Do you have the power to raise and control the undead? This is the question RuneScape 3’s new Necromancy skill asks its players.
Necromancy is the 29th skill to be released into RuneScape 3, and arrives three years after the last, Archaeology. It’s not just a skill though – Necromancy is the first new combat style to ever be released in RuneScape after 22 years, and more akin to a new class in other MMOs. Sitting outside of the established combat triangle of melee, range and magic, Necromancy is neither stronger or weaker than the game’s other combat skills. Instead, it was designed to offer players an alternative form of combat they can learn and experiment with.
Ahead of its release on Monday 7th August, I was given a preview and hands-on time with Necromancy, and able to reach Level 20.
To see this content please enable targeting cookies.
Necromancy combat can be divided in two halves – conjuring the undead, like Skeleton Warriors or Putrid Zombies, and wielding necrotic attacks, which offer a range of new incantations and abilities. The undead will fight alongside you, and your Summoning familiar if you have one, both giving and taking damage. Meanwhile, those new abilities, like Finger of Death, let you cause damage of your own and, by stacking Necrosis, reduce the amount of adrenaline they cost to perform.