Back to D2:LOD and a few merc questions

[InDamonWeTrust]

I just started playing again after about 2 years. It seems after putting Diablo 2 LOD down about 3 times, I always pick it back up. I am pretty sure I am here to stay this time, I am playing on USEast like I used to. Before, I stopped because we were waiting for v1.09 and it took too long, the game was full of dupes and it was boring. Anyway, I used to play under the account name ZhangFei and I had several references to the book "Three Kingdoms" in my name. Dunno if anyone remembers me. Just want to say hi to everyone.

So I started my first character, I am planning on being a blizz sorc (I am COMPLETELY poor gear-wise right now) and she is about lvl 21. Leveling is a lot harder now, but that isn't a bad thing because I'm actually doing all of the quests.

I have two questions about mercs; is it better to get a merc at the lowest level possible and level them up or buy them at a higher level? Does it matter if you level them as compared to buying them at a certain level? And also, what is the best merc for a blizz sorc? I read a few guides and right now, I am using an act 2 defensive merc.

Thanks for any help/advice.

[Orphan]

It doesn't matter if you level a merc, or whether you purchase one later on when you are of a higher level. What matters is the difficulty that you hire the merc on. Mercs hired on normal difficulty have better stats than their NM and Hell counterparts. Likewise, NM mercs have better stats than their Hell versions.

For Act 2 NM Mercs, you won't have a choice, since that difficulty is the only place that you can get the Might/Holy Freeze/Thorns aura. Also, the difference in HP/stats is generally pretty small anyway.

As for a Blizz sorc's merc, I'll let someone else field that :wink3:

[InDamonWeTrust]

Thanks for the help...anyone on my merc question?

[papajustify]

for a blizz sorc i would go with an act 2 nm defensive merc, it would give the holy freeze aura, which would be very useful to your sorc, the aura slows the enemies. enjoy and welcome back right on the verge of a ladder reset, .....maybe, or so it seems, or is hoped, whatever.

[SirDooFuss]

The only advantage I see for a bliz sorc using a HF merc is to slow down CI's. The other thing is that HF just doesn't seem all that effective in Hell anymore. I think a defensive merc would be more useful, but that's just me.

Welcome back!!!