Mercenaries

Mercenaries can be recruited to fight alongside you and level up as you progress. The only image released so far shows 4 mercenaries to choose from but we don't know if more are yet to be revealed. These four look like a Rogue, Paladin, Barbarian and some kind of spell caster.

The Mercenaries were designed to replicate that small-party experience. You're going to see mercenary builds that may complement certain classes that already exist in the game. So if you're running around as a Sorcerer and you need someone out there playing a little bit of a tanking role we've taken that into account with all the mercenary types you would see. - Brent Gibson, Game Director, Blizzard, 12 July 2024

Classes of Mecerenaries

In Diablo 4 datafile hack back in 2023 much was revealed about Vessel of Hatred that has since appeared in official releases. There were also tantalizing strings of text regarding the mercenaries including names although these are sure to be placeholder names as follows:

• Bounty Hunter
• Shieldbearer
• Berserker Crone
• Cursed Child

• Scholar
• Thief
• Maiden and Mongrel

It's since been revealed there are four Mercenary types to choose from and possibly the top four names fit although the names are almost certainly going to change.

Mercenaries introduced in Vessel of Hatred

Getting your Mercenary

No information has been officially released on gaining access to mercenaries. Diablo 2 and Diablo 3 both had Mercenaries for hire with their function being improved between those games. It's expected that Diablo 4's Mercenaries will be even more customizable and therefore play a more useful role.

Again, in the hacked data files, there was mention of an intro quest for each of the classes of mercenary, such as Merc_Crone_Quest_Intro, so this suggests some sort of introductory quest line to gain access to the individual Mercenary classes rather than the Mercenary feature as a whole as in the previous games.

There is mention of a Mercenary Hideout so it seems likely that this is where they are hired from.

In previous games, you could only hire one Merc at a time and they leveled along with you.

Mercenary Skills and Gear

Nothing official other than what can be seen in the image above; a shield, a bow, an axe, and elemental damage. In the hacked files there is mention of lots of skills for each of the so-called 'mercs' but the vast majority appear to be taken from the existing playable classes. However, there was mention of a few unique skills that could point to roles even though names are likely to change.

Bounty Hunter

• Heavy Shot
• Concussive Trap
• Salvo
• Scatter Traps
• Molotov
• Snipe
• Explosive Charge

Shieldbearer

• Bastion (this has since also appeared as a Spiritborn skill which applies Thorns)
• Omnicast
• Crater
• Shield Throw
• Ground Slam
• Provoke
• Valiance

Berserker Crone

• Cleave

Cursed Child

• Shadow Tendrils
• Wither
• Flamesurge
• Haunt

There are also 'Passive' skills mentioned in the files but the numerous skill names look like placeholders but the concept of Passives is there.

As well as the role of fighter there may be more involved with Diablo 4's Mercenaries as also mentioned in the files are 'Professions' and 'Crafting'. No specific professions are named but perhaps Mercenaries will be trainable in one of the existing professions so that they can perform that crafting service for you out in the field.

Mercenary Currency

In Spiritborn gameplay videos, a currency inventory screen revealed a new type of currency linked to Mercenaries.

• Pale Marks are earned by increasing Rapport with Mercenaries by completing activities with them.
• Once you have earned a Rank of 5 Rapport with them you can begin Bartering for items or purchasing Trade Agreements.

Pale Marks Currency

Blizzard has said more about the Mercenaries will be revealed before the release of Vessel of Hatred.