Best Mercenary Builds in D2:R
This article continues our exploration of the best mercenary builds in Diablo 2: Resurrected. Part 1 covered Acts I and II. Remember, mercenary AI can be unpredictable. Sometimes they wander aimlessly, making them harder to control in tight situations. Teleportation or leaping skills can be helpful to reposition them.
Many mercenaries use the same skills across all difficulties. However, some skills available in Act II vary depending on the difficulty. Normal and Hell Act II mercenaries have similar skill sets. Nightmare Act II mercenaries, however, have different choices: Thorns, Holy Freeze, or Might, often making Might and Holy Freeze the preferable options for damage or crowd control respectively.
Act 3 Mercenaries
Act 3’s Iron Wolves are specialized elemental damage dealers. While less popular than Act 2 mercenaries, they can be essential for certain end-game builds. Iron Wolves offer lightning, fire, and cold options for damage. Cold, due to its crowd control potential, is often the preferred choice. However, players with elemental builds can utilize Lightning or Fire Iron Wolves.
Rune Words significantly enhance Act 3 mercenaries. Lawbringer is a powerful choice that comes with the unique “Slain Monsters Rest In Peace” effect, preventing the resurrection of slain monsters. It greatly benefits builds utilizing physical damage and provides a considerable defense boost. Stormshield, a powerful shield, is a strong defensive option for the mercenary.
Act 5 Mercenary
Act 5 introduces Barbarian mercenaries, who offer exceptional crowd control with Stun and Bash skills. These skills are highly effective at controlling groups of enemies, particularly beneficial for ranged characters like Bow Amazons. For maximizing this mercenary’s power, Breath of the Dying (with Zod rune) and Last Wish are excellent choices. Breath of the Dying offers a substantial damage and survivability boost. Last Wish, while pricey, provides several potent auras, substantial Magic Find, and crucial trigger skills.
Barbarians also benefit from Barbarian-specific items like Arreat’s Face Slayer Guard for enhanced combat and Barbarian skills, resulting in significant survivability and damage output. The compounding Magic Find effect, especially with high Magic Find on both the mercenary and the player character, significantly improves loot acquisition from enemy kills. This makes these mercenaries essential for loot farming.
Have Fun With Your Mercenary in Diablo 2: Resurrected!
Mercenaries offer versatile options in Diablo 2: Resurrected. They allow for exploring various build choices and can significantly enhance your gameplay. Feel free to share your mercenary builds and equipment in the comments below. We’re all about experimentation and exploring unique combinations of rune words to further enhance the mercenary capabilities.
Consider exploring unusual rune words, like Treachery for Fade effects, or Insight for a limitless mana pool with Meditation. This further exemplifies the depth and variability of mercenary builds in Diablo 2: Resurrected.
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