Are there any builds an Act 1/5 Merc would actually shine with?

[Valeli]

I picked up D2 again lately, and decided to run through with one character of each class (probably more to be added eventually if I don't get tired).

The three "decided" classes are lightning sorceress (with points in frozen orb until I can get an infinity), a fishymancer, and a frenzy barb. I haven't really settled on a build for any of the other guys, although I'm sort of leaning towards a holy freeze/shock zeal paladin.

What I'd really like is to have at least one character that synergizes well with an Act 1 or 5 Merc (preferably without mandatory use of faith in a bow). The polearm merc is just too valuable for my sorceress (because of insight), and the fishymancer (because of might on everything).

I guess with the auras, it's just sort of hard to beat the Act 2 mercs by default, but I honestly feel the Act 1 merc is a bit undervalued maybe. She really spams both attacks and Inner Sight, and her inner sight is almost like having a blessed aim merc... almost. I've always liked the barbs, but can't really see what they'd be great for other than some type of sorceress who didn't need insight (or maybe a non-summoner necro).

Anyways, thoughts anyone?

Edit: Random extra info. My characters are playing HC, and not really trading with anyone (although I'm using Atma to trade among them). They pretty much have nothing now, except for the Fishymancer. My sorceress found him a Homonculus, which I thought was neat. I have no fancy runes yet, and probably won't get them for a long time, but I aim to!

 

[mir]

Here some teams that I used:

Bone necro / barb merc (andy helm, grandfather, trechery)
Avenger paladin / act3 merc (cold type, vipermagi, lidless wall, rare circ with 20 fcr, culwen's point)
Summoner druid / rouge (fire type, goldstrike, crow caw, howltusk)

If you dont mind losing some damage then concentrated barb can use other mercs too.

Act1/3 mercs don't work well with fast moving chars and require more 'control' then other mercs.

 

[japanzaman]

Act 1 Merc's are often paired with the Faith runeword for quite a few builds. including summoners. Act V mercs suffer from a lack of decent runewords, so they aren't as commonly used.

 

[FredOfErik]

I kind of thought about finding a setup that would allow my singer's merc to run with an a5 merc, since merc damage is everything for him - there's just no way to work around the lack of meditation aura.

 

[MYK]

Thorns Necro Summoner via "Edge" carrying rogue. It's the cheapest, most broken character in the game. You build it like a fishymancer but swap the mercenaries. The highest rune you'll need is Amn (Edge), the rest of your items are completely free for whatever you like.

The build just sort of happened out of frustration caused by Act 2 mercenaries being a pain to equip untwinked, and they always seem to die whenever the actual threatening monsters come out. This happens pretty frequently with untwinked summoners taking on Lister - not a problem here.

The downside is that this is the only build that doesn't really speed up against normal cannon fodder enemies. Whenever Might/Cursed packs show up, they just tend to melt when beating themselves on the thorny skeletons. So the next time your necro and skeleton friends get Cursed, don't go to town to decurse, but keep pushing through - think of it as your army going Super Saiyan.

I've taken two of these to Guardian and run them all throughout the game without a problem.



Surprisingly, I've got nothing for the A5 dude. He didn't get enough love from the last blast of overpowered runewords.

 

[NoisemakerArrow]

"Avenger paladin / act3 merc (cold type, vipermagi, lidless wall, rare circ with 20 fcr, culwen's point)"

I know that's what you said you used and not what you recommend, but those should be Spirits. An ethereal Harlequin would go well too. Or a Nightwing.

 

[Dezrok]

I successfully Guardianed a Fire Ranger/Avenger with an Act 1 merc and doubt that there would have been a better merc to use. Harmony bow for the rainbow damage and Vigor aura, Blackhorn's for the slow, and Treachery for IAS and Fade. Didn't really use mana and mostly elemental damage meant the standard Act 2 mercs weren't much help. Expensive gear not required either - Lem rune for Treachery is the highest rune you need and a Kuko Shakaku bow the hardest item to find.

 

[Valeli]

Huh, I hadn't thought about the Fire Ranger type idea, but I think I might like that. And a frost zealot would play too much like my frenzy barb anyways... kind of. I think I'll check it out. Thanks.

And thanks to everyone else for your ideas too!