Mercenaries in Diablo 4 can be hired as companions to aid you in combat, and they have their own set of Mercenary Skills and abilities that can be paired well with the player's playstyle. You will be able to upgrade their skills and recruit them when you need the support or to quicken your run through dungeons, they are similar to the Followers in Diablo 3.
Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred Mercenary Guide
How to Hire Mercenaries in Diablo 4
First of all, you will need to seek out these mercenaries in Nahantu and complete their questlines, all while completing the Vessel of Hatred campaign. Upon completing the The Hand Remembers the Blade main quest and their questlines, you will be able to hire your first Mercenary.
You will be able to recruit 2 Mercenaries, one being your primary one and the other is your Reinforcement
- Primary Mercenary: This is your main combat companion, who joins you in battle when playing solo. The Primary Mercenary fights alongside you throughout your journey, offering constant support and enhancing your gameplay with their unique abilities. You can customize their Mercenary Skills to align with your playstyle.
- Secondary Mercenar or Reinforcements: The Secondary Mercenary offers situational support and is activated during specific conditions called Opportunities. These are triggered in certain combat scenarios, such as when you use a specific skill or face crowd control effects. Secondary Mercenaries provide additional utility in tough battles or special encounters but are not present full-time like the Primary Mercenary.
How to Upgrade Mercenaries in Diablo 4
They can be found in the Mercenary Den to hire and upgrade their skill tree. While they have their own skills, you can upgrade their build to improve and enhance their performance. Completing Opportunities allows you to prioritize the different abilities and steer into the playstyle you wish your mercenaries would have.
D4 Mercenary Skill Trees
Diablo 4 Mercenaries come with their own skill trees that allow players to customize and optimize their combat abilities to complement different playstyles. Each Mercenary has two unique skill trees, each focusing on different aspects of their role. While players can unlock skills from both trees, only one tree can be active at a time
Key Features of Mercenary Skill Trees
Two Skill Trees per Mercenary: Each Mercenary has two distinct trees, typically focusing on different combat roles, such as offense, defense, crowd control, or support.
Skill Activation: Players can activate a maximum of 4 Mercenary Skills from the active tree at a time:
- One Core Skill and one Core Passive Talent:
- One Iconic Skill and one Iconic Passive Talent.
Core and Iconic Skills
- Core Skills: These are the main abilities the Mercenary uses in combat, defining their primary role, such as tanking or dealing damage.
- Iconic Skills: These are signature abilities that further enhance the Mercenary’s unique playstyle, often with powerful effects or added utility.
Please viist our Mercenary Skills page to learn more about your companion's skills
What is Rapport in Diablo 4
Rapport in Diablo 4 is a progression system that represents the bond between you and your D4 Mercenary. It functions similarly to reputation systems seen in other games, where your relationship with a Mercenary grows over time as you engage in various activities together.
Each Rapport Rank grants new rewards
The more you play alongside your Mercenary, the stronger your connection becomes, unlocking new features, upgrades, and rewards that enhance both their effectiveness and your overall gameplay experience.
Visit our Rapport page for more information
What is Bartering in Diablo 4
Diablo 4 Bartering is a system tied to your relationship with D4 Mercenaries, allowing you to trade goods, gear, and currencies using a special resource called Pale Marks. Pale Marks are earned through increasing Rapport with your Mercenary by completing activities and fighting alongside them. Bartering System is accessed through Fayira, an NPC located in the Mercenary Den.
Fayira in the Mercenary Den
All Diablo 4 Mercenaries
Raheir, from Gea Kul, is a blacksmith who was trained by the Iron Wolves. As his name states, carries a large shield to provide heavy defensive support by blocking enemy attacks.
With his AoE Barrier ability, he is able to lessen incoming attacks toward him and his teammates and increase armor as well as defensive buffs to the team. It is recommended to hire Raheir if the player has a more aggressive playstyle and build as Raheir can provide extra protection.
Varyana is a butcher turned mercenary who was once a former cannibal who left her tribe due to dark forces taking over.
Her strength is her close-range combat, she can increase her strength upon killing enemies with her killstreak mechanic, and a gripping ability that allows Varyana to pull her enemies to her melee range. Another one of her abilities is that she can apply bleeding damage for over 5 seconds upon attacking enemies. Varyana is a well rounded mercenary that is good to hire for more overall damage in the team.
Aldkin is half child, half-demon born part-demonic due to having rituals being done on his mother by the First Khazra in the Citadel.
He is able to shapeshift into different demonic forms that deal fire damage to his enemies and undergo metamorphosis. Aldkin is recommended when you need a mercenary that can cover large AoE.
Subo used to be the one people would look to for help but now avoid him, he is now a mercenary and a bounty hunter for hire.
Subo attacks from the sidelines, he has the ability to release a lot of arrows that cover a large AoE onto larger groups of enemies. He can also mark targets for you to kill, once defeated, you will be granted various benefits. His playstyle works well with a lot of different builds so he is recommended if you want a little more support while still having the excitement of taking enemies head on.
