For the Diablo III versions, see Followers.

A Hireling is a mercenary that you can hire in Diablo II. Hirelings assist the player by attacking monsters. They follow the character and stay in a fixed radius around the character. They can be killed by monsters and can use spells and skills as well. Like player characters, hirelings can also level-up and become slightly stronger over time. Players can only employ the services of one mercenary at a time.

Each Act has its own hireling, with the exception of Act IV:

• Act I - Rogue Archer
• Act II - Desert Mercenary Spearmen
• Act III - Iron Wolf Battle Mage
• Act V - Barbarian Warrior (Diablo II: Lord of Destruction only)

Each hireling has a different AI script, making some run away while others engage in combat without fear. In the original, non-expansion Diablo II, Hirelings had only a limited use as they died easily. Once dead, that hireling was lost forever and the player had to hire a new one. Also, hirelings couldn't enter different acts. For instance if the player had a Rogue mercenary and traveled to Lut Gholein, the mercenary would disappear upon entering Act II.

In the Lord of Destruction expansion pack, Hirelings were radically improved. They came to be regarded as co-adventurers as they could now cross into other acts. They received a new stats screen, allowing the player to equip them with items (even rare, set and unique items) to further enhance their stats and combat potential. A slain hireling could now also be resurrected, preserving their equipment and level. Hirelings could also be healed by clicking and dragging a health potion onto your hireling's profile. A faster way is to press Shift and right-click the potion to instantly give it to Him/her.

Hirelings weapons are limited to their class. Armor is not limited. Although Hirelings could not wear Class-specific Items, the Act V Hireling, the Barbarian, was capable of wearing Barbarian Helms. Players can still hire a new mercenary when their old one's dead. Any gear left on the old mercenary will be lost, so be sure to remove their items first.

Hirelings does not benefit from stats like, Energy, Mana, Vitality or Stamina. They do (although not shown at their stats screen) benefit from extra skills, to that which their skills is native e.g. Amazon skills will increase Inner Sight, Fire Arrow/Cold Arrow on a Rogue, on a Desert Mercenary it will only increase the Jab attack.

Contents 1 Diablo II 1.1 Act I Rogue 1.2 Act II Desert Mercenary 1.3 Act III Iron Wolf 1.4 Act IV 1.5 Act V Barbarian 1.6 Rumors 2 Notes 3 Diablo III

Diablo IIEdit

Act I RogueEdit

The Rogue Archers of the Rogue Encampment belong to the order of the Sisters Of The Sightless Eye, and can be hired from Kashya after completing the Sisters' Burial Grounds quest (players receive a 'free' mercenary upon completing that quest) or upon reaching level 9.

• Abilities: Uses the Amazon skill, Inner Sight, and can shoot either Fire or Ice Arrows. The ice arrows only travel half as far as the fire ones.
• Weapons: Bows only. They cannot equip 'Amazon Only' bows, or Crossbows.

Per Level up:

• +8 Life
• +1 Strength
• +2 Dexterity
• +6.5 Defense
• +2 Resistances

Act II Desert MercenaryEdit

The Desert Mercenaries hail from the city of Lut Gholein and serve as the town's guards. They can be hired from their captain, Greiz.

• Abilities: Uses Auras to enhance the battlefield, and uses the Amazon skill, Jab.
• Weapons: Spears, Polearms and Javelins.

Normal/Hell Auras: Combat: Prayer Offensive: Blessed Aim Defensive: Defiance

Nightmare Auras Combat: Thorns Offensive: Might Defensive: Holy Freeze

Per Level up:

• +10 Life
• +1.5 Strength
• +1.5 Dexterity
• +9.5 Defense
• +2 Resistances

Act III Iron WolfEdit

The Iron Wolf from Kurast are Sorcerer-knights, and guard of the Kurast Docks. They can be hired from Asheara. In the original Diablo II game the player would receive a 'free' mercenary upon completing Blade of the Old Religion (quest). This was changed with the expansion, as mercenaries gained the ability to travel between different Acts.

• Abilities: Casting spells, the element they cast is dependent on their type.
• Weapons: One-Handed Swords and shields.

Lightning mercenary spells: Lightning, Charged Bolt and Nova. Fire mercenary spells: Fireball, Inferno. Cold mercenary spells: Ice Blast, Cold Armor, Glacial Spike

Per Level up:

• +6 Life
• +1.5 Strength
• +1.5 Dexterity
• +4.5 Defense
• +2 Resistances

Act IVEdit

There are no new hirelings, but Tyrael provides resurrection services.

Act V BarbarianEdit

The Barbarians of Harrogath can be hired from Qual-Kehk after completing the Rescue on Mount Arreat quest. (Lord of Destruction only)

• Abilities: Uses Bash and Stun Attack.
• Weapons: One-handed and Two-handed swords.

Note that they cannot equip Shields, or Dual Wield weapons. They can also equip 'Barbarian Only' helmets.

Per Level up:

• +12 Life
• +2 Strength
• +1.5 Dexterity
• +7.5 Defense
• +1.5 Resistances

RumorsEdit

DISCLAIMER: These are all false rumors. It must be noted that the Diablo wiki neither supports nor endorses these baseless rumors.

As seen above, there exists no Act IV Hireling. This led to the rather ridiculous speculation spreading across the internet. A majority of them related to a non-existent hidden Act IV Hireling - the Angel. The Angel was described to use Hadriel's base structure and did not walk but levitated on the ground. They were said to use Cold and Lightning Spells. It was even said that the Angel was showcased by the presence of Hadriel. Because these rumors spread before the expansion, there were no details on what they wore.

The rumors said that the Angel could be obtained by completing certain meaningless tasks mostly on Hell difficulty. They included:

• Talking to Hadriel or Tyrael, a certain number of times
• Defeating Diablo in Hell difficulty a certain number of times
• Defeating the Cow King a certain number of times
• Giving the Jade Figurine/Golden Bird to Tyrael or Hadriel
• Not talking to Tyrael after freeing him in Tal Rasha's Chamber

NotesEdit

• Prior to version 1.13 if a mercenary had an item (e.g. the Hand of Justice weapon) that gives wielder an Aura when equipped, the Aura wouldn't be active when the hireling was resurrected. To enable it, the player would have to open the mercenary screen and reequip the item.
• If using a Rogue mercenary, always equip the bow last. Some miscalculations may occur if armor or helm is changed.
• When first receiving a mercenary, if the player is level 1, the mercenary will be level 2. This is the only time a mercenary can be a higher level then the player.

Diablo IIIEdit

For the main article, see Followers

Hirelings also appear in Diablo III. But they are officially called Followers in the game.

Companions
Diablo II Hirelings — Rogue Archer • Desert Mercenary • Iron Wolf • Barbarian Warrior Diablo III Followers — Kormac • Lyndon • Eirena