Tougher hires
Every mercenary has 30% more life and life per level, 25% more defense and defense per level, and +15 to all resistances. Hell Act 2 hires keep their own bigger boost (below).
Auras
Every act's hire now has an aura, shown on the hire screen next to its type. Every mercenary aura gains one level about every 16 mercenary levels. Concentration, Fanaticism are given from Nightmare on.
| Mercenary | Type | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1 Rogue | Fire Arrow | Meditation |
| Act 1 Rogue | Cold Arrow | Fanaticism (from Nightmare) |
| Act 2 Desert Mercenary | Hire that had Holy Freeze | Salvation |
| Act 2 Desert Mercenary | Hire that had Blessed Aim | Concentration (from Nightmare) |
| Act 2 Desert Mercenary | Every other hire | Its usual aura |
| Act 3 Iron Wolf | Fire | Holy Fire |
| Act 3 Iron Wolf | Cold | Holy Freeze |
| Act 3 Iron Wolf | Lightning | Holy Shock |
| Act 5 Barbarian | One-handed | Might |
| Act 5 Barbarian | Two-handed | Concentration (from Nightmare) |
Act 3 spells
Iron Wolves cast the big spell of their element next to their old second spell, at spell level 3 in Normal, 9 in Nightmare and 15 in Hell, growing about one level every 5 mercenary levels. Mercenaries get no synergies or masteries.
| Aura | Big spell |
|---|---|
| Holy Fire | Meteor |
| Holy Freeze | Frozen Orb |
| Holy Shock | Chain Lightning |
Hell hires
Hell Act 2 and Act 5 hires also gain more per level (internal per-level units):
| Hire (Hell) | Change |
|---|---|
| Act 2 Comb | life/level 40 → 60, defense/level 28 → 35, damage/level 8 → 10 |
| Act 2 Def | life/level 40 → 60, defense/level 28 → 35, damage/level 8 → 10 |
| Act 2 Off | life/level 40 → 60, defense/level 28 → 35, damage/level 8 → 10 |
| Act 2 HolyFreeze | life/level 40 → 60, defense/level 28 → 35, damage/level 8 → 10 |
| Act 2 Might | life/level 40 → 60, defense/level 28 → 35, damage/level 8 → 10 |
| Act 2 Thorns | life/level 40 → 60, defense/level 28 → 35, damage/level 8 → 10 |
| Act 5 Barbarian 2hs | life/level 45 → 60, damage/level 8 → 10, Battle Cry chance 15% → 25% |
| Act 5 Barbarian 2hs | life/level 45 → 60, damage/level 8 → 10, Battle Cry chance 15% → 25% |