The Mercenary Encyclopedia

The Basics

Mercenaries are specialized troops used for attack, defense, Control Point, and even gathering. Each comes with its own stats and characteristics. Many of the mercenaries work in tandem and benefit from one another. Knowledge and understanding of how the mercenaries function is critical to your success in the game.

Mercenary Portal

Mercenaries are trained in the Mercenary Portal, which is located to the left of the Training Grounds. Leveling the portal takes T1 RSS until Level 11. Thereafter it requires Mercenary Portal architectural plans. Each level increase of the portal gives an additional base mercenary troop capacity and mercenary troop training capacity. 

Here is an abbreviated chart detailing the additional mercenary capacity and troop training capacity that comes with leveling up your merc portal:

Beginning at level 31, you are granted additional benefits for mercenary troop hospital capacity. Here is an abbreviated chart outlining these benefits:

Within the portal, you will see the mercs available to train. Note that not all mercenary troops are available at all times. They will come and go in terms of availability. As you complete certain research trees, you will be able to make some of the mercs open and available to train permanently at all times. 

To acquire mercenaries, you will need type-specific mercenary tokens, food, and mercenary rations. 

Mercenary Tokens and Rations can be awarded in event prizes or purchased in packs. Occasionally they are offered as a global gift.

Mercenary Training Camp

Each mercenary starts at a certain level. From there, they can be leveled up in the Mercenary Training Camp. To level up your mercs, you will need T2 merc rations. The Mercenary Training Camp is located just below the Mercenary Portal. It too can be leveled up with architecture plans. It maxes at level five. Below is a table detailing the benefits unlocked as you upgrade the training camp.

Kill Order

Take note of the rating stats within the details of each mercenary troop type. It will give you important information. The kill order is determined by health, not the highest rating. For example: Although the attack on the troops shown below is level 4, their health is level 3. That means they will die at the same time as your T3 troops. You cannot hide them behind the T4. 

Let’s take a look at the different mercenary troops and their uses.

Note: The stats listed in this article are at maximum T8 level.

Offensive Mercenaries

We’ll begin with our offensive mercenaries. While most have some ratings for defense, their primary purpose is to attack.

Rally Mercenaries

These mercenaries were released as a trio to allow you to take advantage of leveraging your attack. Match your attacking Rally Mercenary troop with your strong skill, or if an opponent is lopsided, use a specific rally merc to defeat their weak troop.

Rally Infantry / Artillery

Rally Vehicle

Very strong vs. syndicate targets
Strong vs. rallied targets
Weak vs. wall defenses, bomber aircraft, and respective types (leveraging)

While Attacking:

• Strong when in a rally, especially when paired with Xira’s rally attack skilling

While Defending:

• Rally Merc health is increased by the number of Nightingale and Machina present 

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits greatly from Rally Attack bonus
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Requires mercenary rations and rally tokens to train

Aircraft

Fokker D VII

The Fokker D VII is a good troop for gathering and is super speedy. They have a carrying load of 20, which is a good bit higher than the T2 operative’s carrying load of 11. You can permanently unlock the Fokker D VII in the Xira skill tree.

Very strong vs. syndicate outposts
Strong vs. battle marked targets and bomber aircraft
Weak vs. anti-aircraft

While Defending:

• Health is increased based on the number of Machina present

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Requires mercenary rations and Fokker D VII tokens to train

P-51 Mustang

Very strong vs. bomber aircraft (Bombay, Sky Wagon) and helicopters (Helicobs)
Strong vs. battle marked targets
Weak vs. anti-aircraft

While Defending:

• Health is increased by the number of Machina present

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Requires mercenary rations and P51 Mustang tokens to train

Bombay 8-A

Very strong vs. all ground units and syndicate outposts
Strong vs. battle marked targets
Weak vs. fighter aircraft (ex: Phantom, P51 Mustang, Fokker DVII) and anti-aircraft (Flak Vickers)

While Defending:

• Health is increased based on the number of Machina present

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Requires mercenary rations and Bombay 8-A tokens to train

Phantom X

The Phantom X is a powerful fighter aircraft with some unique characteristics. It is strong against almost everything and only has a few weaknesses. When the phantom hits troops that are two levels below, it gains twice the attack power. Also, it’s population is concealed in reports.

Very strong vs. helicopters (including Helicob and Dragonfly), bombers, (including Sky Wagon and Bombay), all ground units, and syndicate outposts
Weak vs. fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft (Flak Vickers)

While Attacking:

• Gains twice the attack power when hitting troops two levels lower

While defending:

• Phantom health is increased by the number of Machina present

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Population is concealed in reports

Helicob

The Helicob has multiple uses for attack, but the Control Point is where it really shines.

Very strong vs squad, rallied Control Point, wall defenses, and syndicate outposts
Strong vs. all ground units
Weak vs. fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft

While Attacking:

• Attack power doubles when solo-attacking the Control Point.
• Attack power increases 5x when rallying the Control Point.
• Health doubles when the attack deployment contains Fokken DVII or P-51 Mustangs in greater numbers than Helicobs

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses

Sky Wagon and Airborne Brigade

The Sky Wagon and Airborne Brigade were released to work together as a team. Sky Wagons are bomber aircraft mercenaries and the Airborne Brigade are infantry mercenaries. The more Sky Wagons present in a march, the stronger the Airborne Brigade will attack.

Sky Wagon

Very strong vs. all ground units and syndicate outposts
Strong vs. battle marked targets
Weak vs. fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft

While attacking:

• Increases the attack of Airborne Brigade
• At maximum over 500 Sky Wagons make the attack of one Airborne Brigade the equivalent to approximately 10 Airborne Brigade without Sky Wagons.

While defending:

• Health is increased by the number of Machina present.

Additional Attributes:

• Bypass enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses

Airborne Brigade

Very strong vs. syndicate outposts
Strong vs. battle marked targets
Weak vs. transporters, aircraft, and anti-aircraft

While Attacking:

• Attack is increased by the number of Sky Wagons present in the attack deployment.
• Health is increased by the number of Dragonflies present in the attack deployment.

While Defending:

• Health is increased by the number of Nightingales present.

Additional Attributes:

• Bypass enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from normal Infantry Aircraft Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses.
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses.

Dragonfly

Another partner of the Airborne Brigade, the Dragonfly increases the Airborne’s health when attacking together.

Very strong vs. anti-aircraft, squad, and syndicate outposts
Strong vs. battle marked targets
Weak vs. fighter aircraft

While Attacking:

• 10,000 dragonflies increase Airborne health by one troop level.
• 25,000 dragonflies increase Airborne health by two troop levels.
• 50,000 dragonflies increase Airborne health by three troop levels.
• With 500,000 dragonflies, the health of one Airborne would be the equivalent of five Airborne without any dragonflies present.
• Increases armor when attacking enemy bases and gathering on tiles

While Defending:

• Dragonfly health is based on the number of Machina present.

Additional Attributes:

• 180% more gathering speed than T4 troops
• Has a larger loot capacity than the Semi Centaurus
• Requires mercenary rations and Dragonfly tokens to train.

Operatives

We currently have two types of operative mercenaries. They each provide very different functions, so we’ll start with the Masquerat.

Masquerat

The Masquerat is similar to the Phantom X in that the opponent cannot tell how many are hitting them. Their population is concealed in all reports. They are designed for attacking with the purpose of taking out Nightingales and Machina.

Strong vs. Medics and Mechanics
Weak vs. wall defenses

While Attacking:

• Attack triples with operatives present in the deployment (in greater numbers than the Masquerat)

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Population is concealed in scout reports
• Benefits from Operative Attack bonuses and applies 3x to that bonus
• Benefits from all Operative Armor and Health bonuses 
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Requires mercenary rations, Masquerat tokens, a Nightingale token and a Machina token to train.

Phoenix

The Phoenix is an offensive operative mercenary whose attack increases based on how many different types of normal troops she is attacking.

Very strong vs. normal troops (Infantry, Vehicle, Artillery, Operative)
Weak vs. Rally Troops, Semi Centaurus, and other transporters

While Attacking:

• Boosts the Masquerat’s attack
• Becomes stronger based on how many different types of normal troops she is up against
• 2x attack power when attacking two types of normal troops
• 4x attack power when attacking three types of normal troops
• 8x attack power when attacking four types of normal troops

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Health is stronger when doing a solo attack
• Benefits from all Operative Attack, Armor, and Health bonuses 
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses

Defensive Mercenaries

The defensive mercenaries are quite powerful and very important to your gaming strategy. There are several types, but we’ll start with the transporters.

Transporters

Semi Centaurus

In addition to defense, these mercs are excellent for gathering. They have a 50% higher load capacity (30) than the Fokker D VII and 140% faster gathering speed than T4 troops. Similar to operatives, they are strong against wall defenses, especially traps. 

Very strong vs. syndicate outposts
Strong vs. Infantry, anti-aircraft, wall defenses, battle marked targets
Weak vs. bomber aircraft

When Attacking:

• Increases armor when attacking enemy bases and gathering on tiles

Additional Attributes:

• Benefits from Mercenary Transporter Attack, Armor and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• 140% more gathering speed than T4 troops
• Has a large loot capacity
• Requires mercenary rations and Semi Centaurus tokens to train

ARMSV

The ARMSV is a transporter mercenary that can be used for attack and defense as they have benefits for both.

Very strong vs. helicopter aircraft, syndicate outposts, and artillery (including anti-aircraft)
Weak vs. land mine

While Attacking:

• Increases the attack of all rally mercenary troops when attacking together
• 37,000 ARMSV increase rally merc attack by 2x.
• 84,500 ARMSV increase rally merc attack by 3x.
• The maximum effectiveness is 6x.
• The attack boost is further enhanced when troops are used in a rally.
• Fewer ARMSV are required to achieve the same effect when attacking the Control Point.

While Defending:

• ARMSV health is increased by the number of Machina present.
• ARMSV increases the health of Nightingales and Machina.
• 20,000 ARMSV increase health by at least 2.5x.
• 100,000 ARMSV increase health by up to 7x.
• The maximum effectiveness is 10x.
• Fewer ARMSV are required to achieve the same effect when defending the Control Point.

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Transporter Attack, Health, and Armor bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses

Anti-Aircraft

Flak Vickers

Flak Vickers are the anti-aircraft mercenaries. These take down all things in the sky. Among others, they benefit from normal artillery bonuses, and they gain an additional 50% from the Artillery Attack bonus.

Very strong vs. all aircraft and syndicate outposts
Strong vs. battle marked targets and infantry
Weak vs. operatives and transporters

While Defending:

• Flak Vickers health is based on the number of Machina present.

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from the normal Artillery Attack bonus and gains 50% additional power from it
• Benefits from normal Artillery Armor and Health bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Requires mercenary rations and Flak Vickers tokens to train

Medic

Nightingale

Nightingales increase the health of all infantry and operative troops (normal and mercenary) while defending. This mercenary will likely be a key player in your defense strategy.

Very strong vs. mechanic, infantry and operative troops, and syndicate outposts
Defend well vs. infantry, operatives, squad, and bomber aircraft

While Defending:

• Nightingale health is based on the quantity of ARMSV present.
• Nightingales increase the health of all infantry and operative troops (normal and mercenary).
• 20,000 Nightingales increase health by at least 2.5x.
• 100,000 Nightingales increase health by up to 7x.
• The maximum effectiveness is 10x.
• Fewer Nightingale are required to achieve the same effect when defending the Control Point.

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Medic Attack, Health, and Armor bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses

Mechanic

Machina

Machina increase the health of all vehicle, artillery, and aircraft troops (normal and mercenary) while defending. Along with nightingale and ARMSV, these will likely be a key component of your defense strategy.

Very strong vs. medic, vehicle and artillery troops, and syndicate outposts
Defend well vs. vehicle, artillery, and squad

While Defending:

• Machina health is based on the quantity of ARMSV present.
• Machinas increase the health of all vehicle, artillery, and aircraft troops (normal and mercenary).
• 20,000 Machina increase health by at least 2.5x.
• 100,000 Machina increase health by up to 7x.
• The maximum effectiveness is 10x.
• Fewer Machina are required to achieve the same effect when defending the Control Point.

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Mercenary Mechanic Attack, Health, and Armor bonuses
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses

Guerrilla

Guerrilla Mercs are the newest set of mercenaries to be released and they are solely for defending. By design, they can be compared to the rally troops by coming in three types: infantry, artillery, and vehicle. Similarly to the rally troops, they receive boosts from individual troop types as well as troop armor, attack, and health.

Very strong vs. rally deployments
Strong vs. rally troops
Weak vs. Phoenix

While Defending:

• Health is increased based on the number of Nightingale and Machina present
• Health and attack are GREATLY increased while defending against a rally

Additional Attributes:

• Bypasses enemy counterintelligence
• Benefits from Troop Attack, Troop Armor, and Troop Health bonuses
• Population is concealed in reports
• Attack bonus is DOUBLED when using the anti-scout and guerrilla tactics item for 1H

Mercenaries add significant boosts to your gameplay. It’s important to understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as have a firm understanding of how they work together. This article will be updated as new mercs are released.

Do you have a unique attack or defense strategy that utilizes mercenaries? If so, leave us a comment below!