I didn't think about it affecting swing speed. I must not have been at the cap before because it didn't feel any slower.

The A5 merc can actually live though. I'm one to two shotting the little guys and 3-4 the named. Just need a Merc that can take the hits without having to wear multiple high runes.

I mean I don't know what to tell you; my A2 Merc hasn't died since level 88. Maybe happened once?
But yeah, if the limit is the Merc's survivability then just Zerk shit down and give them some life leech gear.

I tried eth ariocs clean, guardians non eth/smoke/wealth, Andy's/tals/hustle/steel skull

His fire isn't capped with Andy's on unless I wear smoke. I think i remember 92 or 93 being the sweet spot where the resists are capped no matter what you have on. Should I just um the guardians?

You're losing too much dmg with that armor choice + nothing in your ariocs for him to leech effectively.

Even simple cheapo stuff would help a lot if you really can't afford fort/coh at the moment.

At least start by putting something useful in the ariocs, shael/amn/ohm/Lo/some ed/ias jewel. Then for cheapo armor you could do something like an eth hades with whatever cheapo ed/ias jewels/rune combo

I'll work on that now. Thanks

I've spent a good bit on trying the mercs out since the last post.

A2 Merc with CoH, EbotD war pike, Andy's/3 socket life leech with 15/30s

A5 Merc with CoH, Grief, eth arrests cham'd, unbending will/plague/kingslayer, oath

They both kill at the same speed and tank damage without issue unless conviction is in play. A2 definitely leeches more HP, but is harder to help. A5 is so fast that he's always the first one hit and I have to wait on A2 to move forward or telestomp him near mobs.

A2 feels better if you're playing more support and a5 feels better if you're holding down berserk the whole time. Both mercs averaged around 50 seconds from loading into the game to save and exit.

I also made him a fort to wear as a cheaper option just in case I need to cut corners at the start of next ladder.

I’m presently running eth-thresh insight, gaze, eth duriels shell, might a2 merc, and it is almost never dying if I tank at least half the hydras, which is no problem for me… (edit: on my zerk barb)

But, what I wanted to put on your radar for early season if you like act5, I use a5 on all classes except warlock/barb…
Full Sazabi set with ias jewels + 1 sword… for sorc use plague as the extra sword, for baba you can go with a malice or oath or whatever…

But that 3 set on an act5 merc that has BO, decent dmg, super fast/leech, pretty tanky. I’m kinda in love with it

This post was edited by Drinkinthepink on Apr 9 2026 07:10pm

Tried out throw barb and it was a mess. Everyone running away at mach 10 from lacerator proc. Got a faith bow super cheap and going to try dual grief with the A1 Merc providing fanat.

Does anyone know if dreadfang can proc amp from WW?

If you’re looking for amp procs, you can also utilize the act5 bash merc with the new warlock weapon 33%amp.

Personally I prefer zerk barbs on hardcore, so amp doesn’t help me.

I've always done zerk too. I have that faith bow providing fanat and wanted to test that instead of making beast. Just wasn't sure if dreadfang would proc amp or not while whirling

This post was edited by treehead01 on Apr 11 2026 11:50am