically with each level until Level 25. At that point, players must learn how to summon a Golem via a unique questline called “Call of the Underworld” that brings the Necromancer back to the Shrine of Rathma in the Fractured Peaks to learn a new ritual.
Necromancer minions automatically inherit 30% of the player’s stats, barring some exceptions. The three summons each have three sub-types, which have a short track of optional upgrades. Skeletal Warriors can become Skirmishers, Defenders or Reapers, while Skeletal Mages can adopt Shadow, Cold, or Bone abilities. Golems can become Bone, Blood, or Iron Golems, each of which unlocks after that initial questline.
Minions and summons are a core part ofthe Necromancer class identity, but they don’t necessarily need to besummonedto provide a benefit to the player. Players can choose to sacrifice their ability to summon minions in exchange for personal power, too.
Tosummon minions as a Necromancer, though, the ability must be slotted onto the player’s ability bar. This cuts out three of the possible six slots, so players who aren’t going for a summoning-centric build could probably stand to cut out one or two of these minions and take a sacrifice passive instead.
Though every class has received significant updates since the launch ofDiablo 4, especially with theVessel of HatredDLC, the Necromancer’s Book of the Dead still essentially works the same way it always has. However, the specific effects and stats of Book of the Dead skills have changed over time. The Book of the Dead skills below are current for Season 6 andVessel of Hatred.
