In Diablo 4, mercenaries are companions that help you in exploration and combat. They are NPCs that can be recruited, and each of them comes with a powerful set of skills to aid you on the battlefield. On top of that, each mercenary has an interesting backstory that will unfold as you journey together.
How to Unlock Mercenaries
Mercenaries are introduced through the Vessel of Hatred expansion. You will meet your first companion, Raheir, the Shieldbearer, during the main campaign questline. As you progress, you will unlock additional mercenaries by completing specific quests given by each one.
Types of Mercenaries
There are 4 mercenaries you can recruit, each with different abilities and playstyles:
- Raheir, the Shieldbearer: A defensive tank born on the streets of Gea Kul and trained by the Iron Wolves. Raheir is good at absorbing damage and protecting you from harm with his shield.
- Varyana, the Berserker Crone: Once a cannibal from a dark tribe, Varyana grows stronger with every enemy you kill, feeding off the massacre to boost her power. Her skills are brutal and melee-focused.
- Subo, the Drunken Archer: A fallen hero turned bounty hunter, Subo specializes in ranged combat and traps. He marks enemies during the fight, rewarding you with reduced ability cooldowns for eliminating his targets.
- Aldkin, the Cursed Child: Half-demon, half-human, Aldkin is a powerful caster who shapeshifts into a demon during combat. His magical abilities make him a great support companion.
Each mercenary complements different playstyles, offering a mix of utility, crowd control, and damage.
How to Hire and Equip Mercenaries
You can hire two mercenaries at once – one as your primary mercenary, and another as a reinforcement.
- Primary Mercenary: This mercenary will always fight by your side, offering a full set of abilities and their own skill tree for you to develop.
- Reinforcement: A secondary mercenary that joins combat briefly, triggered by specific actions in battle. Reinforcements activate a unique skill that can be linked to one of your own, for example, when you are affected by crowd control or when you use a specific skill. You can set up this specific trigger in the Mercenaries window as an “Opportunity“.
Keep in mind that you must choose a different mercenary for each role. After you unlock more mercenaries beyond Raheir, you will be able to equip one in both slots.
How to Build Rapport
Fighting alongside your mercenaries builds Rapport, a measure of trust between you and your companion. The more Rapport you earn, the more skill points you can invest in their skill trees to unlock new abilities and perks.
You can build Rapport through:
- Recruiting a mercenary
- Hiring them as a primary or reinforcement
- Completing mercenary-related events across Sanctuary
Each mercenary has 10 levels of Rapport to earn. After maxing out their level, you can continue gaining Rapport to earn additional Pale Marks, a currency used for bartering in the Den, the mercenary hideout.
Pale Marks and Bartering
As you build Rapport, you accumulate Pale Marks, a currency used to purchase Trade Agreements and barter for items within the Den. Reaching higher Rapport levels unlocks better items for trade. Bartering becomes available once you reach Rank 5 Rapport with any mercenary.
Skill Trees and Abilities
Each mercenary has a unique skill tree you can develop over time. Although all detailed skill trees are not available yet, here is a preview of what you can expect from each mercenary:
- Raheir: Uses his shield to absorb damage and protect you, with the ability to draw aggro and perform powerful Shield Throws.
- Varyana: Grows stronger with each kill, and her Massacre meter rewards you for maintaining kill streaks.
- Aldkin: Shapeshifts into a demon, providing powerful magical support.
- Subo: Specializes in ranged attacks and traps, marking targets for quick kills and offering buffs combat buffs in return.
Each mercenary ability allows you to further customize your playstyle by complementing your skills with theirs.
Here are some examples of the Skill Trees:
Aldkin Skill Tree
Varyana Skill Tree
Mercenary Death and Revival
Mercenaries can die in battle, temporarily disabling their skills and abilities. If this happens, you can revive them manually, similar to how you would revive another player, or wait for them to recover on their own. Reviving them quickly can be important in tough battles where their powers provide essential support.
Mercenaries bring utility, crowd control, and complement your builds. Pair a defensive mercenary like Raheir with a high-damage ally like Varyana for balanced combat, or use Aldkin’s magic to improve your own abilities. The options are wide, offering different strategies to overcome any challenge.
