I have a generic question, is it better to first upgrade to Enigma body armor, or use the high runes to create a high end weapon for the A2 Might Merc?
For my opinion I would upgrade player before merc. The power always come from the player. Merc is use as support. So whatever item it may be, it would be player over merc.
Imagine at level 10 and you got your 1st rare helm. Who gets to wear it first?
I’ve been back at D2 for around 5 months now, I have 1 Ber, 1 Lo, 1 Ist, and 2 Vex. The Lo dropped at the Hellforge initial quest, the Ber at LK super chest although it may have come from a body, and 1 Vex was transmuted in the Horadric Cube. I am a Jah away from an Enigma, but what is a little daunting is the Merc upgrade that needs a Sur and Cham.
Teleporting freely with other good stats on enigma just hard to replace if you had the runes. Stacking your army/ repositioning your merc just feels right.
On the other hand I feel Pride can wait. If my guess is the Sur and Cham is for. Pride has no ed so its only serves as an aura stick.
Insight or hustle first
then maybe Obedience. if you don’t trade a lot.
Then enigma
Finally pride
Pride is no good for Summonmancers as it shatters corpses, so you won’t get CE off. Rather save those high runes and make an Insight for now. Later you can upgrade to Infinity… but for now you should focus on getting Enigma.
The Merc has bunch of viable options for a weapons, and almost anything can be effective with more IAS. Meanwhile Enigma is your only access to free and unlimited teleporting, that is crucial for movement and positioning in battle.
So I would get Enigma for yourself. Get your Merc Treachery, and build another insight in a better base, or make Obedience if you already have everything for it. Long term, look to get Bramble and Infinity for him.
Lo can’t drop from the Hellforge, the highest rune that can drop is Gul.
Maybe it was The Countess? Somehow I got one.