Mercenaries have finally made their way back to Diablo 4, but they work very differently this time compared to the previous game. With each bespoke companion offering various unique fighting styles and bonuses, players will have to make wise decisions regarding who they bring to the fight.
Unlocking and hiring Mercenaries is fairly straightforward, but the units themselves offer a ton of depth and plenty of potential for combos and buildcrafting in Diablo 4. Here's a quick guide covering the very basics of how Mercenaries and the new Reinforcement systems work.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - All Nahantu Stronghold Locations
There are three Strongholds in Nahantu, and here are where they can be found in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred.
How To Unlock Mercenaries In Diablo 4 Vessel Of Hatred
Players will automatically unlock Mercenaries as they progress through the Vessel of Hatred campaign. Following the scuffle at Gea Kul, you'll eventually land in the jungles of Nahantu. Keep progressing the main quest until you reach the Den in Nahantu, and Mercenaries will then become available to you. This place will become the central hub for all Mercenary-related activities.
At first, you'll only have access to one Mercenary. If you hire them, they'll accompany you as you play. There are four mercenaries in total, three of which players will need to unlock via the following quests:
- Default - Raheir (Shieldbearer)
- Slayer's Retribution - Varyana (Barbarian)
- A Feather on the Scale - Subo (Rogue)
- A Nameless Mystery - Aldkin (Mage)
All quests for these Mercenaries can be started by picking up the marked items inside the Den. To hire a Mercenary in Diablo 4, approach them in the Den, then select the Hire option.
What Is Reinforcement In Diablo 4?
Reinforcement allows Mercenaries to help you without necessarily accompanying you on your journey. If you enlist a Mercernary for Reinforcement, they will perform certain skills along with you as you fight. You can configure what Reinforcements you receive by speaking to your unlocked Mercenaries and selecting the Enlist Reinforcement option.
In the Reinforcement menu, you can select what skill a Mercenary uses, and what Opportunity they will use them in. Opportunities refer to your own skills — for example, you can bind Varyana's Shockwave to your Rogue's Twisting Blades, so when you cast that skill, Varyana will join in and do her own attack with you.
You can hire a Mercenary and enlist a different one as your Reinforcement. However, one Mercenary cannot be hired and enlisted as Reinforcement at the same time.
Diablo 4: Hardest Classes To Master, Ranked
These classes in Diablo 4 can be incredibly tough to master, even for experienced players.
Mercenary Skills
Hired Mercenaries will fight with you as you would expect from NPC companions, while Mercenaries enlisted as Reinforcements will only help when you activate specific abilities. Either way, they will use skills of their own — you can choose what skills they use by speaking with them at the Den, or opening the Mercenaries tab.
Each Mercenary also has a number of passive skills that either apply to you or themselves. These only work when you hire them.
What Is Rapport In Diablo 4?
Rapport works the same as EXP, but for Mercenaries. You'll earn more Rapport with your companions (hired or enlisted) as you gain EXP for yourself. As you build Rapport, you'll unlock Mercenary skill points, loot caches, and Pale Marks, a type of currency used for bartering with Mercenaries who are at least Rapport level 5.
If you have a hired and enlisted Mercenary at the same time, the Reinforcement Mercenary will receive only half the Rapport as compared to the usual rate. In times when your main hired Mercenary isn't able to accompany you (such as when playing Diablo 4 with friends), your Reinforcement Mercenary will receive 100% Rapport.
Bartering
The Pale Marks you earn from building Rapport can be used to purchase Legendary gear from Fayira at the Den. This currency is shared between all characters in your account. All gear sold by Fayira will be at your current level, and starting at Torment I, the item level of her gear will be at least 750.
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
