Path of Trag'Oul: The Unconventional Necromancer Build

Necromancers in Diablo III have always been associated with their iconic bone-themed skills and heavy reliance on minions. However, the Path of Trag'Oul set breaks this mold, introducing a unique playstyle centered around the power of thorns.

The Path of Trag'Oul Set

The Path of Trag'Oul set consists of six pieces:

1. Trag'Oul's Corroded Fang (Amulet)
2. Trag'Oul's Claws (Bracers)
3. Trag'Oul's Veins (Chest Armor)
4. Trag'Oul's Coils (Leg Armor)
5. Trag'Oul's Girth (Belt)
6. Trag'Oul's Avatar (Helm)

Set Bonus:

• 2 Pieces: Reduces the damage taken from melee attacks by 25%.
• 4 Pieces: Thorns damage is tripled.
• 6 Pieces: When hit by a melee attack, you release a Nova that deals Thorns damage to nearby enemies.

Playstyle and Skill Setup

The Path of Trag'Oul build revolves around maximizing the damage output of thorns. This is achieved by stacking multiple layers of defense, including:

• Bone Armor
• Fortify
• Leeching Essence
• Dayntees Binding (Legendary belt)

These defensive abilities significantly increase your survivability, allowing you to withstand the considerable melee damage you will face.

Skill Choices:

• Primary Skill: Bone Spear
• Secondary Skill: Corpse Lance
• Defensive Skill: Bone Armor + Fortify
• Rune Skills: Leech, Enfeeblement, Chain Reaction

The choice of Bone Spear as the primary skill is due to its high damage output and ability to pierce through multiple enemies. Corpse Lance provides additional burst damage and can be channeled to generate Essence for Leeching Essence.

Gear and Stats

In addition to the Path of Trag'Oul set, the following gear and stats are essential:

Weapon:

• Scythe of the Cycle (Legendary Scythe)

Helm:

• Crown of the Invoker (Legendary Helm)

Amulet:

• Trag'Oul's Corroded Fang

Armor:

• Aquila Cuirass (Legendary Chest Armor)

Gloves:

• Tasker and Theo (Legendary Gloves)

Boots:

• Ice Climbers (Legendary Boots)

Stats:

• Vitality: Focus on increasing your Hit Points (HP)
• Thorns: Stack as much Thorns damage as possible
• Attack Speed: Increase your attack speed to proc thorns damage more frequently
• Critical Hit Chance/Damage: Improve your overall damage output

Tips and Tricks

• Use Bone Armor Aggressively: Keep Bone Armor up at all times to mitigate melee damage.
• Position Yourself Optimally: Stand in the middle of dense enemy groups to maximize Nova damage from the 6-piece set bonus.
• Use Corpse Explosion Wisely: Corpse Explosion can deal significant area damage, but be careful not to destroy corpses needed for Corpse Lance.
• Manage Essence: Leeching Essence is crucial for sustaining your HP. Use it strategically to restore health and generate Essence.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Extremely tanky with multiple layers of defense
• High thorns damage output
• Can handle large groups of melee enemies

Cons:

• Can struggle against enemies that attack from range
• Requires specific gear and stats
• Playstyle can be slow-paced

FAQs

1. Is Path of Trag'Oul viable for high-level content?

Yes, with the right gear and skill setup, Path of Trag'Oul can be used effectively in high-level Greater Rifts.

2. What is the best way to deal with ranged enemies?

Use skills like Bone Spirit or Grim Scythe to attack from a distance or rely on your thorns damage from melee enemies to deal with ranged attackers indirectly.

3. Can Path of Trag'Oul be played in multiplayer?

Yes, but it is important to coordinate with your group to ensure there are enough enemies to proc thorns damage consistently.

4. What are good alternatives to Scythe of the Cycle?

Other good weapon options include Schaefer's Hammer, In-Geom, and Jesseth's Scythe.

5. What makes Path of Trag'Oul unique?

Path of Trag'Oul is unique because it focuses on thorns damage as the primary means of attack, making it a distinct playstyle from traditional Necromancers.

6. What are the best gems to use with Path of Trag'Oul?

Recommends gems like Bane of the Powerful, Bane of the Stricken, and Pain Enhancer for increased damage output.

Conclusion

The Path of Trag'Oul set offers a unique and unconventional playstyle for Necromancers in Diablo III. By embracing the power of thorns, players can become formidable tanks with the ability to tear through melee enemies with ease. With careful gear selection and skill management, the Path of Trag'Oul can conquer even the most challenging content.