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Hardmode Zuk (Experienced - Necromancy)

Introduction and preface

This guide is targeted towards players with a strong basic understanding of the encounter and are aiming for the @Zuk Master and @Zuk Grandmaster roles, and not for players attempting hardmode Zuk for the first time. The rotations used are examples and can be adapted depending on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis. The lures generally require moving depending on which monsters are blocked prior to using threadsoffate.

Notes:

⬥ With Necromancy, 2-cycling Zuk tzkalzuk and 1-cycling Har'Aken haraken is fairly consistent with a good rotation.

⬥ Players should focus on wave clear and try to follow this guide as best as possible. The guide contains an outline of the necromancy rotations and lures.

⬥ You should upkeep darkness and conjurearmy + commandghost at all times for a reduction in damage taken, healing and increased damage dealt.

greaterboneshield and zemouregalsnexus should be used as defensives will be vital during the encounter, such as to use reflect/devo while tanking waves to be able to use threadsoffate on all monsters, or to block tzkalzuk's attacks during the pillar phase.

mahj and berserkersfury together are likely a stronger alternative to using invigaura and furyofthesmall but it is less forgiving on hp and adrenaline. This guide assumes use of invigaura and furyofthesmall - rotations will need to be adapted if using mahj.

Presets and Relics

Preset Suggestions

Preset Notes

⬥ Hand wrap of the First Necromancer firstnecrohandwrap should only be worn when summoning conjures and when fighting Zuk tzkalzuk as he isn't poisonable.

⬥ Mobile mob perk is a must have on gear.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎• Alternatively, use Shadow's Grace shadowsgrace.

⬥ You may prefer to use a Mage, Ranged or Melee Obsidian Helm obsidianmagehelm/obsidianrangerhelm/obsidianwarriorhelm for damage reduction rather than a Necromancy helmet firstnecrocrown on many of the waves. Although it is offstyle, it can be useful for the damage reduction (especially if charged in the Fight Cauldron beforehand). It will provide 9% damage reduction from all sources, or 19% reduction if Tokkul is donated to the coffer at the Fight Cauldron.

⬥ This guide assumes that Kal'gerion Demon Scrolls kalgscroll are used, which can be set to autofire and will auto-renew as the buff expires. If you are struggling with food or damage taken, a reaverpouch with reaverscroll (low autofire) or vampaura will help, however this may affect the rotations below. It is possible to obtain a sub 15minute kill with a blood reaver.

Waves 1-5

Pre Fight

conjurearmylifetransfercommandghost

(This can be done with the first necromancer gloves firstnecrohandwrap before switching back to cinderbanes cinderbanes)

Wave 1

Start North

livingdeathtouchofdeath (NW Meleer) → soulsapnecroautodeathskulls (NE Meleer) → soulsap (prioritise higher HP Meleer) → necroautothreadsoffatesoulsapvolleyofsouls → fillers to clear wave

Wave 2

Start North

stormshards tzkalzuk

(West Ranger) invokedeathbloat ‎ ‎→ necroauto (East Ranger) → deathskullssplitsoul → (Target Meleers) → soulsaptouchofdeathnecroauto → (Lure on top of Mejkot) → spectralscythespectralscythe2spectralscythe3 → fillers to clear wave

Wave 3

Start Central/South

conjurearmyinvokedeathcommandghost → ‎ ‎soulsap (Bat) → touchofdeathdevo + deflectmeleefingerofdeath (East Ranger) → soulsap → (Walk Central) threadsoffatevolleyofsoulsdeathguard90 eofspecsoulsap → fillers to clear wave

Wave 4 (Igneous wave)

General pointers

Remove the igneous mobs' damage reduction mechanics ASAP (soulstrike for Hur, bloat for Xil). Invoke Death invokedeath can be used on all three igneous mobs. Set up your splitsoul+omniguard spec on the Xil or Mej and go to Zuk tzkalzuk once all igneous mobs are dead. deathskulls + bloat / volleyofsouls / fingerofdeath are to be used on Zuk tzkalzuk, dependent on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis.

Specific rotations

Start by Conjuring conjurearmy and Commanding Ghost commandghost or use Life Transfer lifetransfer depending on conjure time remaining.

⬥ Igneous Hur: invokedeathsoulstrike + vulnbombbloattouchofdeathsoulsapnecroautosurge mid GCD to Xil

⬥ Igneous Xil: bloat + vulnbombinvokedeathomniguard specnecroautosplitsoulsurge + dive mid GCD to Mej

⬥ Igneous Mej: Equip reaverringtouchofdeath + vulnbombsoulsapnecroauto/volleyofsouls/fingerofdeathsurge dive to Zuk (can use freedom to clear burn stacks if low hp)

⬥ Zuk tzkalzuk + vulnbomb + deathskullsbloat / volleyofsouls / fingerofdeath / necroauto / soulsap / touchofdeath depending on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis.

⬥ Aim to finish Zuk with at least 1 Residual Soul stack residualsoul, and use stormshards on tzkalzuk after he hits phase HP.

Wave 5 (Challenge wave)

conjurearmylifetransfercommandghost before the challenge monsters spawn (can do this after the challenge monsters die if preferred)

⬥ 4+ Soul Stacks: threadsoffatevolleyofsouls → (target the two that won't get hit) → soulsapvolleyofsouls

⬥ 1-3 Soul Stacks: threadsoffatesoulsapvolleyofsouls → (target the two that won't get hit) → deathguard90 eofspec

Waves 6-10

In waves 6, 7 and 8 you will face many ranged enemies that can deal a lot of damage. You may prefer to use a Mage, Ranged or Melee Obsidian Helm obsidianmagehelm/obsidianrangerhelm/obsidianwarriorhelm for damage reduction on these waves.

Wave 6

Start South East

Kill the east ranger with invokedeathtouchofdeathsoulsapnecroautolivingdeath + adrenrenewalflask → stand south east on the Jad side of the rock outside of melee range → touchofdeath + vulnbomb (on Jad) → deathskullsinvokedeathfingerofdeathsoulsap → (Target Bat) necroautonecroautocommandwarriordeathskulls (Mejkot) → touchofdeathfingerofdeath (Bat) → spectralscythe (The Rangers) → spectralscythe2spectralscythe3

Wave 7

Start North

Activate excal sometime during the wave.

invokedeathtouchofdeath (North Mage) → soulsapdeathskulls (Bat) → necroautosoulsapreflectnecroautonecroautodebil (Mejkot) → threadsoffatesoulsapvolleyofsoulsdeathguard90 eofspec → fillers to clear wave → conjurearmystormshards tzkalzukcommandghost

Wave 8

Start West, go South West

invokedeathomniguard spec (Mage) → bloat (Second Mage) → devo + deflectrange ‎ ‎→ necroautotouchofdeathbloat (South ranger) → soulsapnecroautofingerofdeath (Mejkot) necroautosoulsap (until threadsoffate almost off cooldown) → (Move Far Southwest) → reflectthreadsoffatevolleyofsoulssoulsapdeathguard90 eofspec

Wave 9 (Igneous wave)

General pointers

Remove the igneous mobs' damage reduction mechanics ASAP (soulstrike for Hur, bloat for Xil). Invoke Death invokedeath can be used on all three igneous mobs. Set up your splitsoul+omniguard spec on the Xil or Mej and go to Zuk tzkalzuk once all igneous mobs are dead. deathskulls + bloat / fingerofdeath are to be used on Zuk tzkalzuk, dependent on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis.

Specific rotations

Start by Conjuring conjurearmy and Commanding Ghost commandghost or use Life Transfer lifetransfer depending on conjure time remaining.

⬥ Igneous Hur: invokedeathsoulstrike + vulnbombbloattouchofdeathsoulsapnecroautosurge mid GCD to Xil

⬥ Igneous Xil: bloat + vulnbombinvokedeathomniguard specnecroautosplitsoulsurge + dive mid GCD to Mej

⬥ Igneous Mej: Equip reaverringtouchofdeath + vulnbombsoulsapnecroauto/fingerofdeathsurge dive to Zuk (can use freedom to clear burn stacks if low hp)

⬥ Zuk tzkalzuk + vulnbomb + deathskullsbloat / fingerofdeath / necroauto / soulsap / touchofdeath depending on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis.

⬥ Aim to finish Zuk with at least 1 Residual Soul stack residualsoul, and use stormshards on tzkalzuk after he hits phase HP.

Wave 10 (Challenge wave)

Kill the unbreakable TzekHaar-Ket by using invokedeath → (tc) vulnbomb + volleyofsoulsfingerofdeath/deathguard90 eofspec → strong fillers if not dead

conjurearmylifetransfercommandghost after phase

Waves 11 to 16

In waves 11, 12 and 13 you will face many mage enemies that can deal a lot of damage. You may prefer to use a Mage, Ranged or Melee Obsidian Helm obsidianmagehelm/obsidianrangerhelm/obsidianwarriorhelm for damage reduction on these waves.

Wave 11

Start North

touchofdeath the mager → soulsapnecroauto → move south to bat → necroautonecroautonecroauto the bats → move to the position below → livingdeath + adrenrenewalflasktouchofdeathdeathskulls Jad → invokedeathfingerofdeathsoulsap → ‎ ‎necroautonecroautonecroautodeathskullsfingerofdeathsoulsap → (if required) spectralscythespectralscythe2

See the image below for the positioning while killing the Jads to allow deathskulls to bounce.

Wave 12

Start South West

conjurearmyinvokedeathcommandghost

touchofdeath (West Mager) → soulsapnecroautoinvokedeathbloat (East Mager) → necroauto (Bat) → necroautotouchofdeathfingerofdeath (Second Bat) → (Walk North) reflectthreadsoffatevolleyofsoulsdeathguard90 eofspecsoulsap → finish with fillers

Wave 13

Start South

conjurearmyinvokedeathcommandghostdevo + deflectmagebloat (Southwest Zek) → soulsapnecroautonecroautoinvokedeathdeathskulls (Southeast Zek) (Walk West) → touchofdeathsoulsap (until threadsoffate almost off cooldown) → reflectinvokedeath → ‎ ‎threadsoffatevolleyofsoulsdeathguard90 eofspecsoulsapnecroauto → fillers to clear wave

Wave 14 (Igneous wave)

General pointers

Remove the igneous mobs' damage reduction mechanics ASAP (soulstrike for Hur, bloat for Xil). Invoke Death invokedeath can be used on all three igneous mobs. Set up your splitsoul+omniguard spec on the Xil or Mej and go to Zuk tzkalzuk once all igneous mobs are dead. deathskulls + bloat / volleyofsouls / fingerofdeath are to be used on Zuk tzkalzuk, dependent on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis.

Specific rotations

Start by Conjuring conjurearmy and Commanding Ghost commandghost or use Life Transfer lifetransfer depending on conjure time remaining.

⬥ Igneous Hur: invokedeathsoulstrike + vulnbombbloattouchofdeathsoulsapnecroautosurge mid GCD to Xil

⬥ Igneous Xil: bloat + vulnbombinvokedeathomniguard specnecroautosplitsoulsurge + dive mid GCD to Mej

⬥ Igneous Mej: Equip reaverringtouchofdeath + vulnbombsoulsapnecroauto/volleyofsouls/fingerofdeathsurge dive to Zuk (can use freedom to clear burn stacks if low hp)

⬥ Zuk tzkalzuk + vulnbomb + deathskullsbloat / volleyofsouls / fingerofdeath / necroauto / soulsap / touchofdeath depending on Adrenaline, Residual Soul stacks residualsoul and Necrosis Stacks necrosis.

⬥ Aim to finish Zuk with at least 1 Residual Soul stack residualsoul, and use stormshards on tzkalzuk after he hits phase HP.

Wave 15 (Challenge wave)

conjurearmyrescommandghostdevo + deflectrange (Green) OR deflectmage (Blue) OR deflectmelee (Grey) for two hits → disrupt the final hit

Build adrenaline during this challenge wave, and livingdeath + adrenrenewalflasktouchofdeath before the end of the challenge wave (this ensures that it is off cooldown as early as possible for Zuk)

Wave 16 (Triple Jad)

Stand beside the north-west rock and kill the north-west Jad while the other 2 group.

Jad 1: invokedeathdeathskullsfingerofdeathsoulsapnecroauto

Jad 2 and 3: invokedeaththreadsoffatevolleyofsoulssoulsapfingerofdeath → filler → deathskulls (if required and within livingdeath) → stormshards tzkalzuklifetransfersoulsap

invokedeathsplitsoulcommandwarrior pre Har-Aken

Wave 17 (Har-Aken)

deathskullsbloattouchofdeathsoulsapfingerofdeathnecroautosoulsapvolleyofsoulsomniguard specnecroautocommandwarriortouchofdeathnecroautofingerofdeathdeathguard90 eofspec → fillers until dead

Equip reaverring + firstnecrohandwrapconjurearmystormshards tzkalzukcommandghost

Wave 18 (Tz-Kal Zuk)

First cycle

Build to 100% adren pre fight by using basics on Zuk tzkalzuk while he is on his throne.

⬥ Apply vulnbomb and smokecloud

⬥ Use Veng

Use nat on Zuk when Har-Aken's tentacles disappear → build to 100% adrenaline with touchofdeathsoulsapnecroautonecroautolivingdeathtouchofdeathdeathskullsnecroautonecroautosplitsoulfreedombloatfingerofdeath surge (walk back after Zuk slams the ground) → deathskullsvolleyofsoulstouchofdeathfingerofdeathnecroautofingerofdeathnecroauto (disrupt the big hit) → deathskullstouchofdeathomniguard specdeathguard90 eofspecnecroautonecroautosoulsap

⬥ Some improvisation will be necessary as it depends on when you started attacking Zuk (and by extension when you get melee slammed) and how much adrenaline you have.

Pizza Phase

Move with surge dive between each monster to avoid the fire.

Igneous Hur: stormshards tzkalzukfreedom + surge divevulnbomb + soulstriketouchofdeathsoulsapnecroautonecroauto

Igneous Xil: surge divevulnbomb + bloatsoulsapnecroautonecroauto → finish off then conjurearmylifetransfercommandghost

Igneous Mej: surge divesoulsaptouchofdeathnecroautonecroauto

Second cycle

Use excal here.

bloat and build to 100% adrenaline if extra time before the boss is attackable

Veng + deathskullsdivertnecroautolivingdeath + adrenrenewalflasktouchofdeathdeathskullssplitsoulvolleyofsoulsfingerofdeathfingerofdeathfreedomnecroautodeathskullstouchofdeath + surge (walk back after Zuk slams the ground) → bloatnecroautoshatternecroauto disrupt the big hit → deathskulls → additional abilities if not phased

⬥ Again, some improvisation is required here as it depends on when you started attacking Zuk (and where you get melee slammed in your rotation) and on adrenaline.

Conduits

This assumes livingdeath has ran out by the time you get conduits. If this isn't the case you can use an extra deathskulls before living death ends on the conduit.

⬥ Deal with Zuk's charged attacks using the following:

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎• C1 → res

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎• C2 → vitality + obsidianmagehelm (+ reflect)

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎• C3 → disrupt (depending on if used in prior phase) or rod

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎• C4 → res or signoflife

Conduit 1: vulnbomb + invokedeathcommandwarriordeathskullstouchofdeathsoulsap

Conduit 2: vulnbomb + invokedeathomniguard specnecroautofingerofdeathsoulsap

Conduit 3: vulnbomb + invokedeathvolleyofsoulstouchofdeathnecroauto

Conduit 4: vulnbomb + invokedeathbloatdeathguard90 eofspec → fillers to finish

Example videos

Full Kill - https://youtu.be/yvBEBIE7DPI?si=0I41DKuyAsisDE_T (13:37)

Full Kill - https://youtu.be/fe6HscgEVII?si=JHePLQkgSCgQPJzd (13:16.2) (Death Mark Bug on pillar)