Mercenary System in Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred
The Vessel of Hatred expansion for Diablo 4 has transformed the gameplay loop with a host of new systems, among which the Mercenary system stands out as a game-changer. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the intricacies of the Mercenary system, offering tips on how to maximize its benefits and make the most of this new feature.
The Mercenary System: What It Is and How to Unlock It
The Mercenary system is introduced through the Vessel of Hatred story campaign. As players progress through the campaign, they unlock the ability to recruit mercenaries—valuable NPCs that can aid you in combat and provide crucial buffs. Once you gain access to this system, you can recruit up to four different mercenaries.
Pro Tip: Hold off on unlocking all the mercenaries before finishing the campaign. There is a quest in the post-storyline called Deeds of a Champion that requires you to gather all mercenaries. If you save at least one unlock until after completing the campaign, you’ll get a hefty experience boost from this quest—a handy trick for leveling up faster.
Combat Benefits of Mercenaries: More Than Just Extra Damage
While mercenaries do bring extra firepower to your side, their true value lies in the unique buffs they provide, especially at higher levels. Each mercenary has specific skills that can amplify your own abilities:
· Rehier can provide damage multipliers, significantly increasing your overall damage output.
· Subo enhances critical damage to core skills after using his abilities, making him a fantastic choice for players focusing on burst damage builds.
These buffs add a strategic layer to your gameplay. Early in the game, mercenaries serve as useful allies, but as you progress, they become crucial for optimizing your build and maximizing damage output.
The Rapport System: Leveling Your Mercenaries
Now, let’s delve into the Rapport system, which essentially serves as a progression path for your mercenaries, similar to experience for players. Here’s how it works:
· Rapport increases as you engage in various activities, with your main mercenary (the one currently following you) gaining Rapport at 100% rate, while the reinforcement mercenary gains it at 50%.
· When you’re playing in a group and only have the reinforcement active, it gains Rapport at 100% in that scenario.
Best Ways to Level Rapport
The best activities for gaining Rapport overlap with those that grant the most experience, making this process fairly straightforward. However, there are some nuances:
· Infernal Hordes: Once you reach Torment 1 difficulty, Infernal Hordes become the top choice for Rapport farming. They also provide a substantial amount of Paragon experience.
· Whispers of the Dead Caches: These are a reliable way to gather compasses needed for Infernal Hordes, making them a key activity to target.
· Helltide Events: If you haven’t yet reached Torment difficulty, focus on Helltide events for steady Rapport gains. Nightmare Dungeons are another solid option but tend to be slightly less efficient than Helltide for Rapport.
Why Focus on Rapport?
Reaching higher Rapport levels with your mercenaries comes with several benefits:
1. Unlocking Skills: The first four Rapport levels for each mercenary unlock their active and passive skills. This allows you to customize the abilities of your main mercenary to align with your build.
o Note that the reinforcement mercenary doesn’t use these abilities—they’ll only employ a base version of the selected skill. Therefore, focusing on the main mercenary’s development can give you a significant edge.
2. Access to the Bartering System: At Rapport level 5, you unlock the Bartering system in the Mercenary Den, bringing a new NPC into the area. This system lets you trade Pale Marks for a variety of gear caches, offering an opportunity to gear up more efficiently.
The Bartering System: How It Works and Why It’s Important
The Bartering system is a new mechanic that enables players to trade Pale Marks—a unique currency— for gear or resource caches. This system serves as a middle ground between The Purveyor of Curiosities and regular town vendors, giving you some control over what you’re acquiring, but still relying on a bit of luck.
How It Works:
· At level 5 Rapport with each mercenary, you gain access to specific caches. For example, Rehier unlocks caches containing defensive legendary Diablo 4 items.
· Each cache you purchase contains a selection of items based on its category, making it a good way to target specific types of equipment or aspects for upgrades.
· Free restocks are available periodically, so it’s worth checking in whenever you’re in town to see if there’s anything new.
Why You Should Pay Attention to Bartering:
· The system can yield high-rolled aspects and even Ancestral items, providing a chance to improve your gear significantly without relying solely on random drops.
· While it’s not necessary to focus exclusively on Bartering for gear, neglecting this system would mean missing out on potentially game-changing upgrades. Think of it as a supplement to your main farming activities, rather than the sole source of your progression.
Gathering Pale Marks: Where and How?
Pale Marks are a crucial currency for Bartering, and there are two primary ways to obtain them:
1. Leveling Mercenaries through Rapport: As you progress through the Rapport system, you’ll earn Pale Marks as a reward. This makes leveling your mercenaries a self-sustaining process, as the marks gained can be directly reinvested into bartering for better gear.
2. Open World Events in Nantu: After unlocking all of your mercenaries, certain world events in Nantu can include mercenaries as part of the encounter. For example, Varana may challenge you to a hunting contest, offering Pale Marks as a reward if you outperform her. These events are relatively rare but can be a fun way to earn extra marks while exploring.
Bartering Strategy: When to Engage and When to Hold Back
While the Bartering system offers exciting potential for upgrades, it’s important to approach it strategically:
· Use your free restocks to check for potential upgrades without spending extra marks.
· Focus on Bartering when you’re looking for specific upgrades that align with your current build, such as defensive aspects or Ancestral items.
· Don’t over-invest in bartering at the expense of other gear acquisition methods, like Nightmare Dungeons or Helltide events.
Balancing your focus between bartering and other activities ensures that you maximize your character’s growth without becoming overly reliant on one system.
Conclusion: Mastering the Mercenary System in Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred
The Vessel of Hatred expansion has brought fresh life to Diablo 4’s endgame, with the Mercenary system providing a new layer of strategic depth. Whether you're leveling up through the Rapport system, optimizing your mercenaries' skills, or acquiring those crucial gear upgrades by trading in Diablo IV Gold, the customization possibilities are vast.
Remember, the key to success lies in making the most of these new mechanics without losing sight of the bigger picture. Balance your activities, engage with the content that aligns with your goals, and keep an eye out for opportunities to enhance your build. With the right approach, the new Mercenary system can elevate your gameplay experience to new heights.
Until next time, adventurers—may your hunts be profitable and your Pale Marks plentiful! Happy grinding in Sanctuary!
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