While previous seasons leaned on Diablo 4 Items explosive AoE builds or high-mobility glass cannons, Season 9 is all about control, efficiency, and overwhelming your enemies with numbers. Several classes-most notably the Necromancer, Druid, and even the Sorcerer-now have high-tier builds that rely on companions, summons, or constructs. These builds let players command powerful forces, sustain heavy pushes in Nightmare Dungeons, and handle high-difficulty Strongrooms without needing to group up.

And yes, while AI minions still make the occasional tactical blunder, the added durability and enhanced damage scaling in Season 9 make them more dependable than ever before.

Necromancer: Army of the Dead Gets a Modern Upgrade

Necromancers have always been the most iconic summoners in the Diablo franchise, and Season 9 doubles down on this legacy. Thanks to the Hand of Naz Unique gloves, the Minion Necromancer can now achieve new heights in skeletal warfare. These gloves enhance Skeletal Mages, allowing the player to summon more than the typical cap and deal significantly more damage-especially when sacrificing other summon types, like Warriors or the Golem.

This trade-off is worth it. With fewer types to manage and stronger Mages as the core of the army, players can adopt a cleaner rotation that focuses on supporting spells and AoE control. Here are the foundational skills that elevate this build:

Blight: Creates zones of Corruption Damage over time, weakening enemies for minions to finish off.
Corpse Tendrils: Clusters enemies and applies Vulnerable, setting them up for devastating follow-ups.
Bone Prison: A flexible trap to isolate elite threats or contain stragglers during dungeon runs.
Soulrift: Generates Essence while dealing solid single-target damage-perfect for bosses or tanky elites.

Together, these skills create an optimal play loop: control the battlefield, feed minions a steady stream of victims, and snowball power as the fight progresses. With proper paragon and gear investment, the Minion Necro is a powerhouse in Tier 70+ Nightmare Dungeons and a menace in PvE content.

Druid: Nature's Fury, Unleashed Through Companions

Druids finally have their moment to shine as minion masters in Season 9. While traditionally built around shapeshifting and storm magic, the Companion Druid archetype has surged in power thanks to synergy with the Shepard's Aspect, Reverie Horn Horadric Jewel, and core Companion abilities.

Unlike the Necromancer, the Druid exercises more direct control over their minions-Wolves and Ravens can be actively commanded to attack targets or swarm areas, making them more interactive and less reliant on random AI behavior. Companion Druids excel at Buy Diablo 4 materials consistent damage output while also having great survivability.