Mercenary 
Luminary Build

Updated for Patch 3.29

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The new Luminary Ascendancy allows you to hire Mercenaries permanently and change their Equipment, including Unique Items. There are many Mercenary setups you can use, but the most popular and effective is without doubt centered around the Kineticist. This Mercenary uses Wand Skills, making it an automatic best choice for Clear Speed. In this duo, your role will be to provide flat Damage to your ally via Link, while the Mercenary Setup will be focused on scaling it further. 

The Damage comes from the Flame Link, which grants Fire Damage equal to 5% of your maximum Life, but also plenty of flat Fire Damage by itself, on pair with the Anger Aura. The Oath of Fealty makes your Links permanent, while Golden Glory improves the link based on your Light Radius. In this Setup, you will accumulate almost 200% Light Radius, which nearly triples the effect of your Link. All that remains is to stack tons of maximum Life, which you should have no problems reaching at least 10k, or even more if you are willing to pivot to the Dissolution of the Flesh playstyle. In the end, you will grant your Mercenary almost 2000 flat Fire Damage to their Attacks. You should also throw Stormblast Mines for their Aura effect, which can increase the Damage Taken by Enemies by up to 150%. Lastly, you will share your Flask with them via the Ceinture of Benevolence.

To make use of it all, your Mercenary should wear the Enmity's Embrace Ring, which grants up to 200% Fire Penetration based on their Overcapped Fire Resistance. To reach that, they should also wear The Untouched Soul Amulet, which grants all Resistance based on White Sockets, which are now default. Later on, you can give them Soulthirst Belt to enable permanent Soul Eater Buff. Keep in mind, your Mercenary can wear only two Unique Item types due to shortage of Ascendancy Passive Points. If you can't obtain the Enmity's Embrace, you can use a Unique Wand and Shield instead. The ideal combination is the Piscator's Vigil to get a solid amount of Damage and Penetration, and Victario's Charity to generate offensive Charges.  The remaining Gear should contribute towards Fire Resistance, general defense and offense, and Accuracy Rating. Thanks to the built-in Arcane Might effect, you can use Spell Damage bonuses to improve their Attacks. 

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

Keep up your Flame Link on your Mercenary. Mark Bosses with Sniper's Mark and make them vulnerable with the Stormcharge Mines. Use Enduring Cry to generate Charges and Recover Life. Your mobility comes from Shield Charge and Frostblink. 

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

It is an endgame setup that relies on specific Items and finding the proper Mercenary to function. You can follow our BAMA Leveling Guide for all Classes in POE to smoothly progress through the Campaign. Similar Minion Builds will work as well. 

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

121 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels)
121 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Noble Blood
2. Oath of Fealty
3. Golden Glory
4. Legendary Amulets/Rings/Arms/Belts 

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Arakaali: 10% reduced Damage taken from Damage Over Time, +40% Chaos Resistance against Damage Over Time

Minor God: Soul of Ralakesh: 25% reduced Physical Damage over Time taken while moving, Moving while Bleeding doesn't cause you to take extra Damage

5. Final Gems links

[Utility] Flame Link setup
	Flame Link - your Flame Link has infinite Duration, but it might still break sometimes if you move too far away from Mercenary.
	Empower Support - if you have spare sockets, you can use Empower to get a bit more Damage, but it is not very impactful.

[Utility] Sniper's Mark setup
	Sniper's Mark - increases the Damage taken from Projectiles. You can also use the Assassin's Mark so your Mercenary can generate Power Charges.

[Utility] Spectre setup
	Raise Spectre - you can utilise Spectres to gain even more Buffs for your Mercenary. Their survivability is rather low, but they Revive for free upon leaving a Map. Recommended Spectres:  Regular monsters: Carnage/Host Chieftain, Arena Master, Pale Seraphim Perfect Corpses: Forest Warrior, Forest Tiger, Warlord, Guardian Turtle
	Animate Guardian - similarly, you can use Animate Guardian to get bonuses from certain Unique Items. Recommended Items:  Kingmaker, Leer Cast, Doppelganger Guise, Windscream, Rare Gloves with Punishment on hit
	Meat Shield Support
	Minion Life Support

[UTILITY] Stormblast Mine setup
	Stormblast Mine - a Mine Skill that creates an Aura around it, which increases the Damage taken by affected Enemies. You only need it against the strongest Bosses.
	Minefield Support

[UTILITY] Aura setup
	Purity of Elements - grants plenty of Elemental Resistances, but also makes you and your Mercenary immune to dangerous Ailments.
	Determination - if you have no problems with Resistances, consider using the Determination Aura to greatly boost your Physical mitigation.
	Eternal Blessing Support

[UTILITY] Life Reservation setup
	Vitality - grants Life Regeneration for your Mercenary.
	Precision - improves the Accuracy Rating and Critical Strike Chance of your ally.
	Generosity Support

[UTILITY] Warcry setup
	Enduring Cry - generates Endurance Charges and grants high Life Regeneration. The regular Life Flask has almost no effect on your vast Life pool, so you will need sources of % Regeneration.
	Urgent Orders Support

[UTILITY] Mobility setup
	Frostblink - an instant teleport that also leaves a Chilling Ground in both locations.
	Shield Charge - your main mobility tool; it scales greatly with your Attack Speed.
	Faster Attacks Support

5.1 Gear Setup

You will need 2 separate sets of gear, or even 3 if you include the Animate Guardian. The Mercenary revives only once per Map, so you might need to hire a secondary backup.  For your personal Equipment, you only need to focus on certain Unique Items that grant Light Radius, and stack as much Life as possible to maximise the bonuses of your Flame Link. You will also need some defense coming from high Block Chance, Life Regeneration Rate, and capped Elemental and Chaos Resistance. You will also need plenty of Dexterity and Intelligence to use all your Gems at maximum potential, but it is not very important. 
Check out our Animated Guardian - Best Items and Setups Guide to make the best use of your animated ally. 

(Weapon) Nycta's Lantern - your Light Radius bonuses also increase the effect of your Link Skills, which is the main source of Damage in this Setup. This cheap unique is the best source of it.

30% increased Elemental Damage (150-200)% increased Physical Damage Adds (76-98) to (161-176) Fire Damage 50% increased Light Radius Battlemage

(Shield) Rare Shield - you will want a Shield with a high chance to Block incoming Damage, and a special Shaper's modifier that Recovers your Life on Block. Later on, it can also apply powerful Ailments.

Min. requirements: 30% increased Chance to Block +100 to maximum Life Recover 3% of Life when you Block Optional affixes: #% Chance to Block Spell Damage % chance to Shock/Chill Attackers for 4 seconds on Block Inflict Brittle/Scorch on Enemies when you Block their Damage

(Body Armour) Kaom's Heart - provides a large amount of maximum Life based on the Energy Shield from your other Armour pieces. Try to get a useful Corrupted Implicit here.

Has no Sockets +1000 to maximum Life

(Helmet) The Hallowed Monarch - this Helmet simply grants Light Radius. Your Mercenary is not your Minion, so it won't receive other bonuses, but it is still the best Helmet to use.

(150-230)% increased Armour +(25-35)% to all Elemental Resistances 50% increased Light Radius Link Skills can target Damageable Minions Your Linked Minions take (75-65)% less Damage On Killing a Rare monster, a random Linked Minion gains its Modifiers for 60 seconds

(Boots) Rare Boots - on your Boots you will need basic defense, Life, and Movement Speed. Later on, you can include Life Regeneration Rate.

Min. requirements: +150 to Maximum Life 30% increased Movement Speed +40 to Attributes Optional affixes: % increased Life Regeneration rate #% to Chaos Resistances % chance to Avoid Bleeding

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - the Gloves are even simpler; you only need basic modifiers here. It is a great source of Dexterity and Intelligence, which you will need a lot. Use Eldritch Implicits to improve your Throwing Speed.

Min. requirements: +150 to Maximum Life +40 to Attributes Optional affixes: % increased Life Regeneration rate % increased Mine Throwing Speed

(Belt) Ceinture of Benevolence - allows you to enhance your Mercenary with your own Magic Flasks. Try to get a Corrupted Implicit that boosts your maximum Life.

+(20-40) to Dexterity +(40-60) to maximum Mana (10-7)% reduced Flask Charges used Non-Unique Utility Flasks you Use apply to Linked Targets

(Amulet) Defiance of Destiny - a very strong defensive Amulet that grants you tons of survivability.  You can boost this effect with Fertile Catalysts. Anoint the Death Attunement to summon additional Spectres.

+(60-80) to maximum Life +(10-40)% to Fire Resistance +(10-40)% to Cold Resistance +(10-40)% to Lightning Resistance Gain (10-20)% of Missing Unreserved Life before being Hit by an Enemy

(Ring) Lori's Lantern - the best Ring you can use due to the bonus Light Radius. You should Corrupt it to get additional Chaos Resistances or extra maximum endurance Charge.

+(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances +10% to all Elemental Resistances (6-8)% increased Movement Speed when on Low Life 31% increased Light Radius +(20-25)% to Chaos Resistance when on Low Life Damage of Enemies Hitting you is Unlucky while you are on Low Life

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - your Jewels should cover lacking Resistances and Attributes, while also increasing your maximum Life. Try to get a Corrupted Implicit that makes you Immune to Corrupted Blood.

Recommended affixes: 7% increased maximum Life Optional affixes: Attributes Resistances % increased Flask Effect Duration

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - you will use only one Aura in this Setup, the Purity of Elements or Determination. You can use the Watcher's Eye Jewel to get large amounts of Chaos Resistance, Physical Damage Mitigation, or reduction of incoming Critical Hits.

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers> Recommended Aura modifiers: +(30-50)% to Chaos Resistance while affected by Purity of Elements +(600-1000) to Armour while affected by Determination (5-8)% additional Physical Damage Reduction while affected by Determination You take (60-40)% reduced Extra Damage from Critical Strikes while affected by Determination

(Jewel) Rational Doctrine - this Jewel can grant you a permanent Consecrated Ground effect around you that grants you tons of Life Regeneration. It is also very useful for your Mercenary.

You have Consecrated Ground around you while stationary if Strength is your highest Attribute 25% chance to create Profane Ground on Critical Strike if Intelligence is your highest Attribute Effects of Consecrated Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds Effects of Profane Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds

(Jewel) The Light of Meaning - this Jewel pairs very well with the Scion's starting area. You can use it to cover your Chaos Resistance, or massively boost your Armour.

Passive Skills in Radius also grant +4% to Chaos Resistance Passive Skills in Radius also grant 7% increased Armour

(Jewel) Unnatural Instinct - a very good match for the previous Jewel, as it allows you to gain additional benefits from Unallocated Passives. By placing it near the Scion's start, it also grants you plenty of Block Chance and Movement Speed.

Allocated Small Passive Skills in Radius grant nothing Grants all bonuses of Unallocated Small Passive Skills in Radius

(Jewel) Dissolution of the Flesh - an alternative approach variant, it grants a massive amount of Maximum Life, but requires more careful playstyle and total Immunity against various DoT effects.

Removes all Energy Shield Life that would be lost by taking Damage is instead Reserved until you take no Damage to Life for 2 seconds (20-30)% more Maximum Life

(Jewel) Foulborn Red Dream - a very expensive Jewel that pairs well with Tattoos that grant Fire Resistance, ideally placed near the Stamina Notable. It grants you a lot of maximum Life and Chaos Resistance.

Foulborn modifiers: Passives granting Fire Resistances or all Elemental Resistance in Radius also grant increased Maximum Life at 50% of its value +4% to Chaos Resistance per Endurance Charge

Suggested Flasks: Granite Flask with additional Armour Jade Flask with additional Evasion Silver Flask with Crafted Life Leech Quicksilver Flask with additional Movement Speed Diamond Flask with increased Critical Strike Chance

5.2 Mercenary Setup

Your Mercenary Setup revolves around Enmity's Embrace, which requires tons of Fire Resistance to be effective. You will also want bonuses for Spell, Attack, or Elemental Damage, Attack Speed, and Accuracy Rating. The Defense comes from high Block, Evasion Rating, and Suppression Chance.  
Check out our Mercenaries of Trarthus In-depth Merc Guide to find more information about your potential allies. 

Stat priorities on items: Fire Resistance Increased Damage Cap Accuracy Rating Attack Speed Suppression and Chaos Resistance Crit Chance

(Weapon) Piscator's Vigil - a very solid starting Weapon; you should use it before you can acquire the Enmity's Embrace Ring. It requires Legendary Arms Notable.

No Physical Damage (10-18)% increased Attack Speed (20-30)% increased Critical Strike Chance +(340-400) to Accuracy Rating Attacks with this Weapon have (100-115)% increased Elemental Damage Damage with Weapons Penetrates 5% Elemental Resistances

(Weapon) Rare Wand - later on you should use a Rare Wand. The Arcane Might allows you to use Spell Damage increases for Attacks. You will also need Attack Speed and high Critical Strikes.

Min. requirements: 100% increased Spell Damage 1.65+ Attack Speed 10%+ Critical Strike Chance Optional affixes: +#  to Accuracy Rating Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate #% Elemental Resistances % chance to deal Double Damage

(Shield) Victario's Charity - in the low budget version, pick this Shield to make your Mercenary generate Frenzy and Power Charges. It should be a temporary gear piece.

+8% to all Elemental Resistances +(50-70) to maximum Life +(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance +11% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Area of Effect of Aura Skills 10% chance to grant a Power Charge to nearby Allies on Kill 5% chance to grant a Frenzy Charge to nearby Allies on Hit

(Shield) Rare Shield - later on you will want a Rare Shield with proper defensive modifiers, but it can also offer a bit of Damage via Attack Speed or Double Damage chance.

Min. requirements: 30% increased Chance to Block Recover 3% of Life when you Block Optional affixes: #% increased Attack Speed % chance to deal Double Damage #% Chance to Block Spell Damage % chance to Shock/Chill Attackers for 4 seconds on Block Inflict Brittle/Scorch on Enemies when you Block their Damage

(Ring) Enmity's Embrace - massively reduces Fire Resistances, but grants tons of Fire Penetration based on your overall Fire Resistance.

(5-7)% increased maximum Life +(30-50) to Strength (10-20)% increased Fire Damage (75-65)% reduced Fire Resistance Take (300-500) Fire Damage when you Use a Skill Damage Penetrates Fire Resistance equal to your Overcapped Fire Resistance, up to a maximum of 200%

(Ring) Polaric Devastation - with this Ring, your Mercenary will be able to Cover Enemies in Ash, which increases the Fire Damage they take. It also provides plenty of elemental Damage and Critical Strike Chance.

(15-25)% increased Elemental Damage (15-25)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance +(20-40)% to Fire Resistance +(20-40)% to Cold Resistance (10-20)% increased Duration of Ailments on Enemies Left Ring slot: Cover Enemies in Ash for 5 seconds when you Ignite them Right Ring slot: Cover Enemies in Frost for 5 seconds when you Freeze them

(Amulet) The Untouched Soul - grants an insane amount of all Elemental Resistances, since your Mercenary has no use for Colored Sockets. You will still need plenty of Fire Resistance from other sources to cap the Fire Penetration bonus.

(12-20)% increased Rarity of Items found +40 to maximum Life for each Empty Red Socket on any Equipped Item +225 to Accuracy Rating for each Empty Green Socket on any Equipped Item +40 to maximum Mana for each Empty Blue Socket on any Equipped Item +12% to all Elemental Resistances for each Empty White Socket on any Equipped Item

(Body Armour) Rare Armour, Helmet - on the defensive armour pieces you will need lots of Fire Resistance, Spell Suppression chance, and maximum Life. Ideally, you should use Evasion-based pieces.

Recommended affixes:  +#% to Fire and Chaos Resistance #% chance to Suppress Spell Damage +# to Maxmimum Life and Evasion Rating

(Boots) Rare Boots - Boots are an important source of Movement Speed, Onslaught, and Action Speed. Other than that, focus on usual defense.

Min. requirements: 30% increased Movement Speed 10% chance to gain Onslaught for 4 seconds on Kill 4% increased Action Speed Optional affixes: +#% to Fire and Chaos Resistance #% chance to Suppress Spell Damage +# to Maxmimum Life and Evasion Rating

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - the Gloves should provide lots of Attack Speed and the usual defensive modifiers, but you shouldn't neglect the Eldritch Implicits. They grant Leech and Intimidation Chance, which are very important.

Min. requirements: 10% increased Attack Speed 10% chance to Intimidate Enemies for 4 seconds on Hit 0.2% of Fire Damage Leeched as Life Optional affixes: % increased Projectile Damage and Speed +# added Fire Damage against Burning Enemies +#% to Fire and Chaos Resistance #% chance to Suppress Spell Damage +# to Maxmimum Life and Evasion Rating

(Belt) Rare Belt - the Stygian Vise allows you to fit in an extra Abyssal Jewel. The Belt itself can provide extra maximum Life or Elemental Damage for Attacks.

Min. requirements: Has 1 Abyssal Socket +100 to maximum Life 30% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Optional affixes: #% increased maximum Life +#% to Fire and Chaos Resistance Regenerate # Life per second

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.