Early Access Feedback - Please don't bring Mercenaries to POE2 - Forum

" AngryLakitu#4381 wrote: This may be a minority viewpoint, but I hate playing with: companions, mercenaries, followers, minions, totems, rhoa mounts, etc. The news post recently that talked about eventually bringing Mercenaries core bothered me a lot and I'm scared they will come to POE2. Why? Primarily because I prefer my fantasy / gameplay to be about my character's direct control and power instead of others. But I also think companions or mercenaries introduce a problem: they become a requirement instead of being an archetype. Example: Rhoa Mount and Tame Beast are universally recommended as additional power for any class / character. Every class or build now tries to find a way to integrate Tame Beast for additional power. To me, that's stupid and bad design. What about minions and totems? These work as they are separate archetypes that generally require a divestment of your own character's power towards them. I may not like these archetypes (and thus don't play them), but there isn't a universal agreement that builds recommend throwing in a random minion for an extra aura. Mercenaries and companions introduce additional power that will ultimately become "required". They aren't an archetype. Why is perceived requirement bad? Because like it or not it shapes the way the game is played. It impacts the economy, build diversity, and community discussions. It changes the way people experience the game in a way that I find unfun and negatively impacts my experience. So ya, don't bring Mercenaries to POE2. And while you are at it, please delete Rhoa Mount and Tame Beast. Thanks. :) /rant Agree 100% , fkin hated totems to melee in PoE1, hate the companions, hate the mount, tame beast	Posted by UnboundAvatar#2172 on Oct 18, 2025, 8:15:27 AM Quote this Post
" Soulsniper1313#7576 wrote: Are mercenaries one of those things that if you like it you can use it and if not your don't have to? Yup, not sure why people assume it's stuck with you, people should remember Diablo 2. Tech guy	Posted by Warrax#2850 on Oct 18, 2025, 8:18:59 AM Quote this Post
" Warrax#2850 wrote: " Soulsniper1313#7576 wrote: Are mercenaries one of those things that if you like it you can use it and if not your don't have to? Yup, not sure why people assume it's stuck with you, people should remember Diablo 2. It's not quite the case though. Kinda like movement speed or + to gem on gear, they're mandatory because of how strong they are. You can play without them, but there's no world you can justify doing that from a optimal build perspective, even for a casual player	Posted by iHiems#0168 on Oct 18, 2025, 8:26:14 AM Quote this Post
I am playing minions in 0.3 and I would love to have companion build. Only companion I can have right now is a beast, I feel like fantasy of mercenary is to have other humanoids beside him. I tried to spectre the corrupted Exiles we encounter in map, but no luck. Ofc I didn't expect it to work.	Posted by BrutusCzX#7043 on Oct 18, 2025, 9:31:19 AM Quote this Post
I'd vastly prefer that if mercenaries became core they'd be an optional tradeoff rather than mandatory. I like my character being the one that does stuff. I prefer not to use totems/minions/companions and I'd hate for it to feel like something I have to do. But more importantly, visual clarity is low enough already. I don't want a mercenary using abilities making it even harder to see puddles of degen death.	Posted by Sirbeaverous#2893 on Oct 18, 2025, 10:48:29 AM Quote this Post
" a09368652#0684 wrote: Instead of Mercenaries, bring us fighting pet skills... +1000 Animals are better than humans and if GGG make them gearable and levelable it would take them to another level. Common GGG, where is your fantasy?	Posted by teobibu#1278 on Oct 18, 2025, 6:02:11 PM Quote this Post
I didn't even know Tame Beast was a thing. Time to add it to my build. Edit: They require spirit to use so it's trash for something that will be out of range half the time. Last edited by SaiyanZ#3112 on Oct 19, 2025, 3:14:19 AM	Posted by SaiyanZ#3112 on Oct 19, 2025, 2:49:28 AM Quote this Post
Leave it to D2 from 2000 to have mercs as companions on all acts, meanwhile the new ARPGS don't even consider them. (Except for Poe1). Project Diablo2 improved on the mercs. Imagine having passive tree for them, I really do hope to see companions in POE2. Last edited by GHFlorian#0675 on Mar 11, 2026, 3:16:05 AM	Posted by GHFlorian#0675 on Mar 11, 2026, 3:15:24 AM Quote this Post
Bring Mercenaries only Mercenary Class. GL Ascendancy is the one that needs buck up from a Mercenary skill. It's like Wolfpack in other class. A perfect minion for Mercenary class!!! We got tired about all theses weak and garbage skills.	Posted by Gamikoulas#4133 on Mar 11, 2026, 8:40:54 AM Quote this Post
100% agree. I have the same problem with my disciple of Varashta, a djinn summoner that HAS to bring a massive skeleton army (wtf) to have solid damage, totally ruining the archetype and vibe.	Posted by Kaozium#2036 on Mar 11, 2026, 1:17:52 PM Quote this Post