Diablo 4 players excited as classic feature will finally arrive with DLC

Diablo 4 players are getting excited and nostalgic after Blizzard reveals new details about Mercenaries who’ll be added to the game in the Vessel of Hatred DLC.

Followers have been part of Diablo since the very first game, but they were very basic, allowing players to summon a Golem that stalked Tristram Cathedral independently fighting demons until it was defeated.

However, in Diablo 2, Blizzard added Mercenaries for hire who leveled alongside the player, could be equipped with gear, and were from different classes, such as Barbarians, Rogues, and others.

In Diablo 3, Blizzard expanded this system, instead of Mercenaries we got three companions, each from a different class with separate abilities, strengths, and personalities. This time, the companions were named characters whose relationship with the protagonist (and each other) evolved as the game progressed. Once again though, the player could travel with whichever companion suited their playstyle the most.

In Diablo 4, Blizzard has merged these two systems, creating a band of Mercenaries that can join the player character as hired help, but each one will be a unique character suited to a variety of playstyles. The characters all appear to know one another too, all being part of a group called the Pale Hand.

After the characters were unveiled at Gamescom 2024 in a new trailer, fans are excited to hire each Mercenary and see how they complement their builds. Check out the trailer below:

While it’s unknown if Mercenaries can accompany players in the base campaign, DLC story, or just endgame content in the Eternal and Seasonal realms, the trailer has built a palpable sense of nostalgia from longtime Diablo fans on Reddit.

Some are hoping they’ll work like previous Mercenaries in the series with one saying, “I hope we can gear them, and I hope they have a talent tree. That would be pretty cool” and “I hope we can make them badasses with gear instead of just have them for some passive +dmg/def/cooldown reduction.”

Others commented on how the Mercenaries have adopted classes that didn’t make the cut for playable characters, like the Paladin. One said, “Mercs got a Paladin before we did.” Some pointed out that some Mercenaries could be classes in their own right, saying “The shield merc could be a class all by himself lol” and “Demon boy is my favorite.”

Other players were less impressed, questioning the need for Mercenaries now that the game has been out for over a year. One said, “I never understood the appeal of mercenaries. Diablo 4 was fine without them.” Another one said, “If I wanted NPCs following me around, I’d play minion necro. They better come with a very viable “sacrifice” option.”

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred will be released on October 8, 2024.