Not understanding Mercs in general

Not understanding Mercs in general

I'm playing a 90 TrapaSin for hell runs and i have no idea what to match her up with Merc wise. Other than her Shadow Master she's getting eaten up in Hell most of the time and when she's surviving, her killing is very slow.

What is the best running mate for her in Hell and what Act can i get him?
What equippment is best for this Merc? I'm wearing hardly anything myself of any quality so i can't picture my Merc looking all that much better.

My problem is that i've never seriously made any Hell runs until now. I used to travel with a souped up Cold Merc to just freeze things in NM level, but he is getting toasted in Hell. One run i had to replace him 15 times (expensive) because he would run around a corner, get slapped and i'd have to resurrect his sorry butt. Even with a Cold Merc i can fight my way through the Halls of Pain and i got all the way to Mephisto before he promptly showed me the door. I want to make a few runs on Big D and Baal and i know this Cold Merc won't cut it.

Thanks and my apologies in advance if what i've said makes me look like a Royal Dufus.

-Bo

 

i'd think high defense rating (any good ethereal armor) and a weapon with some life leech is a good start .. what's on your merc now? Act 2 NM defensive merc is a good choice because you'll probably want your merc to tank a little for you, and cold will slow down the enemies...

 

Bosses eat mercs alive. They do something like 8 times damage to them. Your best bet is to load on the life leech nice and thick and/or kill the boss right quickly.

As for trapsins: They are extremely good in NM, but they aren't very good in hell. Yes, you could invest in 10 trap charms if you really wanted to, but a FO sorc will do better with 0.

 

Check out some of the guides and strategy threads stickied in the assassin forum ...

 

This is what i'm confused about. Are there differences between tanking and cold, fire and lightning mercs?

When i give my Cold merc a sword or some other weapon, is he actually using it or is he just standing back coughing up fireballs. Or am i looking for a merc that's a straight fighter? I don't see these guys around anywhere. All i see is Cold, Fire and Lightning Mercs any act i go to.

 

Hey! I resemble that remark!!!rop:

I gotta ask...were you using an Act 3 cold merc or an Act 2 cold merc? Also, with you at lvl 90, what level is your merc at? If you've been rushed, your merc is probably at a much lower level. If that's the case, you're better off stripping off his equipment and buying a new one closer to your level.

Edit: Ahhhhhh, that's the problem. Act 3 mercs are basically useless except in very rare cases. (and they only rarely use their swords)
Act 2 aura-mercs are the way to go!:thumbsup:

 

Get an act 2 nightmare holy freeze merc and equip him with Infinity, Eth Vampire Gaze or Tal helm, and an up'd Shaftshop. It would be much more beneficial to get a torch, anni, and skill gc's first though. With this, your merc will slow enemies down, and lower there resists for you, and the monsters will drop a lot faster.

 

I suggest you try using an act2 defensive merc hired from nightmare.

Those merc have the holyfreeze aura, wich will help both you and merc survive.
Get some easy life leech for the merc, for a low price get a talrasha mask.
Maibe a reapertoll would be nice cheap choice for you.


Act3 merc don't use the sword you equip them with, only stats on the sword are beneficial to them, for exeample; resist, +to all skill and cast rate

 

Those items are quite expensive for someone just starting hell for the first time, and not necessary to be sucessful either. Most guides have a selection of low/mid/high equipment recommendations.

Good luck!

 

Has anyone ever seen a sword with Fast Cast Rate on it? I don't think I've ever seen one.:undecided:

 

Spirit in a sword would give FCR

 

Has anyone ever made a Fort in sword?:wink3:

 

Touche' !!!:thumbsup:

I completely forgot about runewords! DOH!!!

 

Hey which realm are you on?

 

USEast

Are you recommending a Nightmare/Act 2 Merc? I just want to make sure i understand this fully.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I just bought a Defensive Merc from NM/Act II.

I'll give him a whirl tonight and let you know how he goes.

Thanks again

 

Nightmare/Act 2/Defensive is the merc with the Holy Freeze aura. Any merc you hire, whether in normal, nightmare or hell, will be within 4 levels of your character.

Check here for more info on mercs:

http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/basics/hirelings.shtml

 

Good luck with the new merc, should greatly improve your survivability tho.

 

aw i guess i can't help out then, i "was" on USWest, quit a while back and yeah you can guess what i was planning to do... oh well i'll continue keeping my account alive and hopefully something good will come out of it one day