Mercenaries

Overview

Mercenaries is one of the powersets. It is a Mastermind primary power set.

Despite their reputations, Mercenaries are extremely loyal dedicated soldiers. They are the best at what they do, and they always follow orders, exactly what a Mastermind needs. Mercenaries typically use conventional weapons and all Mercenaries have body armor that gives them resistance to smashing and lethal damage and their training makes them resistant to confusion and placate.

Power Table

Mastermind

The Mercenaries powerset is available as a primary set for Masterminds. The following table shows which powers are available and at what level:

	Power	Level	Effect
	Burst	1	Ranged, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Foe -Defense
	Soldiers	1	Summon Soldier
	Slug	2	Ranged, High Damage(Lethal), Foe Knockback
	Equip Soldier	6	Ranged, Equip Mercenary Henchman
	M30 Grenade	8	Ranged(Targeted Area of Effect), Moderate Damage(Lethal/Smash), Knockback
	Spec Ops	12	Summon Spec Ops
	Serum	18	Buff Mercenary +Damage, +Resistance, +Accuracy, +Recovery
	Commando	26	Summon Commando
	Tactical Upgrade	32	Ranged Upgrade Mercenary Henchman

Powers

Burst

Quickly fires a Burst of rounds at a single target at very long range. Damage is average, but the fire rate is fast. Can also reduce the target's defense.

Damage	Moderate damage over time
Recharge	Fast
Minimum Level	1 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
	Foe -Defense
Enhancements	-
	-

Commando

Enlists one highly trained Commando. The Commando is a seasoned professional who favors heavy assault weapons. He is simply a one man army that can leave a wake of destruction in his path. In addition to the standard Soldier resistance, the Commando's experience also makes him resistant to Fear and his rugged advanced training makes him slightly resistant to Fire, Cold, and Toxic damage. You may only have 1 Commando under your control at any given time. If you attempt to summon another Commando the power will fail.

Recharge	Long
Minimum Level	26 (Mastermind)
Effects	Summon Commando
Basic Powers	Brawl (Moderate (Smashing))
	Burst (Moderate DoT, -Def)
	Slug (Heavy Damage, Knockback)
Equip Powers	Buckshot (Moderate Damage, Knockback)
	Full Auto (Superior DoT)
Upgrade Powers	M30 Grenade (Moderate Damage, Knockback)
	Flamethrower (Extreme DoT)
	LRM Rocket Launcher (Superior Damage, Knockback)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Knockback Distance
	Enhance Defense Debuff
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Equip Mercenary

Equip your Mercenary Henchmen with more advanced munitions and weaponry. This power permanently bestows new weapons and abilities to one Mercenary Henchman. The powers gained are unique and dependant upon the target Mercenary Henchman. This power only works on your Mercenary Henchmen and you can only equip any given Mercenary Henchman once.

Recharge	Fast
Minimum Level	6 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
	Equip Mercenary Henchman
Soldiers:
Visual Change:	Military helmet
Powers added:	Advanced SMG Heavy Burst (Heavy DoT)
	Heavy Burst (Lethal)
Medic:
Visual Change:	Military helmet
Powers added:	SMG Heavy Burst (Heavy DoT)
Spec Ops:
Visual Change:	Military helmet, night vision goggles
Powers added:	Rifle Butt (Moderate Damage, Disorient)
	Flash Bang (Disorient -Acc)
Commando:
Visual Change:	-
Powers added:	Buckshot (Moderate Damage, Knockback)
	Full Auto (Superior DoT)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate

M30 Grenade

Launches a Grenade at long range from beneath the barrel of your Assault Rifle. This explosion affects all within the blast radius, and can knock them back.

Damage	Moderate Lethal/Smashing
Recharge	Slow
Minimum Level	8 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged Targeted area of effect
	Foe Knockback
Enhancements	-
	-

Slug

Fires a single Slug at a targeted foe. Firing a single Slug is slower than firing a Burst, but deals more damage, is longer range, and can knock down foes.

Damage	High Lethal
Recharge	Moderate
Minimum Level	2 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
	Foe Knockback
Enhancements	-
	-

Serum

You can use a special Serum to turn one mercenary into a virtually Unstoppable killing machine for a short time. Once the Mercenary is injected with this Serum, his Damage, Accuracy, Endurance Recovery, and Damage Resistance to all damage except Psionics, will be greatly increased. The target Mercenary will also be virtually immune to controlling effects including Disorient, Sleep, Hold, Immobilize, and Knockback. After the Serum wears off, the Mercenary will be exhausted and drained of all Endurance for a while.

Recharge	Very Long
Minimum Level	18 (Mastermind)
Effects	Buff Mercenary
	+Damage
	+Resistance
	+Accuracy
	+Recovery
Enhancements	-
	-

Soldiers

Calls forth one to three Mercenary Soldiers (the second is available at level six, the third at level eighteen) to do your bidding. The third Soldier you gain will be a Medic. All sodiers use Sub Machine Guns, but these can be upgraded. You may only have 3 Soldiers under your control at any give time. If you attempt to call Soldiers, you can only replace the ones you have lost in battle. If you already have three, the power will fail.

Recharge	Very Long
Minimum Level	1 (Mastermind)
Effects	Summon Soldiers
Soldier	Level 1 and 6 pets are Soldiers
Basic Powers	Brawl (Smashing)
	Advanced SMG Burst (Moderate DoT)
Equip Powers	Advanced SMG Heavy Burst (Heavy DoT)
	Heavy Burst (Lethal)
Upgrade Powers	Auto Fire (Extreme DoT)
	Burst (Lethal)
Medic	Level 18 pet is a Medic
Basic Powers	Brawl (Smashing)
	SMG Burst (Moderate DoT)
	MedKit (Heal)
Equip Powers	SMG Heavy Burst (Heavy DoT)
Upgrade Powers	Stimulant (Resist Effects)
	Frag Grenade (Moderate Damage, Knockback)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Heal
	Enhance Defense Debuff
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Spec Ops

You can enlist one to two highly skilled Spec Ops Mercenaries (the second is available at level twenty-four). Spec Ops weapons are highly accurate and long ranged, and they are adept in many different tactical weapons. Like all Henchmen, Spec Ops can be eqipped with even deadlier munitions. You may only have 2 Spec Ops under your control at any given time. If you attempt to summon more Spec Ops, you can only replace the ones you have lost in battle. If you already have two, the power will fail.

Recharge	Very Long
Minimum Level	12 (Mastermind)
Effects	Summon Spec Ops
Basic Powers	Brawl (Smashing)
	SCAR Burst (Moderate DoT)
	SCAR Heavy Burst (Heavy DoT)
	Web Grenade (Immobilize, -Recharge, -Fly)
Equip Powers	Rifle Butt (Moderate Damage, Disorient)
	Flash Bang (Disorient -Acc)
Upgrade Powers	SCAR Snipe (?Heavy Damage)
	Tear Gas (Hold/Immob? -Damage)
	Stealth (Stealth +Defense)
Enhancements	Enhance Hold Duration
	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Disorient Duration
	Enhance Immobilization Duration
	Enhance ToHit Debuff
	Enhance Defense Debuff
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Tactical Upgrade

Permanently Upgrade the most advanced tactical weapons and gears to one Mercenary Henchman. The Tactucally Upgraded Mercenary will gain powers, weapons, and munitions. The powers gained are unique and dependent upon the target Mercenary Henchman that is Upgraded. This power only works on your Mercenary Henchmen and you can only Tactically Upgrade any given Mercenary Henchman once.

Recharge	Very Slow
Minimum Level	32 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged, Upgrade Mercenary Henchman
Soldiers:
Visual Change:	-
Powers added:	Auto Fire (Extreme DoT)
	Burst (Lethal)
Medic:
Visual Change:	-
Powers added:	Stimulant (Resist Effects)
	Frag Grenade (Moderate Damage, Knockback)
Spec Ops:
Visual Change:	-
Powers added:	SCAR Snipe (?Heavy Damage)
	Tear Gas (Hold/Immob? -Damage)
	Stealth (Stealth +Defense)
Commando:
Visual Change:	-
Powers added:	M30 Grenade (Moderate Damage, Knockback)
	Flamethrower (Extreme DoT)
	LRM Rocket Launcher (Superior Damage, Knockback)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate

Notes

It is a known issue that when fully upgraded (with Tactical Upgrade), if you order the Commando and Spec Ops to attack from very long range, they will all repeatedly use their long range, long recharge time powers (sniper shot for Spec Ops, LRM for Commando) but will not close range to use any other powers. You must force them to move to closer range to get them to use the remainder of their attacks.

External Links

• Mercenaries for Masterminds at Titan Network's RedTomax