Various Mercenary Builds
by TheUndyingGod
General Mercenary Information (Thanks to Epiphany)
FCR and FHR tables for Hirelings (Thanks to Faelwen)
Outline
List of Terms
Act I Hirelings: Rogue Scouts
Act II Hirelings: Desert Mercenaries
Act III Hirelings: Ironwolves
Act V Hirelings: BarbariansList of Terms
FPA: Frames per Animation
IAS: Increased Attack Speed
FHR: Faster Hit Recovery
FCR: Faster Cast Rate
%DR: Damage Reduced by X%
LS%: Life Steal %
CtC: Chance to Cast
CB: Crushing Blow
DS: Deadly Strike
WSM: Weapon Speed Modifier
CS: Colossus Sword
CB: Colossus Blade
Act I Hirelings: The Rogue ScoutsThe Faith MercRecommended type: Normal cold arrowHelm: Delirium, Andariel's Visage, Giant Skull
Armor: Treachery, Fortitude
Weapon: Faith Great Bow
Notes: Faith is an effective runeword, but it lacks LS%. For optimal survivability, use Treachery+Andys (LS%, Fade, fastest IAS breakpoint). Delirium is interesting due to its CtC Confuse. Giant Skull offers Knockback and can be socketed with 2x 40/15's which unlocks the last breakpoint with Fortitude (assuming lvl 15 Fanaticism Great Bow) With Delirium, I strongly recommend that you use Treachery.
IAS Tables for a lvl 15 Fanaticism Great BowCode
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0% --- 10 --- 2.08
8% --- 9 --- 2.27
30% --- 8 --- 2.5
IAS Tables with other commonly used elite bows:Shadow and Diamond Bows (lvl 15 aura)Code
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0% --- 11 --- 1.92
5% --- 10 --- 2.08
20% --- 9 --- 2.27
48% --- 8 --- 2.5
The Ice MercRecommended type: Normal cold arrowHelm: Delirium, Andariel's Visage, Giant Skull, Nightwing's Veil
Armor: Treachery, Fortitude
Weapon: Ice Great Bow
Notes: A great all around PvM mercenary. Can be used on Chaos Sanctuary Hammerdins that rely on Redemption for mana regeneration. A few combinations are possible; just take a look at the IAS tables.
Using Great BowCode
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0% --- 13 --- 1.66
7% --- 12 --- 1.78
18% --- 11 --- 1.92
35% --- 10 --- 2.08
60% --- 9 --- 2.27
109% --- 8 --- 2.5
Using Shadow/Diamond BowsCode
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0 --- 14 --- 1.56
9 --- 13 --- 1.66
19 --- 12 --- 1.78
32 --- 11 --- 1.92
54 --- 10 --- 2.08
86 --- 9 --- 2.27
152 --- 8 --- 2.5
The Wrath MercRecommended type: Normal cold arrowHelm: Giant Skull, Andariel's Visage
Armor: Treachery, Fortitude
Weapon: Wrath Great Bow
Notes: Mostly used on BM PvP characters of whom the damage is amplified by Decrepify (f.e Tornado Druid)
IAS Tables: View Ice Merc
Act II Hirelings: Desert MercenariesThe Insight MercRecommended types: Nm defensive (Holy Freeze), Nm offensive (Might), Hell combat (Prayer)Helm: Andariel's Visage, Vampire Gaze, Guillaumes Winged Helm, Crown of Ages
Armor: Treachery, Fortitude, Chains of Honor
Weapon: Eth Insight Tresher
Notes: The Insight runeword lacks LS%, IAS and CB%. A standard setup would be Treachery or Fort+Andys or Gaze+Insight, which is great if you are going to be using a character that can kill bosses efficiently himself. CoA and Guillaumes can both be used along with CoH (LS%) for different purposes. The CB% from Guillaumes will make your merc more effective against bosses, even though it will seem to do less raw damage.
Here are the different Jab IAS breakpoints with a Tresher so you can customize your setup:Code
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0% --- 6.5 --- 3.33
8% --- 6 --- 3.57
22% --- 5.5 --- 3.84
42% --- 5 --- 4.16
75% --- 4.5 --- 4.54
142% --- 4 --- 5
Using other commonly used polearms:Colossus Voulge/Cryptic AxeCode
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0 --- 8 --- 2.77
5 --- 7.5 --- 2.94
11 --- 7 --- 3.12
22 --- 6.5 --- 3.33
35 --- 6 ---3.57
56 --- 5.5 --- 3.84
89 --- 5 --- 4.16
147 --- 4.5 --- 4.54
292 --- 4 --- 5
Low damage dealing versionRecommended type: Hell combat (Prayer)Helm: Vampire Gaze, Crown of Ages, Kiras Guardian
Armor: Chains of Honor, Shaftstop, Guardian Angel
Weapon: Regular Insight Voulge
Notes: It's pretty pointless to add IAS charts, since all you want to do is keep him alive.
The Infinity MercRecommended types: Nm defensive (Holy Freeze), Nm offensive (Might), Hell combat (Prayer)Helm: Andariel's Visage, Vampire Gaze
Armor: Treachery, Fortitude
Weapon: Eth Infinity Tresher
Notes on the setup: The only downfall of Infinity is its lack of IAS%, that's why I'm recommending a Tresher (-10 WSM) which is the fastest elite polearm in the game. Andys socketed with an IAS jewel + Treachery allows your merc to reach the 4.5 fpa breakpoint (4.54 attacks/sec.) Treachery + Vampgaze socketed with an IAS jewel gives 60% ias, which is enough for 5 fpa (4.16 attacks/sec.) Your merc also gets up to 35% DR when Fade procs. Andys (IAS jewel) + Fort reaches 5.5 fpa (3.84 attacks/sec.) I wouldn't recommend Fort + Gaze, since it has a slower attack speed than the other combinations.
IAS Tables: View Insight MercLow damage dealing versionRecommended type: Hell combat (Prayer)Helm: Vampire Gaze, Crown of Ages, Kiras Guardian
Armor: Chains of Honor, Shaftstop, Guardian Angel
Weapon: Regular Infinity Voulge
Notes: It's pretty pointless to add IAS charts, since all you want to do is keep him alive.
The Reaper's MercRecommended type: Nm Offensive (Might)Helm: Guillaumes Wing (IAS jewel)
Armor: Treachery
Weapon: Eth Reaper's Toll (IAS jewel)
Notes: This is probably the most damage dealing merc in the game. It has a decent raw damage, attacks very fast, and offers nice mods such as DS%, CB% and CtC Decrepify. It can even kill PI mobs. The setup isn't too flexible, since this is definitely the way to optimize it.
Using Reaper's Toll (Jab)Code
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0% --- 6.5 --- 3.33
8% --- 6 --- 3.57
22% --- 5.5 --- 3.84
42% --- 5 --- 4.16
75% --- 4.5 --- 4.54
142% --- 4 --- 5
The Eth BotD MercRecommended type: Nightmare Offensive (Might)Helm: Crown of Thieves
Armor: Fortitude
Weapon: EBotD WP (20 WSM, 6.5 fpa)
Notes: This is the most commonly used setup on merc dependant goldfinders, mainly due to its high LS%. Crown of Thieves can be socketed with Lem (more GF or an IAS jewel - to reach 6 fpa attack speed)
IAS Tables using a War Pike (Jab)Code
IAS --- FPA --- Attacks/sec.
0% --- 9 --- 2.5
4% --- 8.5 --- 2.63
9% --- 8 --- 2.77
16% --- 7.5 --- 2.94
24% --- 7 --- 3.12
37% -- 6.5 --- 3.33
54% --- 6 --- 3.57
80% --- 5.5 --- 3.84
125% --- 5 --- 4.16
There are further breakpoints, but they are pretty unrealistic.
Note on act 2 hirelings: There are other budget items such as: Duress, Hone Sundan, Arioc's Needle, Bonehew and Obedience that were not mentionned, but are still usable.
Act III Hirelings: IronwolvesThe Lawbringer/Azurewrath MercRecommended type: Normal coldHelm: Kiras
Armor: Guardian Angel, Shaftstop
Shield: Stormshield, Phoenix Monarch
Weapon: Lawbringer, Azurewrath
Notes: It's preferable to use a low req weapon to roll Lawbringer in; the merc is only there for the support, whatsoever. Azurewrath would probably have to be socketed with a Hel or a -req jewel.
FCR and FHR breakpoint tables can be found in the link on top of the thread.
Note on act 3 hirelings: They cannot block, whatever the shield they use.