Diablo IV: Choosing Mercenaries - Skill and Talent Recommendations

Dec 11,2024

The mercenary system has always played a crucial role in the Diablo series. From the second to the third installment, the gear and skills of mercenaries have often proved decisive in gameplay. When Diablo IV launched without a mercenary system, many fans were understandably disappointed. Fortunately, the expansion quickly reintroduced mercenaries, enriching the gameplay experience. Today, we’ll dive into the essential aspects of the mercenary system in Diablo IV: The Body of Hatred.

From Solo Mercenaries to Teams

One of the most significant changes in this installment is the introduction of four unique mercenaries. Each mercenary not only has specific strengths but also two core skill lines and four distinct mercenary emblem skills to choose from, culminating in a total of 16 skill and talent combinations. Let’s break down each mercenary.

The Shieldbearer: Rahel

Rahel is the first mercenary players encounter in the expansion, joining your team without the need for a side quest. Due to a tragic incident, he has lost his right hand and now fights with a shield. Despite this limitation, Rahel’s presence in battle is formidable. His skills are divided into Tower Shield and Round Shield categories, with the former focusing on offense and the latter on defense. Notable talents include 15% armor, 15% all-resistance, and increased damage against vulnerable targets.

Core Skills for Rahel


Choose between:



  • Tower Shield: Shield Charge - Taunts enemies, increases resilience

  • Round Shield: Ground Slam - Slows enemies, provides healing

Key Talents


For Rahel’s core talents, consider:



  • Rahel’s Guardian - Armor % (recommended)

  • Precursor - Slows enemies

The Cursed Child: Edkin

To recruit Edkin, players must complete a side quest. A tragic figure, Edkin is a cursed child who eventually opens up to the protagonist and joins the fight. He possesses fire and shadow abilities, applying various curses based on the core skills chosen. His role primarily revolves around damage output and resource recovery.

Core Skills for Edkin


Choose between:



  • Shadow: Entanglement - Damage over time

  • Fire: Flame Surge - Area damage, damage over time

Recommended Talents


For Edkin’s core talents, consider:



  • Fear - Increases vulnerability (recommended)

  • Exhaustion - Controls enemy movement

The Berserker: Varyana

Varyana is a former cannibal who joins the protagonist after her quest is completed. As a melee damage dealer, she offers various buffs, including increased damage and attack speed. When selected as a primary mercenary, her abilities can significantly enhance movement speed through the stacking of slaughter effects.

Core Skills for Varyana


Choose between:



  • Dual Axes: Cleave - Damage over time

  • Two-Handed Hammer: Shockwave - Area damage, crowd control

Key Talents


For Varyana’s core talents, consider:



  • Ruthlessness - Increases vulnerability (recommended)

  • Hysteria - Increases attack speed

The Bounty Hunter: Supo

Supo specializes in ranged physical attacks, akin to a rogue with a bow. His unique ability includes detecting enemies and resource points on the mini-map. However, players should be cautious of enemy markers during intense battles, as they can obscure critical targets.

Core Skills for Supo


Choose between:



  • Bow: Tripwire - Area damage, crowd control

  • Crossbow: Incendiary Bolt - Damage over time, crowd control

Recommended Talents


For Supo’s core talents, consider:



  • Ready - Increases movement speed (recommended)

  • Precision Shot - Critical damage increase (recommended)

Unique Support Mercenaries

Each mercenary comes equipped with two core skills and four emblem skills. Beyond your regular fighting companion, you can choose one of the remaining three as a support mercenary. This allows them to perform skills at specific moments in battle, enhancing your tactics. There are nine trigger moments for support skills, including when the player uses their own skills or gets injured.

Defensive mercenaries can significantly boost survival when their skills are activated in response to player injuries or control effects. Meanwhile, offensive or support skills can be tailored to match your playstyle, ensuring you maximize your effectiveness in combat.

Strategic Skill Combinations

Utilizing the unique skill combinations of each mercenary can dramatically affect gameplay. For example, pairing Rahel with Edkin can create a formidable frontline, where Rahel absorbs damage while Edkin deals area damage with his fire abilities. Additionally, having Varyana boost attack speed while Supo provides ranged support can create a well-rounded team capable of tackling various challenges.

Conclusion

With the reintroduction of the mercenary system in Diablo IV, players have more strategic options than ever before. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each mercenary, alongside their skills and talents, can lead to a more engaging and successful gameplay experience. Choose wisely, and let your mercenaries pave the way to victory!