History Main / MercenaryUnits

* ''VideoGame/CossacksEuropeanWars'': Mercenaries can be hired at the Diplomatic Center for gold. They're all less effective versions of regular infantry and cavalry (Austrian roundshier, Algerian light infantry, Algerian archer, grenadier, Zaporozhian Cossack and 18th century dragoon) that can't be upgraded and thus serve primarily as CannonFodder (or cheap recon unit in the case of the Zaporozhian Cossack). A good supply of gold is needed in order for them not to mutiny, and the gold cost of the dragoons increases the more the player produces them. Until ''Back to War'' introduced the Bedouin, mercenary grenadiers and dragoons were the only units with firearms that Algeria could get.

* ''VideoGame/CossacksEuropeanWars'': Mercenaries can be hired at the Diplomatic Center for gold. They're all less effective versions of regular infantry and cavalry (Austrian roundshier, Algerian light infantry, Algerian archer, grenadier, Zaporozhian Cossack and 18th century dragoon) that can't be upgraded and thus serve primarily as CannonFodder (or cheap recon unit in the case of the Zaporozhian Cossack). A good supply of gold is needed in order for them not to rebel, and the gold cost of the dragoons increases the more the player produces them. Until ''Back to War'' introduced the Bedouin, mercenary grenadiers and dragoons were the only units with muskets that Algeria could get.

* ''VideoGame/CossacksEuropeanWars'': Mercenaries can be hired at the Diplomatic Center for gold. They're all less effective versions of regular infantry and cavalry (Austrian roundshier, Algerian light infantry, Algerian archer, grenadier, Zaporozhian Cossack and 18th century dragoon) that can't be upgraded and thus serve primarily as CannonFodder (or cheap recon unit in the case of the Zaporozhian Cossack). A good supply of gold is needed in order for them not to rebel, and the gold cost of the dragoons increases the more the player produces them. Until ''Back to War'' introduced the Bedouin, mercenary grenadiers and dragoons were the only units with rifles that Algeria could get.

* ''VideoGame/CossacksEuropeanWars'': Mercenaries can be hired at the Diplomatic Center for gold. They're all less effective versions of regular infantry and cavalry (Austrian roundshier, Algerian light infantry, Algerian archer, grenadier, Zaporozhian Cossack and 18th century dragoon) that can't be upgraded and thus serve primarily as CannonFodder. A good supply of gold is needed in order for them not to rebel, and the gold cost of the dragoons increases the more the player produces them.

* ''VideoGame/CossacksEuropeanWars'': Mercenaries can be hired at the Diplomatic Center for gold. They're all less effective versions of regular infantry and cavalry (Austrian roundshier, Algerian light infantry, grenadier, Zaporozhian Cossack and 18th century dragoon) that can't be upgraded and thus serve primarily as CannonFodder. A good supply of gold is needed in order for them not to rebel, and the gold cost of the dragoons increases the more the player produces them.

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'':

* ''Videogame/ActOfWar:High Treason''. Factions can recruit mercenaries by building a Mercenary Outpost. Mercenaries require an insurance fee and a small rolling fee after that. Also you can only recruit one team of mercs at a time.

* ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'s'' Apocalypse DLC adds Marauders, a cross between SpacePirates and TheHorde in space. Normally, they send raiding fleets out to demand tribute from[=/=]pillage regular empires at random intervals, but any empire can also pay them to raid one of their rivals or hire an admiral or general to lead their military. After the first century of the game, they'll even start hiring out entire fleets as mercenaries, though said fleets will leave their clients and join up with the [[GalacticConqueror Great Khan]] if one arises.

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII''
** In some maps there are mercenary camps where "[[NeutralsCrittersAndCreeps creeps]]" can be hired for gold.
** The expansion pack ''The Frozen Throne'' introduced the "inn" which is similar to the mercenary camp, but you can hire {{Hero Unit}}s from it.

** The ExpansionPack ''The Asian Dynasties'' introduced the Consulate for the asian civilizations, which allow them to get buildings and units from another country in exchange for a civilization-specific resource called "Export", gathered automatically as the civilization gather the other types of resources.

* ''VideoGame/BlackCommand'' has mercenaries that you need to recruit in order to head out on missions. The mercenaries you can recruit consist of ranks Rookie - Pro - Specialist - Veteran - Expert - Master - Legend in this order. Sometimes in collaboration events or special promos, you'll be able to recruit mercenaries based on actual or historical figures or from other tie-in events.[[note]]The latter will consist of real and actual ties-in with other Capcom games.

[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/SinsOfASolarEmpire'' has a variant. Players can post anonymous bounties on rival empires and the [[HardCodedHostility pirates]] will focus their raids on the one with the highest price on their heads. Though the AI has a habit of bid sniping.

** In some maps there are mercenary camps where "creeps" can be hired for gold.

In the majority of RealTimeStrategy or TurnBasedStrategy games, units are bought with a quantity of resources and spend some time training before they become usable. Some games have the option of hiring special "mercenary" units that are paid for with a large quantity of resources and become available almost immediately. They are often more powerful than ordinary units but will have some disadvantages, such as high cost, often paying just the currency resource, or they may only be available for a limited time, or in limited units at the same time. If there's a MoraleMechanic, they'll probably have rather low morale, perhaps to represent the fact that they're OnlyInItForTheMoney.

This page is for the mercenaries as a game unit. For mercenaries in general see PrivateMilitaryContractors.

[[AC: RealTimeStrategy]]

[[AC: Roguelikes]]

[[AC: Tactical RPG]]

[[AC:TurnBasedStrategy]]
* In ''VideoGame/MasterOfMagic'' you occasionally get offers from mercs and heroes to join you for the price. How often it happens depends on your fame and how rich you are.

[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* In ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'' you can hire cheap mercenaries and[=/=]or expensive Star Players who will play for your team for one match.
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. The ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting has a large number of mercenary groups, many of which are listed and detailed in the original grey 1st Edition boxed set and the 2nd Edition supplement ''Gold and Glory''. Most of them have fees so low that moderately well-off {{PC}}s could hire them.

* ''VideoGame/BlackCommand'' has mercenaries that you need to recruit in order to head out on missions. The mercenaries you can recruit consist of ranks Rookie - Pro - Specialist - Veteran - Expert - Master - Legend in this order. Sometimes in collaboration events or special promos, you'll be able to recruit mercenaries based on actual or historical figures or from other tie-in events.[[note]]The latter will consist of real and actual ties-in with other Capcom games[[/note]]

** [[VideoGame/StarCraftMultiplayer On the multiplayer side of things]] Terrans gain access to the MULE, a call-in support unit that only costs a quarter of the Orbital Command's energy and lasts 64 seconds before expiring. It can be used for emergency repairs, but their primary purpose is to speed up resource gathering; they are four times more effective than a single SCV at doing so.

* ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'' allows factions to choose between one of three specialisms that confer a mix of passive bonuses, off-map support, and the ability to call-in exclusive mercenary units. Their applications can differ greatly. For example, the USA's Infantry Company offers Rangers, which essentially function like elite Riflemen. Other options are more specialist, such as the Armor Company's Sherman Calliope, which gives the USA rocket artillery.

In the majority of RealTimeStrategy or TurnBasedStrategy games, units are bought with a quantity of resources and spend some time training before they become usable. Some games have the option of hiring special "mercenary" units that are paid for with a large quantity of resources and become available almost immediately. They are often more powerful than ordinary units but will have some disadvantages, such as high cost, often paying just the currency resource, or they may only be available for a limited time, or in limited units at the same time.

In the majority of [[RealTimeStrategy Real-Time]] or Turn-Based Strategy games units are bought with a quantity of resources and spend some time training before they become useable. Some games have the option of hiring special "mercenary" units that are paid for with a large quantity of resources and become available almost immediately. They are often more powerful than ordinary units but will have some disadvantages, such as high cost, often paying just the currency resource, or they may only be available for a limited time.

Similar to GuestStarPartyMember

This page is for hiring mercenaries as a game mechanic. For mercenaries in general see PrivateMilitaryContractors

* ''VideoGame/StarCraftII

* In the campaign of ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty'' Raynor can hire merc companies with credits between missions. Allowing access to merc units that are more powerful versions of regular units, but still have to be bought with minerals and vespene during missions, though they show up immediately in a DropPod.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'' DLC Apocalypse adds Marauders, a cross between SpacePirates and TheHorde in space. Normally they go out to raid or demand tribute from regular empires at random intervals, but one empire can also pay them to raid one of their rivals, and after the first century of the game they'll start hiring out admirals, generals, and entire fleets as mercenaries. Though mercenary fleets will leave their clients and join up with the [[GalacticConqueror Great Khan]] if one arises.

* ''Videogame/EndlessLegend'' has a Mercenary Market technology that allows you to hire units from minor factions, including from those that you haven't assimilated into your empire.