Difference between revisions of "Mercenary"
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
− | + | Most of the following information has been collected from the AB forums, as a reference for other Basiners. Credits are listed at the bottom of the page. You can discuss changes/corrections to this page in this [https://www.theamazonbasin.com/forums/index.php?/topic/95745-the-mercenary-resource/ topic]. | |
==Useful Links== | ==Useful Links== | ||
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[https://www.lurkerlounge.com/forums/thread-10275.html Optimizing Merc Levelling] by Crystalion<br> | [https://www.lurkerlounge.com/forums/thread-10275.html Optimizing Merc Levelling] by Crystalion<br> | ||
1.1x<br> | 1.1x<br> | ||
− | [https:// | + | [https://planetdiablo.eu/diablo2/calcs/speedcalc/speedcalc_english.php Attack Speed Calculator] - check breakpoints for merc weapons<br> |
[https://web.archive.org/web/20210225120802/https://diablo3.ingame.de/diablo-2/calculatoren/zaubergeschwindigkeit/ Faster Cast Speed] for A3 Mercs<br> | [https://web.archive.org/web/20210225120802/https://diablo3.ingame.de/diablo-2/calculatoren/zaubergeschwindigkeit/ Faster Cast Speed] for A3 Mercs<br> | ||
[https://www.theamazonbasin.com/forums/index.php?/topic/102946-110-mercenary-stats/ Complete Hireling Stats]<br> | [https://www.theamazonbasin.com/forums/index.php?/topic/102946-110-mercenary-stats/ Complete Hireling Stats]<br> | ||
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* Mercs hired in normal difficulty have better stats than those hired in Nightmare, and those are both better than those hired in Hell. In 1.11, you should always hire your mercs in Normal, since they will always have better stats, the exception being the Nightmare Act 2 mercs, which have different auras than Normal A2 mercs. The level of your character when you hire them has no bearing on their stats, only the difficulty you hire them in matters. | * Mercs hired in normal difficulty have better stats than those hired in Nightmare, and those are both better than those hired in Hell. In 1.11, you should always hire your mercs in Normal, since they will always have better stats, the exception being the Nightmare Act 2 mercs, which have different auras than Normal A2 mercs. The level of your character when you hire them has no bearing on their stats, only the difficulty you hire them in matters. | ||
* The highest level a merc can be is 98. | * The highest level a merc can be is 98. | ||
− | * When mercs levels up, their current life is set to their new base maximum life. So, if a merc is under life bonuses from Battle Orders, Oak Sage, or equipment, you will see | + | * When mercs levels up, their current life is set to their new base maximum life. So, if a merc is under life bonuses from Battle Orders, Oak Sage, or equipment, you will see their life drop. Don't be alarmed when this happens, your merc isn't about to bite the dust. |
===Skills=== | ===Skills=== | ||
− | * Mercs skills do synergize each other when applicable. As an example, an Act 3 Iron Wolf's Ice Blast will synergize its Glacial Spike. | + | * Mercs skills do synergize with each other when applicable. As an example, an Act 3 Iron Wolf's Ice Blast will synergize with its Glacial Spike. |
* Related to the above, mercs are NOT affected by the charge synergy bug (bug removed in 1.11). | * Related to the above, mercs are NOT affected by the charge synergy bug (bug removed in 1.11). | ||
* Mercs will benefit from: | * Mercs will benefit from: | ||
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===Equipment=== | ===Equipment=== | ||
− | They can wield one-handed and two-handed swords but they cannot dual-wield two one-handed swords | + | They can wield one-handed and two-handed swords but they cannot dual-wield two one-handed swords. Life leech, FHR, resistances, etc are good. They're about the same as A2 mercenaries except for the weapon differences. Lawbringer has become somewhat popular because of the chance to cast Decrepify. |
===Hit Recovery=== | ===Hit Recovery=== | ||
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==Credits== | ==Credits== | ||
− | BIG thanks go out to adeyke, Ruvunal, Zath, brianc84 and many others from the AB forums | + | BIG thanks go out to adeyke, Ruvunal, Zath, brianc84 and many others from the AB forums who did all the real work, and ThePlatypus for compiling it here. Also, thanks to Tommi for his excellent pages of information, found [https://web.archive.org/web/20050310015047/http://www.hut.fi/~tgustafs/diablochars.html here]. All the hit recovery information is from him, found [https://web.archive.org/web/20050308011248/http://www.hut.fi/~tgustafs/hitrecovery.html here]. |
Latest revision as of 13:58, 10 April 2024
IntroductionMost of the following information has been collected from the AB forums, as a reference for other Basiners. Credits are listed at the bottom of the page. You can discuss changes/corrections to this page in this topic. Useful Links1.09 1.11The most important change 1.11 brought is this: You no longer have to level up your merc. When you hire a mercenary now, they will be within 5 levels of your character. They also keep up with your level much more easily now after you hire them. When you hire mercs, their stats may appear incorrect on the hiring screen. However, once you actually hire them, their stats will get updated and will display correctly. When 1.11 first came out, the ctc Valk on the 'Peace' runeword "worked" for mercs, but caused the game to crash. Blizzard disabled the mod for mercs afterwards. General Mercenary FactsItems/Mods
Levels
Skills
Misc
Hiring levels (1.10)This is a list of the merc levels you will have to pick from based on Act and Difficulty Level (Expansion Only). Note that you can't buy a merc whose level is higher than your own:
Damage Modifiers
"*" A minion is any creature a player controls, except a hireling or a golem. When defending, hirelings take 100% from all sources except other Hirelings, which is 25%. Survival Tips
Act 1 Rogue
EquipmentThey tend to stay out of harm's way reasonably well, so life leech isn't mandotory, but a little bit certainly helps. Increased Attack Speed can help (check speed calculator). These mercs are good at activating Chance to Cast mods without being in the thick of the battle. Blinding, fleeing, amplify damage, etc. Hit Recovery
Act 2 Town Guard
EquipmentGet him a big damage polearm. Mods to look for are: Crushing Blow, life leech, +life, resistances, Faster Hit Recovery, Chance to Cast amp damage or decrepify, Slows Target (especially on Holy Freeze merc). Available Auras
Hit Recovery
Act 3 Iron Wolf
EquipmentYou want +skills and Faster Cast Rate. Everything else is secondary because they tend to survive fairly well on their own unless you let them get swarmed. The Spirit runeword makes an excellent weapon for them. You would need +strength on your helm/armor to let them use a Spirit shield since the lowest strength requirement on a 4 socket shield is 156 on a Monarch (146 if ethereal). They top out at 153 str at level 98 and have 137 str at level 85, just to give you an idea. See the Act 3 Mercenaries Full Power Guide for more ideas. Spells
This chart assumes they were hired in Normal difficulty and have no +skills. The numbers reflect the synergy bonuses when applicable.
Faster Cast Rate
Hit Recovery
Act 5 Barbarian
EquipmentThey can wield one-handed and two-handed swords but they cannot dual-wield two one-handed swords. Life leech, FHR, resistances, etc are good. They're about the same as A2 mercenaries except for the weapon differences. Lawbringer has become somewhat popular because of the chance to cast Decrepify. Hit Recovery
What Merc for Build X?Well, there are far too many builds to list a merc for each one. In general, pick a mercenary that compliments you well. I'll make some general comments on mercs that might work well. Ultimately, it's usually a matter of personal preference. This list is based on my opinions/experiences and on what I've read here in the forums. Physical damage, melee fighter
Elemental damage, melee fighter
Caster characters
Summoners
CreditsBIG thanks go out to adeyke, Ruvunal, Zath, brianc84 and many others from the AB forums who did all the real work, and ThePlatypus for compiling it here. Also, thanks to Tommi for his excellent pages of information, found here. All the hit recovery information is from him, found here. |