The Hireling Handbook - A Guide to Mercenaries

Find a handful of guides and walkthroughs here!
User avatar
NotCube
Grubber
337 | 161
Legendary Popularity Badge
Has a thread with over 250.000 views
Great Love Badge
Earned over 100 cookies
Common Supporter Badge
Donated 1 time
Common Guide Badge
Created a complete character guide
Common Auction Badge
Won 50 auctions
Splargh wrote:is maxing the rogues avoid (requires 2400 dex) a priority for her survival in labs?
The rogue lab gear section doesn't make it look like it is

Seikun wrote:Because avoid is not 100% reliable. There's a reason why character class with highest avoid (asa) is considered the squishiest.

Instead of maxing avoid, prioritize making sure your rogue won't go down in one hit, should avoid fail her.

Yea this. Also Rogue's avoid is melee avoid, doesn't work for ranged attacks, so while it certainly is useful, resists and life are more important for survivability.
User avatar
altoiddealer
Djinn
532 | 36
Legendary Popularity Badge
Has a thread with over 250.000 views
Common Love Badge
Earned over 20 cookies
Common Supporter Badge
Donated 1 time
Common Auction Badge
Won 50 auctions
For my lab merc, which survives most situations up to and including T15... I followed Cube’s guide, with these comments:
-All available armor sockets are filled with P gems
-She’s using a lotteried
Niradyahk
Niradyahk
Amulet

Required Level: 80
Item Level: 105
2% Chance to cast level 50 Singularity on Melee Attack
+2 to All Skills
20% Cast Speed
+250 to Life
+125 to Mana
3% Reanimate as: Random Monster
for +2 max elem res. Can’t seem to get lucky with a Death Ward or Teganze Pendant, but it’s doing the trick.
-
Witchhunter’s Hood
with Hellfire Aura scroll for the +3 Max elem res. The hood is also lotteried - this item falls often enough that it’s feasible to lotto one. MOd with
Essence of Itherael
Essence of Itherael
Mystic Orb

Right-Click to Apply
Weapon Physical Damage +9%
15% Bonus to Defense
+10 Required Level

-I lotto’d the suggested TU armor as well. Just reroll it until lotto success. Enchanted with the 5% all attributes scroll.
-Used poison res enchant scroll on belt, for benefit of +2 max psn res rather than +1 of any other.
Ruubel
Onyx Knight
636 | 12
Common Auction Badge
Won 50 auctions
Testament of the Apes
Testament of the Apes
(Ape Set)

Apefoot
Apehand
Apeshoot
Apeskin
Apeskull

Set Bonus with 2 or more set items:
250% Bonus to Attack Rating
+50 to Strength

Set Bonus with 3 or more set items:
Weapon Physical Damage +120%
+75 to Strength

Set Bonus with complete set:
5% Chance to cast level 3 Thunder Slam on Kill
10% Chance to cast level 18 Tainted Blood when Struck by a Missile
+18 to Deathstrike
+10 to Silver Dart
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
50% to All Attributes
Physical Resist 20%

except for xbow, all the rest are very useful for any merc.
WasagaBanaga
Jungle Hunter
29 | 1
Great Supporter Badge
Donated 5 times
how do you get enough dex on the bear to wear viz spear?
Ruubel
Onyx Knight
636 | 12
Common Auction Badge
Won 50 auctions
WasagaBanaga wrote:how do you get enough dex on the bear to wear viz spear?


ort rune crafted -14 req jewels
User avatar
NotCube
Grubber
337 | 161
Legendary Popularity Badge
Has a thread with over 250.000 views
Great Love Badge
Earned over 100 cookies
Common Supporter Badge
Donated 1 time
Common Guide Badge
Created a complete character guide
Common Auction Badge
Won 50 auctions
WasagaBanaga wrote:how do you get enough dex on the bear to wear viz spear?

-req jewels like ruubel said above, or Qor runes. Then IIRC you'll need some dex on other parts to boost it to the point where he can wear it.
Celestia's Wings
Celestia's Wings
Gothic Plate (Sacred)

Defense: (7708 - 8628) to (9275 - 10391)
Required Level: 90
Required Strength: 675
Item Level: 1
+1 to Amazon Skill Levels
Adds 25-38 Damage
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
+350 Defense
(21 to 25)% to Strength
+(31 to 50) to Dexterity
(21 to 25)% to Vitality
Elemental Resists +(21 to 25)%
Socketed (6)

Celestia's Myth
(Amazon Spear Set)
, 2% dex Lem crafted jewels, dex mystic orbs etc. are some sources. You can also just use Fangspear or Gehenna and save yourself the headache.
User avatar
Victor
Cog
247 | 37
Common Popularity Badge
Has a thread with over 10.000 views
Common Love Badge
Earned over 20 cookies
NotCube wrote:
WasagaBanaga wrote:how do you get enough dex on the bear to wear viz spear?

-req jewels like ruubel said above, or Qor runes. Then IIRC you'll need some dex on other parts to boost it to the point where he can wear it.
Celestia's Wings
Celestia's Wings
Gothic Plate (Sacred)

Defense: (7708 - 8628) to (9275 - 10391)
Required Level: 90
Required Strength: 675
Item Level: 1
+1 to Amazon Skill Levels
Adds 25-38 Damage
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
+350 Defense
(21 to 25)% to Strength
+(31 to 50) to Dexterity
(21 to 25)% to Vitality
Elemental Resists +(21 to 25)%
Socketed (6)

Celestia's Myth
(Amazon Spear Set)
, 2% dex Lem crafted jewels, dex mystic orbs etc. are some sources. You can also just use Fangspear or Gehenna and save yourself the headache.


Vizjerei Fury
Vizjerei Fury
Short Spear (Sacred)

Throw Damage: 69 to 80
One-Hand Damage: 45 to 50
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity:
1386
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
You may Only use Melee, Summon and Support Skills
25% Chance to cast level 60 Trinity Beam on Melee Attack
Ignore Target's Defense
-33% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-33% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-33% to Enemy Cold Resistance
(20 to 25)% to Dexterity
(20 to 25)% to Vitality
Maximum Elemental Resists +2%
Physical Resist 10%
+(60 to 100) Life after each Kill
Requirements +200%
Socketed (3)
itself has +%25 Dexterity, so I managed to prebuff my Shapeshifter with +Dex gear such as
Beads of the Snake Queen
Beads of the Snake Queen
Amulet

Required Level: 100
Item Level: 120
4% Chance to cast level 33 Scorpion Blade on Kill
Adds 5-10 Damage
Stun Attack
+(200 to 500) Defense
(20 to 25)% to Strength
(20 to 25)% to Dexterity
+100 Life after each Kill
before equipping. Somehow I didn't need to do it again after every login.
User avatar
Hexen
Prowler
19 | 2
NotCube wrote:Hirelings take extra damage from bosses (anywhere from 8-10 times). They also do less damage to act bosses.
  • Normal: 50% less damage
  • Nightmare: 65% less damage
  • Hell: 75% less damage


Does uberquest bosses count as act bosses? I.e. do mercs deal less damage to uber bosses like azmodan, belial, astrogha, quov tsin, etc.?
Giux86
Cultist
23 | 0
HI all
Is the
Fangspear
Fangspear
Spetum (4)

Two-Hand Damage: (15 - 18) to (37 - 48)
Required Level: 7
Required Strength: 42
Required Dexterity: 63
Item Level: 19
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
10% Chance to cast level 5 Miasma on Melee Attack
15% Attack Speed
Adds (8 to 10)-(21 to 30) Damage
+75 to Attack Rating
+(30 to 46)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 100) to Life
+(11 to 15) Life after each Kill
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: (33 - 40) to (78 - 92)
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 70
Required Dexterity: 97
Item Level: 36
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
15% Chance to cast level 11 Miasma on Melee Attack
30% Attack Speed
Adds (11 to 15)-(31 to 40) Damage
+100 to Attack Rating
+(64 to 80)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 150) to Life
+(21 to 25) Life after each Kill
Socketed (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (63 - 71) to (143 - 161)
Required Level: 44
Required Strength: 144
Required Dexterity: 193
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
20% Chance to cast level 18 Miasma on Melee Attack
45% Attack Speed
Adds (16 to 20)-(41 to 50) Damage
+125 to Attack Rating
+(98 to 114)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 200) to Life
+(31 to 35) Life after each Kill
Socketed (5)
Two-Hand Damage: (83 - 97) to (184 - 203)
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 288
Required Dexterity: 382
Item Level: 85
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
25% Chance to cast level 25 Miasma on Melee Attack
60% Attack Speed
Adds (21 to 30)-(51 to 60) Damage
+150 to Attack Rating
+(115 to 132)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 250) to Life
+(36 to 40) Life after each Kill
Socketed (6)
better than
Venom Sting
Venom Sting
Holy Lance (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: (132 - 147) to (480 - 505)
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 514
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
Amazing Grace
10% Chance to cast level 50 Punishers on Striking
+(2 to 3) to Paladin Skill Levels
60% Attack Speed
+250 to Maximum Damage
150% Bonus to Attack Rating
(30 to 35)% Life stolen per Hit
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
-35% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(50 to 100) to all Attributes
Socketed (6)
?
Siosilvar
Cow Ninja
1219 | 263
Common Posting Badge
Posted over 1.000 messages
Great Popularity Badge
Has a thread with over 50.000 views
Great Love Badge
Earned over 100 cookies
Great Guide Badge
Created 3 complete character guides
Giux86 wrote:HI all
Is the
Fangspear
Fangspear
Spetum (4)

Two-Hand Damage: (15 - 18) to (37 - 48)
Required Level: 7
Required Strength: 42
Required Dexterity: 63
Item Level: 19
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
10% Chance to cast level 5 Miasma on Melee Attack
15% Attack Speed
Adds (8 to 10)-(21 to 30) Damage
+75 to Attack Rating
+(30 to 46)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 100) to Life
+(11 to 15) Life after each Kill
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: (33 - 40) to (78 - 92)
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 70
Required Dexterity: 97
Item Level: 36
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
15% Chance to cast level 11 Miasma on Melee Attack
30% Attack Speed
Adds (11 to 15)-(31 to 40) Damage
+100 to Attack Rating
+(64 to 80)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 150) to Life
+(21 to 25) Life after each Kill
Socketed (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (63 - 71) to (143 - 161)
Required Level: 44
Required Strength: 144
Required Dexterity: 193
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
20% Chance to cast level 18 Miasma on Melee Attack
45% Attack Speed
Adds (16 to 20)-(41 to 50) Damage
+125 to Attack Rating
+(98 to 114)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 200) to Life
+(31 to 35) Life after each Kill
Socketed (5)
Two-Hand Damage: (83 - 97) to (184 - 203)
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 288
Required Dexterity: 382
Item Level: 85
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
25% Chance to cast level 25 Miasma on Melee Attack
60% Attack Speed
Adds (21 to 30)-(51 to 60) Damage
+150 to Attack Rating
+(115 to 132)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 250) to Life
+(36 to 40) Life after each Kill
Socketed (6)
better than
Venom Sting
Venom Sting
Holy Lance (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: (132 - 147) to (480 - 505)
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 514
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
Amazing Grace
10% Chance to cast level 50 Punishers on Striking
+(2 to 3) to Paladin Skill Levels
60% Attack Speed
+250 to Maximum Damage
150% Bonus to Attack Rating
(30 to 35)% Life stolen per Hit
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
-35% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(50 to 100) to all Attributes
Socketed (6)
?


Fangspear is chosen for the Miasma debuff that Venom Sting doesn't have, so yes.