Merc Experience?!

[Technoscream]

Hi, i have recently started playing 1.10 again with two characters (druid/necro) and both of my mercs are gaining exp at a VERY slow rate!?

Druid lvl 33 ----> Iron wolf lvl 18

Necro lvl 35 ----> Act 2 prayer merc lvl 19

im aware that mercs can gain exp slowly if they fight monsters too high lvl for them, but they have been side by side with me all through normal but have only lvled about once each? this has never happened to me before, they normally keep to 1-2 lvls below me.

Any ideas/explanations guys?

Thanks in advance

[RTB]

Your mercs can be best lvled in the seven false tombs in act2 or the spider forest in act 3. Mercs at that lvl really need monsters with equal or very similiar Mlvl to gain exp the fastest. I guess you went through the acts a little too fast for them to stay close to your Clvl.

[Technoscream]

Thanks alot for your reply, i will go back to act two tombs and keep an eye on the exp and report back.

[Technoscream]

Thanks RTB, turns out you were right, you really have to get your merc fighting creatures that are spot on to its level! i guess i pushed these characters a bit hard and finished normal a bit quick!

Thank you very much, i was begining to think something was wrong! :thumbsup:

[thegiantturtle]

You've already got the solution, but the root cause is that merc's supposedly suffer the same exp penalty as characters when they're under level 20. Once they hit 20, it picks up, and once you both hit 30, the difference in required merc exp and player exp for each level normally keeps them up well. It's also a good idea to let your merc do alot of killing when they're at low levels. They get something like 50% of the exp if they get the kill, but only about 1/5 of that if you get the kill.

[RTB]

They get full exp (from monsters near their lvl) and only 1/3rd exp when you kill something for him.

[Technoscream]

Thanks this is all useful information to me :)

[Overtone]

Also, once your mercenary gets about level 60+ they'll start to level a bit slower. You'll notice that they are usually too weak to do Baal runs with you, andwill get gang attacked and usually killed in cows. They perfect place to level your mercenary from levels 60-75 IMO is the Black Marsh in Hell. My merc went from level 62-76 in about 1 and a half hours.

[Oddity]

Here is a useful guide for leveling. It also works for mercs.

http://strategy.diabloii.net/news.php?id=512&compage=2

[Omikron8]

Mercs BELOW level 25 are extremly sensitive to monster level to get decent experience, any significant deviation between the two and the merc will crawl like a snail in terms of level advancment. After level 25 you can take him wherever you wish (provided he can live long enough) and he will gain experience quickly.

[Technoscream]

Thanks everyone, this is a very useful forum!

......I have managed to get my Iron Wolf (Cold) up to level 27 now and he is quite happy gaining EXP in the normal bloddy foothills.

what i really need to know now is how his damage works as he doesnt seem to use his sword to actually hit?! what kind of weapon am i looking for, for him?

please dont quote a unique or something i prob wont find, as long as i understand what he needs, i can look for those properties on rare/magical weapons.

Thanks in advance, i appreciate your help! :D

[RTB]

The mods that would be best for him can only be found on uniques. I guess resists or +life would be the best possible on rares/magic.

[Technoscream]

Ok so im finding a few uniques now, is there any that are not too rare that i can look out for?

thanks :thumbsup:

[RTB]

Culwen's Point War Sword (+1 all skills) would be one of the easiest to find. Kill Mephisto to find uniques faster. Other items are Peasant Crown War Hat and Skin of the Vipermagi Serpentskin Armor for example. +all skills and +% faster cast really help the act 3 merc.

[Technoscream]

oh good i wondered if the faster cast rate would help him out, thanks for your reply!