Mercenaries can be recruited to fight alongside you in solo play and level up as you progress. These Mercenaries go by the name of The Pale Hand. In brief:
- Unlock access to the first Mercenary, Raheir, by completing the main Vessel of Hatred Questline.
- Gain access to the other 3 by completing their personal quests.
- Hire a Mercenary to fight by your side and another as a Reinforcement to jump into the fray temporarily on demand.
- Mercenaries are for solo play however in parties the party leader can bring a Merc along.
- A Mercenary Rapport system enables you to level up your Merc to level 10.
- Spend those 10 skill points in their own mini-skill tree consisting of two distinct branches.
- Working your way up the Rapport system gives you access to other loot-based rewards.
- Earn Pale Marks through Rapport to buy coveted items within the Den.
- Mercs are available with Vessel of Hatred Expansion on both Seasonal and Eternal Realms.
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 Mercenaries
Four Mercenary classes have been confirmed offering a broad range of support to you build.
I am your guardian. I am your redemption. I am your vengeance. I am your rage. We are the Pale Hand, and we are the reason you need never fight alone.
Raheir
Raheir is a Blacksmith and shield-bearer, a more defensive fighter who soaks up damage and uses his shield dome to protect the player. He is the first Merc that you meet and introduces you to the Mercenary network.
Sabu
Sabu is a drunken archer who offers range and utility support.
Varyana
Varyana is a Beserker Crone. She is a melee combat fighter who has a massacre meter that needs a constant stream of kills to fill up the meter leading to more power. She also has utility skills.
Aldkin
A Demon Child, is a magic user who can transform from human to demon form.
Getting your Mercenary
You will first meet Raheir, the shield-bearer mercenary who will introduce you to the Mercenary Hideout, and the network of Mercs.
On completing of an acquistion quest for each Mercenary you will then be able to hire them.
Mercenary Skills and Gear
Each Mercenary has its own mini skill tree that splits into two distinct branches enabling you to customize the kind of support you require. Only a few of the skills have been revealed so far.
Aldkin Skill Tree
Raheir Skill Tree
Varyana Skill Tree
As well as the role of fighter there may be more involved with Diablo 4's Mercenaries as also mentioned in the files datamined back in 2023 of '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.
Reinforcement
If you don't want your Mercenary with you constantly there is a feature that allows you to call them into the fray temporarily.
Reinforcements will emerge during combat and execute a pre-determined skill at an opportunity of your choosing. You select a Mercenary skill and attach it to one of your own so when you use that skill your Mercenary will appear and perform their skill and then disappear. You can also set the Reinforcement to appear when a certain situation occurs such as you become crowd-controlled or you Evade.
There is a cooldown attached to these Reinforcements.
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.
Blizzard has said more about the Mercenaries will be revealed before the release of Vessel of Hatred.
Mercenaries Trailer