Path of Exile

Path of Exile 3.29 brings the Mercenaries of Trarthus system into the core game and gives the Scion a new Ascendancy that is built around permanent companions. The Luminary can recruit Mercenaries for long-term use, change their equipment, rotate them between active and reserve slots, and build around the skills that each warrior provides. This creates a form of character customisation that combines personal damage, defensive support, utility skills, equipment planning, and companion management. Regular Mercenaries still appear from Act 3 onward, where players can challenge them to duels, claim an item after victory, and hire them for a limited number of areas. The Luminary expands that structure through permanent recruitment and direct equipment control. Up to three Mercenaries can remain hired at once, with one active companion in combat and two reserve companions that are stored in towns or hideouts. Mercenary Warrants, Trarthan Scarabs, Atlas passives, Infamous variants, and special warriors from Curse of the Allflame all increase the number of available options. Building around this Ascendancy requires more than selecting a companion with high damage. Skill coverage, equipment restrictions, survivability, Link interactions, and the role that the Mercenary fills within the character setup all influence the final result. This guide covers each part of the system and explains how to assemble a reliable Luminary configuration.

How the Luminary Ascendancy Works

Luminary is a Scion Ascendancy that focuses on permanent Mercenaries, Link skills, and gameplay that resembles a coordinated party setup. Once the relevant Ascendancy options become available, the Scion can permanently hire Mercenaries that would otherwise remain temporary allies. These companions retain their core skill package and can stay within the roster across regular activities. The active Mercenary follows the character into combat, while reserve companions remain available in towns and hideouts. The system supports three permanently hired Mercenaries in total. This structure gives the player access to several specialised roles without requiring a new recruitment each time the activity changes. One companion may provide direct damage, another may offer defensive utility, and a third may support a specific bossing or mapping plan. The Ascendancy also interacts with Link skills, which connect the Scion to an allied target and grant effects that depend on the selected Link gem. Permanent recruitment turns Mercenary selection into a central build decision because the companion becomes part of the equipment plan, skill setup, and passive allocation. The best results come from choosing a clear purpose for each roster slot and matching the active Mercenary to the content that the character is preparing to run.

Permanent and Temporary Mercenaries

Temporary Mercenaries and permanent Mercenaries follow different rules. A regular Mercenary can join the character for a limited number of areas after losing a duel. During the campaign, this temporary service can last for up to three areas. These warriors scale their passive statistics and skills to the level of the current area, up to level 68, while their equipment restrictions remain tied to the level of the area where they first appeared. Permanent Mercenaries belong to the Luminary roster and can be used repeatedly after recruitment. Their equipment can be changed directly, which gives the player far greater control over their final function. This equipment access creates room for resistance support, aura effects, damage scaling, utility modifiers, defensive layers, and specialised item interactions. Unique equipment follows additional restrictions. A temporary Mercenary can use Unique items that were already equipped when that warrior appeared. A permanent Mercenary requires the relevant Luminary passive before a supported Unique item can function. The exact item slot and Ascendancy allocation determine which Unique interactions are available. This distinction should guide recruitment decisions because a warrior with an impressive Unique PoE item may lose access to that item after permanent hiring unless the build includes the required passive.

Recruiting the Right Mercenary

Mercenary recruitment begins with a duel. Warriors from Trarthus can appear from Act 3 onward, and several campaign areas guarantee their presence, including The Sceptre of God, The Grand Arena, The Ridge, and The Hidden Underbelly. The player wagers Gold on an item that the Mercenary carries before the duel begins. Victory grants the selected item and temporary service from the defeated warrior. A Luminary can use permanent recruitment when the required Ascendancy feature is active. Skill selection should guide the decision more heavily than the visible equipment because permanent Mercenary equipment can be replaced. Examine the warrior’s active skills, passive statistics, attack pattern, casting behaviour, movement, and any support effects that appear during combat. A companion that applies useful ailments, curses, exposure, defensive buffs, or area control may offer more value than a warrior that provides another source of direct damage. The Mercenary information sheet lists passive statistics and helps compare candidates before a permanent choice is finalised. A clear roster plan makes recruitment more efficient. Search for one companion that supports general clearing, one that improves single-target output or control, and one that provides a specialised utility package. Duplicate roles reduce the flexibility that the three-slot roster can provide.

Using Active and Reserve Mercenaries

The Luminary roster contains one active PoE Mercenary and two reserve Mercenaries. The active companion joins combat and uses the skills and equipment that define its assigned role. Reserve companions remain accessible in towns and hideouts, where the player can prepare a different configuration before entering the next activity. This arrangement supports deliberate swapping between specialised setups. A companion with wide area coverage can serve during map clearing, while another with focused damage or defensive support can become active before a demanding boss fight. A third Mercenary can hold utility equipment that supports specific map modifiers, damage types, or Link interactions. The reserve system also reduces the pressure to find one perfect warrior that handles every situation. Each slot can carry its own identity and equipment package. Keep the inventory organised so that companion equipment changes remain easy to track. Items that belong to a specific Mercenary should stay grouped in a dedicated stash section, especially when several rare pieces have similar appearances. Review the active selection before starting content because only one permanent companion enters combat at a time. The value of the roster comes from preparation and role coverage, so each reserve slot should provide a distinct reason for switching.

Equipping Permanent Mercenaries

Direct equipment control is one of the most defining Luminary features. Permanent Mercenaries can use items that fit their supported slots and level restrictions, allowing the player to customise offence, defence, utility, and skill interactions. Start with survivability because a companion that spends too much time incapacitated provides limited support. Life, resistances, armour, evasion, energy shield, block, and recovery options can improve consistency depending on the Mercenary type. Offensive items should match the skills that the warrior already uses. A spell-based companion gains little from modifiers that apply only to attacks, while an attack-based warrior needs a suitable weapon type and relevant local damage values. Utility affixes can add curses, exposure, ailment application, aura support, or on-hit effects that complement the player’s own setup. Item level restrictions remain connected to the level of the area where the Mercenary was found, so early recruits may have lower equipment limits. A later Warrant or a new high-level Mercenary can provide a better foundation for advanced gear. Before spending valuable currency, confirm that the companion can equip the finished item and that its skills can use the selected modifiers. Purpose-built rare equipment will often provide a cleaner result than an expensive item with several unrelated affixes.

Understanding Unique Item Restrictions

Unique PoE items can create powerful Mercenary interactions, although permanent companions need the relevant Luminary passive before supported Unique equipment works. This rule applies even when the Mercenary originally appeared with a Unique item already equipped. Temporary service preserves the use of that item, while permanent recruitment changes the restriction. Players should inspect the Ascendancy tree and identify which item slots receive Unique access before planning an expensive companion setup. A Unique weapon can reshape skill behaviour, add conversion, provide unusual triggers, or improve support effects. Unique armour can offer defensive mechanics or specialised utility that rare equipment cannot reproduce. The restriction encourages deliberate Ascendancy planning because each point must support the chosen Mercenary concept. Avoid buying or crafting around a Unique interaction until the necessary passive is confirmed. Some Mercenary equipment combinations may look attractive during the duel and lose their central function after permanent hiring. Rare items remain fully useful within their normal restrictions and often provide easier resistance and life coverage. Unique equipment works best when its special effect directly strengthens the skill package that the Mercenary already possesses. The Ascendancy allocation, item slot, companion skills, and player build should all support the same purpose.

Warrants and Mercenary Trading

Warrants give players a way to preserve access to a specific Mercenary that appears in a Map. When a player declines the available equipment or wants another chance to recruit the same warrior later, the Mercenary can provide a Warrant. This item summons that specific Mercenary in a future Map with the same skill package and a fresh set of equipment. Each Mercenary grants a Warrant only once, which prevents repeated farming of the same warrior without limit. Warrants can also be traded, creating a market for Mercenaries that have desirable skills or rare combinations. For Luminary players, the skill package carries the highest long-term value because permanent equipment can be replaced. A Warrant that contains a sought-after support skill, aura, curse, or attack pattern may remain valuable even when the listed items appear ordinary. When evaluating a traded Warrant, focus on the exact abilities, the Mercenary type, the expected behaviour in combat, and the equipment level that the warrior can support. Price can change quickly as the community discovers effective combinations. Keeping a written list of desired skills helps avoid impulsive purchases. Warrants offer a targeted route toward a complete three-companion roster and reduce reliance on random appearances during regular mapping.

Trarthan Scarabs and Atlas Support

Path of Exile 3.29 adds Atlas passives and several Trarthan Scarabs that help players find more Mercenaries and target specific variants. The basic Trarthan Scarab causes an area to contain a Mercenary. The Trarthan Scarab of Infamy makes Mercenaries Infamous and adds two Wild Mercenaries alongside them. The Trarthan Scarab of Renown causes all equipment items on Mercenaries within the area to be Unique. The Trarthan Scarab of Surprising Alliances gives Wild Rogue Exiles a chance to appear with a Wild Mercenary and increases the difficulty of Wild Mercenaries for each one that is present. These Scarabs serve different goals. The basic version supports regular recruitment searches and Warrant collection. Infamy increases access to rare Mercenary variants and creates more chances to inspect unusual skill packages. Renown focuses on Unique equipment acquisition and can also reveal combinations that inspire future Luminary setups. Surprising Alliances creates a denser combat activity with several Mercenary targets. Atlas passives increase control further and allow a dedicated farming strategy. A focused search should prioritise Mercenary frequency, Infamous variants, Warrants, and the skill types that the roster still lacks. Store promising Warrants even when the current build cannot use them immediately.

Building Around Mercenary Skills

A permanent Mercenary works best when its skills complement the player’s own character. Begin by listing the functions that the build already covers. These may include clear damage, single-target damage, curses, exposure, ailments, crowd control, defensive auras, recovery, and mobility. The Mercenary can fill one or two missing roles without duplicating every effect that the player already provides. Skill timing also influences practical performance. A companion that applies a curse after several attacks may offer limited support when enemies die immediately. A skill that activates early and covers a wide area can provide more reliable utility. Damage types should align when shared exposure, curses, or resistance reduction can strengthen both characters. A physical Mercenary can support bleed, impale, or armour reduction plans. Elemental companions can contribute exposure, shock, chill, freeze, or ignite depending on their skills. Chaos-based warriors may support poison, wither, or chaos resistance reduction. Read the information sheet and observe the Mercenary during several areas before investing heavily in equipment. Animation speed, target selection, range, and skill frequency influence the real contribution. The strongest setup creates clear cooperation between the Scion and the active companion.

Link Skills and Luminary Synergy

Link skills connect the Scion to an allied target and grant an effect while the connection remains active. Permanent Mercenaries give the Luminary a consistent target for this system, which supports builds that use Link mechanics as a central feature. Each Link gem provides a different benefit, so the correct choice depends on the character and companion roles. A defensive Link can help keep the Mercenary alive during dense combat, while an offensive option can improve damage or share a valuable property. Link range and duration require attention because movement can break the connection. A Mercenary with ranged skills may remain farther away, while a melee companion may stay closer during combat. Equipment and movement behaviour should support the selected Link. The player also needs enough sockets, reservation capacity, mana, or other resources that the Link setup requires. Link investment should create a clear benefit that justifies these costs. A companion that already survives comfortably may gain more from an offensive connection. A utility Mercenary may benefit from defensive support so that its curses, auras, or control skills remain available throughout the area. Test the connection during regular maps and confirm that positioning stays reliable before building the entire character around it.

Managing Mercenary Survival

Permanent Mercenaries need enough defence to remain active during sustained combat. Their equipment should cover elemental resistances, life, and the defensive layer that suits the companion’s base statistics. Armour helps against physical hits, evasion reduces the frequency of incoming attacks, and energy shield can provide an additional buffer when recovery supports it. Block, regeneration, leech, life gain, and defensive Unique effects may add further protection. Skill range also changes incoming pressure. A ranged Mercenary can avoid some melee damage through positioning, while a close-range warrior needs stronger mitigation and recovery. Map modifiers can reduce resistance, weaken recovery, increase enemy critical strikes, or amplify damage types that target a specific weakness. Review dangerous combinations before entering high-investment content. Companion survival also depends on player movement. Leaving a Mercenary inside persistent ground effects or large boss attacks can cause repeated losses. Link skills, defensive auras, curses, chill, blind, and crowd control can reduce the pressure that reaches the companion. A balanced equipment set should protect the Mercenary while preserving the utility or damage that earned its roster slot. Expensive offensive gear provides little value when the companion cannot remain active.

Mistakes to Avoid

Several mistakes can reduce the value of a permanent Mercenary setup. Recruiting based on visible equipment alone can lead to a weak long-term choice because skill packages remain more important after equipment becomes replaceable. Buying Unique equipment before confirming the required Luminary passive can create an unusable item plan. Equipping modifiers that do not apply to the Mercenary’s skills wastes valuable affix space. Another frequent problem comes from filling all three roster slots with companions that perform the same role. A diverse roster offers better preparation for different activities and map conditions. Players may also overlook the equipment level restriction that is linked to the area where the Mercenary first appeared. This can block advanced items from an early recruit. Ignoring the information sheet makes comparison harder and can hide passive statistics that change the value of a candidate. Link builds sometimes allocate too many resources before testing range, duration, and companion movement. Start with a simple version and observe how reliably the connection stays active. Mercenary farming can also consume large amounts of Scarabs without a defined search target. Decide which skills, Mercenary types, and Warrant qualities are valuable before beginning a dedicated farming session.

Summary

The Luminary Ascendancy turns Mercenaries into permanent build components that can support damage, defence, utility, control, and Link-based gameplay. The Scion can maintain a roster of three hired warriors, keep one active during combat, and store two in reserve for later use. Permanent recruitment gains its full value through equipment control, which allows each Mercenary to carry a specialised rare or supported Unique setup. Skill selection should guide recruitment because the warrior’s abilities remain central after the visible gear has been replaced. Warrants provide access to specific Mercenaries in future Maps and create a trade market for valuable skill combinations. Trarthan Scarabs and Atlas passives expand the search through guaranteed appearances, Infamous variants, Unique equipment, and Wild Mercenary activity. A complete roster benefits from distinct roles, such as area support, focused damage, defensive utility, or specialised boss assistance. Link skills can deepen the connection between the Luminary and the active companion when range, duration, and resource costs fit the character plan. Careful equipment choices keep the Mercenary alive and ensure that every modifier applies to the skills that the warrior uses. With clear roles, proper Ascendancy allocation, and focused recruitment, Luminary offers one of the most flexible companion systems that Path of Exile has introduced.