Hytale's Update 2 introduces necromancy, letting players raise undead minions with the Grimoire: Rekindle Embers.
What You Need to Summon Skeletons
To call forth skeletons, gather two key items:
- Grimoire: Rekindle Embers (also called Necromancy Grimoire): The spellbook that powers the ritual. Each use consumes one grimoire to summon a single skeleton.
- Piles of Skulls (or Piles of Bones): Placeable items that serve as the summoning anchor. One pile per skeleton.
| Item | Stack Size | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Grimoire: Rekindle Embers | 5 (max recommended) | Casts the summon spell |
| Pile of Skulls | Varies | Anchor for each minion |
Step 1: Obtain the Grimoire - Defeat the Burnt Praetorian Skeleton
The grimoire drops rarely from the Burnt Praetorian Skeleton, an elite boss found in dedicated arenas or catacombs. Locations include:
- Zone 1 biomes: Emerald Wilds (Burial Grounds catacombs), The Fens, Drifting Plains, Autumn Forest.
- Zone 4: Devastated Lands (charred ruins, volcanic areas).
Arena Identification: Look for circular cobblestone structures with blue Lost Civilization Braziers or scorched archways. They stand out on the map with dirt paths.
Boss Fight Tips:
- Gear: Mid-tier armor, bow/arrows for ranged, shield for blocking.
- Attacks: Sword swings, shield blocks, charge (red smoky aura), high-damage special. Dodge by hopping walls.
- Phases: Near death, summons 2 Skeleton Warriors - kill them first.
- Strategy: Kite with bow, block and counter when safe. Similar to Void Spawn or Bear fights.
- Loot: 4-5 Piles of Skulls, 4-5 Grimoires, Essence of Fire, Iron Ingots (low drop rate ~2.5%).
Step 2: Gather Piles of Skulls
- Primary Source: Drops from Burnt Praetorian (4-5 per kill) or regular skeletons in dungeons/caves/POIs.
- Farming Spots: Underground caves, skeleton-heavy Points of Interest, or after clearing 15-20 lesser skeletons to spawn Praetorians.
- Note: Use placeable Piles of Bones/Skulls (not loose fragments).
Step 3: The Summoning Ritual
- Place Piles of Skulls in open ground (no terrain clipping, strategic spots like chokepoints).
- Equip Grimoire: Rekindle Embers in your hotbar.
- Aim at a pile and hold RMB/LMB/Secondary Action until charged (~2 seconds or bar full).
- Release to summon a Skeleton Warrior. Repeat for more (up to 5 practical limit).
Minion Behavior:
- Follow you and attack targets you hit (or aggressors).
- Duration: 5 minutes, or until killed/lost player/drowned.
- Weaknesses: Water (drown), sunlight (200% damage in Zones 1/3 daytime).
Advanced Tips and Strategies
- Pre-Fight Setup: Summon full squad (5 skeletons) before bosses/dungeons. Position piles behind cover.
- Combat Synergy: Pair with ranged weapons - let skeletons tank while you DPS.
- Scaling: Boosts with Spirit attribute (15+ points). Scholar clothing reduces life-drain cost (~5% health per cast).
- Avoid: Water areas, daytime surface in weak zones. Minions can friendly-fire if in your way.
- Farming Loop: Farm Praetorians for grimoires/skulls - respawn per world.
- Limits: No swim, expire on death, finite grimoires (no crafting yet).
Master these steps, and your skeleton army will dominate Hytale's dangers. Experiment in the pre-release build for the full necromancer experience!