Level merc or buy new ones?

[catalogguy]

I have read in a couple of places that it is better to level up your merc throughout the game rather than changing them for new ones because a merc that you leveled will be better than one you buy for a given clvl. Is this true? I have yet to find any subsrantiation. Thanks!

[Palurien]

Think the stats are better on mercs the earlier you get them - as in normal mercs have better stats than nightmare mercs etc.

However, most ppl go for Nightmare mercs, Act II ones in particular, due to their nightmare auras being much more useful than the auras on the normal ones.

[lionheartthebrave]

I have read in a couple of places that it is better to level up your merc throughout the game rather than changing them for new ones because a merc that you leveled will be better than one you buy for a given clvl. Is this true?

No, it does not matter at what level they are bought, that was 1.10 iirc (the current patch is 1.11)

However mercs hired in normal will have better stats than those in NM, and ditto for NM vs Hell. So hire a merc in normal, unless you want a NM act2 merc aura like HF or might

[thegiantturtle]

No, it does not matter at what level they are bought, that was 1.10 iirc (the current patch is 1.11)It never mattered at what level the merc was hired, but in pre-1.11, there was a cap of the max level each merc could be hired with. If you wanted a normal act II merc in 1.10, you could never hire one that was higher than about level 22. 1.11 simply removed this hire cap.

[BigManZZZ]

Which Merc (NM act2) is best for a Pally? Barb? SOrc?

[Mursilis]

You need to be more specific. What type of Paladin, Barbarian or Sorceress? For example a Frost Zealot (Paladin) doesn't want the Act II merc with the Holy Freeze aura.

[lionheartthebrave]

I don't think multiple posting on the same topic is allowed either, you asked this yesterday,
(http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?p=6539318#post6539318) and I echoed Mursilis