Ohh is THAT what that is? I’ve been wondering if there is some kind of bug, because I kept having my mana inexplicably drained sometimes, and I couldn’t figure out why.
That’s what I get for not reading everything properly I suppose. Here was me assuming that the merc would only offer bonuses, not major negative downsides.
I guess that little guy is about to get booted from the team. 
I just pick whatever random ones I feel like running, they don’t make all that much of a difference in this game.
I want to be able to hire Sister Octavia as a merc
To be honest, I liked the constructs of Season 3 better. It was a more engaging and more creative system.
The Season 6 mercs, unfortunately, suffer from the same problem we complained about in S3: the mercs are not impactful. How many people can honestly say you even know where they’re at most of the time, much less realize what power they’re using. They’re atleast bigger than the little robots were.
For me, it’s a pretty big disappointment. Of D2:LOD, D3 post merc rework and D4 Season 3, I think this is the least fun and least engaging companion system we’ve seen and that’s a real shame.
I tend to either Subo or Raheir for my main. Depends on if I need defense or the map. Varyana or Raheir for secondary.
I have a Sorc that all attacks are fire based, (only has Ice Armor and Teleport that are not fire on skillbar). I have Subo with molotov to add more fire, and I use the Cursed Child for my backup there… for more fire.
billions must burn____
I looked up whatever maxroll or Rob said to use and havent noticed them since… they dont have personality or feeling.
They need an epic voice line or impactful interaction … in POE the beastmaster Einhar has one of the best voice actors IMO… the mercs need that level of rizz.
I go with Varyana for the attack speed breakpoints with Raheir as my standby. I do wish we could shut them the hell up though.
Id rather have my little robot buddy back too
I just want to add—if they bring back Vampire Hunter Erys from Season 2, I’d use her no matter what her skill tree looks like.
Mercs are nearly useless, zero damage, zero effect on gameplay. garbage season mechanic. So many fails this season. S1 was better than this. Even the runes are a dumpster mechanic.
Subo for open world and dungeons.
The DOTS!!! 
Subo is main, love the mini-map change.
Varysna for re-enforcement.
Hmm…zero damage, as well as zero effect on gameplay? They really aren’t meant to do as much damage as you–just provide a little assist. Usually in the form of crowd control. Varyana has bleeding, Raheir is more of a tank that can taunt, but afaik he can also slow too–then Subo has the potential to use either Molotovs or the charged explosives–or something else if you pick his bow route.
As for Aldkin…sad that he has nearly the best CC imo, yet his Curse mechanic causes you to not want to use him as a hired merc period…but having him as a reinforcement isn’t bad.
That is honestly your opinion. Not a fact. And kind of relative. I would argue the Realmwalkers are worse. Sure they give you goodies in the form of shiny Opals and the Seething Realms are somewhat lucrative (perhaps more than somewhat), but…it’s a forced group event, similar to Legion Quests and the not very much cared-for Dark Citadel. Nothing wrong with Legion quests, though–those should be a group event. But one would think that the Realmwalkers should not require group cooperation. In D3 they aren’t that hard, and are not that numerous, afaik. But to that point…one person alone can take one out.
No, this is not D3, but…if someone random comes along to kill the Realmwalker–do you still get the exp/credit in the end? I can just imagine people attempting to kill the thing in a group, and then a SB shows up and facerolls it in like…1-3 hits. Possibly less.
Also kind of relative, too. There are definitely some Runes that are very lackluster, but…they seem to be few and far between so far. At least of the ones I’ve found. And the runes you don’t like, or think are bad can be reforged at a Jeweler 
That’s what I do with them, anyway. I get Moni runes a lot, and one time so far–a rare rune.
In summation: you’re entitled to that opinion, yet not everyone shares the same one. Which is honestly what makes us all diverse and unique 
Should they think the same way? Likely not. And thankfully, while you are free to post your opinion and voice it, we aren’t required to agree 
Raheir/Aldkin 7 char
Everyone is either using Raheir for armor or Subo with evade build for the enemies on map. Reinforcement is more varied but it seems Varysna is popular choice.
Mercs are underwhelming to me.
I think they needed some gear slots and more impact.
Would be nice if they afforded a little inventory space for out in the field / down in pits & dungeons. Mini inventories mirroring ours with tabs for consumables etc. like ours.
I just use Raheir and the demon child I haven’t bothered to do the quests for the other ones. Raheir has that 25% damage thing and the child does a stun so all good.