Necrotic damage specialist

[Mortis_Elrod]

So for a while now I have been trying to find a build that specializes in necrotic damage. At first glance I’m looking at a death cleric, but there’s also a lot of necromancy spells on the warlock and wizard spell list. So what is the best Necrotic Danae dealer you can come up with?


Things to note
-looking at official material, though if something significant is in planeshift or UA feel free to mention it
-the MM has 11 immune and 11 resistant to necrotic damage and no direct vulnerabilities. Most of these are undead, only 1 is Celestial (solar) and they usually carry from mid to high cr. If someone knows the di/dr for volo’s feel free to share
-goal is not nessesarily to be a undead minion maker. In fact trying to avoid that.
-want as many necromancy spells that deal necrotic damage.

So any ideas ?

[kobo1d]

Not Using UA, Death domain is pretty much it.

Using UA Theurgy Wizard choosing Death domain gets you all the necrotic wizard spells on top of the relevant death domain features.

[clash]

Sorcerer Divine soul is another option. Between cleric and sorcerer spell lists you get a lot of what you are looking for.

[Vogie]

The Earliest combo would be Hexblade 1 / Death Cleric 2

Hexblade's Curse amplifies damage dealt based on proficiency, which would count as necrotic damage, while Reaper gives you the ability to pseudo-twin your Toll the Dead catrip.
Hex adds 1d6 Necrotic Damage per hit, and the DC's CD ability adds 5xCleric Level as damage on a melee attack. You'll also have Inflict Wounds to use while you're in melee range
By Warlock level 2 you can also have Arms of Hadar for AoE Necrotic Damage

You'd probably get the most necrotic damage for your buck with Hexblade Bladelock 12 / Death Cleric 8
Alongside everything mentioned above

Lifedrinker invocation (warlock level 12) gives flat Necrotic damage per hit based on Charisma modifier, and two attacks a turn with Thirsting blade (at warlock level 5)
the first hit also deals an extra 1d8 necrotic damage to the target with your divine strike
You'll have a variant of the Darkness/Devil's Sight combo with Shadows of Moil, which also deals necrotic damage to anyone who hits you, starting at Warlock level 7.
Starting at Cleric Level 5 (or warlock level 5, with Sign of Ill Omen invocation), you can swap Hex for Bestow Curse, increasing the damage to 1d8, and gives the target disadvantage on a choice of Saving throws - if you choose Wisdom, it allows Toll The Dead to hit more consistently.
Using various curses as part of the rotation gives you Relentless Hex, Maddening Hex, giving you bonus action AoE or Dimension door
Inescapable Destruction will make all cleric Necrotic damage, from Toll the Dead, Inflict Wounds, and Bestow Curse blow through resistance
You'll have access to Enervation starting at warlock Level 9
At Warlock level 11, you can choose Circle of Death from the Mystic Arcanum list.


UA availability:

Lore Wizards can change other spells damage types to Necrotic damage at will, as well as change the save type once per rest. Necrotic Fireball requiring Intelligence saving throw? Sure!
GOO Patrons can choose Claw of Acamar invocation as early as 3rd level, allowing them to create a flail that can smite, dealing 2d8 necrotic damage to the target per spell level