Soulwrest Necromancer Build Guide (PoE Metamorph 3.9)
Guide Format
This build guide is split over multiple pages, both to prevent it from getting too long, as well as to help you better find the information you are looking for. In addition to the current page, which presents general information about the build and also contains a Leveling and FAQ section, we have the following pages:
Introduction
The 
Soulwrest unique staff allows us to make a build around the rarely used Phantasm minions. These minions are summoned when you consume corpses, meaning every time you use an Offering skill, or walk over corpses with 
Bubonic Trail, you will raise a new set of Phantasms. They are great when it comes to clear speed, but lack a bit in single target damage output, which is why we also make use of 
Summon Skeletons. Using a Staff means you have access to two 6-Links, one for Phantasms and one for Skeletons, which results in great amounts of damage in the endgame.
The build achieves over 200% increased Maximum Life, which is very respectable for a summoner. It has enough damage to deal with the endgame content the game has to offer.
Build Summary
Soulwrest is the only item you need in order to get started, and although it might be expensive in new leagues, its cost drops over the course of leagues. This is why the build is not a great league-starter. Other items can be simple Rares, with the option to invest in more specific gear pieces later on for better survivability and offense.
Pros & Cons
Pros
+ Hardcore viable
+ Fun playstyle
+ Great damage overall
+ Can run most map mods
Cons
- Requires initial currency investment
- Relies on minion AI, which can be clunky at times
Playstyle
Offensively, every time you enter a new zone all you need to do is 
Desecrate on the ground and use your 
Flesh Offering, or whatever Offering skill you choose. Once you’ve consumed corpses with this gem setup, you will summon your Phantasms, and then you can start moving forward and let them do the work. If you have Bubonic Trails equipped, you can keep your Phantasms up simply by walking over corpses of slain enemies, but you will have to occasionally use your Offering skill anyway. When you encounter tougher enemies, summon your Skeletons, which will obliterate the foe with their powerful single target hits.
Defensively, staying behind your army is what you should be doing. If your minions get stuck somewhere, use 
Convocation to recall them on top of you. 
Flame Dash will help you dodge lethal game mechanics. When properly geared you will easily achieve over 6,5k Life in the endgame, which will allow you to take big hits before going down.
For playstyle, raise up your Phantasms and move forward. If the zone is not that dangerous you can stay offensive and run next to monster packs and re-summon your army with Convocation. If the area mods are “rippy” (likely to kill you suddenly) keep your distance and summon a set of Summon Skeletons here and there in order to clear smoothly and block projectiles.
Passive tree
This is the endgame passive skill tree for the build. We focus on picking almost all of the minion nodes, decent percent increased maximum Life, skill effect duration, Life regeneration, flask nodes, and 4 jewel sockets.
For more information, be sure to check out the Passive Skill Tree page.
Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheons
Our Ascendancy, Bandit, and Pantheon Power page goes into detail about all the choices you need to make in these regards.
Gems
We go over all of the gem links this build uses in the end-game on our Gem Link page.
Gear Summary / TL;DR
These items provide a good balance between offense and defense and are enough to deal with the endgame, although there is definitely a room for improvement. Please ensure you read the Gear, Jewels and Flasks page in its entirety.
Our recommendation:
| Item Slot | Item Name |
| Head | Rare Helmet |
| Amulet | Rare Amulet |
| Chest | Rare Body Armour |
| Gloves | Rare Gloves |
| Boots | Bubonic Trail |
| Belt | Rare  Stygian Vise |
| Rings | Rare Rings |
| Weapon | Soulwrest |
Leveling
As a reminder, we have several guides to help you level up a character.
- Our step-by-step leveling walkthrough, which allows even more experienced players to save time and speed through the leveling process.
- Our guide to Unique Items for leveling, which helps you gear up your characters for the leveling process.
- Our beginner leveling guide, which answers many of the questions new players might have and will set you on the right path.
Leveling Trees
This passive skill tree will carry you through the leveling content easily. You should first rush to minion nodes like Lord of the Dead, Spiritual Command, Sacrifice and Grave Intentions, which should be enough for you to sustain and make great use of 
Raise Zombies. Then you can go for more Life or minion nodes, depending on what you feel you are missing.
Useful Leveling Unique Items
As you begin a new character, there are few unique items that can boost your power exponentially. 
Tabula Rasa allows you to have a 6-Linked skill as early as you get the gems. 
Wanderlust gives a decent movement speed, which will make your leveling that much more efficient. 
Goldrim provides a lot of elemental resistances, this will let you worry less about gearing when approaching certain Act encounters. 
Matua Tupuna, 
Mark of the Red Covenant and 
The Baron can make your leveling experience way easier.
If you are a new player (or if this is your first character for the league), then note that obtaining these items will be very difficult, if not impossible. They are rare drops, which you can otherwise only acquire if you have saved up currency, so do not focus on them too much, and instead simply look for items that match the affix priorities listed in the gearing section above.
Gem Progression
Using Tabula Rasa will allow you to have 6-Link gem setups early on, which is why we show such examples below. If you cannot get Tabula Rasa (or another item with a 6-Link), then simply prioritize the first gems in each link provided below.
In order to acquire gems that are not available to your class as a quest reward, simply ask a friend to buy them off vendors for you, or buy them yourself from Sioasa in The Library in Act III Library.
From level 1, you should use the following link.
Onslaught Support
Arcane Surge SupportYou should also carry the Raise Zombie socketed in your gear in order to level the gem.
At level 4, you should pick 
Summon Raging Spirit in order to level the gem.
At level 8, you can drop your 
Freezing Pulse link and start using Summon Raging Spirit instead.
- Summon Raging Spirit
Minion Damage Support
Melee Splash Support
Added Fire Damage Support
Maim Support
Ruthless Support
At level 10, you should add Flame Dash for additional mobility. You should also pick Summon Skeletons in order to level up the gem.
At level 12, you should pick Flesh Offering.
By level 18, your Summon Raging Spirit link should look like this.
- Summon Raging Spirit
- Minion Damage Support
- Melee Splash Support
Melee Physical Damage Support- Maim Support
- Added Fire Damage Support
At level 24, you should pick Convocation. Around that level you should also be able to sustain your Raise Zombies. Using a 
Violent Dead jewels at this point is also recommended.
FAQ
What map mods does the build struggle with?
Chain and No Regeneration are tough, but manageable.
Conclusion
With the Soulwrest Necromancer you will be able to raise a great army of the dead, which will aid you to bring down your toughest foes.