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{{Secondary skills}}
{{Secondary skills}}
{{Secondary skill
{{Secondary skill
  | B_effect = allows 10% of the creatures killed in combat to be brought back from the dead as skeletons.
  | B_effect = 10% of enemy creatures killed are [[Animate Dead|resurrected]] (5% in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}.
  | A_effect = allows 20% of the creatures killed in combat to be brought back from the dead as skeletons.
  | A_effect = 20% of enemy creatures killed are [[Animate Dead|resurrected]] (10% in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}.
  | E_effect = allows 30% of the creatures killed in combat to be brought back from the dead as skeletons."
  | E_effect = 30% of enemy creatures killed are [[Animate Dead|resurrected]] (15% in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}.
}}
}} '''Necromancy''' is a [[secondary skill]] that enables the hero to raise killed enemy creatures as [[Skeleton and Skeleton Warrior|Skeletons (or Skeleton Warriors)]]. All [[Death Knight]]s and [[Necromancer]]s start with basic Necromancy skill, except [[Isra]] the [[Death Knight]] and [[Vidomina]] the [[Necromancer]], who both start with advanced Necromancy. Other hero classes cannot learn Necromancy, but they can acquire it from [[Scholar (Adventure Map)|Scholar]]s, [[Pandora's Box]]es, [[Seer's Hut]]s, [[Event]]s or [[Witch Hut]]s (unavailable by default).


==Background information==
'''Bug:''' AI heroes always raise exactly 1 Skeleton (or Lich), even if it should've raised 100% of the creatures slain. In {{hota}}{{-wh}}, this bug was fixed but another bug appeared: AI somehow raises more Skeletons than it should be able to.


Necromancy is a [[Secondary Skill]] that all [[Necropolis]] heroes - both [[Death Knight]]s and [[Necromancer]]s - start with. No other heroes have Necromancy as a starting skill, nor can they learn basic Necromancy by levelling up. Even [[Witches]] are no longer offered this skill in later versions of the game. Non-[[Necropolis]] heroes can learn Necromancy only from [[Witch Hut]]s and [[Scholar (Adventure Map)|Scholar]]s, and only if the mapmaker specifically allows it.
'''Heroes with Necromancy as a starting skill:'''


'''Recommended for:''' N/A. Heroes either start with this skill, or are typically unable to learn it.
* [[File:Death Knight portrait.gif]] All [[Death Knight]]s
* [[File: Necromancer portrait.gif]] All [[Necromancer]]s


On many maps, especially XL maps with droves of low-level creatures, Necromancy is considered overpowered by tournament players, and its use is therefore frequently banned from competitive play.
'''Heroes with Necromancy as a specialty and a starting skill:'''
* {{H2|Isra|Death Knight}} (Advanced Necromancy)
* {{H2|Vidomina|Necromancer}} (Advanced Necromancy)


==Description==
'''Skill-affecting factors:'''
* {{an|Amulet of the Undertaker}} – artifact increases Necromancy skill +5 %. (2,5 % in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}
* {{an|Vampire's Cowl}} – artifact increases Necromancy skill +10 %. (5 % in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}
* {{an|Dead Man's Boots}} – artifact increases Necromancy skill +15 %. (7,5 % in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}
* [[Necromancy Amplifier]] – structure increases Necromancy skill +10 %.  (bonus stacks if you have multiple towns with this building) (5 % in [[HotA]]){{-wh}}
* [[Soul prison]] – [[Necropolis]] [[grail]] structure, which increases Necromancy skill +20 %  (bonus stacks if you have multiple towns with this building via [[Map Editor]])


*Basic Necromancy enables a victorious hero to raise as [[Skeleton]]s up to 10% of enemy creatures killed in combat, with a minimum of one.
Additionally, with [[Cloak of the Undead King]], it is possible to raise other undead creatures instead of Skeletons. However, the cloak does not affect the skill percentages.
*Advanced Necromancy enables a victorious hero to raise as [[Skeleton]]s up to 20% of enemy creatures killed in combat, with a minimum of one.
*Expert Necromancy enables a victorious hero to raise as [[Skeleton]]s up to 30% of enemy creatures killed in combat, with a minimum of one.


All enemy creatures, except [[clone]]d creatures and elementals that are summoned during battle, can be raised as skeletons.
== {{hota}} ==
In {{hota}}, the skill percentages are decreased to 5%, 10% and 15%.{{-wh}}


When a victorious army contains [[Skeleton Warrior]]s but no [[Skeleton]]s, and no empty army slot is available, Skeleton Warriors will be raised instead of Skeletons, but only 2/3 of the usual number.
== How it works ==
All killed '''enemy''' creatures can be raised as skeletons. This includes [[sacrifice]]d creatures, [[clone]]d creatures, summoned [[elemental]]s and even [[war machines]]. If the victorious hero's army has no empty slots available and no [[Skeleton]]s, but includes [[Skeleton Warrior]]s, the killed enemy creatures will be raised as Skeleton Warriors, but only 66.6% compared to Skeletons. If there are no available slots and no skeletons (either kind) in the army, none of the killed enemy creatures are raised.


==Heroes with a specialty in this skill==
The number of skeletons brought back at the end of the combat depends on three main factors:
*[[Isra]] the [[Death Knight]]
# Number of creatures in killed stacks
*[[Vidomina]] the [[Necromancer]]
# Amount of health of killed stacks
# Level of Necromancy skill (calculated by adding up hero skill level, artifacts and [[Necromancy Amplifier]])


==Artifacts affecting this skill==
First, the total number of raised Skeletons can never exceed the number of creatures slain in combat. Second, the total health of raised skeletons can never exceed the total health of killed creatures. Third, the level of Necromancy skill used in calculations can never be more than 100%, although it is technically possible for a hero to have Necromancy skill above 100%. These rules in {{sod}} are applied to every killed stack individually (in {{hota}}{{-wh}} the amount of creatures raised is calculated by the overall number of killed creatures), and always rounded towards 1.
*[[Amulet of the Undertaker]] (Neck). Gives +5% Necromancy to a hero's Necromancy skill.
*[[Vampire's Cowl]]  (Shoulders). Gives +10% Necromancy to a hero's Necromancy skill.
*[[Dead Man's Boots]] (Feet). Gives +15% Necromancy to a hero's Necromancy skill.
*[[Cloak of the Undead King]] (Shoulders, combination artifact assembled from the other three Necromancy artifacts). Heroes without Necromancy can raise [[Skeleton]]s as if they have learnt Expert Necromancy. Heroes with Necromancy receive +30% to their total Necromancy percentage on top of the +30% Necromancy provided by the individual artifacts, and can raise [[Walking Dead]], [[Wight]]s and [[Lich]]es at, respectively, Basic, Advanced and Expert Necromancy. ''Note: Available only in the'' [[Shadow of Death]] ''expansion''.


==Buildings affecting this skill==
The health of the enemy creature killed affects the efficiency of raising skeletons as per table:
*[[Necromancy Amplifier]]
*[[Soul prison]]


==In-depth==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Creature hp !! Necromancy efficiency
|-
| 1 hp || 16.6%
|-
| 2 hp || 33.3%
|-
| 3 hp || 50%
|-
| 4 hp || 66.6%
|-
| 5 hp || 83.3%
|-
| 6+ hp || 100%
|}


The exact number of skeletons raised depends on a hero’s total Necromancy percentage. This is calculated by summing all the Necromancy percentages as provided by a hero's Necromancy skill ''prior to'' combat (including any Necromancy [[specialty]]), Necromancy artifacts, [[Necromancy amplifier]]s and the [[Soul Prison]], . Thus, a level 10 [[Isra]] with Advanced Necromancy, the Amulet of the Undertaker, two Necromancy Amplifiers and a Soul Prison has a total Necromancy percentage of (10 × 0.05 × 20% + 20%) + 5% + 2 × 10% + 20% = 75%. The maximum percentage is 100%.
As an example, a hero with 50% necromancy who kills 100 creatures with 6 HP or higher will obtain 50 skeletons, whereas if they were to kill 100 peasants (a creature with only 1 HP), only 8 skeletons would be obtained. In the first case the number of skeletons raised is limited by the total number of creatures available (100 creatures * 50% efficiency = 50 skeletons). In the latter case by the total HP of the killed creatures, as each skeleton requires a minimum of 6 HP to raise ((100 HP / 6 HP) * 50% efficiency = 8 + ⅓ ≈ 8 skeletons). This can be also interpreted as the hero being able to revive only 50 HP total (8 skeletons have 48 HP).


The number of raised skeletons is ''separately'' calculated for each enemy stack and is not affected by whether either a victorious or a defeated hero had any health artifacts such as the [[Vial of Lifeblood]] equipped:
Additionally, with [[Cloak of the Undead King]], the same rules apply to [[Walking Dead]], [[Wight]]s and [[Lich]]es. As they have more health, less is raised. And if a hero only has upgraded versions in the army and no free slots, the "two thirds rule" is applied (the health difference between basic and upgraded creatures does not play any role in this case).
*If an enemy stack consisted of creatures with 6 [[health]] or more, the number of raised skeletons from that stack is equal to the ''number of creatures'' killed multiplied by a hero’s total Necromancy percentage.
*If an enemy stack consisted of creatures with less than 6 [[health]], the number of skeletons raised from that stack is equal to the ''total number of health points'' of the killed creatures multiplied by a hero’s total Necromancy percentage.
The total number of skeletons raised equals the sum of the number of skeletons raised from each separate stack.


To illustrate, a hero with 35% Necromancy will raise 5 Skeletons if she defeats an enemy hero who has fled after losing one stack of 8 [[Stone Gargoyle]]s, one stack of 1 [[Gremlin]], and 15 Gremlins from one stack of 20 Gremlins. That is, 35% of 8 Stone Gargoyles is enough for 2 skeletons, the stack of 1 Gremlin consists of too few hitpoints to raise a skeleton from, and the 15 Gremlins that were killed provide 60 health, of which 35% (i.e., 21 health) can be raised into 3 skeletons. The total number of skeletons raised is therefore 2 + 0 + 3 = 5.
While a hero might level up from an encounter and as a result increase their necromancy expertise - e.g. from basic to advanced - the level that is applied to the encounter ''is the one the hero had already attained when the encounter started''. Level ups in necromancy, when they are attained by winning an encounter, only apply to encounters going forward.


Finally, when having killed at least one enemy creature, even if it is just a [[Peasant]], victorious heroes with Necromancy will always raise at least one skeleton, regardless of their total Necromancy percentage.  
== Chance to get ==
{{Secondary skill chance explanation}}
{{ZET SEC SKILL CHANCE TABLE| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|10|10| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0}}
 
{{user commentary|
Necromancy is the basis of [[Necropolis]] faction. By default there cannot be a Necropolis hero without this skill and the chance of upgrading this skill is also very high, so if a very important basic skill like [[Wisdom]] or [[Earth Magic]] is offered together with improving Necromancy, ignore Necromancy. You will get it sooner or later.
 
For heroes from other towns, the Necromancy skill is undesirable as Skeletons are weak, slow and will spoil [[morale]].
 
Necropolis and Necromancy are often considered to be overpowered, and therefore frequently banned in multiplayer games (and tournaments).
}}{{end of user commentary}}
 
{{secondary skill 'see also'|top=* [http://heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?FID=6&TID=11784 ''How does the necromancy skill work exactly?''] Heroes Community thread started by angelito.}}


[[Category: Secondary skills]]
[[Category: Secondary skills]]
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 08:34, 31 July 2024

Secondary skills
 Air Magic
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 Interference Horn of the Abyss
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Necromancy
Basic Necromancy: 10% of enemy creatures killed are resurrected (5% in HotA) Horn of the Abyss.
Advanced Necromancy: 20% of enemy creatures killed are resurrected (10% in HotA) Horn of the Abyss.
Expert Necromancy: 30% of enemy creatures killed are resurrected (15% in HotA) Horn of the Abyss.

Necromancy is a secondary skill that enables the hero to raise killed enemy creatures as Skeletons (or Skeleton Warriors). All Death Knights and Necromancers start with basic Necromancy skill, except Isra the Death Knight and Vidomina the Necromancer, who both start with advanced Necromancy. Other hero classes cannot learn Necromancy, but they can acquire it from Scholars, Pandora's Boxes, Seer's Huts, Events or Witch Huts (unavailable by default).

Bug: AI heroes always raise exactly 1 Skeleton (or Lich), even if it should've raised 100% of the creatures slain. In Horn of the Abyss Horn of the Abyss, this bug was fixed but another bug appeared: AI somehow raises more Skeletons than it should be able to.

Heroes with Necromancy as a starting skill:

Heroes with Necromancy as a specialty and a starting skill:

Skill-affecting factors:

Additionally, with Cloak of the Undead King, it is possible to raise other undead creatures instead of Skeletons. However, the cloak does not affect the skill percentages.

Horn of the Abyss

In Horn of the Abyss, the skill percentages are decreased to 5%, 10% and 15%. Horn of the Abyss

How it works

All killed enemy creatures can be raised as skeletons. This includes sacrificed creatures, cloned creatures, summoned elementals and even war machines. If the victorious hero's army has no empty slots available and no Skeletons, but includes Skeleton Warriors, the killed enemy creatures will be raised as Skeleton Warriors, but only 66.6% compared to Skeletons. If there are no available slots and no skeletons (either kind) in the army, none of the killed enemy creatures are raised.

The number of skeletons brought back at the end of the combat depends on three main factors:

  1. Number of creatures in killed stacks
  2. Amount of health of killed stacks
  3. Level of Necromancy skill (calculated by adding up hero skill level, artifacts and Necromancy Amplifier)

First, the total number of raised Skeletons can never exceed the number of creatures slain in combat. Second, the total health of raised skeletons can never exceed the total health of killed creatures. Third, the level of Necromancy skill used in calculations can never be more than 100%, although it is technically possible for a hero to have Necromancy skill above 100%. These rules in Shadow of Death are applied to every killed stack individually (in Horn of the Abyss Horn of the Abyss the amount of creatures raised is calculated by the overall number of killed creatures), and always rounded towards 1.

The health of the enemy creature killed affects the efficiency of raising skeletons as per table:

Creature hp Necromancy efficiency
1 hp 16.6%
2 hp 33.3%
3 hp 50%
4 hp 66.6%
5 hp 83.3%
6+ hp 100%

As an example, a hero with 50% necromancy who kills 100 creatures with 6 HP or higher will obtain 50 skeletons, whereas if they were to kill 100 peasants (a creature with only 1 HP), only 8 skeletons would be obtained. In the first case the number of skeletons raised is limited by the total number of creatures available (100 creatures * 50% efficiency = 50 skeletons). In the latter case by the total HP of the killed creatures, as each skeleton requires a minimum of 6 HP to raise ((100 HP / 6 HP) * 50% efficiency = 8 + ⅓ ≈ 8 skeletons). This can be also interpreted as the hero being able to revive only 50 HP total (8 skeletons have 48 HP).

Additionally, with Cloak of the Undead King, the same rules apply to Walking Dead, Wights and Liches. As they have more health, less is raised. And if a hero only has upgraded versions in the army and no free slots, the "two thirds rule" is applied (the health difference between basic and upgraded creatures does not play any role in this case).

While a hero might level up from an encounter and as a result increase their necromancy expertise - e.g. from basic to advanced - the level that is applied to the encounter is the one the hero had already attained when the encounter started. Level ups in necromancy, when they are attained by winning an encounter, only apply to encounters going forward.

Chance to get

Out of total 112 for Shadow of Death, and of (112 + Interference chance) for Horn of the Abyss Horn of the Abyss.
Banned skills change the probability.

Town Class Chance to learn
Castle  Knight   0
Castle  Cleric   0
Rampart  Ranger   0
Rampart  Druid   0
Tower  Alchemist   0
Tower  Wizard   0
Inferno  Demoniac   0
Inferno  Heretic   0
Necropolis  Death Knight  10
Necropolis  Necromancer  10
Dungeon  Overlord   0
Dungeon  Warlock   0
Stronghold  Barbarian   0
Stronghold  Battle Mage   0
Fortress  Beastmaster   0
Fortress  Witch   0
Conflux  Planeswalker   0
Conflux  Elementalist   0
Cove Horn of the Abyss     Captain   0
Cove Horn of the Abyss     Navigator   0
Factory Horn of the Abyss     Mercenary   0
Factory Horn of the Abyss     Artificer   0


User commentary

[Show user commentary]
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Some may find the information in this section subjective or irrelevant.

Necromancy is the basis of Necropolis faction. By default there cannot be a Necropolis hero without this skill and the chance of upgrading this skill is also very high, so if a very important basic skill like Wisdom or Earth Magic is offered together with improving Necromancy, ignore Necromancy. You will get it sooner or later.

For heroes from other towns, the Necromancy skill is undesirable as Skeletons are weak, slow and will spoil morale.

Necropolis and Necromancy are often considered to be overpowered, and therefore frequently banned in multiplayer games (and tournaments).

See also:

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