Introduction to PoE Mercenaries in Secrets of the Atlas
Path of Exile 3.26 introduces a new feature in the Secrets of the Atlas expansion: mercenaries. This companion system adds depth to gameplay by allowing players to hire AI-controlled allies to assist with combat. These mercenaries can teleport to you, use advanced skills, and even help take down major bosses like Malachai.
In this guide, we’ll explore how PoE mercenaries function, how to gear and manage them, and whether they’re strong enough to solo endgame encounters. If you’re interested in mastering the Path of Exile mercenary system, this breakdown will cover every detail from hiring costs to combat tactics.
How to Find and Hire Mercenaries in Path of Exile 3.26
In Path of Exile 3.26, mercenaries appear randomly during your progression through maps. When you encounter one, you have three options:
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Hire them using gold
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Take their gear or items
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Banish them if they’re not worth your resources
Each mercenary comes with unique gear, a personal stash of currency (called a rucksack), and a specific skill set based on their class archetype. Before choosing, players can inspect their stats and gear to decide if the investment is worthwhile.
Hiring costs gold, and if you leave the area or die during the hiring duel, you lose that gold. Once hired, the mercenary becomes a combat ally, teleporting to your side when separated and engaging enemies directly.
Gearing Your Mercenaries for Battle
Mercenaries follow strict level and attribute rules when it comes to gear:
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Level Requirements: They can equip items within 70% of their level. For example, a level 10 merc can wear level 14 gear.
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Attribute Types: They must match item requirements (e.g., a Strength merc can’t equip Dexterity-only gear).
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Jewelry Flexibility: Rings, belts, and amulets don’t have attribute limits—only level limits—making them versatile gear options.
Good gearing makes a big difference. Just like player characters, mercs benefit from resistances, life bonuses, and flat damage. They scale off invisible passives, so something as simple as +50 life can result in hundreds of bonus HP for them.
Mercenary Skills and Roles in Combat
Each mercenary in Secrets of the Atlas comes with a unique mix of skills tied to their archetype and level. These can include:
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Auras like Smite that buff your damage
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Utility Skills such as Skitterbots for chilling and shocking enemies
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V-skills like Enduring Cry or Decoy Totem to tank or draw aggro
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Exclusive Skills not available to players
You cannot manually change a mercenary’s skill set, but you can find better versions of the same archetype with improved loadouts. Mercenaries act as allies (not party members or minions), which affects which gear stats and effects apply to them. For example, an item that buffs “allies” will affect them, but one that only works on party members will not.
Combat Behavior and AI Improvements
GGG made key improvements to mercenary AI after early feedback. They now teleport more aggressively when left behind, ensuring they keep up during fast-paced gameplay.
Mercs are proactive in combat and handle enemies efficiently. Spellcasters, in particular, are effective early on due to lower gear dependency. Physical builds scale better with upgraded equipment and supports as you level up.
Some mercs even rival player damage. In one playtest, a well-built Templar mercenary successfully soloed Malachai, a major boss in Act 4. With strong auras, defensive skills, and buffs, the mercenary held its own without dying—showing their potential as viable allies in serious fights.
Managing Mercenaries and Gear from Your Hideout
You can store up to three mercenaries in your hideout or town, but only one can accompany you into zones at a time. When hiring a new one, you’ll be prompted to replace an existing merc. If the outgoing merc has gear equipped, the system warns you so you can remove it before confirming.
Initially, gear changes were limited to towns only, but GGG updated the system so that you can now equip or swap gear in any zone. This quality-of-life improvement means you don’t have to portal out every time you want to upgrade a merc’s loadout during leveling.
If a mercenary dies, you can revive them for a small gold fee. However, they won’t return to the current zone—so you’ll have to proceed without them until the next area. This design discourages excessive portaling and encourages better preparation and gear investment.
Best Gear Choices for PoE Mercenaries
Mercenaries are not minions or party members—they are allies. This distinction affects what gear benefits them:
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Ally-based Effects Work: Items like Shaper’s Seed grant life and mana regen to both you and your merc.
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Minion or Party Bonuses Do Not: Mods like “+Life for Minions” or charges shared via party skills won't work.
Here are a few standout items for merc builds:
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Perquil’s Toe: Adds lucky damage with minimal downside.
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Leer Cast: Classic pick for boosting damage (a popular Animate Guardian item).
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Crown of the Tyrant: Enhances elemental damage and lowers nearby enemy resists.
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Doryani’s Prototype: Potentially viable if paired with armor-heavy mercs to offset negative resistances.
You can also experiment with corrupted items or influence mods to add unique effects. Many old, unused uniques gain fresh value in the context of merc gearing.
Gameplay Strategies: Using Mercenaries Effectively
During early leveling, mercenaries offer both damage and utility. Spellcasters with skills like Smite or Skitterbots provide offensive pressure and crowd control. Melee-focused mercs, especially those with tank tools like Enduring Cry or Decoy Totem, are excellent at drawing enemy attention away from you.
In mid to late game, mercs become especially useful for support roles. For example:
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Use a Templar-type merc with auras and warcries to boost your DPS.
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Equip regen-based mercs with life gear for near-immortality in sustained fights.
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Assign high-resist mercs to tank dangerous bosses or decoy heavy mobs.
Mercenary skill variety includes player-accessible and exclusive abilities. You might find one with Dominating Blow that spawns minions to fight for you—ideal for wide-area clearing.
Look for specific archetypes as you level. For instance, if you find a merc with high synergy but weak skills, it might be worth replacing them later with a higher-level version with better supports and gear potential.
Can a Mercenary Solo Malachai?
Yes—under the right setup, a mercenary can solo Malachai in Path of Exile 3.26. In a live test during early access, a geared Templar mercenary successfully took down Malachai without dying.
Key reasons for success:
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Strong support skills like Smite and auras
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Tank stats from high-HP gear and regeneration
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Reliable AI behavior, sticking to targets and handling adds efficiently
This demonstrates the strength of mercs when built and geared correctly. While not every merc will solo a boss, many can support or supplement your build to make encounters far easier.
Conclusion: Should You Use Mercenaries in PoE 3.26?
Mercenaries in Path of Exile 3.26: Secrets of the Atlas offer a strategic and customizable addition to your gameplay. Whether you want an extra source of DPS, a reliable tank, or a utility bot with auras and crowd control, there's a mercenary that fits the role.
Their gear directly influences their survivability and effectiveness, making smart itemization essential. As you level, you'll naturally encounter stronger options. With the flexibility to manage gear on the fly and affordable hire and revival costs, the mercenary system is both impactful and user-friendly.
If you're exploring the new content this league, hiring the right merc could make your journey smoother and more fun—maybe even strong enough to take on bosses solo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I hire mercenaries in PoE?
A: Mercenaries appear randomly. Duel and defeat them to choose whether to hire, steal their gear, or banish them.
Q: Can mercenaries solo bosses like Malachai?
A: Yes, with good gear and the right skills, mercenaries can solo bosses—even Malachai.
Q: What kind of gear can mercenaries equip?
A: They follow level and attribute rules. Jewelry is the easiest to share across builds, while armor and weapons depend on their class.
Q: Do mercenaries use auras and skills?
A: Yes. They have player-style auras, utility skills, and even unique abilities not available to players.
Q: Can I change their skills?
A: No, but you can find better versions of the same archetype with upgraded skill loadouts.
Q: How many mercenaries can I have?
A: You can store three and take one into zones. Replacing one is easy but unequipped gear will be lost if not removed.
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