At 1st level, a necros may create a corpse puppet (see below) from the corpse of a deceased Medium or Small humanoid or a four legged animal (other animal corpses may be allowed upon GM approval). A necros cannot have an animal companion, familiar, or drake companion as long as they possess a corpse puppet. Unlike most undead, this corpse puppet is not mindless, retaining a spark of its former intelligence. As such, they are not limited to basic orders. Corpse puppets are perfectly preserved at the point at which they are created, although they can be allowed to rot if the necros desires.

A necros can break the connection between themselves and their corpse puppet as a full round action, causing it to revert to a normal corpse. To form a connection with a new corpse, they must spend 1 hour with the new corpse, causing it to gain hit dice equal to their old corpse puppet.