Anyone else just kinda hate the whole mercenaries mechanic?
" If you're still confusing borrowed power with real build support, you're probably not in the best position to teach others. Most of us figured that out years ago. You’ll get the hang of it yourself eventually, after all, you’re still pretty fresh to the game. But if antagonizing others helps you feel better about being wrong, carry on. Windows 11, 9950X3D, RTX 4090, 96GB DDR5, 14,100 MB/s SSD, 15,360x2160p @240Hz Ultra 4K Gaming & Workspace Powerhouse
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" They are not. It seems some of you are in need of a refresher what stat sticks were: " That was largely agreed upon. They were typically sceptres carried in the off-hand, with stuff like "Gain % Phys as extra Fire, Cold, Lightning" etc. Me using a Merc for an aura on a build with Blood Magic that I otherwise couldn't, i.e. Zealotry for Consecrated Ground, or an amulet slot to avoid spending a ton of passives to cover necessary regen, or having them disable boss HP and ES regen, does not make them a stat stick. Stat sticks were deliberately exploiting a mechanic and are 100% the only reason why we now have all melee skills become disabled if you equip a weapon it cannot use. And they are also 100% the reason why we no longer gain bonuses from items that become disabled when we don't fulfill the requirements. Stat sticks would be used with i.e. STR characters by equipping an item, i.e. Astramentis, to fullfil the INT requirement, then taking it off, which would disable the sceptre and prevent it from being used by your attack skill. Or by simply using them for something like a claw build, where the main skill couldn't use sceptres. I know because I was playing with stat sticks myself at the time. Brutus' Lead Sprinkler builds were also using them. If you are using your Merc for added damage only, that's on you. That does not make them glorified stat sticks. A lack of creativity can be improved upon. [3.26] Poor Man's Ward Loop: https://youtu.be/9zC-Q6a_MwY
[3.26] Shaper Beam Totems: https://youtu.be/soG0-Y2pDDo [3.26] Gorilla Pop: https://youtu.be/JYGmntfn1ho [3.25] Lazy Susie: https://youtu.be/VlcH6tIBzkg [3.25] The Unplayable Build: https://youtu.be/WlyVf34_TiI |
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" Stat stick is not specific to a single item anymore, it has been taken up by the zeitgeist to colloquially mean a concept of something that gives stats but is otherwise useless for the main purpose (a weapon), when you argue semantics you show you lost the argument. Mercs are stat sticks because you don't use them for the intended purpose (combat) you use them as active/passive buffs (aura bots). The merc doesn't give me damage or stats, i give them items which in turn boost my power, the damage of my merc is shit. Last edited by gr0o0ve#1473 on Jul 25, 2025, 2:47:13 PM
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" Mate. It was literally on the front page: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3813889 " They are not either or. I use them for buffs on some builds, and to plug holes in others. My Kineticist is literally the AoE map clear carry, as her boss damage is negligible. [3.26] Poor Man's Ward Loop: https://youtu.be/9zC-Q6a_MwY
[3.26] Shaper Beam Totems: https://youtu.be/soG0-Y2pDDo [3.26] Gorilla Pop: https://youtu.be/JYGmntfn1ho [3.25] Lazy Susie: https://youtu.be/VlcH6tIBzkg [3.25] The Unplayable Build: https://youtu.be/WlyVf34_TiI |
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You proved my point, cheers!
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" I'm not sure you understood your own point. Because by that logic, any and all other players joining your party that happen to be running an aura or using any active skill to help in combat could be considered stat sticks. I'd argue that only holds true if you don't know the difference. [3.26] Poor Man's Ward Loop: https://youtu.be/9zC-Q6a_MwY
[3.26] Shaper Beam Totems: https://youtu.be/soG0-Y2pDDo [3.26] Gorilla Pop: https://youtu.be/JYGmntfn1ho [3.25] Lazy Susie: https://youtu.be/VlcH6tIBzkg [3.25] The Unplayable Build: https://youtu.be/WlyVf34_TiI |
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" The difference between a real player and a merc is that a real player in any case would deal actual damage themselves, unless it's an aura bot or any other dedicated support character. The auras of other players may or may not even help your build in any way, and they may or may not even grief your builds damage by using a different mark on enemies. Meanwhile mercs just offer a handpicked selection of things you want to have for your own specific build, while offering nothing but buffs, in this case yes they are just a a stat stick to a degree. Flames and madness. I'm so glad I didn't miss the fun.
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" ...have you seen videos of people who build around Mercs? A Merc can absolutely carry itself. On one hand, I understand where both of you are coming from. On the other, I'm not sure what the argument is supposed to be, as the definition could be stretched indefinitely. Do you consider Minions stat sticks? Is Animated Guardian a stat stick? Are your support Spectres stat sticks? Is your Wither Totem a stat stick? If you build around a Merc, how is that any different to a Minion build? I really don't see the logic behind that. It's also why I do not like when people are calling them stat sticks. They can be useful, but stat sticks only provided damage. Literally. [3.26] Poor Man's Ward Loop: https://youtu.be/9zC-Q6a_MwY
[3.26] Shaper Beam Totems: https://youtu.be/soG0-Y2pDDo [3.26] Gorilla Pop: https://youtu.be/JYGmntfn1ho [3.25] Lazy Susie: https://youtu.be/VlcH6tIBzkg [3.25] The Unplayable Build: https://youtu.be/WlyVf34_TiI |
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" If you build them for this task and support them as aura bot, but that's a very niche case of something 0.1% of the player base, if even at all do? Being real for the majority of players it's just some extra buffs via aura, curses or some doryani memes and your average unsupported merc constitutes not much in terms of actually fighting for themselves " I mean it really depends the way you use your AG. If it's just the average Bob with Kingsmaker and all the other buff stuff, yea it's nothing but a stat stick. But if you build around having Bob to be your source of damage, no. In this case your player is just the stat stick for bob. For wither totems? No, they are just utility Flames and madness. I'm so glad I didn't miss the fun.
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" Doryani's on a Merc is the definition of a stat stick. It does nothing but provide Lightning builds with free bonus damage. A stat stick is something that provides so much damage for little to no drawback, to the point where it feels mandatory. That is literally the reasoning for changes that address this problem, such as this one: " If I remember right, it was something with weapon swap nonsense giving every build free damage or something. Literally a stat stick. Source: here " And so is my Merc. A Wither Totem just debuffs your enemies, why is my Merc doing the same any different? It's not, just moving goal posts. It's such a stupid thing to argue about, I'm not sure why we are even having this discussion. GGG seems to understand what constitutes a stat stick, and that is why Doryani's is 100% gonna get changed. [3.26] Poor Man's Ward Loop: https://youtu.be/9zC-Q6a_MwY
[3.26] Shaper Beam Totems: https://youtu.be/soG0-Y2pDDo [3.26] Gorilla Pop: https://youtu.be/JYGmntfn1ho [3.25] Lazy Susie: https://youtu.be/VlcH6tIBzkg [3.25] The Unplayable Build: https://youtu.be/WlyVf34_TiI |
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