Darkest Dungeon II
Darkest Dungeon II

The Bounty Hunter: Mercenary Hunter — Darkest Dungeon II Walkthrough

Utilize the Bounty Hunter mercenary in Darkest Dungeon II. Learn his high single-target damage and enemy control tactics from Inns for a price.

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The Bounty Hunter: Mercenary Hunter

The Bounty Hunter is a unique and powerful addition to your roster in Darkest Dungeon II, offering unparalleled single-target damage and enemy control. Unlike other heroes, the Bounty Hunter is a temporary mercenary, appearing randomly at Inns. Recruiting him costs 4 Relics, but his impact on a successful expedition often far outweighs this price. His skillset revolves around exploiting marked targets, disrupting enemy formations, and delivering devastating critical hits.

Recruitment and Availability

  • Cost: 4 Relics
  • Location: Inns (random appearance)
  • Duration: The Bounty Hunter remains with your party until the end of the current expedition. He does not carry over to subsequent runs.
  • Strategy: Always prioritize recruiting the Bounty Hunter if you have the Relics and a suitable party composition. His presence can significantly ease the difficulty of challenging encounters and Lair bosses.

Core Combat Strategy

The Bounty Hunter excels at focusing down high-priority targets. His abilities synergize heavily with the "Marked" token, making him an ideal companion for heroes who can apply this status effect (e.g., Highwayman's Tracking Shot, Grave Robber's Poison Dart with a specific upgrade, or even certain Combat Items).

Key Abilities and Synergies:

  • Collect Bounty: This is your bread and butter. Deals massive damage to a Marked target, often resulting in a critical hit. Upgrade this ability early to maximize its potential.
  • Mark for Death: Applies the "Marked" token to an enemy. While useful, it's often more efficient to have another hero apply Mark to allow the Bounty Hunter to immediately follow up with damage.
  • Come Hither: Pulls an enemy forward, disrupting their position. Excellent for pulling squishy backline enemies into range for your melee heroes or isolating dangerous threats. Upgrading this can also apply Vulnerable.
  • Flashbang: Stuns an enemy and applies Blind. A fantastic crowd control tool, especially against high-damage or high-stress enemies.
  • Finish Him!: A powerful melee attack that deals extra damage to Stunned or Immobilized targets. Synergizes perfectly with Flashbang or other party members' stun abilities.
  • Upper Cut: Knocks an enemy back and applies Daze. Useful for further disrupting enemy ranks or preventing dangerous attacks.

Recommended Skill Setup:

While specific encounters may warrant adjustments, a strong general setup for the Bounty Hunter includes:

  1. Collect Bounty: Essential for damage.
  2. Mark for Death: For self-sufficiency if no other marker is present, or for specific target prioritization.
  3. Come Hither: For enemy repositioning.
  4. Flashbang: For crucial crowd control.
  5. Finish Him!: For capitalizing on Stunned targets.

Trinket and Item Considerations

The Bounty Hunter benefits greatly from Trinkets that enhance his damage, critical hit chance, or provide additional utility. Consider the following:

  • Damage Trinkets: Items like the Sharpened Axe Head or Berserker's Mask (if you can manage the stress) will significantly boost his raw damage output.
  • Crit Chance Trinkets: The Ancestral Pistol or Lucky Talisman can make his Collect Bounty even more reliable for critical hits.
  • Mark Synergy Trinkets: Any Trinket that enhances damage against Marked targets (e.g., Hunter's Charm) is a top-tier choice.
  • Combat Items:
    • Healing Salve: Standard healing.
    • Bandage/Antivenom: For specific blight/bleed threats.
    • Laudanum: To manage stress, especially if he's taking hits.
    • Noise Maker: Can apply Vulnerable to an enemy, setting up a powerful Collect Bounty.
    • Smoke Bomb: Applies Blind, potentially setting up a Finish Him! or reducing incoming damage.

Party Composition and Positioning

The Bounty Hunter is flexible but shines brightest when paired with heroes who can either apply the "Marked" token or provide additional crowd control.

  • Ideal Companions:
    • Highwayman: Tracking Shot provides reliable Marks.
    • Grave Robber: Poison Dart (upgraded) can Mark.
    • Man-at-Arms: Can protect the Bounty Hunter and provide Riposte.
    • Jester: Stress healing and bleed application.
    • Plague Doctor: Blight and stun capabilities, especially Noxious Blast can set up Finish Him!.
  • Positioning: The Bounty Hunter is most effective in positions 2 or 3, allowing him access to both his melee and ranged abilities. He can operate from position 1 if needed, but this limits some of his ranged options. Avoid placing him in position 4 unless absolutely necessary, as it restricts his powerful melee attacks.

Advanced Tactics

  • Target Prioritization: Always identify the most dangerous enemy (high damage, high stress, or healer) and focus the Bounty Hunter's attention there. Use Mark for Death or a companion's Mark to ensure Collect Bounty hits hard.
  • Stun Lock: With Flashbang and Finish Him!, the Bounty Hunter can effectively stun-lock a single dangerous enemy, preventing them from acting for multiple turns. This is particularly effective against Lair bosses or elite enemies.
  • Pull and Punish: Use Come Hither to pull backline enemies (e.g., Cultist Priests, Shamans) into the front ranks, making them vulnerable to your melee heroes and disrupting their support capabilities.
  • Road Battles: The Bounty Hunter's ability to quickly eliminate a single threat makes him invaluable in road battles, where swift resolution can prevent stress accumulation.

Mastering the Bounty Hunter's toolkit will significantly increase your chances of success in Darkest Dungeon II. His focused aggression and tactical utility make him a formidable asset against the horrors of the Blight.