I'm looking for the cheapest merc build that can consistently facetank meph while my budget sorc stands back and casts level 24 blizzard lol.

I dont like doing the moat trick and having to try not to distrub the council, I have no issues getting there and tons of mf but slow killing and my merc cant take it.

I know I could dual wield grief and last wish with a fort and andy's... what I'm looking for is the cheapest setup that can tank (could care less if he does dmg lol)

preferably gear without HRs, is it possible?

lmk what you're using and how it goes (ie can he facetank all day or is it a close call etc)

Unfortunately it's usually a race to kill meph before he kills merc. Static then blizz. Can use treachery armor for ias (fade, ias helps with life leech), any life leech helm - even tal rashas mask and any big weapon, assuming insight polearm. Can get a lifetap wand from vendor (usually act 3 NM, depends on your level)

Basically tele around to avoid your dude getting hit.

This post was edited by PmP on Oct 11 2022 06:51pm

Vamp gaze + guardians angel. Then whatever weapon you can afford.

Likely throw Um in both Gaze and angel. Depends on level.

Treach and Tal Helm for Life Leech, DR, Res, and IAS. Then any weapon that can pack a quick punch. Eth Upped Hone Sundan with 3 Pskulls would put your Merc at 30 life leech, higher res, decent CB, but you'll need to supply the mana pots yourself.

Tals Helm
Treachery
Obedience

this pretty much.

also just level some more in order for the merc to be high level.

i'd go to like 90+ at least.

if you are doing only meph, eth duriels might be an option for the armor as well: CBF (therefore more attacks and more life leach) as well as some resists.
treachery always feels really squishy until the fade proc, if you are unlucky, the merc even dies before the proc^^
life tap wand is a nice option for merchant survivability if you have your second weapon slot still available, you could also use the charges from marrowwalk boots

This post was edited by PiXi31415 on Oct 12 2022 12:21am

Life tap wand then throw some resist oh him any weapon like obedience, tombreaver, reapers toll etc, armor like treachery, guardian angel, honestly it's faster to just get a budget smiter and just do them fast and worry free.

kelpies/blackhorn/duriels with defiance will be the cheapest. If you are very low level you might need blessed aim to reliably proc the slow quickly. He's not going to be invulnerable but if you feed potions should give you the most time to kill without going for a much more expensive lifetap/dps solution, also sort of assuming you have a MF swap which is annoying to curse with.

Meph has 0 drain effectiveness you can safely ignore anyone who suggested non-lifetap based leech solutions.

edit:
OH also toss him cold potion right when fight starts.

This post was edited by acrD2 on Oct 12 2022 06:15pm