So my merc can't handle any bosses in hell for more than a few seconds. I only have 5 to 17k lightning dmg and no infinity, so I can't kill things that fast, and need him to tank a little.

I have him geared with the following:
3066 def eth wire fleece fort
6/7/19 Gaze
partizan insight

67 all res, 4.5k def, 1 to 2k dmg, bought him around level 50 so he's been leveling a lot. 180str/145dex. 1.6k life. At level 78 (my level) atm

What do I need to fix to make him better? Meph/Andy kill him really fast, as well as archers and other guys with projectiles.

Will leveling up 10 to 15 more levels really help? Or did I miss something?

I realize I could have more dmg with a better weapon base, but that shouldn't change him dying wicked fast

Please let me know, any help would be greatly appreciated.

get a better weapon (like elite, not exceptional) thresher is the popular base

get a lifetap wand

alternatively moat trick on meph
if you really wanna farm andy on a budget respec to fire and give your merc a venom ward

Lifetap wand for my merc?

If I was gonna respec wouldn't blizz be a better cheaper build?

I'm just lost...I need 5 to 10 seconds to kill a boss, and I can't get anything out of my merc. Thought he'd be performing a lot better =/

He means get a lifetap wand and cast it on the monster before engaging, it will let the mercenary receive a massive amount of health whenever striking, their life leech isn't that effective towards bosses.

If you don't have Infinity, I'd also personally suggest Blizzard for bosses.

Eth Thresher or Giant Thresher should be the weapon of choice.
Treachery is better than Fortitude. All day, every day.
Gaze isn't bad. If it's for the pure purpose of tanking bosses. It's ok.

Also, the best way to make a merc survive stuff is by leveling up his and your level. A CTA wouldn't hurt either.

Yeah, I've been told blizzard now a couple times, so maybe I'll try that.

I'd really like infinity and cta to solve my problems, but as I play East Scl, it's not exactly within my budget.

I'll level a little, hopefully I can come across a cta or infinity somehow, otherwise go for blizz and see if it works any better.

Thanks all for the insight!

Your merc needs 75 res to have a chance at tanking.

Um your gaze if he's not at 75, otherwise "ber" it. The %DR is -mandatory- for a merc.

If you can get away with not using insight, "hel amn" bonehew noneth is very cheap.
If the merc is level 90+ "shael amn" for an extra ias breakpoint.

Noneth reapers is also fantastic for casters and increases the merc's survivability.

This post was edited by Airwaves on May 19 2013 10:11pm