Mercenary Talents
The Mercenary has 49 talents across 16 branches — and you will only ever spend 8 points. Below: what unlocks at each level, the picks that lock out an alternative, and which talents the game's own preset builds actually take.
The budget
- Branches
- 16
- Talents
- 49
- Points by level 12
- 8
- You get to pick
- 16%
- First branch
- Level 2
- Last branch
- Level 12
Every talent costs exactly one point and none of them rank up, so the whole build is 8 yes/no picks out of 49. That is the constraint the rest of this page is about.
Unlocks by level
Points arrive on eight of the eleven levels — 4, 7 and 10 grant none — while branches keep opening all the way to level 12. So what you can reach runs ahead of what you can afford from the very first level, and the gap only widens: at the cap you hold 8 points against 49 available talents.
| Lv | Gained | Points | Available | Branch unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | +1 | 1 | 12 | Weapon Mastery, Weapon Mastery, Consecutive Attacks |
| 3 | +1 | 2 | 18 | Whirling Cut Enhancement, Hammer Spin Enhancement |
| 4 | — | 2 | 25 | Stonebreaker Slash Enhancement, Skullcrusher Enhancement |
| 5 | +1 | 3 | 29 | Shield Dash Enhancement, Hammer Dash Enhancement |
| 6 | +1 | 4 | 32 | Block Mastery |
| 7 | — | 4 | 37 | Shield Slam Enhancement, Earthshaker Enhancement |
| 8 | +1 | 5 | 37 | nothing new |
| 9 | +1 | 6 | 40 | Iron Will |
| 10 | — | 6 | 45 | Warhammer Sling Enhancement, Woodling Expert |
| 11 | +1 | 7 | 45 | nothing new |
| 12 | +1 | 8 | 49 | Way of Gylden Hunt |
“Available” counts every talent in an unlocked branch, ignoring prerequisites — a talent behind another still needs its parent bought first, so the number you can genuinely reach is lower.
Choose one
Plan a build →3 branches force a choice: taking one of these talents locks out the others in its group for that character. Everything else on this page is just a question of points — these are the only picks that close a door.
Sword attacks from skills also grant 1 stack of Sword Tip on hit.
Taken by 19 of 76 preset builds
Sword Tip stacks gained from normal attacks and Impalement are replaced by Shield Pressure. Upon reaching 6 stacks of Shield Pressure, you gain 1 stack of Momentum. Momentum can accumulate up to 2 stacks. Shield attacks from skills also grant 2 stacks of Shield Pressure on hit. When you have Momentum, you can press Major Action and Minor Action to consume 1 stack of Momentum and unleash Shockwave Strike.
Taken by 19 of 76 preset builds
The Whirling Cut (Dash) skill becomes available on Sword and Shield. Whirling Cut (Dash): Quickly dash to attack, dealing Physical Damage. Use this skill again within a short time to cast Whirling Cut. Whirling Cut (Dash) has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.
Taken by 19 of 76 preset builds
The Whirling Cut (Bounce) skill becomes available on Sword and Shield. Whirling Cut (Block): Raise the shield for an omnidirectional Perfect Block, then perform a fierce slash dealing Physical Damage. Use this skill again to cast Whirling Cut. Whirling Cut (Block) has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.
Taken by 14 of 76 preset builds
After Stonebreaker Slash's Perfect Block succeeds, it grants Super Armor during the skill and increases the skill's damage.
Stonebreaker Slash supports holding the button. While held, the travel distance is increased and you deal damage while moving.
Every branch
Mercenary builds →All 16 branches in unlock order. 18 of the 49 talents are allocated by at least one of the game's 76 Mercenary preset builds — the rest are unclaimed ground, not necessarily weak ones.
Weapon Mastery
Unlocks at level 2Choose oneSword attacks from skills also grant 1 stack of Sword Tip on hit.
Locks out Shield Buildup
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
Sword Tip stacks gained from normal attacks and Impalement are replaced by Shield Pressure. Upon reaching 6 stacks of Shield Pressure, you gain 1 stack of Momentum. Momentum can accumulate up to 2 stacks. Shield attacks from skills also grant 2 stacks of Shield Pressure on hit. When you have Momentum, you can press Major Action and Minor Action to consume 1 stack of Momentum and unleash Shockwave Strike.
Locks out Sword Edge
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
While in the Blade Edge or Strong Edge state, Sword and Shield attacks deal increased damage.
Requires Sword Edge
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
After Block, there is a very brief window to trigger Perfect Block, but using Block consumes Energy. After a successful Perfect Block, you can immediately enter the Momentum status. Block has a lower base Energy cost in trio mode. Additionally, a special Block skill can be cast during the Breakaway window. This skill can only be used to trigger Perfect Block and cannot maintain the shield for long.
Requires Shield Buildup
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
The number of Sword Tip stacks required to enter the Blade Edge and Strong Edge states is reduced to 4.
Requires Blade Charge
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
All Perfect Blocks grant you a shield and briefly increase damage dealt and your Movement Speed.
Requires Perfect Defense
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
Weapon Mastery
Unlocks at level 2
After a charge-type skill grants Super Armor through charging, it greatly increases Physical Resistance and Magic Resistance. This effect is removed when Super Armor ends.
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
When triggering Super Armor Clash, your own Energy will not be reduced, and the enemy will be Stunned.
Requires Hammer of Convergence
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
You can move and dodge while charging Power Hammer and Punishing Hammer. You may dodge up to 2 times, and each dodge consumes Energy.
Requires Unstoppable
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
Consecutive Attacks
Unlocks at level 2
Hammer normal attacks deal increased damage and additional damage to shields.
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
Landing consecutive Hammer attacks recovers Energy.
Requires Shield Break
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
When the Hammer deals damage, it accumulates Stun stacks. At 6 Stun stacks, the Hammer's next attack will Stun the target and remove all stacks. Major Action hits accumulate 1 Stun stack, while Minor Action and skill hits accumulate 2 Stun stacks. Note: Hammer Spin hits during the spin only apply 1 stack of Stun. The final hit applies 2 stacks of Stun.
Requires Combo Energy Recovery
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
Whirling Cut Enhancement
Unlocks at level 3Choose oneThe Whirling Cut (Dash) skill becomes available on Sword and Shield. Whirling Cut (Dash): Quickly dash to attack, dealing Physical Damage. Use this skill again within a short time to cast Whirling Cut. Whirling Cut (Dash) has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.
Locks out Foresight
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
The Whirling Cut (Bounce) skill becomes available on Sword and Shield. Whirling Cut (Block): Raise the shield for an omnidirectional Perfect Block, then perform a fierce slash dealing Physical Damage. Use this skill again to cast Whirling Cut. Whirling Cut (Block) has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.
Locks out Fearless
Allocated by 14 of 76 preset builds
Gain 1 stack of Sword Tip on skill hit. While in the Blade Edge or Strong Edge state, this skill deals increased damage.
Requires Fearless
After a successful Perfect Block triggered by Whirling Cut (Block), Whirling Cut grants Super Armor, and its Damage Multiplier is increased.
Requires Foresight
Hammer Spin Enhancement
Unlocks at level 3
Extends the duration of Hammer Spin's Super Armor effect.
Increase the rotation speed, Movement Speed, and turning speed of Hammer Spin.
Allocated by 19 of 76 preset builds
Stonebreaker Slash Enhancement
Unlocks at level 4Choose oneAfter Stonebreaker Slash's Perfect Block succeeds, it grants Super Armor during the skill and increases the skill's damage.
Locks out Sudden Edge
Stonebreaker Slash supports holding the button. While held, the travel distance is increased and you deal damage while moving.
Locks out Stonebreaker Counter
Stonebreaker Slash can be cast during the Breakaway window, but this will increase the skill's base Energy cost and extend its base cooldown time.
Requires Stonebreaker Counter
Gain 1 stack of Sword Tip on skill hit. While in the Blade Edge or Strong Edge state, this skill deals increased damage.
Requires Sudden Edge
Skullcrusher Enhancement
Unlocks at level 4
You can move and dodge while charging Skullcrusher. You may dodge up to 2 times, and each dodge consumes Energy. Once you dodge during charging, the skill's cooldown will be the same as that of a Lv.2 charge cast.
Skullcrusher on Lv.1 Charge grants Super Armor during casting.
Allocated by 9 of 76 preset builds
When a charged attack or skill hits, it reduces the cooldown of Skullcrusher.
Requires Dynamic Charge
Shield Dash Enhancement
Unlocks at level 5
After successfully blocking during Shield Dash, enemies on hit by this skill are Stunned for a period of time.
The last hit of Shield Dash reduces the skill's remaining cooldown when hitting an enemy player.
Hammer Dash Enhancement
Unlocks at level 5
Increases the dash distance of Hammer Dash.
Allocated by 10 of 76 preset builds
Gain Super Armor while casting Hammer Dash.
Block Mastery
Unlocks at level 6
Successful Block adds 1 stack of Indomitable Will. Successful Perfect Block adds 3 stacks of Indomitable Will.
Increase Movement Speed during Block.
Hitting enemies with a shield attack briefly taunts them. This effect has a cooldown.
Allocated by 5 of 76 preset builds
Shield Slam Enhancement
Unlocks at level 7
Shield Slam can be quickly cast while blocking with the shield raised.
Increases the slow effect of Shield Slam, and enemies directly hit by the shield are Stunned for a period.
Requires Bounce
Each enemy hit by Shield Slam adds 3 stacks of Indomitable Will.
Requires Bounce
Earthshaker Enhancement
Unlocks at level 7You can move, jump, and dodge while charging Earthshaker. You may dodge up to 2 times, and each dodge consumes Energy. Once you dodge during charging, the skill's cooldown will be the same as that of a Lv.2 charge cast.
When a charged attack hits, it reduces the cooldown of Earthshaker.
Requires Leap Step
Iron Will
Unlocks at level 9
Increase Critical Damage Resistance.
Stack the Indomitable Will effect when attacked. There is a brief interval between effect triggers.
After a charge-type skill reaches the next phase, you gain 2 stacks of Indomitable Will. For hold-to-use skills, you gain 1 stack of Indomitable Will periodically.
Warhammer Sling Enhancement
Unlocks at level 10
Warhammer Sling throws 3 stones; however, the damage, damage area, and impact of the stones are reduced.
Warhammer Sling can be held to perform a Lv.1 charge. Lv.1 Charge: Increases maximum range and Damage Multiplier.
Requires Rock Scatter
Woodling Expert
Unlocks at level 10
Woodling merchants will offer you a discount during matches.
Greatly increases damage dealt to Returner Woodlings.
Allows you to learn the spawn location of the Smuggler Woodling and Soul Ferry in advance.
Way of Gylden Hunt
Unlocks at level 12
Increases Gyldenblod gained.
Increases damage dealt to monsters but reduces damage dealt to Gyldhunters.
Allows you to sense the corpses of other Gyldhunters.
Increases resistance to the Gyldenmist, slowing the rate of Gyldening.