GamesRPGDiablo 4 best mercenary and how to recruit them allWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGDiablo 4 best mercenary and how to recruit them allWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Blizzard)

Jump to:Best mercenaryHow to unlock mercenariesSuboAldkinRaheirVaryana
Jump to:Best mercenaryHow to unlock mercenariesSuboAldkinRaheirVaryana
Hiringmercenariesis one of coolest new features inDiablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion, letting you recruit a famed fighter you can bring into battle with you. These warriors have their own ability tree, granting passive effects, and specialising in either buffing certain stats or applying debuffs to enemies. All in all, they make a big impact in combat.
There are four mercs to recruit in Vessel of Hatred, each of which has a specific fighting style, but if you can’t decide on one, you can also bring a second as a reinforcement you call upon for one-off hit and run attacks. Here I’ll list my personal pick for the best merc, how to unlock them, plus how they work. I’ve also included a list of all mercs plus their specialisms and unlock conditions down below.
Who’s the best mercenary in Diablo 4?
(Image credit: Blizzard)

The best mercenary in Vessel of Hatred is Raheirin my opinion, which is great considering he’s the first one you unlock. Your choice of merc will likely depend on your build, but Raheir has great overall utility no matter your build due to his ability to taunt enemies and grant you damage reduction plus increased armour. His Provoke iconic skill, in-particular, is great for survivability, giving you up to 20% damage reduction based on how many enemies it taunts.
How to unlock mercenaries
Image1of3You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
Image1of3You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
Image1of3
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)
You’ll unlock mercenaries during the Vessel of Hatred campaign once you arrive at The Den(Image credit: Blizzard)
Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)
Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)
Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)
Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)
Earning Rapport gets you skill points you can use to upgrade mercs(Image credit: Blizzard)
Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
Once Raheir’s daughter arrives you can also barter with her using Pale Marks(Image credit: Blizzard)
You canunlock the mercenaries feature directly through the Vessel of Hatred main campaign. After you arrive in Nahantu, Raheir will show you to The Den; a special hidey hole where his old mercenary outfit, The Pale Hand, used to gather. Once this is unlocked you’ll recruit Raheir as your first merc and be able to undertake quests from The Den to meet the remaining three; Subo, Aldkin, and Varyana.
Subo
Subo is an archer who uses traps on enemies(Image credit: Blizzard)

Choose if you want:
Aldkin
Aldkin is a DoT damage-dealer with fire or shadow(Image credit: Blizzard)

Choose if you want:
Raheir
Raheir is a defensive merc you meet in the campaign(Image credit: Blizzard)

Choose if you want:
As mentioned above, Raheir is a great all-round merc, granting you ever-valuable damage reduction, extra armour, or a buff to elemental resistances. Raheir doesn’t deal all that much damage when he bashes enemies with his shield, but he will taunt them, giving you much-needed breathing space. The best part is that he’s the easiest to recruit as well. While the others require you to do separate sidequests, you meet Raheir during the campaign, meaning he’s perfect if you want to keep pushing on with the story and not get sidetracked immediately.
Varyana
Varyana (pictured on the right) is a berserker barbarian(Image credit: Blizzard)

Choose if you want:
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