The desperation of the peaceful monastery devolved into madness as Freya`s followers were tyrannized by the criminals that began to dominate their island. Their devotion to Freya became twisted and fanatical, and they completely closed off all contact outside of the monastery to protect themselves from being tainted by the moral impurities of the outside world. Inside the monastery, they began strange, underground projects to direct their rage against the encroaching world of heretics.

Targeting and Attack: Alt + Left Click (Target) - Press Alt+ Left click on a monster to target it. Left click on the monster one more time to command your mercenary to attack.

Movement: Alt + Left Click (Ground) - Press Alt + Left click on the ground to command your Mercenary to move to that spot. This will also cancel any actions the Mercenary was performing.

Standby: Ctrl + T - Command your Mercenary to stand next to you.

Information: Ctrl + R - Open the Mercenary information window.

There are four different ways in which Mercenaries are released from their contracts.

a. The Mercenary`s 30 minute duration elapses, displaying the message "The Mercenary contract has expired."
b. The mercenary soldier is defeated in battle, displaying the message, "The mercenary has died."
c. You order your Mercenary to retreat, displaying the message, "You have released the mercenary."
d. You are defeated in battle, displaying the message "The mercenary has run away."

Your Mercenary`s Kill Count increases by 1 each time you or your Mercenary defeat a monster at a suitable level (Character`s Base Level/2). The Kill Count is reset to 0 if a different Mercenary is summoned.

The Reliability rating is increased by 1 for each 50 kills tallied in the Kill Count, and when the Mercenary is kept alive throughout its 30 minute duration. Each Mercenary Type (Archer, Swordman, Spearman) will have its own Reliability rating, i.e. if an Archer Mercenary achieves 50 kills, only the Archer Mercenary`s Reliability increases by 1.

Reliability will decrease by 1 if the Mercenary is killed. Reliability is not lost if the Mercenary disappears as a result of its owner`s death.

Increasing Reliability will raise the frequency at which Mercenaries cast Buff magic on themselves.

Mercenary soldiers can cast 5 different types of Buff magic, and will randomly cast these spells depending on their Kill Count.

HP Buff - Increase Max HP by a certain %, and fully restores HP.
SP Buff - Increase Max SP by a certain %, and fully restores SP.

Buff effects last until the Mercenaries are defeated, different Mercenaries are summoned, or the Mercenary duration elapses. If two similar Buff effects of different levels are cast, then only the higher level Buff is retained, and the lower level Buff is canceled. If different effects are cast, all of the effects will be retained.

Buff effects are canceled when the Mercenary is defeated, regardless of their remaining duration, and are not passed down to the next summoned Mercenary.

[Healing Potions]

- Mercenary Red Potion: Restore 1,000 HP for your Mercenary.
- Mercenary Blue Potion: Restore 100 SP for your Mercenary.

[Speed Potions]

Mercenaries can use their own kind Concentration, Awakening, and Berserk Potions, just like players. These potions can be used on Mercenaries to endow the same Attack Speed bonuses the potions` regular counterparts. Mercenaries can only use Concentration Potions at Level 1 to 39, but they can also use Awakening Potions at Level 40 to 79, and become able to use Berserk Potions at Levels 80 to 99.

[Notes on Mercenary Potion Use]

a. Mercenary Soldier Potions can only be used by players on Mercenaries.
b. Mercenary Soldier Potion Level Requirements apply to Mercenaries because they are the targets of the potion effects.
c. Potion effects are immediately endowed on Mercenaries upon using the potions.
d. Mercenary Soldier Potions will be consumed without any effect if they are used and you have no Mercenaries.

[1. Mercenary Concentration Potion]

Mercenary Level Requirement: 10~30 Item Description: A special potion concocted by the Mercenary Guilds. This potion increases Attack Speed by clearing the target`s mind.

[2. Mercenary Awakening Potion]

Mercenary Level Requirement: 40~70 Item Description: A special potion concocted by the Mercenary Guilds. This potion increases Attack Speed by fully awakening the target`s senses.

[3. Mercenary Berserk Potion]

Mercenary Level Requirement: 80~99 Item Description: A special potion concocted by the Mercenary Guilds. This potion increases Attack Speed by stimulating the target`s will to fight so that he goes berserk.

Mercenary AI is written in the LUA format so users can freely program their Mercenaries.
(Refer to Homunculus AI.)

Mercenaries will be immediately brought back to their owners if the distance between them becomes 15 cells or further.

Every Job can use Mercenaries, introducing elements of party play to solo players. Mercenaries act according to their AI, and are capable of supporting their owners like party members, and can also be targeted by player Support Skills.

Mercenary soldiers can perform player skills and their exclusive skills. These exclusive Mercenary skills ensure that even low level Mercenaries will be helpful to high level players. Different levels of the same Mercenary skill cannot be used concurrently.

Mercenary soldiers can be affected by various abnormal statuses, except for Poison, just like players. There may be a few abnormal statuses whose effects may not be easy for owners to recognize.

The new Guild Strongholds will enable guilds to employ additional lines of defense to protect the Emperium, and thus ownership of their Strongholds, from rival guilds. The introduction of Fortress Gates and Gate Houses in the new maps in the War of Emperium SE Update and the overall reduction of Warp Portals within these Guild Strongholds will require new and more daring strategies for conquering guilds to shatter Emperiums and take over Strongholds.

Gate Houses are occupational points that must be conquered to open the Fortress Gate that leads to Emperium Room. Each Gate House has a Guardian Stone which enables the Stronghold`s owner to summon Guardians if he has attained the Guardian Research skill. The gate to the Emperium Room will open if all Gate Houses are occupied and the Guardian Stones are destroyed by the intruding guilds. If the Gate Houses are reclaimed by the castle owner, then the gate will close again. Any intruders that have passed through the gate into the Emperium Room will be trapped inside: their only viable choice would be to desperately try to destroy the Emperium before the Stronghold`s owners can stop them.