Mercenaries play an important role in Diablo 2 Resurrected by providing additional firepower, useful auras, and more flexibility with gear choices. This guide will help you choose and equip the ideal mercenary for your build through various stages of the game.
"Mercenaries for D2R"
Mercenaries, also called hirelings, can be obtained after completing the Blood Raven quest in Act 1. You can hire mercs from Kashya in Act 1, Greiz in Act 2, Asheara in Act 3, Tyrael in Act 4 for resurrection only, and Qual-Kek in Act 5. They have inventories and can equip armor, helms, and weapons suited to their class. Their AI is limited but they provide valuable support through damage, tanking, or auras.
Early Game Mercenaries
During normal difficulty, any mercenary will fulfill basic support duties. However, Act 2 Combat mercenary with Prayer aura is ideal for early levels. Its healing provides sustain that other classes lack, and complements melee or summon builds. For casters, Act 1 Cold merc fits well due to crowd control from chilling effects.
Nightmare Mercenaries
In Nightmare, player builds start coming together so merc choice requires more synergy. Act 2 Defense mercenary with Holy Freeze aura thrives against hordes of demons and undead, slowing them for easy kills. Its aura also aids melee and works well summoned characters who rely on orbital positioning. For casters lacking safety, Act 2 Offense merc with Might aura boosts damage overall.
Helm and Armor Options
Merc survivability increases with defenders like Andariel Visage, Vampire Gaze or Steel Shade for leeching. Life stolen mods prolong their effectiveness. Budget options like Giant Skull or Raven Frost mitigate risks. Defensively oriented Diablo 2 runewords like Treachery and surviving specialty items like Guardian Angel extend viability.
"Hell Mercenaries"
In Hell difficulty, specialized mercenaries best complement optimized player builds. Lightning or Cold skills from Act 3 merc help break immunity. Concentration from Act 2 mercimeter maximizes Hammerdins. Might from Act 2 benefits physical Barbarians or Wind Druids for crowd control. They maintain relevance through late game with ideal damage boosting gear.
Wrapping Up
Thoughtful mercenary selection and progressive gearing forms an integral part of any successful Diablo 2 Resurrected character. Their contributions scale smoothly from Normal to Hell. With synergy between player builds and supportive mercenary abilities in mind, any class can comfortably tackle all game content.