This uses the new Summoner class that recently was put up on the Void (https://www.daggerheart.com/thevoid/). The handful of minor criticisms I have about it aside, I really really like how this class functions. It’s fun, and I think it has some cool potential. So! I came up with a cool build that turns this class into a pretty strong combat-focused spellcaster!

Part 1: Core Mechanic

So, the core of this build revolves around the Foundation subclass card for Summoner’s Necromancer Subclass. Summoner’s main ability lets you Mark a Stress in order to summon an amount of entities equal to your tier, with a maximum amount of summons equal to your current level.

Necromancer’s first card gives you access to the Shambling Corpse summon, which lets you make a Spellcast attack against an adversary within Far range, dealing 5 Physical damage per Shambling Corpse. One of these Corpses then disappear. If an adversary ever marks its last hit point within Far range, you can also summon a Shambling Corpse without expending Stress. It’s a fun ability, but to have a decent amount of them to do good damage, you need to be spending a lot of Stress, which brings us to the next major mechanic.

Summoner’s Hope Ability lets you Spend 3 Hope to distribute 2 Hope to allies and then Clear a Stress. This build wants you to be using this Hope Ability pretty often, because it’s one of your only reliable ways to keep your Stress open to summon more Shambling Corpses. The build will want you to cycle through Spamming the Hope Ability so you can keep your damage high because you’ll have lots of Shambling Corpses.

Part 2: The Build

Obviously, your class is going to be Summoner, and Subclass will be Necromancer. Knowledge is going to be your highest Trait, you can decide whichever your other traits will be though. But Knowledge must be +2.

When it comes to your Origin, there are two routes you can go, focusing mainly on your Stress or your Hope.

1. Warborne Firbolg. Both have ways of making sure you don’t lose Stress as often so you can keep summoning those Zombies.

3. Either Halfling or Infernis for Ancestry, then either Freeborne or Orderborne for Community. All of these options aid in your production of Hope so that you can reliably use your Hope Ability more often.

Your starting armor and weapons don’t matter too much, so I recommend just getting like, Gambeson or Leather, and then the Greatstaff. You could also take the Arcane-Frame Wheelchair and then a Secondary Weapon of your choice.

For domain cards at level 1, I have two load outs I recommend:

1. Blood Spike and Lifeblood Talisman. These are just good for damage, since Lifeblood Talisman gives you a good HP outlet to make Blood Spike stronger while also providing good defense.

2. Bolt Beacon and Power Through Pain. These are safer combat options that aren’t as risky, since they don’t require you to actively burn your HP.

From then on, you want to prioritize increasing your Stress whenever you can, picking up cards and equipment that supports gaining hope/clearing stress. You’ll for sure want to pick up Second Wind later.

If you want to lean hard into stress management, once you hit tier 4, you can Multiclass into Druid and take Warden of Renewal, Guardian and take Vengeance, Cleric for Divine Wielder, Warrior for Call of the Brave, Witch for Hedge. Alternatively, take Wizard for School of Knowledge and cheat in an additional high level Domain card.

“I cut straight to the heart, I don't believe

The pretty little things that you say

I've heard a lot of little pretty things

Don't buy me flowers, it pains me to watch