Path of Exile 3.26: Mercenaries of Trarthus League Mechanic Explained

Jun-13-2025

 

Path of Exile 3.26: Secrets of the Atlas introduces a familiar yet innovative gameplay system — the Mercenaries of Trarthus League. It's one of the most exciting league mechanics in recent memory, adding powerful allies, strategic loot opportunities, and a whole new layer of tactical depth to your journey through Wraeclast.

 

However, since the mercenary system isn't officially live yet, this guide will give you a clear idea of how the Trarthus Alliance mercenary system works and what new gameplay experiences it might offer, based on developer previews and player feedback.

 

 

What Are Mercenaries?

In this league, players will randomly encounter Trarthan Mercenaries — powerful NPCs who roam the world with their own builds, fully equipped gear sets, and pouches filled with currency. Each time you meet one, you'll get to inspect their equipment, skill gems, and stats before making a choice: Hire, Take Item, or Exile.

 

But nothing comes easy in Path of Exile. According to Trarthus tradition, to gain any benefit, you must first defeat the mercenary. If you lose, the mercenary vanishes and won't appear again with the same gear or abilities.

 

Victory gives you full control over the interaction — and that's when the real decision-making begins.

 

Option 1: Hire the Mercenary

If the mercenary's skillset complements your build or shows exceptional power, you can hire them by spending Gold, a new currency introduced with Settlers of Kalguur. Hired mercenaries become permanent allies, joining you in battle and boosting your effectiveness.

 

You can hire up to three mercenaries, but only one can fight alongside you at a time. Mercenaries are treated as half a player, so monster difficulty scales accordingly — which also means greater rewards.

 

Mercenaries come in various combat classes like Bladecaster, Eruptor, or Sniper, each with a distinct role in combat.

 

Note: Mercenaries do not level up. Choose wisely. Hiring a powerful mercenary early on may give you a major advantage, but you'll likely want to replace them as you progress into tougher content.

 

Option 2: Take Their Gear or Gems

If you're not interested in the mercenary themselves but like their loot, you can challenge them in battle and claim one of the following rewards upon victory:

 

- Take one piece of their equipped gear, often better than standard monster drops.

- Select a Trarthan Gem, a new variant of existing skills — these function like Transfigured Gems with alternate effects.

- Loot all items from their pockets, typically small amounts of Gold or standard PoE currency items.

 

Occasionally, you'll encounter Infamous Mercenaries. These carry powerful, league-exclusive items or rare high-tier affixes that are hard to find early in the game.

 

Option 3: Exile the Mercenary

Not every mercenary is worth your time. If you'd prefer to avoid certain classes or builds in future encounters, you can choose to Exile them after victory. This prevents them from reappearing for the next 10 areas. It's a useful way to filter out weak or unwanted archetypes and improve your chances of meeting more valuable targets.

 

Important note: Defeated mercenaries you don't hire or exile aren't gone forever. They return to Kingsmarch, where you can revive and challenge them again by paying a Gold cost.

 

Managing Your Mercenary

After hiring a mercenary, you'll gain access to their full stat panel, including:

 

- Fixed Level: Their level is locked to the level you were at when they were hired. So, prioritize strong skillsets over raw level when recruiting.

 

- Gear Customization: You can equip them with your own upgraded gear. However, any replaced or discarded items are lost permanently.

 

- Skill Gems: Mercenaries can equip up to 6 linked skill gems, including Support Gems — some may even have Gilded Supports, a new top-tier support gem exclusive to this league.

 

This system offers a fresh way to experiment with builds. Think of your mercenary as a mini version of your own character, with its own unique playstyle potential.

 

The above is all we currently know about the Mercenaries of Trarthus league mechanic featured in PoE 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas. With the power of mercenaries at your side, you'll be well equipped to conquer the new season.