49 replies to this topic

[MattNo5ss]

Since we don't have a mercenary section in our Strategy Guide, I've decided to try to pull together as much information on mercenaries as I can find. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Act 1 - Rogue
- Stats/Level
- Skills
- Equipment
- Attack Speed Breakpoints
- Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints
- Character Builds that Benefit from a Rogue

Act 2 - Desert Warrior
- Stats/Level
- Skills
- Equipment
- Attack Speed Breakpoint Chart
- Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints
- Character Builds that Benefit from a Desert Warrior

Act 3 - Iron Wolf
- Stats/Level
- Skills
- Equipment
- Faster Cast Rate Breakpoints
- Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints
- How to Glitch an Iron Wolf

Act 5 - Barbarian
- Stats/Level
- Skills
- Equipment
- Attack Speed Breakpoints
- Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints
- Character Builds that Benefit from a Barbarian
__________________________________________________________________________

ACT 1 - ROGUE

Stats/Level

Life - 8 (Life fully regenerates in 41 seconds)
Strength - 1
Dexterity - 2
Defense - 6.5
Resistances - 2

Skills
NOTE: Skill Level = (10/32) * Merc Level

Inner Sight - No skill cap, but hire Act 1 Rogues in Normal to get a higher level Inner Sight (29 N, 28 NM, 27 Hell).

One of the following bow skills:
Fire Arrow - No skill cap, but hire Act 1 Rogues in Normal to get a higher level Fire Arrow (29 N, 28 NM, 27 Hell).
Ice Arrow - No skill cap, but hire Act 1 Rogues in Normal to get a higher level Cold Arrow (29 N, 28 NM, 27 Hell).

Equipment - I don't like spending a fortune on Mercenary gear.
NOTES: Ethreal gear is better for mercenaries. Uses bows (no crossbows); Amazon-only items can't be used by Act 1 Rogues.

Weapons
Faith - Best bow available.
Breath of the Dying - You should be able to find a few of these floating around on Non-Ladder for pretty cheap.
Ice - Holy Freeze and Chance to Cast Frost Nova will keep enemies at bay.
Edge - If you are a character with minions, Necro/Druid, then this bow could come in handy with the Thorns aura.
Windforce - Graet high damage bow, cheaper than Faith.
Witchwild String - Amplify Damage is great if you are a melee character. Two sockets for Amns, Shaels, and IAS/Resist Jewels.

My Suggestion
Harmony - Great easy-to-make bow with Vigor and a lot of elemental damage.

Armor (Get max resists)
Fortitude - Damage and Resists.
Chains of Honor - Skills and Resists.
Bramble - Thorns is great if you are melee or have minions.
160/60 Lifer - Damage, speed, and life.

My Suggestion
Smoke - Cheap +50 Resist All.
Treachery - Cheap, IAS, FHR, Fade, and Venom.

Helmets
Delirium - Great crowd control; downside is that it overrides other curses (Amp/Life Tap).
Vampgaze - Life leech, DR, and chills targets.
120/45 Lifer - Damage, speed, and life.
Crown of Thieves - Cheap and high life leech.

My Suggestion
Stealskull - Cheap and effective. Life leech, FHR, and IAS.
Tal-Rasha's - Cheap, High Life Leech, and Resists.

Attack Speed Breakpoints

Frames---16 FPS---15 FPS---14 FPS---13 FPS---12 FPS---11 FPS---10 FPS---9 FPS
WBS(-10)---0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS----7 IAS----18 IAS----35 IAS-----60 IAS---109 IAS
WBS (0)----0 IAS----0 IAS----9 IAS----19 IAS----32 IAS----54 IAS----86 IAS---152 IAS
WBS (5)----0 IAS----6 IAS---15 IAS----26 IAS---40 IAS----65 IAS----102 IAS---180 IAS
WBS (10)---5 IAS---11 IAS---22 IAS---34 IAS---50 IAS---78 IAS-----120 IAS---215 IAS

Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints

Frames---10 FPS---9 FPS---8 FPS---7 FPS---6 FPS---5 FPS---4 FPS
%FHR-----6 FHR--13 FHR--20 FHR--32 FHR--52 FHR--86 FHR--174 FHR

Character Builds that Benefit from a Rogue

Benefits from Faith (Fanaticism Aura) and Long Range Support
WW Sin
Kicker
Ghost (WW/Trap)
Whirlwind
Concentrate
Berserker
Thrower
Shapeshifter
Summonecro
Avenger (Vengeance)
Auradin
Crusader (Charge)
Liberator (Charge/Hammer)
Vanquisher (Smite/Hammer)
Vindicator/Templar (Smite/FoH)

Benefits from Witchwild String (Amp Damage)
Any Physical Damage Dealer
Wind Druid
Singer
__________________________________________________________________________

ACT 2 - DESERT WARRIOR

Stats/Level

Life - 10 (Life fully regenerates in 41 seconds)
Strength - 1.5
Dexterity - 1.5
Defense - 9.5
Resistances - 2

Skills
NOTE: Skill/Aura Level = (10/32) * Merc Level

Jab - 2 hits. The lower the difficulty when hired, the higher possible Jab level because of skill caps.

One of the following auras:
Prayer (Normal/Hell) - Hire from Normal because the aura level cap (18) is 2 levels higher than Hell-hired Mercenaries.
Blessed Aim (Normal/Hell) - Hire from Normal because the aura level cap (18) is 3 levels higher than Hell-hired Mercenaries.
Defiance (Normal/Hell) - Hire from Normal because the aura level cap (18) is 2 levels higher than Hell-hired Mercenaries.
Thorns (Nightmare) - Aura level cap of 17.
Might (Nightmare) - No aura level cap on Might.
Holy Freeze (Nightmare) - Aura level cap of 17.

Equipment - I don't like spending a fortune on Mercenary gear.
NOTES: Ethreal gear is better for mercenaries. Javelins (will not be thrown), Spears or Polearms.

Weapons
Infinity - 40% Crushing Blow and Conviction aura; Great for elemental based characters.
Doom - High damage; Use on a merc that doesn't use Holy Freeze.
Upped Hone Sundan - 40% Crushing Blow and 3 sockets for Amns.
Bonehew - Easy-to-get, High damage and 2 sockets for Amns.
The Reaper's Toll - Good damage, Decripify, and High Life Leech.
Tomb Reaver - High damage, Speed, Resists, and 1-3 Sockets for Amns.

My Suggestion
Insight - Probably the most widely used merc weapon b/c of its cheap price, decent damage, and Meditation aura. Great for casters.
Bonehew - Easy-to-get, High damage and 2 sockets for Amns.

Armor (Get max resists)
Fortitude - Damage and Resists.
Chains of Honor - Skills and Resists.
Bramble - Thorns is great if you are melee or have minions.
160/60 Lifer - Damage and speed.
Duress - FHR, %ED, CB, and Resists.
Shaftstop - Life and 30% DR.

My Suggestion
Smoke - Cheap +50 Resist All.
Treachery - Cheap, IAS, FHR, Fade, and Venom.

Helmets
Delirium - Great crowd control; downside is that it overrides other curses (Amp/Life Tap).
Vampgaze - Life leech, 20% DR, and chills targets.
Crown of Thieves - Cheap and high life leech.

My Suggestion
Tal-Rasha's - Cheap, High Life Leech, and Resists.

Attack Speed Breakpoints

Frames---9.5 FPS---9 FPS---8.5 FPS---8 FPS---7.5 FPS---7 FPS---6.5 FPS---6 FPS---5.5 FPS---5 FPS
WBS(-20)---0 IAS---0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS-----9 IAS-----26 IAS----52 IAS---102 IAS
WBS(-10)---0 IAS---0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS----8 IAS----22 IAS-----42 IAS----75 IAS---142 IAS
WBS (0)----0 IAS---0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS-----9 IAS----20 IAS---37 IAS-----63 IAS---105 IAS---200 IAS
WBS (10)---0 IAS---0 IAS----5 IAS---11 IAS---22 IAS---35 IAS---56 IAS-----89 IAS----147 IAS---292 IAS
WBS (20)---4 IAS---9 IAS---16 IAS---24 IAS---37 IAS---54 IAS---80 IAS----125 IAS---208 IAS---456 IAS

Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints

Frames---14 FPS---13 FPS---12 FPS---11 FPS---10 FPS---9 FPS---8 FPS---7 FPS---6 FPS
%FHR-----5 FHR---9 FHR---14 FHR---20 FHR---30 FHR---42 FHR---60 FHR---86 FHR--142 FHR

Character Builds that Benefit from a Desert Warrior

Benefits from Insight (Meditation Aura) and Melee Support
Singer
Fire Sorc
Cold Sorc
Lightning Sorc
Hammerdin
Templar (FoH)
Cleric/Medic
Mage (Hammer/FoH)
Wind Druid
Fire Elementalist
Bonecro
Poisonecro

Benefits from Infinity (Conviction Aura) and Melee Support
Javazon
Hybrid Zon
Trapper
Lightning Sorc
Ghost (WW/Trap)

Benefits from Offensive Auras (Might, Concentrate, Blessed Aim)
Bowazon
Barb -vs- Caster
Concentrate
Berserker
Thrower
Shapeshifter
Summonecro
Zealot
Vindicator (Smite) - Doesn't benefit from Blessed Aim.
Crusader (Charge)
Liberator (Charge/Hammer)
Vanquisher (Smite/Hammer) - Doesn't benefit from Blessed Aim.
Vindicator/Templar (Smite/FoH) - Doesn't benefit from Blessed Aim.

Benefits from Holy Freeze (Slowing ~= Adding IAS)
Avenger (Vengeance)
Auradin
__________________________________________________________________________

ACT 3 - IRON WOLF

Stats/Level

Life - 6 (Life fully regenerates in 41 seconds)
Strength - 1.5
Dexterity - 1.5
Defense - 4.5
Resistances - 2

Skills

One of the following spell combos:
Charged Bolt & Lightning - Charged Bolt maxes out at Level 12 on Merc Level 61; Lightning (Level 17 on Merc Level 61) maxes out at Level 28 on Merc Level 98.
Inferno & Fireball - Inferno maxes out at Level 20 on Merc Level 61; Fireball maxes out at Level 29 on merc Level 98.
Frozen Armor, Glacial Spike & Ice Blast - Frozen Armor maxes out at Level 16, Ice Blast maxes out at Level 20, and Glacial Spike maxes out at Level 9 on Merc Level 61.

Equipment - I don't like spending a fortune on Mercenary gear.
NOTES: Ethreal gear is better for mercenaries. One-Handed Swords & Shields.

Weapons (Get +Skills and FCR)
Hellplague - Good for Fire merc with the +2 Fire Skills.
Hexfire - Good for Fire merc with the +3 Fire Skills.

My Suggestion
Spirit - Easy-to-make; +2 All Skills and FCR.

Shields (Get +Skills and FCR)
Sigon's Guard - +1 All Skills.
Lidless Wall - +1 All Skills and FCR.
Splendor - +1 All Skills and FCR.

My Suggestion
Spirit - Easy-to-make; +2 All Skills, FCR, and Resists.

Armor (Get resists, skills, and FCR)
Chains of Honor - Strength (For Spirit Shield), Skills and Resist
Smoke - Cheap +50 Resist all.

My Suggestion
Skin of the Viper Magi - Skills, resist, and FCR; Exactly what we were looking for. Socket with Perfect Amethyst for strength.
Armor w/ Strength - If you're going to use Spirit, then you might need this. Find one with a strength mod and/or socket with Perfect Amethysts.

Helmets (Get +Skills)
Nightwing's Veil - Best cold merc helmet; +2 Skills and +% Cold Damage.
Peasant Crown - +1 Skills.
Lore - Easy-to-make, and +1 Skills.
Tarnhelm - +1 Skills.

My Suggestions
Harlequin Crest - +Skills, Life, and DR. Socket with Perfect Amethyst for strength.
Andariel's Visage - Strength (For Spirit Shield), +2 Skills.
Helmet w/ Strength - If you're going to use Spirit, then you might need this. Find one with a strength mod and/or socket with Perfect Amethysts.

Faster Cast Rate Breakpoints

Frames---17 FPS---16 FPS---15 FPS---14 FPS---13 FPS---12 FPS---11 FPS
%FCR----10 FCR---15 FCR---30 FCR---40 FCR---60 FCR---90 FCR---140 FCR

Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints

Frames---16 FPS---15 FPS---14 FPS---13 FPS---12 FPS---11 FPS---10 FPS---9 FPS---8 FPS---7 FPS
%FHR-----5 FHR---8 FHR---13 FHR---18 FHR---24 FHR---32 FHR---46 FHR---63 FHR---86 FHR---133 FHR

How to Glitch an Iron Wolf

The idea is to get huge Holy Shock and Holy Fire damage by exploiting a bug in the game.
NOTE: The following can be done with any mercenary, but only the Act 3 Iron Wolf can glitch both Holy Shock and Holy Fire simultaneously.

You will need the following gear:
Hand of Justice Sword - Level 16 Holy Fire.
Dragon Armor - Level 14 Holy Fire.
Dream Shield - Level 15 Holy Shock.
Dream Helmet - Level 15 Holy Shock.

Steps to Glitching:
- Equip all of the above equipment.
- Unequip and re-equip one of your Dreams a lot of times (75+).
- Unequip and re-equip either Hand of Justice or Dragon a lot of times (75+).
- Now you should have huge pulse damage that will kill just about anything (excluding Fire + Lightning Immunes).
- If your mercenary dies or you happen to take off both Dreams or Hand of Justice and Dragon, which will completely remove one of your auras, then the damage gained from that aura will be lost and you will have to start over glitching that aura.
- You also have to re-do the previous steps during each new game.
__________________________________________________________________________

ACT 5 - BARBARIAN

Stats/Level

Life - 12 (Life fully regenerates in 16.4 seconds)
Strength - 2
Dexterity - 1.5
Defense - 7.5
Resistances - 2 (Built-in +70% poison resistance)

Skills
NOTE: Normal attack has 2 hits. Act 5 Barbarians have a 5% chance of Critical Strike.

Bash - Maxes out at Level 20 on Merc Level 75.
Stun - Maxes out at Level 16 on Merc Level 75.

Equipment - I don't like spending a fortune on Mercenary gear.
NOTES: Ethreal gear is better for mercenaries. Two-Handed Sword or One-Handed Sword without Shield; Barbarian-only items can be used by Act 5 Barbarians. Can't Dual-Wield.

Weapons
Last Wish - Possibly the best Act 5 Merc Weapon; High damage, Might aura, High Crushing Blow, Fade, and Life Tap.
Breath of the Dying - Great all around melee weapon.
Grief - High damage and speed.
The Grandfather - High damage.
Silence - Good damage, Skills, Resists.
Death - High damage, 50% Crushing Blow, Deadly Strike, and Glacial Spike on Attack keeps enemies frozen.

My Suggestion
Cresent Moon - Cheap; Decent damage and Static.
Cruel (of Quickness if you're lucky) - Easy to buy from merchants.

Armor (Get max resists)
Fortitude - Damage and Resists.
Chains of Honor - Skills and Resists.
Bramble - Thorns is great if you are melee or have minions.
160/60 Lifer - Damage and speed.
Duress - FHR, %ED, CB, and Resists.
Shaftstop - Life and 30% DR.

My Suggestion
Smoke - Cheap +50 Resist All.
Treachery - Cheap, IAS, FHR, Fade, and Venom.

Helmets
Delirium - Great crowd control; downside is that it overrides other curses (Amp/Life Tap).
Vampgaze - Life leech, DR, and chills targets.
Crown of Thieves - Cheap and high life leech.
Tal-Rasha's - Cheap, High Life Leech, and Resists.

My Suggestion
Arreat's Face - Best barbarian helmet; Skills, Stats, FHR, and Resists.

Attack Speed Breakpoints

Frames----20 FPS--19 FPS--18 FPS--17 FPS--16 FPS--15 FPS--14 FPS--13 FPS--12 FPS--11 FPS--10 FPS
WBS(-30)--0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS----0 IAS----0 IAS----5 IAS----19 IAS---42 IAS
WBS(-20)--0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS----0 IAS----5 IAS--16 IAS---34 IAS---63 IAS
WBS(-15)--0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS----0 IAS---10 IAS--23 IAS---42 IAS---75 IAS
WBS(-10)--0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS----6 IAS---16 IAS--30 IAS---52 IAS---89 IAS
WBS (-5)--0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS---0 IAS-----4 IAS----11 IAS--12 IAS--39 IAS---63 IAS---105 IAS
WBS (5)---0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----0 IAS---6 IAS----15 IAS----24 IAS--39 IAS--58 IAS---89 IAS---N/A IAS
WBS (10)--0 IAS---0 IAS---0 IAS-----6 IAS--11 IAS----22 IAS---32 IAS--48 IAS--70 IAS--105 IAS--174 IAS
WBS (20)--2 IAS--16 IAS--11 IAS--18 IAS--24 IAS----37 IAS---50 IAS--70 IAS--99 IAS--147 IAS--N/A IAS

Faster Hit Recovery Breakpoints

Frames---8 FPS---7 FPS---6 FPS----5 FPS---4 FPS---3 FPS
%FHR-----7 FHR--15 FHR--27 FHR--48 FHR--86 FHR--200 FHR

Character Builds that Benefit from a Barbarian

Benefits from Melee Support
Bowazon
Javazon
Hybrid Zon
Trapper
Ghost (WW/Trap)
Thrower
Wind Druid
Fire Elementalist
Poisonecro
Fire Sorc
Cold Sorc
Lightning Sorc
__________________________________________________________________________


Any suggestions on what to add to this compilation of information?
(I'm currently looking for FHR BPs, if there are any)

[SS]

Wow matt. Great detailed guide.

[Kevin]

Wow, nicely put togethor and organised.

Personally i would add the gmerc gear and a link on how to gmerc for the act 3 "iron wolf" <~ kinda catchey if ye ask me.

[Method~]

Very indepth, offers a variety of equipments - including for low budget

Good Job

Yea, like GTA said i would add Gmerc too

[MattNo5ss]

Thanks for the input.
I'll start working on an update tomorrow, it's about bed time

[thossr]

you have shield as spirit for a3 mercs, but unless you have gear with +str they can't use monarchs, and a3 mercs can't use Auric (pally) shields.

Other than that, good job.

Edited by thossr, 10 July 2006 - 09:29 PM.

[Kevin]

its only 12:09 ???


I can compile all the gmerc shit and how to if u need me too. Im bored and ive had a little to much to drink so yeah...

Edited by grandtheftauto1, 10 July 2006 - 09:10 PM.

[Merchant]

Excellent work man..

I'd agree with GTA about the Glitch section - about A3 mercs... I see alot of questions about that running around lately... It'd be nice to have a way to finally shut those down and point them to a thread.

Great work- I don't have adjectives enough for this.

-Chris

[MattNo5ss]

thossr,

Good point. I will suggest some more +Str gear for Act 3 Merc if using Spirit.

Act 3 Merc's can't use pally shields, I've tried that.

GTA,

I got to get up early tomorrow

If you don't mind getting up that info, that would be great. Send links via PM. Thanks.

[Kevin]

What it does?
Gives your mercenary an extra powerful aura attack

How do you do it?
1) Equip your merc with with 2 items that give the same aura. ie: 1 HoJ + 1 Dragon on an A1 Merc, or 2 Dreams on an A3 merc.
2) Rapidly remove/equip one of the aura giving items. The aura's damage will increase. You must do this MANY times for it to be effective. (50++)
3) You must repeat this for every new game you join, and every time your merc dies.

Need more detailed?

[thossr]

ha that was a typo, meant can't :D

Fixed it ^^

Edited by thossr, 10 July 2006 - 09:29 PM.

[Merchant]

Mike, (thossr) constantly insists that pally shields can be used on A3 mercs, even though he tries it at least once a week. :D

Edited by ThaBlkPanda, 10 July 2006 - 09:29 PM.

[thossr]

ThaBlkPanda, on Jul 11 2006, 01:29 AM, said:

Mike, (thossr) constantly insists that pally shields can be used on A3 mercs, even though he tries it at least once a week. :D

NT ONLY TRIED IT ONCE, ALMOST WASTED A JAH ON A PALLY SPIRIT BUT I DIDNT SO THERE

[/end usage of caps]

[Kevin]

uh oh a jah watch out >.<

matt, dont ban me for spamming :(

Edited by grandtheftauto1, 10 July 2006 - 09:32 PM.

[Merchant]

Quote

NT ONLY TRIED IT ONCE, ALMOST WASTED A JAH ON A PALLY SPIRIT BUT I DIDNT SO THERE

LOL you're hillarious.

It's nice to have someone to have fun with..

-Chris

[MattNo5ss]

GTA,

That's good enough, thanks.

I won't ban you.....yet

Thossr,

I was wondering if you really thought they could use pally shields.

[thossr]

grandtheftauto1, on Jul 11 2006, 01:31 AM, said:

uh oh a jah watch out >.<

matt, dont ban me for spamming :(

pfft, you wish you had a jah to waste faglet.

anyways, you know you can have bug mercs on more than just a3 although a3 are the only ones who are able to glitch two auras at once.

Also you might add which merc would be the best for the more popular of builds, such as how an insight is good for wind druids/necromancers since they burn mana so quickly

Edit: I really thought that until a week or so ago, when i almost wasted that jah rune :)

Double edit: that was @ matt

Edited by thossr, 10 July 2006 - 09:36 PM.

[MattNo5ss]

thossr,

Good idea, I'll add a list of character builds that work well with each merc.

[Kevin]

i can do that too if you like :o

[solo]

Well a few things i honestly stopped reading about half way down once i got done with iron wofl merc section because i wanted to suggest teh gmerc section, but thats already taken care of. Something i would like to suggest is a few items that could be used and may have been suggested but im tiredi got no sleep due to staying up late and getting up early to help my family. few things
Bone visage helms. Low req but have 30 to str and can have two os yougo from there. Great for those insights or whatever that need alot of str.
Bone hew a great high dmg Polearm serioously can make ure dmg gg if eth. only for a3 merc.
and i also suggest showing a few other builds for mercs like a build for casters a build for meelee a few builds that come to mind are like the insight fort and evampgaze combo or the gmerc combo or a combo with infininty so ppl know what items to match things up with.