Master Ninja - Mercenary Character Guide (Risk of Rain 2)

Summary

In this character guide, the Mercenary class is explored in-depth, showcasing its viability as a melee character in the game. The Mercenary’s high early-game damage, mobility, healing potential, and skill synergies make him an exciting and effective choice for players who prefer close combat. Key skills such as double jump, Whirlwind, Blinding Assault, and Eviscerate offer dynamic movement and combat options, while item synergies like Sticky Bombs, Goat Hooves, and Ukulele enhance his performance. The guide covers strategies for combat, tips for handling tough enemies, and effective item builds to maximize the Mercenary's strengths.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mercenary is a highly viable melee class in the game, with great early game damage, high scaling potential, and fun skills that make it one of the most enjoyable classes to play.
• 😀 The Mercenary has a unique passive ability, allowing him to double jump, enhancing his mobility, especially in early stages of the game.
• 😀 Mercenary's base Health Regeneration is more than double other survivors, making him highly resilient in early combat and capable of aggressive playstyles.
• 😀 The Mercenary's auto attacks deal 300% damage on every third hit, making items that scale with attack damage, like sticky bombs and missiles, particularly effective.
• 😀 A key gameplay tip is to keep auto-attacking while using skills, as the Mercenary's skills (Whirlwind and Blinding Assault) do not interrupt his attack combo, boosting his DPS.
• 😀 The Mercenary excels at dealing with above-ground enemies like Wisps, using Whirlwind and Blinding Assault to target and hit enemies in the air.
• 😀 The Mercenary's special ability, Eviscerate, combined with Blinding Assault, allows him to traverse difficult terrain and large gaps by propelling himself forward.
• 😀 In high-risk situations, the Mercenary's shift skill (Blinding Assault) is invaluable for escaping danger due to its dash and stun capabilities.
• 😀 Mercenary's gameplay is high-risk, high-reward, focusing on constant movement and damage output, with the best results coming from aggressive close-range combat.
• 😀 Key item synergies for Mercenary include items that increase mobility (Goat Hooves, Energy Drinks), healing (Leeching Seeds, Harvester Scythe), and attack speed (Syringes, Cauldrons) to maximize DPS and survival.

Q & A

Is the Mercenary a viable melee class in the game?

Yes, the Mercenary is a viable melee class. Not only is he viable, but his early game damage is fantastic, and he has high scaling potential. His skills and mobility make him a very fun and effective class to play.

How do you unlock the Mercenary in the game?

To unlock the Mercenary, you must obliterate yourself at the Obliteration Obelisk inside the Celestial Portal. You can trigger the Celestial Portal spawn every three stages after looping the game once.

What makes the Mercenary's mobility stand out compared to other characters?

The Mercenary's mobility is enhanced by his double jump, which is a passive ability, and his ability to use skills like Blinding Assault and Eviscerate to keep moving and dashing around enemies. His fast movement speed, especially with items like Goat Hooves, makes him incredibly mobile.

What is the Mercenary's unique feature in combat, and how does it work?

The Mercenary's unique feature is his ability to chain attacks and skills together. His auto-attack deals 300% damage every third strike, and using skills like Whirlwind can cancel the delay between strikes, boosting his damage output significantly.

What is the most effective way to deal with flying enemies like Wisps as a Mercenary?

To deal with flying enemies like Wisps, you can use the Whirlwind skill while in the air. This allows you to strike vertically and close the gap to hit these airborne enemies, as they are otherwise difficult to reach with ground-based attacks.

Which items synergize well with the Mercenary's playstyle?

Items like Rose Bucklers, Goat Hooves, and Energy Drinks are great for the Mercenary, as they enhance mobility and provide damage reduction while moving. Crit and attack speed items, such as Syringes and Harvester's Scythe, also work well to increase damage and healing during combat.

How does attack speed affect the Mercenary's R skill?

Attack speed is crucial for the Mercenary because it directly affects the number of hits in his R skill (Eviscerate). The faster his attack speed, the more hits he delivers, which increases the chances for on-hit effects like healing and damage amplification.

What is the Mercenary's approach to dealing with high-risk enemies like the Elder Lemaran?

Against high-risk enemies like the Elder Lemaran, it's important to keep moving and use skills like Blinding Assault for escapes. Mercenary's mobility allows him to avoid these bosses' dangerous attacks by jumping and staying out of their hitboxes, especially with his Whirlwind and Eviscerate.

What are some healing options for the Mercenary, and how do they work?

The Mercenary can heal using items like Leeching Seeds and Harvester's Scythe, which provide healing based on damage dealt. Attack speed is essential for triggering these healing effects more frequently. Additionally, Medkits and Monster Teeth offer emergency healing during combat.

What role does the Mercenary's Eviscerate (R) skill play in gameplay?

Eviscerate (R) is crucial for mobility and combat effectiveness. It allows the Mercenary to dash forward, dealing damage and becoming invulnerable during the dash. This skill is excellent for closing gaps, escaping dangerous situations, and dealing consistent damage while staying mobile.