PoE Mercenaries of Trarthus return as a permanent mechanic in PoE 3.29. Mercenaries now appear from Act 3, offer item wagers, and join you temporarily after a successful duel. This guide covers Mercenary Warrants, Luminary recruitment, rewards, Scarabs, and practical roles for Curse of the Allflame.
PoE Mercenaries Key Takeaways:
- Mercenaries become a permanent feature in PoE 3.29.
- Mercenary encounters are possible from Act 3 onward.
- There are four areas where guaranteed Mercenary encounters are possible.
- Gambling of Gold on an equipped item is done before the combat.
- Winning earns you the chosen item and temporary Mercenary help.
- The map mercenaries may give Warrants for hiring them again.
- Only the Scion’s Luminary ascendency can hire mercenaries.
- A Luminary can have up to three mercenaries, one active and two others in reserve.
- Mercenaries cannot boost monster life, drop rates, or rarity of items.
- PoE 3.29 introduces Trarthan Scarabs and Atlas passive tree support.
4.9Path of Exile Mercenaries of Trarthus Explained
The Path of Exile Mercenaries of Trarthus will now be present permanently in Path of Exile version 3.29. In addition, they are no longer restricted by the former Mercenaries league. These mercenaries can be found within the game’s main story and farmed through Map encounters.
Each PoE Mercenary has equipment and comes with a fixed skill set. They will challenge you to fight a duel where before the duel, you select an item to bet on. After defeating the mercenary, you acquire the chosen item along with temporary mercenary services.
Regular characters cannot rebuild every Mercenary from scratch. Full permanent recruitment and equipment control belong to the Scion’s new Luminary Ascendancy. That split is the biggest difference between casual Mercenary use and dedicated Mercenary builds.
📌 Mercenaries are not minions. Your minion passives and minion damage modifiers do not scale them, though normal ally effects may still apply.
Preparing a fresh character for Curse of the Allflame can take time. Our PoE League Starter service covers starter gear, currency, and early progression for PoE 3.29.
Path of Exile Encountering Mercenaries
PoE Mercenaries appear in zones starting with Act 3. After spotting a Mercenary, take a look at its abilities, equipped items, passive bonuses, and Rucksack rewards. PoE 3.29 introduces a separate info card for hireable Mercenaries.
- Inspect the Mercenary’s skills, equipment, passive stats, and Rucksack.
- Select the item you want to claim from the encounter.
- Pay the displayed Gold wager and begin the duel.
- Win the duel to receive the item and temporary Mercenary support.
Prior to the battle, choose one of the Mercenary’s carried items and stake some Gold coins. The loss means losing your stake and the Mercenary leaving the area. Win the fight and get the chosen item and temporary assistance in further areas.
📌 A failed duel ends that encounter. Map Warrants can provide another chance against selected Mercenaries later.
Path of Exile Guaranteed Mercenary Locations
With the release of the new league, PoE 3.29 guarantees one Mercenary encounter in four campaign areas. These encounters help every character access the mechanic before reaching Maps. Their Mercenaries do not carry Rucksack items.
| Campaign Area | Mercenary Encounter | Rucksack Items |
|---|---|---|
| The Sceptre of God | Guaranteed | No |
| The Grand Arena | Guaranteed | No |
| The Ridge | Guaranteed | No |
| The Hidden Underbelly | Guaranteed | No |
How to Hire Mercenary in Path of Exile
Winning a regular duel against the Mercenary results in hiring that Mercenary, which is temporary in nature, meaning the Mercenary will stick with you for some number of areas after which he or she will depart from you.
Hired Mercenaries scale their passive stats and skills to the current area level. This scaling stops at level 68. Their equipment level remains limited by the area where you originally found them.
A regular Mercenary is worth hiring when:
- Their skills cover a weakness in your current build.
- Their auras, curses, or debuffs help your main damage type.
- Their defensive setup lets them survive dangerous campaign areas.
- You want extra damage or crowd control during early progression.
📌 Note: Permanent hiring is exclusive to the Luminary Ascendancy. Luminaries can keep three Mercenaries, but only one fights at a time.
Path of Exile Mercenary Items
PoE 3.29 introduces the Wager feature to replace the outdated Take Item feature. In the process, you will select one of the items on your inventory prior to battle, and risk Gold for it. Winning grants the item, as well as the temporary help of the Mercenary. To find PoE Mercenary Items, consider:
- The selected item’s modifiers, sockets, and required level.
- The Mercenary’s full skill package rather than one flashy ability.
- Infamous modifiers that cannot appear on normal equipment.
- Trarthan Gems and Mercenary-exclusive Unique Items.
Skip part of the campaign grind and reach PoE 3.29 endgame sooner. Our profesionals deal with PoE Power Leveling, covering the campaign completion, skill points, and Ascendancy progression.
Path of Exile Mercenary Warrants
Warrants are a new endgame feature in PoE 3.29. You can request one from a Mercenary found on a Map when their current item selection looks weak. The Warrant summons that same fighter during a future Map.
| Warrant Feature | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Availability | Mercenaries found in Maps |
| Skills | The Mercenary keeps the same skill set |
| Equipment | A new item set appears in the future encounter |
| Trading | Warrants can be traded to other players |
| Limit | Each Mercenary grants one Warrant |
The returning Mercenary keeps the same skills but has a fresh equipment set. Warrants can also be traded, so players can exchange useful Mercenary skill packages.
📌 Each Mercenary grants their Warrant only once.
Path of Exile Mercenary Party Fights
Path of Exile Curse of the Allflame does not consider mercenaries as additional players anymore. The addition of a mercenary will not provide any additional life for monsters. It also does not affect the base amount of drops that monsters give as well as the rarity of such drops.
This update eliminates the previous negative modifier of using mercenaries as a group feature. You can view your mercenaries as your own individual support in battles, while all other player modifiers remain unchanged.
Path of Exile Mercenary Archetypes
Mercenaries in Path of Exile still have various attribute focuses, weapons, and skills sets. However, the functional utility is more important than the Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence designation. Always consider the value the Mercenary brings to your character before criticizing their raw damage output. Here’s a list of the PoE Mercenary Archetypes:
- Defensive Mercenaries — Focus on survival, blocking, recovery, taunts, or protective effects.
- Damage Mercenaries — Use strong attacks or spells and help clear regular enemies.
- DPS Support Mercenaries — Apply exposure, curses, ailments, or other enemy debuffs.
- Utility Mercenaries — Add auras, crowd control, charges, or movement support.
The best Mercenary usually fixes something your character lacks. A slow bossing build may value clear support, while fragile builds need defense first.
Path of Exile Mercenary Rewards
Mercenary encounters return several reward types to their source. In the latest PoE version, Trarthan Gems do not drop anymore from Heist Gem Chests but can be obtained through Mercenary drops only. This means that 6 Unique items of the Path of Exile game are now removed from global drops:
| Mercenary Unique Item | PoE 3.29 Source |
|---|---|
| Azadi Crest | Mercenary encounters |
| Binds of Bloody Vengeance | Mercenary encounters |
| The Ghastly Theatre | Mercenary encounters |
| Hand of Heresy | Mercenary encounters |
| Howlcrack | Mercenary encounters |
| Scornflux | Mercenary encounters |
Endgame Rucksacks can still offer additional rewards, though the pool for them is different. Now, Endgame Rucksacks can’t roll Orbs of Transmutation or Orbs of Augmentation anymore. This eliminates two of the least-valuable rolls from Map fights.
Path of Exile How to Use Mercenaries
The way you use your PoE Mercenary depends on the type of character that you play:
- To use the PoE Mercenary as a regular character, select necessary skills, complete the duel and make use of it for the following levels. You do not have to rebuild your passive tree for each new battle.
- In the Path of Exile campaign, it is better to select survivability mercenaries who will provide some additional utility. It will be better to choose a mercenary who will stay nearby and give you a good curse rather than a glass cannon.
- In case of Luminary characters, the situation is somewhat different since Path of Exile mercenaries that you get there are permanent. They are a part of the build, and equipment selection becomes extremely important here.
Need help matching Mercenary roles with your PoE 3.29 build? Our PoE Сoach can explain skill packages, Luminary setup choices, and encounter priorities.
Path of Exile Mercenary Party Scaling
PoE Curse of the Allflame removes the outdated party scaling which is associated with the hired Mercenary. Your companion is not considered an additional player. This means that having one Mercenary doesn’t affect monster life and base loot scaling.
- Mercenaries do not increase monster life.
- Mercenaries do not increase monster item quantity.
- Mercenaries do not increase monster item rarity.
- Actual party members still apply normal multiplayer scaling.
Tip: Build around the Mercenary’s utility, not extra party loot. Their value comes from skills, debuffs, and combat support.
Path of Exile Mercenary Building
PoE 3.29 separates temporary Mercenary use from full Mercenary building. Regular characters recruit fighters for several areas and cannot freely replace their equipment. Luminaries can permanently hire, equip, and customize selected Mercenaries.
Mercenaries still do not scale from your minion passive tree. Their built-in skills, passive stats, and equipment shape their performance. A good skill package matters first, since gear cannot fix a useless role.
Permanent Mercenaries deal less damage than temporary Mercenaries. Their main strength comes from stable access and controlled equipment. For support-focused setups, that trade can still be very strong.
📌 Note: Luminary Ascendancy passives control permanent hiring and access to several Unique equipment slots.
Speed up early character progression with suitable PoE Leveling Gear. A stable campaign setup makes early Mercenary duels much easier.
Path of Exile Luminary Mercenaries
Luminary is the new Scion Ascendancy introduced with PoE Curse of the Allflame. Its Noble Blood passive allows permanent Mercenary recruitment. Permanently hired Mercenaries follow only while the required Luminary passive remains allocated. A Luminary can keep up to three Path of Exile Permanent Mercenaries:
- One active Mercenary fights alongside the character.
- Two reserve Mercenaries wait in Towns or the Hideout.
- The active and reserve options support different encounter needs.
- Permanent Mercenary equipment can be changed by the player.
Some Luminary passives allow Mercenaries to equip Unique items in selected slots. For example, Legendary Arms covers Unique weapons, shields, and quivers. Plan the Ascendancy path before investing in expensive equipment.
Path of Exile Mercenary Gear Builds
PoE Mercenary gear builds now belong mainly to Luminary characters. Other classes use the equipment already carried by temporary Mercenaries. Luminaries can tune permanent companions for several clear roles.
- Tank — Stays alive and keeps defensive or utility skills active.
- DPS Support — Applies debuffs and improves the player’s damage.
- Magic Find Merc — Uses kill-credit interactions and item rarity gear.
- Budget Hybrid — Mixes defense and utility through affordable Rare items.
Do not treat one item list as permanent best-in-slot. Mercenary skills, Ascendancy passives, and current prices can change the correct setup. Start with the role, then fill the required defenses.
Path of Exile Tank Mercenary
A PoE Tank Mercenary focuses on staying active during difficult Maps and bosses. This role suits builds that rely on constant curses, auras, or defensive support. Raw Mercenary damage is secondary.
| Gear Area | Main Priority | What It Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon and Shield | Block, recovery, defensive utility | Reduces incoming pressure and supports sustain |
| Helmet | Life, resistances, ailment protection | Covers basic defensive gaps |
| Body Armour | Life and damage reduction | Protects against large physical and elemental hits |
| Gloves and Boots | Recovery, movement, ailment avoidance | Improves uptime and positioning |
| Jewellery | Life, resistances, regeneration | Finishes the defensive package |
📌 Prioritize capped resistances, a large life pool, recovery, and block where available. A tank that survives an entire fight contributes more than an expensive support setup that dies early.
Path of Exile DPS Support Mercenary
A PoE DPS Support Mercenary increases your character’s damage instead of chasing personal DPS. Look for exposure, curses, ailments, Culling Strike, or useful ally buffs. The correct package depends on your damage type.
| Gear Area | Main Priority | What It Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Ally buffs or enemy debuffs | Raises player damage without changing the main build |
| Helmet | Resistance reduction or added damage effects | Supports elemental and hit-based setups |
| Gloves and Boots | Exposure, Scorch, curse utility | Adds reliable offensive effects around enemies |
| Jewellery | Curse or aura support | Improves the chosen support package |
| Defensive Slots | Life and resistances | Keeps support effects active in dangerous fights |
📌 Fire builds may value Scorch or fire exposure, while critical builds prefer critical support. Chaos builds often want Wither or curse effects. Keep enough defensive gear to maintain these effects during bosses.
Path of Exile Magic Find Mercenary
PoE Magic Find Mercenaries remain a specialized option rather than a default setup. Their rarity bonuses matter most when the Mercenary receives kill credit. This makes positioning and kill-credit mechanics important.
| Gear Area | Main Priority | What It Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Gloves | Kill-credit interaction | Lets Mercenary rarity apply to nearby kills |
| Helmet and Jewellery | Item rarity | Raises the rarity bonus on credited kills |
| Body Armour | Life and damage reduction | Keeps the Mercenary alive near enemy packs |
| Shield | Block and recovery | Improves survival during dense farming content |
| Boots | Movement and resistances | Helps maintain range for kill-credit effects |
📌 Gravebind can make nearby enemy deaths count as kills by its wearer. This interaction may support Mercenary rarity setups, but it needs live testing in 3.29. A Luminary also needs the correct Unique-slot passive before equipping Unique gloves.
Path of Exile Budget Hybrid Mercenary
The PoE Budget Hybrid Mercenary uses Rare gear with life, resistances, and recovery. It avoids expensive Unique combinations while still adding useful support. This is the safest starting point for a new Luminary.
| Gear Area | Budget Priority | Upgrade Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Useful support modifiers | Add stronger ally or debuff effects later |
| Shield | Life, resistances, block | Add recovery on block when affordable |
| Helmet and Body Armour | High life and resistances | Add damage reduction or ailment protection |
| Gloves and Boots | Life, movement, resistance | Add exposure or utility modifiers |
| Jewellery | Missing resistances and regeneration | Add specialized curse or aura support |
📌 Choose the Mercenary’s skills first, then patch their defenses with crafted Rare items. Upgrade one slot at a time when the build has enough currency. The setup stays useful through early Maps without a large investment.
Path of Exile Trarthan Scarabs and Atlas Passives
The latest Path of Exile 3.29 update includes the addition of complete support for Mercenaries of Trarthus within the Atlas Passive Skill Tree. There is a chance to get modifiers that yield Mercenary Scarabs through Searing Exarch Altars. Four new Path of Exile Trarthan Scarabs influence the encounter type:
| Scarab | Effect |
|---|---|
| Trarthan Scarab | The area is inhabited by a Mercenary |
| Trarthan Scarab of Infamy | Mercenaries are Infamous and accompanied by two Wild Mercenaries |
| Trarthan Scarab of Renown | All equipment on Mercenaries is Unique |
| Trarthan Scarab of Surprising Alliances | Wild Rogue Exiles can gain Wild Mercenary allies |
4.9In summary, the new league brings Path of Exile Mercenaries of Trarthus back as a permanent mechanic with a cleaner encounter loop. Regular characters duel for items and temporary support, while Luminaries can create permanent Mercenary setups. Warrants, Scarabs, Atlas passives, and returning rewards give the system a real place in Curse of the Allflame endgame.
