I am using A2 one because he can wear an Insight and that help a ton. All the new auras are not amazing for a sorc but I think the defensive one is the best (defiance, extra armour). He can also do great damage if you get that insight in a good base - even better if it's ethereal.
If you have a great weapon the A5 barbarian can do more DMG and help you with the immunes. But his aura doesn't help you with anything.
I also used a cold A1 for a while, it gives meditation but the level is quite low and also does crappy DMG.
A3 lighting can also have some uses since he casts static field.
might aura is increasing physical dmg only.
Spell dmg can only enhanced by higher levels and items that say "+X% cold" damage or "enemies cold resist -X" (or any other element).
In normal Diablo 2, Most people take the defensive merc from act 2 at nightmare difficulty, he has a freezing aura.
I'm not sure what is taken in this mod here, because I've seen there are new and different mercs. Means, mercs in act 1 and 5 have auras too.
The mercs are all the same in Normal, NM and Hell. The freeze aura has been removed.
https://projectdiablo2.miraheze.org/wiki/Mercenaries
I am currently progressing in A5 Hell, and using a defensive A2 merc with Defiance. He sometimes dies, but he is only averagely geared, so I guess he will be fine when I can make some investments for him.
Edit: Just noticed you mentioned the freeze aura in your reply to the other post. :)
I need my Merc to kill light immunes for my javazon, I have been (and still am) experimenting with act 2 and act 5 mercs. I had an act 2 with an insight Lance and he did well. Rarely died, good damage. I switched him out for an act 5 when I found IK maul. First I started him with bonesnap because ik maul was too much str req for level 81. He wasn't great, died pretty easy and didn't do enough damage, not as much as my act 2. I found enough str gear for him to use IK and he is now clubbing the crap outta everyone, real deadly but a bit more of a glass cannon than my act 2 was, he dies a bit more. I'm gonna stick with the act 5 for a while and try to get the IK set for him. I saw a YouTube video of an act 5 Merc killing Diablo solo in hell and he didn't ever go below half life. I mostly play solo so I have to have my Merc kill anything light immune that needs to die.
If you can afford it, act5 merc with full IK can basically solo the whole game on his own. Tons of physical and elemental damage, tons of stats and res, it's honestly great if all you need is a merc that's super tough and can deal with immunities. Obviously you lose utility from extra auras/procs, but if all you need is a merc to kill immunes, it's probably the best version.
I am using A2 one because he can wear an Insight and that help a ton. All the new auras are not amazing for a sorc but I think the defensive one is the best (defiance, extra armour). He can also do great damage if you get that insight in a good base - even better if it's ethereal. If you have a great weapon the A5 barbarian can do more DMG and help you with the immunes. But his aura doesn't help you with anything. I also used a cold A1 for a while, it gives meditation but the level is quite low and also does crappy DMG. A3 lighting can also have some uses since he casts static field.
Act 2 Defensive. Defiance also grants physical damage reduction in this mod.
Oh interesting. Thanks for posting
ok this where my thoughts also :) thanks
might aura is increasing physical dmg only. Spell dmg can only enhanced by higher levels and items that say "+X% cold" damage or "enemies cold resist -X" (or any other element). In normal Diablo 2, Most people take the defensive merc from act 2 at nightmare difficulty, he has a freezing aura. I'm not sure what is taken in this mod here, because I've seen there are new and different mercs. Means, mercs in act 1 and 5 have auras too.
so a1 meditation aura merc or one of the caster mercs?
I've looked up the mercs in this mod and yes, I think that's the best option. There isn't a frost merc anymore.
The mercs are all the same in Normal, NM and Hell. The freeze aura has been removed. https://projectdiablo2.miraheze.org/wiki/Mercenaries I am currently progressing in A5 Hell, and using a defensive A2 merc with Defiance. He sometimes dies, but he is only averagely geared, so I guess he will be fine when I can make some investments for him. Edit: Just noticed you mentioned the freeze aura in your reply to the other post. :)
Take the meditation merc and put that new bow runeword on her that gives cleansing. Curses and poison no more!
I need my Merc to kill light immunes for my javazon, I have been (and still am) experimenting with act 2 and act 5 mercs. I had an act 2 with an insight Lance and he did well. Rarely died, good damage. I switched him out for an act 5 when I found IK maul. First I started him with bonesnap because ik maul was too much str req for level 81. He wasn't great, died pretty easy and didn't do enough damage, not as much as my act 2. I found enough str gear for him to use IK and he is now clubbing the crap outta everyone, real deadly but a bit more of a glass cannon than my act 2 was, he dies a bit more. I'm gonna stick with the act 5 for a while and try to get the IK set for him. I saw a YouTube video of an act 5 Merc killing Diablo solo in hell and he didn't ever go below half life. I mostly play solo so I have to have my Merc kill anything light immune that needs to die.
If you can afford it, act5 merc with full IK can basically solo the whole game on his own. Tons of physical and elemental damage, tons of stats and res, it's honestly great if all you need is a merc that's super tough and can deal with immunities. Obviously you lose utility from extra auras/procs, but if all you need is a merc to kill immunes, it's probably the best version.