Search

Mercenary Leveling Guide for POE 3.26 – How to Power Through Acts with Mercs

POE in-game UI of Mercenary Gear and options for the Challenge League mercenaries of trarthus

Path of Exile 3.26 Mercenaries of Trarthus – Ultimate Leveling Guide

Introduction: Why Mercenaries Matter While Leveling

Leveling in Path of Exile 3.26 has taken a fresh turn with the introduction of the Mercenaries of Trarthus system, one of the core features of the Secrets of the Atlas expansion. This comprehensive Mercenary leveling guide is designed to help new and returning players understand how to efficiently level through the campaign using the new Mercenary mechanics. Whether you’re aiming to optimize Renown gain, unlock Infamous Mercenaries, or find the best Mercenary support setup for your build, this guide provides everything you need to know.

We’ll cover act-by-act leveling strategies, early gear recommendations like Vixen’s Entrapment and Shaper’s Seed, Merc synergy with meta builds like Boneshatter Berserker and Righteous Fire Chieftain, and tips on how to farm Trarthus Gems and loot unique rewards. If you’re coming from Path of Exile 2 early access, this system will feel familiar and rewarding — especially if you’ve been asking for more depth in POE 1 content.

How Mercenaries Work During Leveling

  • Mercenary NPCs begin appearing in early zones like The Coast, Mud Flats, and Riverways 

  • Interaction starts with a duel, after which you can choose Hire, Take Item, or Exile

  • Hired Mercenaries remain with you across zones and can be revived in town for a small gold fee.

  • Their viable roles include DPS, tank, or support, depending on gear and build compatibility.

Renown Strategy for the Campaign

Mercenaries bring with them a Renown system, which behaves like a sortie counter:

  • Win: +1 Renown (max 3); Lose or exit fight: –1

  • High Renown increases chances of encountering Infamous Mercenaries—the only source for higher-tier loot and unique items.

  • Reddit feedback confirms Renown discourages gear scouting without dueling:

    “Renown obviously discourages … checking all the gear of mercenaries without actually doing the content”

     

Best Drops from Infamous Mercenaries

Infamous Mercenaries—unlocked through maintaining Renown Rank 3—are the only source of three key reward types that can dramatically impact your early game:

1. Unique Items

  • Lochtonial Caress (Iron Gauntlets)

    • Dropped early in Act 2 by Ruhato, the Keitan Chainbreaker, offering:

      • +20% attack and cast speed

      • +2 to power, frenzy, and endurance charges on kill
        This item’s early availability gives melee builds a significant boost long before maps.

2. Infamous Modifiers on Rare Gear

  • Infamous Mercs are the only source of rare items with special “Infamous” affixes—enhancements unavailable elsewhere .

  • Example modifiers include increased item quantity, +1 socket, or rare +skill-tree passive effects.

3. Trarthus Gems & Currency Pouch

  • Some Infamous Mercs drop Trarthus-exclusive skill gems or gilded support gems, adding new utility to your builds 

  • They also carry an upgraded currency pouch with Divine Orbs, Scarabs, and mid-tier currency .

Why These Drops Matter

  1. Ace Your Early Power Curve

    • Uniques like Lochtonial Caress provide tangible performance gains in Act 2–4, well before maps.

  2. Unlock Endgame Crafting Tools

    • Infamous modifiers on rare gear give early access to powerful crafting bases.

  3. Discover New Build Options

    • Trarthus gems spark build creativity—Reddit users are already theorizing builds like “Bladefall of Trarthus” with Merc synergy

How to Farm These Drops

  • Trigger Renown 3: Win duels early, don’t skip or back out—Renown Rank 3 is required to reliably spawn Infamous Mercs

  • Target Merc archetypes relevant to your build (e.g., melee for weapon uniques, caster for Trarthus gems).

  • Duel instead of skip—always duel when an Infamous Merc appears. They can defeat tougher than average mobs and drop at least one unique item each

  • Use Take Item strategically—if the Merc’s skillset isn’t ideal, you can still extract the best item or gem and exile them.

Act-by-Act Leveling + Mercenary Tips

Act 1

Mercs first appear early—duel basic melee types for early skill gem drops or starter gear.

Act 2

If you don’t skip duel, you will encounter your first Infamous Merc by this time. Infamous Merc will always carray an unique items, make sure to evaluate the gear carefully before picking the option. Sometime taking these unique can provide a power boosts to your leveling progression.

Infamous Mercs like Ruhato, the Keitan Chainbreaker may show unique drops like Lochtonial Caress . If the gear isn’t a good fit, use Take Item to grab the unique and continue with your own gear loadout.

Act 3–4

Aim to hit Renown Rank 3—this unlocks consistent legendary Merc spawns in upcoming acts

Act 5–10

Hire and gear Mercs to match your build—use tanks for bosses, DPS Mercs for mapping, and support Mercs for aura coverage as you shift toward endgame.

Best Mercenary Types for Leveling

Type Strength Use Case
DPS Merc AoE attacks (e.g., Frost Blades) Fast zone clears early on
Aura Merc Provides Grace, Wrath, Discipline Raises survivability mid-game
Tank Merc Taunt, high armor, block Helps in boss fights, Labyrinth
Gem Dropper Holder of Trarthus gems Ideal for builds lacking support

Community Loot Highlights

  • Mercenary drops include Divine Orbs, Scarabs, and unique items like Lochtonial Caress, even in early Acts.

  • Screenshot proof confirms early Act 2 loot source, marking mercs as both powerful and profitable.

Build Synergy While Leveling – Maximize Mercenary Support

Integrating Mercenaries of Trarthus into your leveling build can significantly enhance your efficiency, survivability, and early mapping speed. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to pair your chosen league starter with the right mercenary companions during Acts 1–10:

Righteous Fire Chieftain

  • Best Merc Setup: Aura-support Mercs—preferably those providing Vitality, Grace, or Purity.

  • Why It Works:

    • Righteous Fire relies heavily on baseline survivability from life regen and resistances.

    • Mercy auras improve clear efficiency and negate the need for expensive aura nodes early in the tree.

  • Leveling Strategy:

    • Act 1–2: Duel aura mercs and Take Item to snag early support Trarthus gems.

    • Later Acts: Hire aura merc to stack mana regen or Life-On-Block via their gear.

Lightning Arrow / Elemental Hit Deadeye

  • Best Merc Setup: Curse-Aura Hybrid Mercs, such as:

    • Mark on Hit builds (e.g., Sniper’s Mark), or

    • Frenzy Charge-generating DPS Mercs.

  • Why It Works:

    • Extra projectiles are great for clear, but curses like Elemental Weakness or Conductivity double the DPS.

    • Frenzy-charged mercs clean up packs and boost both your and merc’s clear speed.

  • Leveling Strategy:

    • Act 2–3: Maintain Renown 3 and duel for Frenzy/Mirror Arrow mercs.

    • Transition to aura curse mercs by Act 4–5 for boss focus and mapping.

Boneshatter / Explosive Concoction

  • Best Merc Setup: Tank Mercs focused on crowd control or taunt (e.g., Leap Slam or Shield Charge).

  • Why It Works:

    • These builds want to stay aggressive in close combat: tank mercs keep bosses and tough mobs off your back.

    • Their taunt and endurance charge mechanics synergize well with Berserker’s sustain loops.

  • Leveling Strategy:

    • Early Acts: Use merc with high block or Steelskin to debuff incoming boss hits.

    • Mid Acts: Rotate to DPS mercs with freeze or stun skills for adds-heavy maps.

Some uniques for Tank Merces 

 

Snaking Volcanic Fissure Berserker

  • Best Merc Setup: Area-DPS Mercs, especially those using Ground Slam or Cleave.

  • Why It Works:

    • Your fissures clear lines—double that with Merc-AoE support and speed potions.

    • Studio synergy between your fissures and mercenary AoE maximizes burst damage on grouped enemies.

  • Leveling Strategy:

    • Acts 1–3: Take AoE-oriented mercs to match ground control needed in early open maps.

    • Later Acts: Add Utility Gems (e.g., Expose aura) by taking Trarthus gem loot to further amplify fissure damage.

Summoner or Minion Builds

  • Best Merc Setup: DPS Mercs compatible with minion setups, ideally using Spectres or Abyssal Cry.

  • Why It Works:

    • While your minions absorb attention, mercs provide critical targeted DPS.

    • DPS merc ships off screen provide pressure against elite monsters immune to minion damage.

  • Leveling Strategy:

    • Early Acts: Duel mercs with Trove skill sets (e.g., Explosive Arrow).

    • Transition after Act 4: Use Take Item for weapon upgrades (e.g., Bow with +Physical Support).

Additional Synergy Considerations

  • Shared Elemental Damage: If your build scales elemental types (e.g., Ignite, Shock), pair mercs using similar damage splits.

  • Mana-Sustaining Mercs: For mana-heavy builds like Freezing Pulse or Totems, pick Mercs with high Mana Reserve and regen.

  • Unique Gear Interactions:

    • Sporeguard mercs drop fungal explosion effects—combine with your DoT build

    • Gravebind proc mercs drastically improve currency returns

  • Rotational Hire Strategy:

    • Use a bank of 2–3 mercs: Tank, DPS, Utility.

    • Switch gear loadouts by zone based on upcoming challenges (e.g., bosses vs Legion).

Quick Pairing Table

Build Type Merc Role Why It Syncs
RF Chieftain Aura-support Sustains regen and resistances
Lightning Arrow / Elemental Hit Curse-DPS Boosts clear and bosses
Boneshatter / Berserker Tank Absorbs boss aggro
Snaking Fissure Berserker Area-DPS Doubles ground slam burst
Summoner / Minion Builds DPS Support Covers bosses and minion gaps

Summary

Pairing your league starter build with a complementary Mercenary role during leveling not only improves clear speed but builds a resilient, dynamic gameplay experience. Duel smart, hire strategically, and continue refining your merc loadout to wipe through Wraeclast with confidence.

POE 3.26 Merc Gearing Guide 

Recommended Unique Gloves for Mercenaries

These gloves stand out as excellent gear for Mercenaries due to their powerful, Merc-specific synergies:

Asenath’s Gentle Touch (Silk Gloves)

POE In-game description and art for unique glove Asenath's Gentel Touch Silk Gloves

  • Stats:

    • Grants Temporal Chains on hit, +60–80 to Life and Mana, and applies blind and corpse explosion effects

  • Merc Type: Perfect for support/tank roles—especially Strength/Melee Mercs.

  • How It Helps:

    • Temporal Chains slow enemies, making Mercs much safer.

    • On-corpse explosions + blind act as off-GCD crowd control – provide general clear speed for campaign (And even maps with the proper skills and setup)

  • Build Synergy:

    • Ideal for Mercs using AoE melee like Leap Slam, or bosses requiring survivability in tight packs.

Gravebind (Hydrascale Gauntlets)

  • Stats:

    • Nearby kills count for you; +life-on-kill; high armor and evasion

  • Merc Type: Fantastic for magic-find (MF) Mercs.

  • How It Helps:

    • Merc kills reward you—great for MF-focused play.

    • Life-on-kill ensures stable sustain during mapping.

  • Build Synergy:

    • Pair with Mercs using AoE+on-kill effects (e.g., Anathema, Berek’s Respite).

However, to properly utilize this unique glove, your Mercenary should have good defense as well as MF gear to got the most out of it.

Algor Mortis (Carnal Mitts)

  • Stats:

    • +ES, elemental resistances, chance to Sap enemies in chilling areas, and +% effects

  • Merc Type: Great for cold/lightning-dealing caster Mercs or Cold-support Mercs.

  • How It Helps:

    • Saps and increases lightning damage taken by chilled enemies—synergy with Merc-cast chilling skills (e.g., Frostbolt).

    • Boosts non-damaging ailment effects—excellent for curse or chill Merc builds.

  • Caveat: Sap on chilling ground may not trigger as intended 

  • Build Synergy:

    • Useful in Merc builds using brand or vortex for chill zones.

Vixen’s Entrapment (Embroidered Gloves)

  • Stats:

  • Merc Type: Ideal for curse-heavy caster Mercs.

  • How It Helps:

    • Automatically chains curses—great for Mercs with curse gem sockets (e.g., Temporal Chains, Elemental Weakness).

    • ES leech sustains them during mapping.

  • Build Synergy:

    • Mercs that use multiple curses (e.g., dual Hex or Bane+Assassin’s Mark) greatly benefit.

  • Where to Mention: In Utility/Support Merc setups—perfect for curse-centric strategies.

 Summary Table

Unique Glove Best Merc Role Synergy Highlights
Asenath’s Gentle Touch Support / Tank Temporal Chains, blind, corpse explosions → control + survivability
Gravebind MF-focused Merc Converts Merc kills into player loot; sustain via life-on-kill
Algor Mortis Cold/Lightning Caster Saps chilled enemies; enhances ailment effectiveness
Vixen’s Entrapment Curse Caster / Support Auto-triggers multiple curses, ES leech for sustained curse uptime

Best Unique Rings for Mercenaries – Leveling to Early Mapping

These rings offer tactical utility, quality-of-life boosts, or offensive support to complement various Mercenary roles—from DPS to aura bots and curse specialists.

Call of the Void (Sapphire Ring)

  • Stats:

    • All hits chill, enemies chilled take reduced damage and can be shattered as if frozen .

  • Merc Type: Ideal for cold-damage Mercs or defensive aura Mercs.

  • How It Helps:

    • Enables chill on any hit, increasing survivability by reducing enemy DPS.

    • Adds crowd-control potential—Mercs can shatter mobs even with minor chill.

  • Build Synergy:

    • Works extremely well with Frost Blades, Frigid Forkshot, or Ice Shot Mercs.

    • Pairs perfectly with gloves like Algor Mortis that benefit from chilling areas.

  • Placement Suggestion: Use in Cold-DPS or Cold-Aura Merc Loadouts.

Mark of Submission (Unset Ring)

  • Stats:

    • Socketed hex curse auto-applied on hit.

  • Merc Type: Excellent for curse-focused caster Mercs.

  • How It Helps:

    • Grants a reliable “auto-curse” effect to Mercs who would otherwise rely on cooldown-based curses.

  • Build Synergy:

    • Great for builds using Elemental Weakness, Frostbite, or Temporal Chains to debuff enemies.

    • Combined with Vixen’s Entrapment, it triggers multiple curses instantly.

  • Placement Suggestion: Equip Mercs you want to auto-curse on mapping routes.

Gifts from Above (Diamond Ring)

  • Stats:

    • Grants crit chance, Consecrate on crit, increased rarity and damage on Consecrated Ground.

  • Merc Type: Strong for crit-based DPS Mercs, especially bow or slam builds.

  • How It Helps:

    • Provides survivability (via Consecrated Ground), bonus loot rarity, and extra DPS.

    • Acts as a budget MF tool for Mercs who can reliably crit (e.g., Frigid Forkshot Mercs).

  • Build Synergy:

    • Works best when Merc uses high-crit scaling weapons or skills (Mirror Arrow, Ice Shot).

  • Placement Suggestion: Great in MF Merc builds or high-crit zone runners.

Grattus Signet (Diamond Ring)

  • Stats:

    • Grants Unnerve and Intimidate on crit, +ES, +life, and attack/cast speed.

  • Merc Type: Best for DPS caster Mercs or hybrid attackers.

  • How It Helps:

    • Unnerve increases spell damage taken by enemies.

    • Intimidate increases attack damage taken.

    • Stacks multiplicatively with Merc skill hits.

  • Build Synergy:

    • Ideal for Mercs using hybrid skills like Frost Blades + Elemental Hit or Shock Nova.

    • Applies major debuffs to bosses and rare packs.

  • Placement Suggestion: Use on boss-focused Mercs to debuff targets for the player’s burst.

Summary Table

Unique Ring Best Merc Role Synergy Use Case
Call of the Void Cold DPS / Aura Adds chill/shatter + defensive layering
Mark of Submission Curse Support Auto-casting single socketed Hex
Gifts from Above Crit DPS / MF Merc Consecrate buffs + rarity boost
Grattus Signet Caster DPS or Hybrid Merc Inflicts Unnerve/Intimidate for burst damage

 Integration Tip

These rings are especially useful when Mercs:

  • Lack debuff coverage (Unnerve/Intimidate)

  • Need sustain buffs (via Consecrate)

  • Provide utility that complements your main build (auto-curses, chill aura)

Best Unique Amulets for Mercenaries (Early-Game Friendly)

These amulets offer strong utility or party-wide bonuses, perfect for early-to-mid-game Merc setups without requiring high investment or endgame farming.

Perquil’s Toe (Gold Amulet)

  • Level Requirement: 29

  • Key Stats:

    • +Rarity, +Dexterity, +Movement Speed

    • Nearby allies’ hit damage is Lucky

  • Merc Type: Excellent for DPS Mercs

  • Why It Works:

    • The “Lucky” modifier means Mercs roll hit damage twice—functionally increasing average DPS.

    • Movement speed and Dexterity help Merc AI with pathing and skill use.

  • Synergy:

    • Works with Mercs using projectile skills like Frost Blades, Forkshot, or Leap Slam.

  • Drop Note: Commonly found around Act 3–4 or from Infamous Merc duels.

Shaper’s Seed (Agate Amulet)

  • Level Requirement: 16

  • Key Stats:

    • Regen: +4% Life/sec & +80% Mana regen rate to nearby allies

  • Merc Type: Perfect for Aura Support Mercs or Curse Casters

  • Why It Works:

    • Helps squishier Mercs sustain high-cost aura/reserve skills.

    • One of the best low-level sustain items for spell-based Mercs.

  • Synergy:

    • Use for Mercs running Wrath, Vitality, or Clarity.

  • Drop Note: One of the most common Act 2–3 drops or early Merc rewards.

Yoke of Suffering (Onyx Amulet)

  • Level Requirement: 70

  • Key Stats:

    • Enemies take increased damage per ailment (ignite, chill, shock, etc.)

    • Converts all elemental ailments to shock

  • Merc Type: Ideal for Elemental Debuff Mercs

  • Why It Works:

    • Even non-lightning Mercs (cold or fire builds) now apply shock.

    • Shock causes enemies to take more damage from all sources—including you.

  • Synergy:

    • Best for spell Mercs using Cold Snap, Firestorm, or Lightning Tendrils.

  • Drop Note: Less common in early acts, but can drop from Infamous Mercs with caster setups by mid-Act 6+.

Xoph’s Heart (Amber Amulet)

  • Level Requirement: 5

  • Key Stats:

    • +Strength, Fire Damage, Enemies covered in Ash

  • Merc Type: Best for Fire Mercs / Melee DPS

  • Why It Works:

    • “Covered in Ash” slows enemies and increases fire damage taken.

    • Great with Mercs using Molten Strike, Fire Leap Slam, or Molten Shell.

  • Synergy:

    • Also useful when your build uses Fire Damage—dual synergy.

  • Drop Note: Very rare in early game unless from special Mercs or early Div Card sets.

The Ignomon (Gold Amulet)

  • Level Requirement: 8

  • Key Stats:

    • Adds Fire Damage, +Accuracy, Evasion, and Nearby enemies are blinded

  • Merc Type: Great for Tank or Evasion-based Mercs

  • Why It Works:

    • Blind significantly reduces enemy accuracy, boosting survivability.

    • Accuracy and Evasion make melee Mercs much more consistent.

  • Synergy:

    • Works best for early Leap Slam or Molten Shell Mercs.

  • Drop Note: Extremely common in Acts 1–3; easy to gear early.

Summary Table

Amulet Best Merc Type Bonus Synergy Drop Timing
Perquil’s Toe DPS Merc Lucky damage + speed boost Act 3–4+
Shaper’s Seed Support / Aura Bot Life + mana regen for aura spam Act 2–3
Yoke of Suffering Elemental Debuffer Converts all ailments to shock Act 6+ / Infamous
Xoph’s Heart Fire DPS Ash debuff = fire damage amp Rare / Special
Ignomon Tank / Evasion Blind aura + attack bonus Act 1–3 (very common)

 

Conclusion

The Mercenaries of Trarthus system introduced in Path of Exile 3.26: Secrets of the Atlas isn’t just a novelty—it’s a game-changing mechanic that redefines how players level, strategize, and loot during the campaign. From early Renown gains to Infamous Merc duels and unique gear acquisition, engaging with Mercenaries offers real tactical value and tangible rewards.

By mastering Merc synergy, hiring with intent, and gearing your companions with powerful uniques like Vixen’s Entrapment or Shaper’s Seed, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother, faster, and more rewarding league start.

Want to keep progressing? Check out these related guides:

Newsletter

Advertisement
Login
Lost Password?
Loading...
Sign Up

New membership are not allowed.

Loading...