Revision as of 06:41, 27 February 2010

Introduction

Class-specific items are much like other items. They have a variety of stats and types, can be found magical, Rare, Unique, and sometimes in Sets as well. The real difference is that these items can only be used by one character class, and they can have random bonuses to individual skills, much like the ones you see on wands/staves/scepters in Diablo II. This is in contrast with items possessing class-specific Skill Level and Necromancer Skill Tree prefixes, which may be used by classes other than the Necromancer without benefiting from the skill modifiers.

Necromancers get Totems for their class-specific items in the Expansion. Totems were originally known as "Shrunken Heads" and you can easily see why with a glance at their graphics. These items are equipped in the shield spot, and offer low blocking, but can have inherent bonuses to individual Necromancer skills, and magical bonuses to his skill trees or even all skills. All Totems have an inherent poison damage that increases with the item quality.

Blocking % in the Expansion: The way blocking works is changed in the expansion. Any Necro past Clvl 50 should expect to block at no more than 10%, and probably the minimum cap of 5%. The new formula for blocking is:

Total Blocking % = [Blocking x (Dexterity – 15)] / (Character Level x 2)
If your character is moving, then % chance to block is reduced to 1/3 of its original value.

This formula basically means that if you have less than half of your stat points into Dexterity, you will have a lower block rating than your shield displays, but if more than half of your stat points are in Dex, then you will have a higher blocking %. The blocking animation is seen much more often in the expansion and can interrupt your attack or escape. Blocking is reduced to 33% of normal when attacking or running, but uses regular values when walking or standing still.

Totem Inherent Bonuses

All Necromancer Totems may have +1-3 points in up to 3 individual skills from any of his skill trees. In addition, all totems will have some added poison damage. These bonuses are only for physical damage, not added onto spell damage, and as such are useless for strictly spell-casting Necromancers.

• Shield Weight: All Necro totems are "light" shields, and have no running speed or stamina drain penalties. Medium and Heavy shields do.
• Item Level: Used in many in-game calculations. Monsters must be of this level to drop the item, and it factors in when you get to gamble for this item type as well.
• Clvl Req: Your character must be at least this level to equip the item.
• You can not gamble any Totems in the Expansion, they must be found.

Normal

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Preserved Head	Defense 2-5 Durability: 24 Str Required: 12 Item Level: 4 Clvl Req: 3	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 23% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Zombie Head	Defense 4-8 Durability: 24 Str Required: 14 Item Level: 8 Clvl Req: 6	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 25% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Unraveller Head	Defense 6-10 Durability: 24 Str Required: 18 Item Level: 16 Clvl Req: 12	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 28% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Gargoyle Head	Defense 10-16 Durability: 24 Str Required: 20 Item Level: 20 Clvl Req: 15	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 30% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Demon Head	Defense 15-20 Durability: 24 Str Required: 25 Item Level: 24 Clvl Req: 18	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 32% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Exceptional

Exceptional Totems can be found in Acts 4 and 5, and then all through Nightmare and Hell difficulty. Check the Item levels and compare to the Monster Levels to see exactly which monsters can drop which types of helms.

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Mummified Trophy	Defense 38-48 Durability: 20 Str Required: 38 Item Level: 33 Clvl Req: 24	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 23% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Fetish Trophy	Defense 41-52 Durability: 20 Str Required: 14 Item Level: 39 Clvl Req: 29	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 25% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Sexton Trophy	Defense 44-55 Durability: 20 Str Required: 47 Item Level: 45 Clvl Req: 33	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 28% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Cantor Trophy	Defense 50-64 Durability: 20 Str Required: 50 Item Level: 49 Clvl Req: 36	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 30% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Hierophant Trophy	Defense 58-70 Durability: 20 Str Required: 58 Item Level: 54 Clvl Req: 40	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 32% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Elite

Elite Totems can be found in Acts 3-5 Nightmare, and all through Hell difficulty. Check the Item levels and compare to the Monster Levels to see exactly which monsters can drop which types of helms.

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Minion Skull	Defense 95-139 Durability: 20 Str Required: 77 Item Level: 59 Clvl Req: 44	Sockets: 1-2 Necro Block: 23% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Hellspawn Skull	Defense 96-141 Durability: 20 Str Required: 82 Item Level: 58 Clvl Req: 50	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 25% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Overseer Skull	Defense 98-142 Durability: 20 Str Required: 91 Item Level: 63 Clvl Req: 55	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 28% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Succubae Skull	Defense 101-146 Durability: 20 Str Required: 95 Item Level: 65 Clvl Req: 57	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 30% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Bloodlord Skull	Defense 103-148 Durability: 20 Str Required: 106 Item Level: 67 Clvl Req: 59	Sockets: 1-2 Block: 32% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Unique

Spawn in 1.10 or later only
Item	Name	Item Stats	Special Properties	Misc Stats
	Boneflame Succubae Skull	100-146 Defense 222.2-367.5 95 Str Required 113 Dex Required Item Level: 72 Clvl Req: 80	+120-150% Enhanced Defense 20% Faster Run/Walk 15% Chance to cast level 3 Terror when struck +2-3 to Necromancer Skills All Resistances +20-30	Durability: 20 Block: 30%
	Darkforce Spawn Bloodlord Skull	103-148 Defence 249.6-417.2 106 Str Required Item Level: 72 Clvl Req: 64	+140-180% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Cast Rate +10% to Maximum Mana +1-3 to Curses (Necromancer Only) +1-3 to Poison And Bone Spells (Necromancer Only) +1-3 to Summoning Spells (Necromancer Only)	Ladder Only Durability: 20 Block: 32%

1.09
Item	Name	Item Stats	Special Properties	Misc Stats
	Homunculus * Hierophant Trophy	147-213 Defense 20 Durability 58 Str Required Item Level: 50 Clvl Req: 42	+2 To Necromancer Skills +2 To Curses +150-200% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Block Rate +40% Increased Chance of Blocking +20 to Energy +33% Mana Regeneration +5 Mana After Each Kill All Resistances +40	Block: 67% Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2 Speed: -30

Notes

The Homunculus is obviously an excellent Necro shield, far and away the best shield any Necromancer could hope to find. Since Necromancers are so weak in v1.09, you won't see many around, which keeps this item from having much of a trade value. Save it and hope for Necro improvements in future patches, if you aren't going to use it yourself.

1.08 Statistics

Homunculus: +2 To Necromancer Skills, 25% Damage Taken Goes To Mana, +1 Mana per Clvl, +8% Mana Regen, +15% Increased Chance of Blocking, +1 To Curses (Necromancer Only)

Further Reading

Check out the Unique Items Section for all other uniques.