Mercs: 2 Auras or more?

[onomastikon]

Although this has been asked before, I have not read a definitive answer in the the threads I found using the "search" function, so let me ask it again here in as clear as a manner as I can:

Unless I am mistaken, player characters can have as many auras active at once as they can cram in: Paladin's natural aura, one from a weapon, from a shield, from body armor, helm, etc.
Correct?

But I read on at least some threads that this is different for a Mercenery. I would like to know if an Act II mercenary can have
a. his natural aura plus 1 aura from an item active at one time
b. his natural aura plus 2 auras from items active at one time
d. his natural aura plus 3 auras from items active at one time (e.g. might (natural), insight (polearm RW), dream (helm RW), bramble (armor RW)
e. none of the above

Is the answer different depending on whether one plays SP or MP?

I ask particularly about option b, I already have "Insight" and was hoping to shoot for Bramble when I get big and strong for my summoner necro's merc.

I have learned not to trusted the graphical representation in-game; any definitive "proof" would be most welcome.

thank you

[Ed from Russia]

The answer is d. An Act II Merc can a different aura for each item plus his natural aura, total 4.

In total you can have 10 auras I believe:

- You are a paladin and get 1 natural aura
- your weapon, shield, helm and armor give you 4 auras
- Your merc has 4 auras
- You have an item that gives you an Iron Golem, with an aura.
total 10

[onomastikon]

The answer is d. An Act II Merc can a different aura for each item plus his natural aura, total 4.

In total you can have 10 auras I believe:

- You are a paladin and get 1 natural aura
- your weapon, shield, helm and armor give you 4 auras
- Your merc has 4 auras
- You have an item that gives you an Iron Golem, with an aura.
total 10

THanks so much.
Then most of the other threads are simply wrong. This should be documented somewhere!
But one question, if I may: an Iron Golem's thorns applies only to that iron golem, it is not an "aura" in the sense of the word meaning an effect which applies to other friendly units around it -- right? I play a necro with an IG, and I never get his thorns aura spread out.

[thegiantturtle]

The answer is d. An Act II Merc can a different aura for each item plus his natural aura, total 4.You are incorrect. This used to be the case, but it is no longer. Act II mercs can have a max of one aura along with their native aura. Blizzard made this change to circumvent a bug that allowed users to add auras endlessly to mercs.

[thegiantturtle]

But one question, if I may: an Iron Golem's thorns applies only to that iron golem, it is not an "aura" in the sense of the word meaning an effect which applies to other friendly units around it -- right? I play a necro with an IG, and I never get his thorns aura spread out.Ed was saying that you make the Iron Golem out of a Beast or similarly aura'ed item. That will grant the aura to the Iron Golem to share with the party.


EDIT: let's all pretend I didn't just double post.

[AgentMarth]

You are incorrect. This used to be the case, but it is no longer. Act II mercs can have a max of one aura along with their native aura. Blizzard made this change to circumvent a bug that allowed users to add auras endlessly to mercs.

Isn't that only the case when they die mid game? And then you have to resurrect them and then re-equip their aura stuff? The act 3 Merc glitch involved taking it off and on really fast alot of times, hence the fix that when moving off and on only one aura will remain.

Afaik, so long as you just enter the game, and your Merc doesn't die, all the auras will work. Be it from him, or you.

Really, if more than one "aura" didn't work, wouldn't the same be applied to BO, BC, and Shout? A simple check of an Infinity Dream Merc should show if they work or not. Conviction will be there, along with the damage and "sparking" of Holy Shock.

[Master Zap]

one thing I've noticed when Prebluffing my Bear sorc for chants, is that if I swap helms (dream) with the infinnity merc's (andy's +2) then only one aura shows active. However if I leave the game and comeback the merc will then alternate between holyshock and conviction. Interesting little quirk.


edit Giggity giggity! love that avatar and show :)

[thegiantturtle]

Isn't that only the case when they die mid game? And then you have to resurrect them and then re-equip their aura stuff? The act 3 Merc glitch involved taking it off and on really fast alot of times, hence the fix that when moving off and on only one aura will remain. That may be correct. I am not exactly sure of how the fix was implemented.

Really, if more than one "aura" didn't work, wouldn't the same be applied to BO, BC, and Shout?Since when are BO, BC, and Shout auras?

Also, to clarify, I was talking about auras that the merc could have on their own, not auras that could be shared to them. That is unlimited.

[onomastikon]

I just took a look.
I have a Might Merc.
I took off all of his items.
I checked my damage on my char sheet and went out to the blood moor; when we engaged monsters, my damage went up and Might became active.

I then went back into town and started to equip the merc.
Back out in the fray, it took a moment for Might to get active, but then -- by checking to make sure Might was always on -- I had 3 auras from that merc, at least according to the visuals I could see.
As soon as I find some runes I will try to see if I can check for 4 auras.
This was in SP

[thegiantturtle]

This was in SPThe fix was serverside without a patch. There is no limit to auras on mercs in SP. Sorry, I missed the SP/MP differences question in the OP.

[onomastikon]

The fix was serverside without a patch. There is no limit to auras on mercs in SP. Sorry, I missed the SP/MP differences question in the OP.

I see thank you. Good, then I will forgoe further testing, at least in SP.

To sum up then:

1. No limits to auras in SP.
2. On bnet, mercs can have a max of two auras: either 1 from item and 1 from natural aura, or 2 from items.

Right?

On a side note, are Act2 Mercs actually paladins? There are items which give +skills to paladins, will mercs benefit from these?

[thegiantturtle]

On a side note, are Act2 Mercs actually paladins?No they are not. The only mercs that are a character class are the Act 5 mercs. They are barbarians, can wear barbarian specific items and benefit from barbarian specific skill bonuses.