2.4 Mercenary Guide: Diablo 2 Resurrected Ladder

[@TheArdomur]

Just fyi: Ethereal items have higher damage/armor than normal items in exchange for the repair thing. It means you lose out on damage if you equip your merc with normal items, in the beginning not that important, for late game rune words it makes a difference. Also the stat requirements to equip the item get lowered on ethereal items, so it gets a little easier to equip (Just wanted to add the explanation why everyone wants ethereal items on mercs)

[@whateverppl1229]

and armor / wep on mercs don't ever lose durability so there isnt a down side

[@MrGoesBoom]

So weird to be talking mercenaries for D2...I mean, for years now if you weren't using Act 2 Nightmare merc something was wrong with you... Kinda excited that there's actually useful options now

[@jonathanabgrall6075]

Act 1 and 5 mercs were still situationally useful (A1 mercs for Vigor from Harmony or Fanatism from Faith and A5 for Decrep from Lawbringer for early ladder starts). But yeah its nice that they're better now.

[@rosen8757]

Insight on A1 merc is very nice because she keeps a distance from mobs and survives so much better than A2 merc before you have OP gear for him.

[@Am4t3r4su]

I was thinking this myself. And her having cold for crowd control is nice as well.

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

0.0"

[@GetToasty]

Apples and oranges comparison. Insight is just nice in general.

[@Eunostos]

@@GetToasty they're both apples here, bud.

[@GetToasty]

@@Eunostos range and melee arent apples.

[@LunetoHa]

The most important Guide of them all: The new Mercs! (Thanks!)

[@isaacbenrubi9613]

Note: Unless Blizzard changed something, Act 3 mercs DO NOT BLOCK, so the shield is strictly a stat stick.

[@i_am_ergo]

6:03 Important clarification: enemies struck with Infinity do not "lose" up to 55% lightning resistance. Their light res is ONLY reduced when they're attacked with the weapon with this mod, i.e. if you're a furyzon or a lightning sorc and the Infinity is on your mercenary, this line of text does nothing for your zon/sorc herself, it only improves your mercenary's attacks.

[@Nah_Bohdi]

Then how would it break immunities for players?

[@i_am_ergo]

@@Nah_Bohdi With the Conviction aura. Conviction and Lower Resistance are the only two ways to break elemental immunities.

[@Dunkelelf3]

@@Nah_Bohdi you can only break elemental immunities with lower resist curse and conviction as said before. -resists can not break immunities. conviction can break most light immunes and a lot of fire immunes but not all. and the -resists apply later but do NOT break immunity. so IF an immunity was broken by either conv aura or lr curse then your -35 lr from crescend moon or -25 lr from griffon will do anything at all. but they are ignored if your merc is not around since they will only reduce the enemy lightres to 100 and not break it. for physical immunities the most efficient way to break it is amplify dmg. that's why bowazones love the atams scarab amulet.

[@nathr7375]

Also only light can be broken.

[@Dunkelelf3]

@@nathr7375 not true. infinity works great on fire too. just that almost all light immunes can be pierced by lvl 12 conviction, a little less for fire and for cold it's not really worth it. infinity works also for cold, it's just that the cold mastery can't pierce itself even tho it is a -enemy cold res. but the same applies for -lighres on griffon, facets and crescent moon. conviction and lower resist CAN break elemental immunities. the problem with cold is that some act 1+2 monsters can be pierced but next to nothing in act 3 forwards since they all have 140+ cold res. that's why noone really bothers to waste 2 bers on a cold sorcs merc for an infinity. another point is ofc the available gear and that piercing the immunity is not everything. if you pierce a 143 fireres monster with max potential conviction and lower resist curse it is still at 99% fireres so you deal next to no dmg. a light sorc that runs into this can equip griffon with facet for up to -25% enemy light res and also a crescend moon sword for -35% enemy light res. that's a total of -60% enemy lightres. that's 12 facets worth of -res you would somehow need to squeeze into your gear on a fire sorc to get the same effect. that's pretty unreasonable since your gear would be shit.

[@utmastuh]

It'd be cool if they added angel mercs to A4 that are paladin types. Healing, smite, FoH

[@S1nwar]

a defensive aura

[@nathr7375]

@@S1nwar Already exists in act2

[@S1nwar]

@@nathr7375 elemental resistances

[@nathr7375]

@@S1nwar fair enough

[@polkhigh_33]

Act 1 Insight merc is the strictly better option for progression. If your doing high player cows for example your a2 merc will disturb the gathering process and likely be killed because of the low attackspeed of Insight. A rogue will stay in the back and therefore less likely die.

[@oliverjahn1149]

for the act 5 frenzy merc: running plague you want him having as low defense as possible to get him struck to procc the lower resist curse. Shaftstop is the prefered armor here because it has 30% DR (physical ofc)

[@Roland597]

Pretty sure the -55% lightning resist only applies to lightning damage done by the mercenary.

[@Dunkelelf3]

yes. but since infinity has this 50% chance to cast level 20 chain lightning when an enemy dies it does at least something. but yeah it's not super useful and that's why this stat is mostly ignored. the enhanced dmg roll will do far more than the -lr on the infinity.

[@johnhowardz9524]

Thanks for the Act III cold merc build!

[@SIowpoke]

Important to note that fire Rogues' have longer range.

[@steve112285]

5:57 I could be wrong, but I don't think prevent monster heal works from hirelings, and the -55% to enemy lightning resist will only work for lightning damage the wielder (mercenary) does, not the player (or others in the party). The latter is why the new lightning spearzon stands out.

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

Yes you're right, reduce 55% only works with the wielder

[@christylee5262]

Soooo, is infinity the only way to use a Merc for - light res because of conviction?

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

@@christylee5262 yes , no matter how many lightning reduce you are wielding , you have to let conviction aura break through the resist first and then your own lightning reduce just take effects , which is why infinity is a must

[@christylee5262]

I don't just mean breaking immunity. I mean resists in general. Sounds like Merc gear isn't as good as it used to be.

[@77joshhh]

If ur a summoner (i use a druid summoner), try the obedience runeword. Fal and ko are the two rarest runes. It will give your summons fire damage, and a crazy attack speed boost for a loooong time. Not the birds tho. Birds count as a spell and not a summon... for some reason.

[@Jee_FX1]

idk if it changed in 2.4 but the -55% to enemy lightning resistance from infinity work only for the wielder

[@mbg2227]

It was like that in LoD

[@Rotblattchinchilla12]

I love those "Budget" setups :D Everyone knows that anything beyond the white stuff you find in normal is beyond feasible to get at the beginning, so I guess thats your budget x)

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

Enigma, BotD, mist, fortitude all these are "budget" items

[@RobertDeCaire]

@@user-qn1zj5bs5p "Yeah, we've got a torch, an anni, three or four high-rune words, a full inventory of skillers and res SCs, but since we didn't roll perfect ED on BotD, this is only a budget setup."

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

@@RobertDeCaire 🤣

[@BobMotster]

Hey CJ, please add those recent D2R tutorial videos to a playlist so that we can review them again on a later date. Thanks!

[@Rhykker]

Playlist is right here :) kzbin.info/aero/PLynOeXfVv8P4JLH-Cjz7S1v_DTUAf7QNL

[@BobMotster]

@@Rhykker You're awesome!

[@KaldonWK]

Love the videos! you might have heard this in comments. im a few hours late. 1 the prevent monster heal on infinity does not work. PMH doesn't work on any merc. 2. the "obedience" RW is also a very good midgame budget item to give to the act 2 merc. 3 the minus enemy light res on infinity only takes away from the monsters light res, when the person wielding the infinity is applying Lighting damage, mostly only the Chain lighting on strike. 5.the Pride RW while it is great to boost your damage and that of your party with the concentration aura, it completely lacks any form of Enhanced damage on it, causing it to severely hamper the damage output of your merc. 6 the "Headstriker" i believe is still the best single target DPS weapon for the act 5 Merc(eth of course) 7. you missed number #4 8. there was no number #4 9. Love the content you bring to the table hope to see you on the ladder :)

[@nighthawk82]

the moment I'm wealthy enough to casually equip one of my followers with an griffons eye, is the moment I spent too much time ingame ;)

[@Alarak87]

For those of us anxiously awaiting D4, which could still be 2+ years away: Here, have some D2R, and some D3 with moderately interesting seasonal theme, oh and Immortal on PC because we realize that some of you guys might not have phones. What a blast..... there goes my free time!

[@Alarak87]

@A Bell D2R. Didn't mean my comment as a detractor from the video. Meant it more as a "look how busy Blizzard has been" lol

[@christophersusi4632]

New skills are sweet. But rings and amulets would be amazing. 🤩

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

Yea if they can wear rings amulets basically they can solo everything

[@icantstop90]

Also Phoenix shield for the Act 3 fire merc...

[@Moethemad70]

6:00 that only for the merc or the wearer himself, so this -to light res does nothing for you if your merc is wearing this.

[@gaberielpendragon]

Ignore target defense doesn't give 100% hit rate, it simply removes half the hit calculation.

[@psychofury6485]

I kind of disagree about if you want insight go desert merc, unless they have decent gear chances are they'll be dead more often than giving you and aura, rogue is better, unless u need their auras

[@fahhhley]

The Act V Fury Merc can run the full Sazabi Set. You just need to find a way to boost the minimum damage rolls and it should be a good budget option.

[@mauriceb2037]

Things you did not mention: The barbarian mercenary can use Barbarian helm, so an etheral Areat face would be worth it. For all mercenaries, treachery runeword is a nice and cheap alternative armor, it gives less defense than shaftstop but it does provide fade and 45% increased attack speed which can be insane.

[@Dunkelelf3]

yeah but my merc mostly died before fade progged so fortitude is really much better with d2r. in classic d2 with ebug it's another story tho.

[@bakacs1n]

I read once in old guide that the Act 1 Rogue is the only mercernary which is worth bringing in PvP, because it's the only one which can survive to lend a hit (even if the chance is pretty low). I didn't play PvP in the past thou so I don't know.

[@radekplodzien263]

good job

[@markpeterson1027]

Fire rogues seem to be a better pick for the early game. L30 is a long time to wait for freezing arrow.

[@MrB00ni]

Here are our buffed up mercs… Now they only need some high end runewords to be comparable with a naked a2 dude.

[@davidhaber2125]

I Love this Content but be honest those who struggle with act bosses often dont have vex over for barb merc rune words:D

[@kyle7447]

Griffon eye on act 3 lighting damn I hope I can get one of those.

[@Dunkelelf3]

i have a 20/11 with a 5/5 facet on my light sorc. the -lr is the important stat anyhow so i don't really care about the light dmg.

[@Axetwin]

Are mercs worth using if you don't have bis gear for them? I've got one character ready to go into Hell, and a second nearing the end of NM A5 and neither of them have mercs because historically if you didn't have perfect gear for them, they would die in 2 seconds. Has this changed with D2R?

[@Rhykker]

If you can't keep your merc alive, it's generally not worth using a merc, correct

[@awt1989]

you go broke keeping him alive.

[@Axetwin]

@@Rhykker But the original question is, is it worth using a Merc at all if you don't have bis gear for them?

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

@@Axetwin it worth as long as they don't die too often, i mean if he's strong enough to survive even naked, then why not?

[@notoriousdom1799]

@@Axetwin it is worth for summon necro he won't die that often

[@SimonCoulton]

ETH headstriker for the frenzy barb is super solid too.

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

Eth sazabi full set is damn nice for him too

[@SpunkyTheNutcase]

@@user-qn1zj5bs5p Sazabi does have some really neat full set completion bonuses, but the sword is lackluster to say the least, and no chance to get it in eth either since it comes with the indestructible mod already.

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

@@SpunkyTheNutcase yea it has nice set but weapon is quite worst but still can manage well in hell if you're in budget build

[@mikycarney5779]

I was just in my group 5mins acquiring about the act three mercenary 😳😲

[@Moethemad70]

don't make 2 of the same weapon for the zeal barb merc, one weapon will proc the same weapon on both hands if he's wearing one weapon, I'm sure they din't fix or see this as a bug yet.

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

Nope they already fixed , go check their website , now you need 2 sword to get lifeleech every hit , one sword doesn't apply any effect for the 2th hand anymore

[@oliverjahn1149]

the 85 minus resistance from infinity's conviction aura suffers an 80% malus against immun monsters so it will only subtract 17 from their resistance. if it goes under 100 the immunity will break. for example the monster is immun and has 120 light res. minus 17 equals 103 .. immunity NOT broken. another monster has 110 ... minus 17 equals 93 BAM immunity broken but still 93% damage reduction so you wont do that much damage. Because of this fact I prefer the charged strike amazon and wear infinity myself to get the minus 45% - 55% working for me too.

[@lunabaphomet]

Are the new mentioned runewords exclusive to season ladde or can I craft them and use them with my norma/non seasonal ladder character?..🤔

[@fluffypanda9957]

Dear Rhykker. The Act2 merc can have any aura regardless of difficulty (since latest patch).

[@KnkyTKG]

Thats not true, they just dont vary in stats between difficulties.

[@fluffypanda9957]

@@KnkyTKG From patchnotes: Nightmare and Hell difficulty now have all 6 different aura types available from the Hire menu, instead of separating them out by 3 per difficulty. Normal is unchanged Just log in and see... you can get a Might merc from hell, etc... :)

[@KnkyTKG]

@@fluffypanda9957 Ok, but thats still not "the act 2 merc can have any aura regardless of difficulty". thats act 2 mercs in nightmare and hell have access to all aura's.

[@fluffypanda9957]

@@KnkyTKG true, yet still more accurate than the statement in the video :)

[@DaisyDesigner18]

Act 3 - Iron Wolf is the BEST

[@CoreyHavokYT]

These are mostly incredibly expensive builds, and a fair amount of slightly wrong information in here.

[@mrmrsplinkegaming2426]

I just made a ugh can't remember the freaking runeword name atm but it gives sanctuary aura amd chance to cast decrepify. Works really nice on my fohdin in chaos. Other then that I like the a2 merc better.

[@talonrooney5558]

if I'm say a wind druid, will MIGHT or CONCENTRATION buff the wind skills physical damage?

[@michaelmayhem350]

Anyone know if +Amazon/paladin/sorc skills help mercs or only +barb or +all skills

[@Zellean]

First! Also, thank you for this guide. I always come to you for my Diablo info. Also, I am excited about the Release of Immortal on PC. As long as it does not become pay to win it should be a good game.

[@Atraik]

does normal merc give better stats when leveled or just buy the high level one?

[@marianpetera8436]

I fail to see how A3 fire merc is "recommended" for Ubers. If you are doing Ubers the recommended way, you are smiter paladin / impale amazon, even budget variants work. Enchant AR is irrelevant because Smite / Impale always hit, and the rest of the merc is irrelevant because he dies after an Uber farts in his general direction.

[@TheMnataur]

Do runes drop more often than in the original D2? I remember very rarely getting mid/high level runes and these builds are full of them.

[@Fabsi87]

No same extreme low drop chance for anyting above a lem rune

[@Raptoriago]

How do i change my current mercenary ? I'm stuck with the Rogue scout and everytime i try to hire a new one in other acts the only option that i have is the Rogue Scout.

[@DB--cx8sn]

Any suggestions for patch 2.5 Looking for a Mercenary/gear for a poison necro

[@danielroberts2012]

soooooo, much wrong information here

[@GoldbondPowder]

Does it Matter if you merc comes from Hell or from Nm/Norm and leveled up?

[@fuchnorris6277]

how do you dismiss a merc

[@Moonface00z]

a5 with lawbringer is op as f now

[@jnazor]

hEY fOLKS tHIS iS rYKKKKER

[@k1kk0ssbm13]

Two plague runewords considered budget? I've never even seen a cham rune

[@Dunkelelf3]

i have one in my stash. recently found it. no clue what to do with it yet tho. on my light sorc i have an infinity merc. on my bowa i have an a1 ice rogue with a faith bow. on my gf barb i have an a2 merc with ebotd war pike. all of them have pretty much all gear in place. no need for this cham currently.

[@bartomiejzemsta2932]

I need contact to your set designer and make-up artist and Barber etc. 😁

[@Rhykker]

hahahah

[@Am4t3r4su]

Kinda dissappointed on no mention of the lidless wall as a budget shield for act 3 mercs lol..

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

Spirit is more budget for him

[@Am4t3r4su]

@@user-qn1zj5bs5p If you payed attention it isn't. The requirement is literally a high rune for extra strength and ethereal just to equip lol... It's NOT simple to equip on him. Monarch strength requirement is insane.

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

@@Am4t3r4su 0.0"

[@majedexe857]

Hello Rhykker. Could you please remove the edited gameplay bubbles in your intro to prevent headache to us your loyal fans!

[@stephenmerriman415]

Why not grief on a5 merc?

[@clery63]

Is fire Act3 mercenary gonna enchant my summons on summon druid?

[@Ishaksonn]

yes, it enchants the summons (except for raven)

[@CT-nb5lm]

Guys,,its been a year sinc i played Diablo & im returning & that means RHYKKA! *Was kinda hoping dudes Odin Beard would be a Biker Goatee heh "Bhyker" Anyways FU Diablo Immortal!

[@user-qu8fu1ng7o]

Я ГЛАГОЛЮ Я ПРОШУ ПОЗВОЛЯТЬ НАНИМАТЬ ТЫ ГЛАГОЛИШЬ Я ПОЗВОЛЯЮ НАНИМАТЬ Я ГЛАГОЛЮ Я ХОЧУ НАНИМАТЬ ТЫ ГЛАГОЛИШЬ ТЫ ХОЧЕШЬ НАНИМАТЬ Я ГЛАГОЛЮ Я НАНИМАЮ ТЫ ГЛАГОЛИШЬ ТЫ НАНИМАЕШЬ Я НАНИМАЮ ТЫ НАНИМАЕШЬ Я ТЫ.

[@Yettee0201]

Hold up… moan arch shield? We gonna ignore that?

[@wirtsleg2000]

dont htink merc can use zon only bows can they?

[@Dunkelelf3]

they can since 2.4 patch. now i have to remake faith for my windforce bowas rogue merc :c and since it needs this 15 fana roll i guess more than once. right now she has a 14 ed crusader bow faith that rolled 15/1 skills

[@anfromanx1981]

Expensive

[@christylee5262]

It'd be cool if I could info like this without watching an excessively long video. Have people forgotten how to write?

[@Saleil]

moan-arc? moanarch? Mon-arc, as in monarchy

[@markgardner2611]

I stopped watching at the mention faith bow.

[@namarie3059]

D2R is an awesome remaster of a great game and I'm having a lot of fun playing it, but the whole concept of an endgame ladder or a paragon leaderboard is a ridiculous and disingenuous ploy typical of exploitative gaming companies bent on addicting folks to their games. I've been there myself but now having "seen the light" I feel sorry for people who spend weeks, months or even years of their lives on this sort of futile pursuit, mistakenly believing that they have actually achieved something by grinding their way to a place on a virtual ladder. Excessive grinding is just a tragic waste of time and life is full of far more important pursuits than this!

[@JAFTW]

Ladder is over 9 days in. D2r is dead 7 months in.

[@Faygootfootlusta]

lose your hat?