Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - Understanding Mercenaries and Reinforcements

The much-anticipated return of Mercenaries to Diablo 4 has brought a fresh twist to gameplay, with significant changes from their previous appearances. Unlike before, these companions now come with unique fighting styles and bonuses, requiring players to carefully strategize when choosing their battle partners.

While the process of unlocking and hiring Mercenaries is straightforward, the true complexity lies in how to utilize them effectively. The new systems offer ample opportunities for creative builds and powerful combos. Let’s dive into a quick guide on unlocking Mercenaries and understanding the new Reinforcement mechanics in Diablo 4.

How to Unlock Mercenaries in Diablo 4's Vessel of Hatred

Unlocking Mercenaries in Diablo 4 is a natural part of progressing through the Vessel of Hatred campaign. Once you complete the encounter in Gea Kul, your journey will lead you into the dense jungles of Nahantu. Continue following the main storyline until you reach the Den in Nahantu, where Mercenaries will officially become available. This location serves as the main hub for all Mercenary-related interactions.

Initially, you’ll have access to just one Mercenary who can join you in your adventures. However, three more Mercenaries can be unlocked by completing specific quests:

- Default Mercenary: Raheir (Shieldbearer)

- Slayer's Retribution: Varyana (Barbarian)

- A Feather on the Scale: Subo (Rogue)

- A Nameless Mystery: Aldkin (Mage)

You can begin these quests by collecting the marked items found within the Den. Once you're ready to hire a Mercenary, simply approach them in the Den and select the "Hire" option.

Understanding the Reinforcement System in Diablo 4

The Reinforcement feature allows you to gain Mercenary support even when they aren’t physically by your side. Through this system, Mercenaries can assist in battles by executing specific skills that complement your own. To set up Reinforcement, speak to your unlocked Mercenaries in the Den and choose the "Enlist Reinforcement" option.

The Reinforcement menu enables you to assign a particular skill to your Mercenary and link it to one of your abilities, known as "Opportunities." For example, you might pair Varyana’s Shockwave attack with your Rogue's Twisting Blades, ensuring that when you activate the skill, Varyana joins in with her own powerful move.

You can hire one Mercenary to fight alongside you while enlisting another as Reinforcement, but note that the same Mercenary cannot fill both roles simultaneously.

Skills and Abilities of Mercenaries

Mercenaries hired to fight will engage in battle as typical NPC companions, whereas those enlisted as Reinforcements will only act when triggered by your specific skills. In both cases, they bring their own set of abilities to the fight, which you can customize by speaking to them in the Den or by accessing the Mercenaries tab.

Each Mercenary also has passive skills that either boost your character’s abilities or enhance their own performance. These passives are only active when you have the Mercenary hired.

Rapport: Building Bonds with Mercenaries

Rapport in Diablo 4 functions like experience points (EXP) but is exclusive to Mercenaries. As you level up your character and gain EXP, your Mercenaries (both hired and enlisted) will gain Rapport, which unlocks skill points, loot caches, and a special currency called Pale Marks. You can use Pale Marks to barter with Mercenaries who have reached Rapport level 5 or higher.

If you have both a hired and an enlisted Mercenary, the Reinforcement Mercenary will earn only half the Rapport compared to the main hired companion. However, if your main Mercenary is unavailable, like when playing co-op with friends, your Reinforcement Mercenary will earn full Rapport.

Bartering with Pale Marks

Pale Marks, earned through building Rapport, can be spent at the Den with Fayira to purchase powerful Legendary gear. This currency is account-wide, so all your characters can use it. Fayira’s gear scales to your character’s level, and from Torment I onward, her items will have a minimum item level of 750.

Strategic Depth Awaits

The addition of Mercenaries and Reinforcements in Diablo 4 brings a new level of strategy and customization to the game. By carefully selecting which Mercenaries to hire or enlist and making the most of their unique abilities, players can create highly effective builds that adapt to different challenges. Whether you're aiming for maximum damage or strategic support, the Mercenary system offers endless possibilities for creative gameplay.