Mercenary vs Ranger
vs
The Mercenary is a Strength/Dexterity class (11/11/7 Str/Dex/Int) that starts with a Makeshift Crossbow; the Ranger is a Dexterity class (7/15/7) that starts with a Crude Bow and a Broadhead Quiver. They begin at different points of the passive tree. Across their ascendancies the biggest differences are flasks and charms (0 vs 8 nodes), mana (0 vs 6 nodes) and armour (7 vs 1 nodes). Patch 0.5.5, from the game files.
Side by side
| Mercenary | Ranger | |
|---|---|---|
| Attributes | Str11 Dex11 Int7 | Str7 Dex15 Int7 |
| Trait | Totems remain for longer | Arrows fly fast and true |
| Starts with |  Makeshift Crossbow |  Crude Bow Broadhead Quiver |
| First skill gem |  Fragmentation Rounds |  Lightning Arrow |
| Gems that need its weapon | 28 (crossbow) | 22 (bow, quiver) |
| Ascendancies |  Tactician Witchhunter Gemling Legionnaire |  Deadeye Pathfinder |
Their ascendancies' nodes by theme
| Nodes about… | Mercenary | Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Minions | 2 | – |
| Projectiles | 3 | 7 |
| Attack speed | 2 | 3 |
| Critical hits | 1 | 1 |
| Fire | 1 | 1 |
| Cold and freeze | – | 1 |
| Lightning and shock | – | 1 |
| Physical | 1 | 2 |
| Elemental | – | 1 |
| Ignite | – | 1 |
| Poison | – | 3 |
| Bleeding | – | 1 |
| Totems | 4 | – |
| Life | – | 2 |
| Energy shield | – | 1 |
| Mana | – | 6 |
| Armour | 7 | 1 |
| Evasion | 7 | 3 |
| Resistances | 1 | – |
| Spirit | 2 | – |
| Charges | – | 4 |
| Flasks and charms | – | 8 |
| Stun | – | 1 |
| Area of effect | 3 | 5 |
| Movement speed | 1 | 1 |
| Cooldowns | 3 | – |
| Strength stacking | 1 | – |
| Dexterity stacking | 1 | – |
| Intelligence stacking | 1 | – |
Nodes of all the class's ascendancies added up; each ascendancy's own counts are on its page.
Mercenary ascendancies
- Tacticiantotems 4, armour 4 and evasion 4
- Witchhunterarmour 3, evasion 3 and cooldowns 3
- Gemling Legionnaireattack speed 1, critical hits 1 and resistances 1
Tactician vs Witchhunter · Gemling Legionnaire vs Tactician · Gemling Legionnaire vs Witchhunter
Ranger ascendancies
- Deadeyeprojectiles 7, charges 4 and attack speed 1
- Pathfinderflasks and charms 8, mana 6 and area of effect 5
More class comparisons: Druid vs Mercenary · Druid vs Ranger · Huntress vs Mercenary · Huntress vs Ranger · Mercenary vs Monk · Mercenary vs Sorceress · Mercenary vs Warrior · Mercenary vs Witch · Monk vs Ranger · Ranger vs Sorceress · Ranger vs Warrior · Ranger vs Witch.