Diablo 4 Vessel Of Hatred Mercenaries Guide

In Diablo 4, the Vessel of Hatred expansion introduces a new feature: Mercenaries. These are role-based NPCs that assist players in combat, offering various abilities that enhance gameplay. While the concept of mercenaries may be familiar to players from earlier Diablo games, this new system brings significant changes. Players can now enlist both a Primary Mercenary for regular gameplay and a Secondary Mercenary to provide support during specific combat situations. By engaging with mercenaries, players can unlock upgrades, barter for items, and improve their standing with these NPC companions. Below is an in-depth look at each mercenary, their skill trees, and how they can complement various playstyles.

Key Takeaways

Primary Mercenary – your main companion in battle, automatically joins you when playing solo.
Secondary Mercenary – provides additional support during situational opportunities.
Mercenary System – includes a Rapport System, Bartering, and Trade Agreements.

If you are facing a currency problem and you are short of gold, don’t hesitate and go get yourself some Diablo 4 GOLD from LepreStore!

Starting with the launch of the Vessel of Hatred expansion, Mercenaries in Diablo 4 offer a more tailored approach to combat assistance. Each mercenary has its own skill tree, and while they do not equip gear like followers from previous games, they possess specialized weapons based on their role.

Mercenaries can provide both defensive support or deal damage, depending on their archetype. For example, a Sorcerer with a focus on aggressive gameplay might select Raheir, who offers defensive abilities, while a more balanced player could opt for Aldkin, who uses devastating fire spells to take down enemies.

Mercenary Skills

Each mercenary has two available skill trees, but you can only activate one at a time. Each tree offers a set of four abilities: one Core Skill paired with a Core Passive, and one Iconic Skill accompanied by an Iconic Passive.

Here are the four mercenaries available:

Raheir, the Shieldbearer (Tank Archetype).
Subo, the Drunken Archer (Ranged DPS Archetype).
Aldkin, the Cursed Child (Caster Archetype).
Varyana, the Berserker Crone (DPS Archetype).

Raheir, The Shieldbearer

Archetype – Tank

Raheir is a defensive powerhouse. Trained by the Iron Wolves, he wields a large shield to block enemy attacks and provide defensive buffs to players. Raheir excels in creating barriers and boosting the defense of nearby allies. He is ideal for players who tend to play aggressively but still require a reliable form of protection.

Core Strength – high damage mitigation, ability to taunt enemies, and enhance survivability for himself and nearby players.

Raheir’s Skill Trees

Shield Charge Tree

Core Skill – Shield Charge.
Core Passive – Raheir’s Guard or Vanguard.
Iconic Skill – Provoke (with Mocking Lure or Iron Wolf’s Ward as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Crater (with Iron Wolf’s Call or Sundering Shield as the passive).

Ground Slam Tree

Core Skill – Ground Slam.
Core Passive – Raheir’s Aegis or Draw Fire.
Iconic Skill – Bastion (with Inspiration or Iron Wolf’s Virtue as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Shield Throw (with Iron Wolf’s Arrival or Consecrated Shield as the passive).

Pros:

Excellent for crowd control with the ability to taunt and block enemies.
Can significantly boost team defense.

Cons:

Limited offensive capabilities; mostly focused on support and defense.

Subo, The Drunken Archer

Archetype – ranged DPS

Subo is a ranged mercenary who specializes in AoE damage from a distance. With his arrow barrages and ability to mark targets for buffs, Subo is perfect for players who want to stay mobile and focus on ranged attacks.

Core Strength – long-range AoE damage, target marking for buffs.

Subo’s Skill Trees

Wire Trap Tree

Core Skill – Wire Trap.
Core Passive – Piercing Arrows or Ready at Hand.
Iconic Skill – Cover Fire (with Pin Cushion or Opening Fire as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Trip Mines (with Loaded Munitions or Mastermind as the passive).

Molotov Tree

Core Skill – Molotov.
Core Passive – Scorched Earth or Share a Drink.
Iconic Skill – Snipe (with Incendiary Bolt or Ambusher as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Explosive Charge (with Thrillseeker or Bargaining Chips as the passive).

Pros:

Long-range DPS, great for staying out of danger while dealing massive AoE damage.
Can mark targets to grant useful buffs upon killing them.

Cons:

Less durable and can be vulnerable to close-range attacks if not properly protected.

Varyana, The Berserker Crone

Archetype – Berserker DPS.

A former cannibal and butcher, Varyana specializes in close-range combat. Her mechanics focus on building killstreaks that make her stronger as she continues to eliminate enemies. She also excels at pulling enemies into melee range, making her ideal for players who prefer a more aggressive, melee-based playstyle.

Core Strength – high damage output, ability to pull enemies, and a killstreak mechanic that strengthens her over time.

Varyana’s Skill Trees

Cleave Tree

Core Skill – Cleave.
Core Passive – Hysteria or Recklessness.
Iconic Skill – Bloodthirst (with Intimidated or Bloodlust as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Whirlwind (with No Escape or Taste of Flesh as the passive).

Shockwave Tree

Core Skill – Shockwave.
Core Passive – Crushing Force or Reprisal.
Iconic Skill – Earth Breaker (with Rampage or Dismembering as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Ancient Harpoons (with Annihilator or Iron Grip as the passive).

Pros:

Extremely high DPS with crowd control abilities like pulls and knockdowns.
Killstreak mechanic adds a dynamic element to her playstyle.

Cons:

Relies heavily on close-range combat, which may leave her vulnerable against ranged enemies.

Aldkin, The Cursed Child

Archetype – Shadow/Fire Caster.

Aldkin is a half-demon who wields both shadow and fire magic. Capable of shapeshifting and dealing massive AoE fire damage, he is well-suited for players who need help handling large groups of enemies. Aldkin’s skills focus on weakening enemies through crowd control and DoTs (damage over time) effects.

Core Strength – strong area-of-effect attacks, excellent DoT capabilities, and crowd control effects.

Aldkin’s Skill Trees

Haunt Tree

Core Skill – Haunt.
Core Passive – Terrify or Exhaustion.
Iconic Skill – Field of Languish (with Paranoia or Condemned as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Chain of Souls (with Amplified Suffering or Shared Pain as the passive).

Flame Surge Tree

Core Skill – Flame Surge.
Core Passive – Covered in Ash or Raging Violence.
Iconic Skill – Storm of Fire (with Eradication or Ember’s Gift as the passive).
Iconic Skill – Wave of Flame (with Burning Chaos or Raging Havoc as the passive).

Pros:

Great AoE damage output, ideal for handling large groups of enemies.
Strong mix of fire and shadow damage.

Cons:

Less effective in single-target combat, better suited for area-based encounters.

Mercenary Systems And Upgrades

In addition to their unique skills, the mercenary system in Diablo 4 introduces several other mechanics:

Recruitment – Mercenaries can be recruited through quests or by purchasing contracts from specific NPCs.
Rapport System – the more you use a mercenary, the better your rapport, which leads to unlocks such as specialized abilities and bonuses.
Bartering – players can trade currency and items to upgrade their mercenaries or unlock powerful bartering abilities that reduce resource costs for certain services.

Whether you are a newcomer or a Diablo 4 veteran feeling exhausted from pumping the desired level, get a Diablo 4 Character Boost from LepreStore and save a lot of time!

Conclusion

The Mercenary System in Diablo 4 expands the game’s strategic depth, allowing players to customize their gameplay with specialized NPCs. Whether you prefer to tank damage with Raheir, unleash high DPS with Varyana, control the battlefield with Aldkin, or snipe enemies from afar with Subo, there’s a mercenary for every type of player. Understanding how to build rapport and barter with these characters is crucial to making the most out of their abilities, ensuring they complement your playstyle and help you conquer the challenges ahead.

By choosing the right mercenary and carefully managing their skill trees and passives, you can gain a significant advantage in battle, especially as the game ramps up in difficulty. Make sure to experiment with different mercenary combinations to find the one that best suits your approach to Diablo 4.

You can be also interested in the following:

F.A.Q.

What are Mercenaries in Diablo 4?

Mercenaries are NPC companions introduced in the Vessel of Hatred expansion. They assist players in combat with specialized skills and abilities, enhancing your gameplay experience.

How can I recruit a Mercenary?

You can recruit Mercenaries by completing specific quests or purchasing contracts from designated NPCs within the game.

Can I upgrade my Mercenaries?

Yes, Mercenaries can be upgraded through the Rapport System. Building rapport with them unlocks new abilities and bonuses, enhancing their effectiveness in battle.

What roles do the different Mercenaries play?

Each Mercenary has a specific archetype: Raheir (Tank), Varyana (Berserker DPS), Aldkin (Caster), and Subo (Ranged DPS). Choose one based on your preferred playstyle for optimal support.

How do Mercenaries contribute to gameplay?

Mercenaries provide damage mitigation, crowd control, and DPS support based on their unique skills. They can help players manage challenging encounters and improve overall performance in combat.