Mercenary + skills??

[Sedhrw]

Hey, does equipment that add + to all skills enhance the act 2 mercenary aura? For example, if you gave your mercenary an ariocs needle with +4 skills, would his aura (whichever it may be) be 4 skill levels higher?

Thank you.

[saracen85]

yes.
do note that is has to be +all skill levels =)

[Wrongbow]

Yup, it does increase their skills I'm pretty sure.

[Sedhrw]

Thanks guys, answered my question.

[Pigeon Poop]

Not to discount any testimony here, but for those of you who said yes, could you please direct me to where I would find that info? Like Blizzard or Arreats. I have looked and looked to no avail.

Not that I don't want to take your word for it, I would rather see the data on that myself.

Thanks.

[saracen85]

Not to discount any testimony here, but for those of you who said yes, could you please direct me to where I would find that info? Like Blizzard or Arreats. I have looked and looked to no avail.

Not that I don't want to take your word for it, I would rather see the data on that myself.

Thanks.

don't have any links here, but you can test it yourself. get a might merc. see the difference in your character's dmg when your merc's equipped with +skills gear and without. iirc, each +skill level will boost might ed by 10%.

[N V]

also i think if you have an item with +might it helps for a might merc. similar as +lightning will help on a light merc.

[saracen85]

also i think if you have an item with +might it helps for a might merc. similar as +lightning will help on a light merc.

unfortunately, you can't find such item. it's a scepter mod, which mercs can't use.

[N V]

i see. it was just an example though. if you could find an item like that for a merc it should work. im fairly sure it does anyway :)

[Belhemel]

I can only tell you they do work because of play testing. With the new patch items have to have "+to all skills", except for barbarian mercs that have specific +skills items such as bash because bmercs have that skill. Also I believe most merc skills are capped at 18 but as of yet I can't find the source I saw this on.

[kalenjder]

Hirelings can use almost all Magical Bonuses including + Skills Items.
found it at arreat.
http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/basics/hirelings.shtml

[dainbramage]

yes.
do note that is has to be +all skill levels =)

In the case of act 5 mercenaries, +bash and +stun will also increase the respective skill levels. Note that other skills (such as masteries etc) won't apply even though they're barbarian skills. +might and similar, if modded to a spear (as an example) will not help the respective mercenaries (fire/cold arrows for a1, auras for a2, sorc skills for a3).


Mercenary skills are not capped to level 18; however IIRC 18 is the skill level which they will achieve (hired from normal) with no items at level 99, which may be where the thought came from?

[N V]

In the case of act 5 mercenaries, +bash and +stun will also increase the respective skill levels. Note that other skills (such as masteries etc) won't apply even though they're barbarian skills. +might and similar, if modded to a spear (as an example) will not help the respective mercenaries (fire/cold arrows for a1, auras for a2, sorc skills for a3).

so an a3 merc will not benefit from items that increase the skill they use. firebolt, charged bolt, lightning etc? i always thought it did.


Mercenary skills are not capped to level 18; however IIRC 18 is the skill level which they will achieve (hired from normal) with no items at level 99, which may be where the thought came from?

never heard the rumor that merc skills is capped at 18 before. would seem a bit strange, but then again the game is old and have loads of strange things in it :p

[dainbramage]

NV: An oskill will benefit them (as with rogues and a2 mercs), however they are not amazons, paladins or sorceresses respectively and so do not get the bonus from class only skills.


EDIT: Typo

[N V]

ok. so whatever i read saying they would benefit from it is wrong then.

if i understand correctly then mercs will benefit from all skills an oskills as long as the oskill from the item is the same as the merc can use right?

[®@þþ3¬]

+skill to specific "merc skills" also work.

Like + to might for an act2 off nm merc or + to stun for an act5 merc