Homunculus

Homunculus is the premier unique Hierophant Trophy (Exceptional) for Necromancers in Diablo 2 Resurrected. Requiring level 42, this Necromancer-only shrunken head combines powerful skill bonuses with exceptional defensive stats, making it the go-to off-hand choice for most Necromancer builds through endgame.

Skill and Mana Bonuses

The shield provides +2 To Necromancer Skill Levels and an additional +2 To Curses Skills (Necromancer Only), effectively giving +4 to all Curse skills while boosting all other Necromancer abilities by +2. The curse bonus is particularly valuable since curses like Amplify Damage, Decrepify, and Lower Resist are essential for virtually every Necromancer build. The shield also offers +20 To Energy, Regenerate Mana 33%, and +5 To Mana After Each Kill, ensuring strong mana sustainability for casting.

Exceptional Defensive Capability

Defensively, Homunculus is outstanding for a Necromancer item. With +150-200% Enhanced Defense, 40% Increased Chance of Blocking, and 30% Faster Block Rate, it provides the highest base block chance (72%) available to Necromancers. The massive All Resistances +40 bonus helps overcome Hell's resistance penalties, making this shield invaluable for survival. These defensive stats are particularly important for Necromancers who typically have lower health pools and rely on avoiding damage.

When to Use It

Homunculus works excellently for Summoners, Poison Necromancers, and hybrid builds. While Bone Necromancers might prefer a rare shrunken head with +3 to Bone Spear/Bone Spirit and faster cast rate, Homunculus remains competitive due to its incredible all-around stats. The shield is part of the "Level 42 unique class item cycle" alongside Herald of Zakarum and Jalal's Mane, sharing their level requirement and +2 skill design. Homunculus can be upgraded to a Bloodlord Skull using the cube, though the increased strength requirement rarely justifies the minor defense gain. For most Necromancers, Homunculus remains the best-in-slot shield choice from level 42 through endgame content.