Mercenaries league

Mercenaries league

Challenge league

Release version	3.26.0
Release date	2025-06-13 20:00:00 UTC
Links	Official Page

Mercenaries league, also known as Mercenaries of Trarthus, is the upcoming challenge league. It launches on June 13, 2025 as part of Path of Exile: Secrets of the Atlas in version 3.26.0.

League mechanic

Players will encounter lawless veterans from Trarthus known as Mercenaries that can be challenged to recruit them as an ally or reap a variety of rewards. Each mercenary has their own set of equipment, skills, and other enhancements that give each one a distinct identity.

Hired mercenaries can have their equipment replaced with players' own crafted items. Mercenaries' levels do not increase, so stronger mercenaries must be tracked down in higher area level areas or maps. Mercenaries may also use unusual variants of certain skills; they may offer exclusive Trarthan gems as a reward, similar to transfigured gems.

Rarely, players may encounter noble mercenaries that are descended from the four major death trade families of Trarthus. They come with improved equipment, sometimes with exclusive Infamous modifiers.

Ladders

In Mercenaries league, players can choose to enable any of these optional game modes:

• Hardcore (HC)
• Solo Self-Found (SSF)
• Ruthless (R)

This means that there are eight distinct ladders for Mercenaries league:

• Mercenaries league
• HC Mercenaries league
• SSF Mercenaries league
• HC SSF Mercenaries league
• R Mercenaries league
• HC R Mercenaries league
• SSF R Mercenaries league
• HC SSF R Mercenaries league

Items

Trarthan gems

Main page: Trarthan gem

Gem
File:Bladefall of Trarthus inventory icon.pngBladefall of TrarthusBladefall of TrarthusSpell, AoE, Physical, Arcane, Duration Level: (1-20) Cost: 5% Mana per second Cooldown Time: 0.30 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 120%Requires Level 28Once activated, continuously spends mana to cause volleys of ethereal weapons rain from the sky around you, dealing damage to enemies they impact. Each Blade will target a separate enemy in the volley area if possible. Each enemy can only be hit once by each volley, even if multiple blades land near them. This skill cannot be triggered or used by Totems, Traps, or Mines.Deals (26-357) to (39-536) Physical Damage Base duration is 6.00 seconds A Volley of blades falls every 0.7 seconds 2% increased Volley frequency per 100 maximum Mana Base Volley radius is 2.5 metres Base Blade radius is 1 metre 5 Blades fall per Volley, which will then Linger in the ground Maximum 40 Lingering Blades can be left in the ground at a time Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Base radius is (0.015-0.3) metresPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Bladefall of Trarthus inventory icon.png	28
File:Blast Rain of Trarthus inventory icon.pngBlast Rain of TrarthusBlast Rain of TrarthusFire, Attack, AoE, Projectile, Duration, Bow Level: (1-20) Cost: (9-13) Mana Attack Speed: 80% of base Attack Damage: (90-105)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (90-105)%Requires Level 28Fires a single arrow up in the air, to rain down at a targeted location. The arrow deals area damage around where it lands, as well as releasing a wave of fire which will apply a burning debuff to enemies. The impact of the arrow will also inflict this debuff.Deals (142.3-2737.1) Base Fire Damage per second Base duration is 4.00 seconds Fires 1 Arrow Modifiers to Projectile Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effect Modifiers to number of Projectiles do not apply to this Skill 100% of Physical Damage Converted to Fire Damage Base radius is 1 metre Base secondary radius is 3.5 metres Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: +(1-20)% to Fire Damage over Time MultiplierPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Blast Rain of Trarthus inventory icon.png	28
File:Siege Ballista of Trarthus inventory icon.pngSiege Ballista of TrarthusSiege Ballista of TrarthusAttack, Projectile, Totem, Bow Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-13) Mana Attack Damage: (100-125)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (100-125)%Requires Level 12Summons a ring of ballista totems around a targeted location. These ballistae fire once at the targeted location and then expire. Requires a Bow.Arrows Pierce (6-9) additional Targets 300% increased Totem Placement range Totem lasts 4 seconds +(3-7) to maximum number of Summoned Totems Summons (4-8) Ballista Totems in a ring which use this Skill Totems expire after Attacking once Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% more Projectile DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Siege Ballista of Trarthus inventory icon.png	12
File:Spectral Helix of Trarthus inventory icon.pngSpectral Helix of TrarthusSpectral Helix of TrarthusTrap, Attack, Projectile Level: (1-20) Cost: (6-9) Mana Attack Damage: (120-180)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (120-180)%Requires Level 12Throws a trap which, once triggered, fires a spectral copy of your melee weapon. It spins around while flying in a large spiral, damaging enemies in its path, and bouncing if it collides with walls. If dual wielding, each Trap thrown will randomly use either the main hand or off hand weapon.Throw up to 1 additional Trap if dual wielding Trap lasts 4 seconds Bounces up to 3 times Modifiers to number of Projectiles instead apply to the number of Bounces Spirals through 4.25 rotations 25% reduced Trap Throwing Speed while wielding a Two Handed Weapon Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Projectiles that have Pierced deal (0.5-10)% more DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Spectral Helix of Trarthus inventory icon.png	12
File:Spectral Shield Throw of Trarthus inventory icon.pngSpectral Shield Throw of TrarthusSpectral Shield Throw of TrarthusAttack, Projectile, Physical Level: (1-20) Cost: (9-12) Mana Attack Time: 0.80 sec Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%Requires Level 28Throws a spectral copy of your shield as a piercing projectile which deals off-hand damage augmented by the defences of the shield. When it reaches the targeted location it will hover in place, repeatedly firing a number of smaller shards as projectiles in all directions. The rate at which it releases shards will increase until all shards have been fired. Modifiers that cause additional projectiles to be fired will add more shards, not more copies of the shield.Shard Projectiles Deal 50% less Damage (56-243) to (84-364) Base Off Hand Physical Damage (2-3) to (3-5) Added Physical Damage per 15 Armour or Evasion Rating on Shield Fires (17-23) additional Projectiles Fires 6 Shards at a time until all fired Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% more Projectile SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Spectral Shield Throw of Trarthus inventory icon.png	28
File:Spectral Throw of Trarthus inventory icon.pngSpectral Throw of TrarthusSpectral Throw of TrarthusTrap, Attack, Projectile Level: (1-20) Cost: (5-9) Mana Attack Damage: (92-138)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (92-138)%Throws a trap which, once triggered, fires many spectral copies of your melee weapon. They fly out in all directions and then return to where the trap triggered, in a spinning attack that damages enemies in their path. If dual wielding, each Trap thrown will randomly use either the main hand or off hand weapon.Trap lasts 4 seconds Fires (3-5) Projectiles Fires Projectiles in a circle Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Projectiles that have Pierced deal (0.5-10)% more DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Spectral Throw of Trarthus inventory icon.png	1
File:Dark Pact of Trarthus inventory icon.pngDark Pact of TrarthusDark Pact of TrarthusSpell, AoE, Chaos, Nova Level: (1-20) Cost: (7-13) Mana Cast Time: 0.50 sec Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%Requires Level 28This spell deals chaos damage in an area around you. Casting this spell will cause you to gain Ruin. If this spell inflicts your seventh Ruin, it will sacrifice a large portion of your life to deal extra chaos damage based on the amount sacrificed, and remove all Ruin from you.Deals (24-241) to (36-362) Chaos Damage 50% less Damage with Ailments Gain one Ruin on use Reaching seven Ruin will Sacrifice 50% of your Life to deal 400% of Sacrificed Life as Chaos Damage Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% chance to gain an additional Ruin on usePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Dark Pact of Trarthus inventory icon.png	28
File:Storm Call of Trarthus inventory icon.pngStorm Call of TrarthusStorm Call of TrarthusSpell, AoE, Duration, Physical Level: (1-20) Cost: (13-37) Life Cast Time: 0.75 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 235%Requires Level 12Sets a marker at a location. After a short duration, a bolt strikes the marker, dealing physical damage around it and causing bolts to strike at any other markers you've cast. Bolt impacts will leave behind a pool of boiling blood, which deals physical damage over time to enemies within it for a secondary duration.Deals (24-1085) to (36-1627) Physical Damage Deals (50.8-1683.3) Base Physical Damage per second Base duration is 2.00 seconds Base secondary duration is 4.00 seconds Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effect +(0-0.6) metres to radius Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Base secondary duration is (0.05-1) secondsPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Storm Call of Trarthus inventory icon.png	12
File:Wave of Conviction of Trarthus inventory icon.pngWave of Conviction of TrarthusWave of Conviction of TrarthusSpell, AoE, Duration, Physical, Fire, Nova Level: (1-20) Cost: (9-23) Mana Cast Time: 0.70 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: (180-260)%Requires Level 16An expanding wave of energy surges outwards from you, damaging enemies in a ring-shaped area over a duration. The ring then returns, damaging enemies again on the way back. Only one Wave of Conviction can be active at a timeDeals (28-1181) to (42-1772) Physical Damage Base duration is (0.40-0.50) seconds 50% of Physical Damage Converted to Fire Damage Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Damage Penetrates (0.75-15)% of Enemy Elemental ResistancesPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Wave of Conviction of Trarthus inventory icon.png	16
File:Chain Hook of Trarthus inventory icon.pngChain Hook of TrarthusChain Hook of TrarthusAttack, AoE, Melee Level: (1-20) Cost: (5-8) Mana Attack Speed: 120% of base Attack Damage: (171-393)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (171-393)%Requires Level 12Throws chains ahead of you, attaching them to targets hit. Enemies chained to you will grant rage when hit. When chains are broken, they snap and deal attack damage in an area around the target they were attached to. Requires a One Handed Mace, Sceptre, Sword or Axe.Throws Chains at up to 6 targets in range Chained targets grant 1 Rage when Hit Maximum chain length is 6 metres Maximum 12 chains +0.1 metres to Radius per 5 Rage Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Throws Chains at up to (0.15-3) targets in rangePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Chain Hook of Trarthus inventory icon.png	12
File:Heavy Strike of Trarthus inventory icon.pngHeavy Strike of TrarthusHeavy Strike of TrarthusAttack, Melee, Strike Level: (1-20) Cost: (7-12) Mana Attack Speed: 85% of base Attack Damage: (224-552)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (224-552)%Attacks enemies with a forceful blow. Requires a Staff.Increases and Reductions to Spell Damage also apply to Attack Damage from this Skill at 150% of their value 2% chance to deal Double Damage per 10 Intelligence Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Increases and Reductions to Spell Damage also apply to Attack Damage from this Skill at +(1-20)% of their valuePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.File:Heavy Strike of Trarthus inventory icon.png	1
Sunder of TrarthusSunder of TrarthusAttack, AoE, Slam, Melee Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-13) Mana Attack Speed: 75% of base Attack Damage: (205-471)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (205-471)%Requires Level 12Slams the ground, creating a slow wave of churning terrain that damages enemies in a sequence of areas in front of you. A number of enemies hit by the wave will release a shockwave, damaging other enemies around them. Using the skill again will stop the previous wave. When the wave reaches a target or terrain, it can restart aiming towards an enemy, if one is in range. Requires a Mace, Sceptre, Axe, Staff or Unarmed.(0-19)% more Area of Effect Shockwaves deal 40% less Damage Wave causes Shockwaves from up to 5 Enemies in each Area Wave has (0-25)% reduced delay between Areas Wave Damages 4 Areas Wave cannot stop before Damaging 2 Areas Wave can restart up to 2 times Wave Areas gain +0.1 metres to radius for each previous Area Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Wave has (0.5-10)% reduced delay between AreasPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	12

Unique items

Item	Stats
HowlcrackHowlcrack Ezomyte BurgonetArmour: (692-990)Requires Level 60, 138 Str+(30-40) to Strength (100-160)% increased Armour Non-Instant Warcries ignore their Cooldown when Used Warcries Cost +15% of Life Warcry Skills have (15-25)% increased Area of Effect"Our new capital will be called Korathin. My slaves will build it. My price is dominion... or blood." - Keita's proclaimation, 872 IC	+(30-40) to Strength (100-160)% increased Armour Non-Instant Warcries ignore their Cooldown when Used Warcries Cost +15% of Life Warcry Skills have (15-25)% increased Area of Effect
ScornfluxScornflux Satin SlippersEnergy Shield: (26-30)Requires Level 54, 69 Int+(5-15) to Intelligence +(40-70) to maximum Mana +(5-15)% to all Elemental Resistances Gain Arcane Surge when you use a Movement Skill Increases to Cast Speed from Arcane Surge also applies to Movement Speed Misty FootprintsThe grave insult had to be answered; in a mystic flash, Bardiya crossed the room and struck Cyaxan. Thus began the War of the Great Families.	+(5-15) to Intelligence +(40-70) to maximum Mana +(5-15)% to all Elemental Resistances Gain Arcane Surge when you use a Movement Skill Increases to Cast Speed from Arcane Surge also applies to Movement Speed Misty Footprints
Azadi CrestAzadi Crest Lacquered BucklerChance to Block: (25-34)% Evasion: (477-549) Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 60, 154 Dex6% increased Movement Speed+(1-100) to maximum Life +(1-10)% Chance to Block (1-10)% chance to avoid Projectiles Your Lucky or Unlucky effects use the best or worst from three rolls instead of two"Keita expects an assassination attempt by stealth or subterfuge. I say we attack head-on, like madmen. Let the fates decide." - Azadi, first ancestor of the House Azadin	6% increased Movement Speed+(1-100) to maximum Life +(1-10)% Chance to Block (1-10)% chance to avoid Projectiles Your Lucky or Unlucky effects use the best or worst from three rolls instead of two
Binds of Bloody VengeanceBinds of Bloody Vengeance Vanguard BeltRequires Level 78+(260-320) to Armour and Evasion Rating+(200-400) to Armour +(60-90) to maximum Life (20-40)% increased Attack Damage if you've been Hit Recently All Hits with your next Non-Channelling Attack within 4 seconds of taking a Critical Strike will be Critical StrikesWhat once marked his submission became the tool of his defiance - torn from the lash of House Keita.	+(260-320) to Armour and Evasion Rating+(200-400) to Armour +(60-90) to maximum Life (20-40)% increased Attack Damage if you've been Hit Recently All Hits with your next Non-Channelling Attack within 4 seconds of taking a Critical Strike will be Critical Strikes
Hand of HeresyHand of Heresy Martyr GlovesArmour: (246-365) Energy Shield: (49-73)Requires Level 78, 70 Str, 70 Int(40-80)% increased Armour and Energy Shield (15-25)% increased Life Regeneration rate 15% increased Area of Effect of Aura Skills Excommunicate Enemies on Melee Hit for 3 seconds"The followers of Light recognize Tyndarus Phrecius as the Emperor. For siding with the rebels, you and your brothers shall be cast out from the true faith, forevermore!" - High Templar Andronicus, 892 IC	(40-80)% increased Armour and Energy Shield (15-25)% increased Life Regeneration rate 15% increased Area of Effect of Aura Skills Excommunicate Enemies on Melee Hit for 3 seconds

Challenges and rewards

Main page: List of Mercenaries league challenges

The Mercenaries league includes 40 optional challenges. Completing them awards the following cosmetic items:

Challenges	Reward
12
19
20
22
25
28
31
34
36
37
40

Ruthless mode

Main page: List of Ruthless Mercenaries league challenges

The Ruthless versions of the Mercenaries league include 8 separate challenges. It awards the same cosmetic items, but has a different totem pole decoration.