Hire mercenary or fight them for scrap?

[JohnFalk68]

What is the best strategy when dealing with mercenaries? It's hard to pass up on the scrap but should I delay rebel fleet? How long does it work for?

Thanks

[UltraMantis]

It gives you a free turn. The Rebel fleet just stays still. It's not usefull if you are near the end of the sector.

Personally, i allways fight the ship unless in dying...

[JohnFalk68]

Thanks UltraMantis!

[VanguardOfValor]

I find that delaying the rebel fleet is almost never worth it. No matter how expensive the delay is at any given time, unless you find somewhere that gives you more scrap in return on the next jump, all you've effectively done is wasted a fuel and some scrap. The one situation where I'd say delaying the fleet is useful if there's a store or distress beacon or something visible on the map one jump away that you wouldn't be able to reach without that extra delay.

I almost always fight the rebels for that reason.

[BKT]

How long does it work for?

I believe it's 2 jumps; but could be 3 ...

What is the best strategy when dealing with mercenaries?

Kill 'em all

[UltraMantis]

How long does it work for?

I believe it's 2 jumps; but could be 3 ...

It's already been answered. One free turn. The only way to get more is to get several events in a row and each will stop the Rebel pursuit.

[BKT]

I tried to make a video of it to see how many jumps you will get; it's surprisingly difficult to find the merc when you actually went to look for one...

At any rate... The wiki said 2 jumps, which is the same as what I remember.

Edit:: Finally found one just now:— Yes, it's 2 jumps.

There's other events that give you free jump. Most, if not all of these, only give 1.

[UltraMantis]

I've never seen them delayed longer than one turn.

[MoD1982]

What is the best strategy when dealing with mercenaries?

Kill 'em all

Best attitude in my opinion

[cicobuff]

I've never seen them delayed longer than one turn.

It's weird because I have experienced 2 jumps as being normal but swear there were a few occasions where it's delayed by only 1 jump which caught me by surprise.