Mercenaries

Mercenaries can be recruited to fight alongside you 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 quest.
• Hire a Mercenary to fight by your side and another as a Reinforcement to jump in to the fray temporarily on demand
• 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.

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

Four Mercenary classes have been confirmed offering a broad range of support to you build.

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, a magic user who can transform from human to demon form.

Mercenaries introduced in Vessel of Hatred

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 set of mini skill trees, 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

Raheir

Shield Charge Raheir charges in with his shield, Taunting nearby enemies for 4 seconds. Selecting this skill will change Raheir's Weapon and Basic Attack. Basic Attack: Shield Bash Bashes an enemy with his shield, dealing mild damage and gaining 28% of his Maximum Life as Fortify. Cooldown: 14 Seconds Damage: Physical Damage Tags: Mercenary Core

Raheir's Guard While Raheir is nearby, you gain 5% increased Armor.

Penitence Enemies near Raheir are Slowed by 40% for 4 seconds.

Provoke Raheir Taunts enemies around you, and you gain 5% Damage Reduction per target Taunted, up to 50%, for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 25 Seconds Damage: Physical Damage Tags: Mercenary Iconic

Crater Raheir strikes the ground 3 times, pulling in nearby enemies. The final strike also Stuns (CC) enemies for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 22 Seconds Damage: Physical Damage Tags: Mercenary Iconic

Aldkin

Metamorphosis Aldkin will periodically lose control of his demonic curse and transform into a ferocious demon. Aldkin's demon form is either Shadow or Fire based on skill tree choices. Transforming has a 33% chance of inadvertently summoning a hostile Elite Demon. Damage: Physical Damage Tags: Mercenary Perk

Flame Surge Aldkin shoots out a cone of flame, dealing moderate damage over 4 seconds. Selecting this skill will change Aldkin's Basic Attack and his Metamorphosis Perk will turn him into a Fire Demon. Basic Attack: Fire Bolt Hurls a flaming bolt, dealing mild fire damage and Burning over 4 seconds. Cooldown: 11 Seconds Damage: Fire Damage Tags: Mercenary Core

Haunt Aldkin sends out 3 ghostly souls that haunt enemies. These souls follow targets for 10 seconds, dealing moderate damage per second. When the haunted target dies, the soul jumps to another target. Selecting this skill will change Aldkin's Basic Attack and his Metamorphosis Perk will turn him into a Shadow Demon. Basic Attack: Shadow Tendrils. Release a burst of shadow bolts at the target, dealing Shadow Damage. Damage: Shadow Damage Tags: Mercenary Core

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.

Reinforcements will emerge during combat and execute their Mercenary skill at an opportunity of your choosing. Players select a skill and attach it to one of their own so when they use that skill their Mercenary will appear and perform their skill and then disappear. 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.

Pale Marks Currency

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