Mercs?

[misaki]

Is there a guide to merc's somewhere on forum? I'm interested in getting a merc since i'm in nightmare and in a few more baal runs will be going into hell. I have a meteorb sorc and want to know what would be the best merc for this type of sorc.

[pedro11]

I haven't seen a guide created specifically for mercs but there are bits and pieces here and there. As far as which Merc is best for a character it's all personal preference, myself I use a Defiant merc for my Blizzard Sorc, Might Merc for my Defiant Pally, Holy Freeze for my Strafer, Holy Freeze for my Firebear Druid, etc... to find out what mercs are available and where to hire them go here (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/basics/hirelings.shtml) . Always try to keep your merc at the same level as you and don't be cheap on equipment for them, get the resists as high as possible and as much life leach as you can, Duriels Shell is a great merc armor and even better when upgraded since it give both resists and cannot be frozen, Damage Reduction items like Vampire Gaze are great as well and is the best merc helm in my opinion. Try to level him in an area that has the same monster levels as this this info can be found here (http://www.d2data.net/monster/monster_idx3_1.html)

Hope that helps

[masakerr]

Someone could write a whole guide on just Merc's. There's a lot to consider. I think you have to start with you... what is your character and what do you want from a merc?

My Necro uses an act 2 might merc cause I want the extra damage benefit, but my Sorceress is using an act 5 barbarian cause he jumps in and starts kicking butt. My sorceress is level 89 and so is the Merc. I have him very well equiped and he doesn't die that often. He's a good meat wall.

Masa

[Frail]

If you enter hell with a low level merc it will get slaughtered... often. It will need good gear and decent levels.

If you don't give them levels AND gear you will be paying to resurrect a lot, and it's not cheap.