When selecting your starting squad in Jagged Alliance 3, the best merc you can have is an I.M.P (Institute for Mercenary Profiling) custom merc.
From there, you can create your own merc and set custom attributes, perks, and traits to make them the most optimal for your squad.
In this character creation guide, I will showcase the best custom merc build in Jagged Alliance 3 including the best attributes, perks, and traits.
Combine this with our guide on the best mercenaries to start with in JA3 and you’ll have the most optimal starting squad.
I.M.P. Character Creation Guide in JA 3
During the process of selecting your mercs, navigate to the I.M.P. Web tab on the top to create your own custom merc. There is a short survey with 10 questions, which will set some of your mercs stats.
The survey is optional and even if you take it, you can change all of the stats afterward.
The best part of making a custom merc is that you can select Attributes, Perks, and Traits and create a mercenary that will perfectly fit your squad’s needs.
Best Custom Merc Attributes
Overall, the best custom merc attributes in Jagged Alliance 3 are whatever your squad is missing.
It’s essential for your first squad to include a Medic, a Mechanic, an Explosives Expert, and a Leader.
Since you can only select 3-4 mercs at first, your custom merc should be supplementing the stat you’re missing. Since my starting mercs were Fox (Medic), Livewire (Mechanic), and Barry (Explosives Expert), my custom merc needed to have a high Leadership stat.
Additionally, Wisdom, Marksmanship, and Health are important secondary stats that will be useful regardless of your squad.
Best Custom Merc Perks
Your custom merc won’t start with a Perk but you’ll be able to select one once they level up.
Ideally, the best custom merc perk is Beefed Up, as it increases their Health by 20% and survivability is essential, especially in the early game.
For more ideas, consider checking out our guide on the best perks in Jagged Alliance 3.
Best Custom Merc Traits
With only a few Traits to choose from, your Traits should depend on your playstyle. In general, the best custom merc traits in JA 3 are the following:
- Auto Weapons – Increases accuracy for Burst and Auto-Fire weapons.
- Scoundrel – Makes the first weapon slot during combat free.
Auto Weapons will be extremely valuable if your custom merc has a high Marksmanship attribute, while Scoundrel is effective in all cases as it helps you save valuable AP.
Other than that, select perks that benefit your playstyle, whether you’re flanking, playing next to your squad, or focusing on melee combat.
Wrapping up the Best Custom Merc Build in JA3
To summarize this character creation guide, the best custom merc traits, perks, and attributes in Jagged Alliance 3 depend on what your squad needs the most.
In general, you want to aim for a high leadership attribute, while also focusing on Wisdom and Marksmanship. Then, the rest should depend on your preferred playstyle.
What’s your best setup for the custom merc? Do you think the custom merc is overpowered compared to the normal mercenaries? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
For more starter guides, check out our article on the best beginner tips for Jagged Alliance 3.
He has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, which allows him to always come up with a fresh approach to solving in-game puzzles and challenges, but also to create content that’s to the point, clean and easy to follow.
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