The Necromancer class in Diablo 4 thrives on manipulating dark energies to weaken and destroy their enemies. The Affliction key passive skill introduces a new layer of malevolent power to the Necromancer’s arsenal, turning curses, crowd control, and shadow damage into deadly tools of destruction. This new passive skill amplifies the damage dealt to afflicted enemies, making it a cornerstone for players who want to maximize the potency of their curses and dark magic.
Affliction is a key passive skill for the Necromancer class in Diablo 4, designed to synergize with the Necromancer’s ability to apply debuffs and deal damage over time. This skill enhances the effectiveness of Vulnerable, Crowd Control, and Shadow Damage over Time effects by making afflicted enemies take additional damage. It also empowers the Necromancer’s Curse Skills, causing them to deal significant Shadow damage to enemies suffering from Affliction.
Skill Breakdown:
To fully harness the power of Affliction, Necromancers should focus on applying the conditions that trigger this passive and then following up with Curse Skills to capitalize on the increased damage. This skill is ideal for players who enjoy a methodical approach to combat, where layering debuffs and damage-over-time effects leads to overwhelming their enemies.
Tips for Effective Use:
Apply Multiple Debuffs: Affliction thrives when enemies are affected by multiple debuffs. Use skills that apply Vulnerable, Crowd Control (such as stuns, freezes, or roots), and Shadow Damage over Time to ensure that as many enemies as possible are afflicted.
Empower Your Curses: Once enemies are afflicted, unleash your Curse Skills to deal devastating Shadow damage. The damage dealt by these curses is amplified not only by Affliction but also by the cumulative effect of your other debuffs, making them incredibly powerful.
Synergize with Minions: The 15% increased damage taken by afflicted enemies applies to both you and your Minions. Make sure your Minions are actively engaging afflicted enemies to maximize the damage output across your entire arsenal.
Build Around Affliction: Optimize your build by focusing on skills and passives that enhance Vulnerable effects, Crowd Control, and Shadow Damage over Time. The more you invest in these areas, the more potent Affliction becomes, leading to greater overall damage.
Affliction fundamentally changes how Necromancers approach combat, emphasizing the strategic layering of debuffs and damage-over-time effects to create devastating damage potential. This key passive is particularly effective in builds that focus on curse application and debilitation, making it a crucial element for players who want to maximize their control over the battlefield.
Build Considerations:
Curse Mastery Build: Affliction is a perfect fit for builds that center around Curse Skills. By stacking curses on your enemies and triggering Affliction, you can ensure that your curses deal massive damage, quickly wearing down even the toughest foes.
Control and Decay Build: For Necromancers who enjoy using Crowd Control and damage-over-time effects, Affliction adds another layer of synergy. Combining this passive with skills that lock down enemies and drain their life over time will make your Necromancer a master of attrition warfare.
Minion-Centric Build: If you prefer a build that heavily involves your Minions, Affliction allows you to increase the damage they deal to afflicted enemies. By keeping enemies vulnerable and debuffed, you can ensure that your Minions are always hitting harder than usual.
The Affliction key passive skill is a powerful and strategic addition to the Necromancer’s toolkit in Diablo 4. By amplifying the damage dealt to enemies suffering from Vulnerable, Crowd Control, and Shadow Damage over Time effects, Affliction encourages a playstyle focused on debilitation and decay. This skill transforms your curses and debuffs into deadly weapons, making every encounter a calculated execution of dark magic.
As you venture through the perilous world of Sanctuary, consider making Affliction a central component of your Necromancer build. With the right combination of skills and strategy, this passive skill can turn your enemies’ weaknesses into their downfall, leaving nothing but devastation in your wake.