Get that custom AIM mercenary ASAP, it's a one time 7k cost which means it's the cheapest and best mercenary you can get early game

Aim merc is a must at the start as there is zero upkeep cost. And you can completely customize them to fill in any gaps in the squad.

Really awkward tips. Some corrections, if I may: - The Custom IMP merc is the best one you will have for at least half the game. Not only it costs 7000 for the whole game, some of the traits you can pick for him/her can make them a better militia trainer than any of the mercs. - you would want a second medic/nurse on your squad as soon as possible. If your medic gets wounded and dying, they will not be able to heal themselves. Thus, you need a second squad member that has at least 50 in Medicine. You will also have a better time healing your squad by having two capable medics (50+ Medicine) that can reach any team member in time. - Kalyna is not the best starting mechanic. Livewire has quite a better mechanical stat, but most importantly, when you choose the longest duration contract of 14 days, Kalyna never offers a discount. Her 7-day contract is 4200, 14 days is 8400. Almost all other mercs, Livewire included, offer a discount the longer the contract is. Also Livewire's unique talent is a lot better for newer players, as it reveals all enemies if you have Intel on that sector. - cover helps but it can be easily destroyed including by your own bullets, unless it is a rock. A better approach is to think ahead and always have lines of movement. Also cover usually means that you will bunch up a few of your mercenaries, thus inviting grenades onto your position.

This comment section is amazing. Thanks for all the tips everyone. Just bought it and this will be my first jagged Alliance game. From the aounds of it thectactics are more realistic which add another level of coolness for strategy turn based games 😁

Since you talk to thq can you ask them to make a zoom out button to see the whole sector like in Ja2? And more portraits for the custom mercs you make.

I like the custom Merc, I gave him an 85 Wisdom so he learns faster. Also gave him an 85 leadership and the teaching trait so he teaches better and trains militia better. He also has an 85 marksmanship and 85 agility so he fights well with guns and has a decent amount of A.P. He also took stealthy trait and an 85 dexterity so he can slink around and get stealth kills. He also has negotiator so he can deal with NPCs in conversations better. It worked out great and he's extremely helpful to the team in combat and also his "mental/charismatic" roles for the team. I think if someone skips making their own merc, they're crazy!

Livewire is the better mechanic choice, as it takes a while to affored to recruit a mechanic with as high, or higher skill. You need that 85 mechanic, for certain gun mods, that Kalyna just can't do. She also has 50 medic. Instead of hiring Kalyna, you could hire someone like Buns to be your marksman, as she will become great, and have 50 medic. Give your merc 85 leadership, and have your character to be the merc trainer.

Not picking the custom Merc is a huge no. It's a 1 time purchase and there's no reason to not hire them besides a challenge run.

Such a basic BIG mistake to not make your own merc since you dont have to pay salary to your self, and the fee for making your own, you will have earned"back " after 2-3 weeks and from then on it's a ++++++++

Like many here hard disagree on not taking the IMP merc as it's a cost saver in the long term, plus you can adjust their stats and skills to your needs. Livewire is invaluable due to her high mechanical plus other perks, and instead of taking Fox or MD straight away I'd look at Buns as not only does she have great skills but can also double as a squad medic. Kalyena comes with a rifle from the start, which can be pretty clutch and is useful for militia training and once you take the second sector you are in a position to deploy both her and Buns as your sniper team (get those rifles supressors ASAP). Barry is essential for softening people up with grenades and mineweeping and Grizz makes for a good team packmule/meat shield along with your IMP merc for duking it out in close combat. You definitely want to try and hire people for more than the 7 days as well to take advantage of the discount. If people are looking for sound tips Retcon Raider has a pretty good lets play going on that is full of really good advice.

I highly recommend taking "Livewire" in your team. Not only is she a great mechanic with high wisdom, she has this special skill where if you have scouted a sector you will see the exact position and all movement of the enemies right from the start even without line of sight. This is super OP. She also gives additional intel whenever you hack an intel device. Her voice is super annoying though ^^.

My god, this game is so enjoyable and replayable due to the weird and funny characters against the backdrop of many subtly hidden side quests. Thanks for the quick guide. Will restart again by creating a new Merc character.

Making your own Merc saves money so can "solo" with them by having a small support team while you stack money so you can unlock gold so you can get the legendary mercs from AIM. Or just running that small team since they make turns go by real quick especially with an IMP melee build

wtf do you mean ''don't create your own merc''?? He is one a time payment only and no upkeep and you get to customise it fully, why wouldn't you want that exactly??

Great guide but it's more for intermediate players as I've just started and alot of this doesn't make sense to me at the beginning stages. but I can see how it will come in handy later. well put together though!

I appreciate your hard work in these videos. I’m looking forward to the Remnant 2 guides

Barry, Livewire, Mouse + Avatar. Cheap and they can handle everything in the beginning while you pile up the money. Livewire has the lockpick bonus trait. Because of that she will stay in my A team for a long time. She snipes with a Dragunov. Barry producing free granades is too good to pass. Mouse for stealth. In midgame I added Grizzly to the team for heavy weapons and strength. Raid diamond transports and regularly sell parts (salvaged from weapons you don't need) in Fleatown. Train strength for more inventory space.

Very helpful thank you! Still confused about how close I can get to enemies in stealth mode vs non-stealth. And if proning makes you even less visible. I do like that the game does not show you exact values though like other games. More skill and realism from it.

You are also going to want a soldier that is good with MGs they are ridiculously good building your IMP merc to do that is the best way to go imo as you can dump all three utility stats

Brings back memories of fallout tactics

IMP Merc with Blood are able to manage the first island, add Limewire for Mech and Barry for Explosives, make Limewire a sniper as she's very weak No real need for a dedicated healer, but Fox is nice

I liked my starting team of my Custom Merc with 85 in top three skills and stealth/night ops so good at melee stealth kills & 80 Marksmanship & high enough Wisdom & using starting rifle pickup at the tower's loot chest for many headshots, Barry for lockpicking & explosives, Thor for healing and leadership (and funny guy), Kalyna for mechanical but low health. Igor - stealth Grunty - heavy weapons Wolf - medium mechanical, medium explosives, medium medical Meltdown - heavy weapons, ambidexterous, medium explosives Raven - auto weapons, night ops Ivan - automatic & heavy weapons, medium explosives Raider - leadership, teaching Nails - lockpicking, mechanical, explosive Shadow (my fav merc) Reaper Magic Len Scully Where are Trevor Colby and Lynx? haha

Reminds me of Valkyrie Chronicles for some reason.

I need one tip from you all... When do you add additional squad/s? I'm going around with just one at the moment...

I thought this franchise died like 25 years ago lol. I didn't even know they were making a 3rd one!

How do I craft, mod and repair equipment? Can I buy items/equipment?

Mate, I understand that broad appeal is good for the channel, but quite frankly this getting superficial and sometimes plain wrong. Same thing with the last Baldur's Gate vid. Respecing as part of building? I think this beyond any reasonable balance between immersion and power gaming. And I like power gaming. I love the channel, thats why I am writing this.

Steroid or bust for starting mercs

Kalyna is my favorite

Bros getting way ahead of me on tip 2. I can't get off the starting island haha

Enjoying this game overall, but I really hate the lack of proper turn by turn combat like JA2 had. Also having my entire team sniped by a perfect shot from the opposite side of the map by an RPG wielding guy who hadn't seen us yet was pretty shit.

Not recommending I.M.P.? Yeah, can't take this seriously on that one...

Yeah you need to update this. Getting the AIM mercenary for just under 7k right off the bat, and not having to pay them all game, is a massive advantage. Your advice to avoid that is way off base.

Would have liked a more realistic setting in a strategic game like this. Enemys here are just damage sponges. Hit them with a shotgun another gun trow a granade and they usually still are standing. Always found that kinda absurd and annoying ESPECIALLY when you face a group off them lmao.

The game doesn't explain much. Had to read on KZfaq that you need the cutters to get parts from items. Am also not happy how you start out with no good weapons and zero armor. How the hell do i have to take out Pierre with 6 vs 13 and latter having machine guns and rockets?

The first two minutes are already full of objectively bad plays. No IMP? Hiring for 7 instead of 14 days? Really? Seems like this guide was written by someone with only a few hours in the game.

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The imp merc might be great but he has zero personality....and weird characters is half this game

With a lot of the comments here. The Custom IMP merc is not essential, but is significantly better than any of the AIM merc because of its zero upkeep. Since leadership is such a great skill to have, you can focus this character on something that's harder to get in the early game, leadership. Additionally, while individuals with at least 50 medicine is quite handy, full-time medics aren't really required if you're playing well (clearly if you're new or struggling a medic is a great add). Last, Kalyna is awful and is far from the best medic. She's horribly expensive due to her lack of a medical plan (that is not counted in the daily cost), and her wisdom is so bad she will likely be your worst merc is short time. You're better off with a high wisdom, high mechanic (or even mediocre mechanic) mercenary like Livewire who has such a high wisdom that one or two training sessions will have them shooting Kaylina into the ground, for less cash per day.

Advising against the IMP custom merc is perhaps the literal worst piece of advice I have ever heard in a KZfaq video. A one time 7K for a merc you get to spec? That is about the cost of a 14 day contract for any of the T1 mercs. You should take this video down.

I normally learn something from Fextralife's content, but the recommendation to NOT take the I.M.P. Custom Merc, a one time puchase, is such terrible advice, that I hope no one actually takes this video seriously that is trying to learn. There are better tip videos out there. Bad one Fextralife.

nothing new, no tips or tricks just gameplay.

For absolute Beginners : #1 Hire Livewire, 2# Hire Livewire, 3# Hire Livewire ... n# Hire Livewire. ( n ∈ N)

A note about your IMP merc: Giving them 80 leadership means your squad moves between sectors roughly 60% faster -- closest AIM merc at IMP price is Thor, good merc but not able to train militia like a trainer/leadership focused IMP merc. This will also let you pass certain leadership skill checks, maintain better morale and train militia infintely faster so you wont be wasting time training and moving between sectors. Looked at another way, you'll only be wasting 40% of time moving between sectors thus maximizing your money for value.