Skeletal Mage (skill)

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For the monster of the same name, see Skeleton Mage.

Skeletal Mage Class: Necromancer (Diablo III) Skill Category: Secondary Active Cost: 40 Essence Raise a skeleton from the ground to attack your foes dealing 400% damage as Physical over 2 attacks. Lasts 6 seconds. Damage Type: Physical Other Stats: Summon

Skeletal Mage (formerly Raise Dead) is a Secondary Necromancer skill in Diablo III. Unlike its previous incarnation in Diablo II, it serves more as a direct damage spell than a summoning skill.

In-game

Skeletal Mage attacking

When activated, briefly summons a Skeletal Mage to attack the designated target (unless it is out of reach, dies, or is unattackable, in which case the skeleton retargets to another random foe, like a normal pet). For the duration, the Mage can follow its master.

Necromancer can summon as many Mages at the same time as they can support, which is limited by Essence pool and casting speed.

Contrary to the tooltip, the number of attacks the Mage can make is only limited by the duration and attack speed. Each attack consists of two bolts of energy in quick succession, normally dealing 200% damage per bolt.

Runes

Archers

• Gift of Death: Risen Skeletal Mages leave a corpse behind when they die or expire.
• Singularity: Consumes all Essence when cast, but raises a more powerful skeleton. For each additional point of Essence consumed (in addition to the base cost), the skeleton's damage increases by 3%.
• Life Support: Risen Skeletal Mages cost 10% of maximum Life to cast, but duration is increased by an additional 2 seconds.
• Contamination: Damage type changes to Poison, and summons a contaminated Mage. It will not attack and will not follow its master, but instead will channel an aura of decay for 100% damage as Poison per tick for the duration. An aura is roughly 20 yards in radius and hits all enemies in vicinity.
• Skeleton Archer: Damage type changes to Cold, and raises Skeleton Archers instead of Mages. Skeleton Archers increase the Necromancer's attack speed by 3% for 5 seconds each time they deal damage, stacking up to 10 times.

Non-rune enhancements

• Scythe of the Cycle: deals 250-300% additional damage while Bone Armor is active but each cast reduces the remaining duration of Bone Armor by 3 seconds.
• Razeth's Volition: Skeletal Mage gains the effect of the Gift of Death rune (in addition to any other).
• Circle of Nailuj's Evol: each cast raises an additional Skeletal Mage, and duration increases by 2-4 seconds.
• Tasker and Theo (Legendary Gloves): Mage attacks 40-50% faster.
• Enforcer (Legendary Gem): increases damage by 15% (+0.3% per rank) and reduces damage taken by 90% (rank 25 bonus).
• Bones of Rathma Set (Set Bonus for 2 items): Necromancer's minions have a chance to reduce the remaining cooldown of Army of the Dead by 1 second each time they deal damage.
• Bones of Rathma Set (Set Bonus for 4 items): the Necromancer gains 1% damage reduction for 5 seconds each time their minions deal damage, stacking up tp 50 times.
• Bones of Rathma Set (Set Bonus for 6 items): each active Skeletal Mage increases the damage of all minions and Army of the Dead by 200%.
• Trag'Oul's Avatar Set (Set Bonus for 6 items): Life Support Skeletal Mages deal 3300% increased damage but cost twice as much Life to cast. Healing from skills is increased by 100%.
• Jesseth Arms Set (Set Bonus for 2 items): while Skeletons are commanded to attack a target, Skeletal Mages deal 400% increased damage.

Passives

• Extended Servitude: increases duration by 25%.
• Aberrant Animator: grants 200% of the Necromancer's Thorns.
• Stand Alone: grants 100% increased Armor. This bonus decreases by 10% (minimum 0) for each active minion.
• Grisly Tribute: each attack made by Skeletal Mages heals the Necromancer for 10% of their Life per Hit.
• Blood for Blood: removes the Life cost of Life Support rune when picking up a Health Globe, storing up to 10 charges.
• Blood is Power: every 100% of maximum Life drained by the Life Support rune will reduce all remaining cooldowns by 20%.
• Rathma's Shield: for 4 seconds after casting Land of the Dead, Army of the Dead or Simulacrum, Life Support rune will drain no Life on cast.

Necromancer Skills

Primary Skills
Bone Spikes • Grim Scythe • Siphon Blood
Secondary Skills
Bone Spear • Skeletal Mage • Death Nova
Blood and Bone
Bone Armor • Bone Spirit • Blood Rush • Simulacrum
Reanimation
Command Skeletons • Command Golem • Army of the Dead • Land of the Dead
Curses
Decrepify • Leech • Frailty
Corpses
Corpse Explosion • Corpse Lance • Devour • Revive
Passives
Fueled by Death • Life from Death • Stand Alone • Bone Prison • Commander of the Risen Dead • Swift Harvesting • Extended Servitude • Rigor Mortis • Overwhelming Essence • Dark Reaping • Spreading Malediction • Eternal Torment • Final Service • Grisly Tribute • Draw Life • Serration • Aberrant Animator • Blood for Blood • Blood is Power • Rathma's Shield