MEGA Budget Gear for you Mecenary, Keep them Alive Diablo 2 Resurrected

smalps-gaming: Don't underestimate the importance of Faster Hit Recovery on the mercs! This is also important for their survival. So having that from Treach and Cure/Bulwark is a great combo!
potatolauncher4892: Super early on, you can put Sigon's helm and armor on your merc. The synergy is 10% life stolen. Lionheart (Hel-Lum-Fal) is an excellent early ladder merc armor. It has 30 all resist, 20% enhanced damage, 25 strength, 15 Dexterity and 50 to life. Don't forget Duriel's Shell too which has all resistances, life based on character level, 15 strength and cannot be frozen.
chrispratt3666: My favorite setup isn't exactly budget but it's not expensive either. I like to use Reaper's, Kira's and Guardian Angel. You get res cap raised to 90, effectively reducing elemental damage by 60% compared to a 75 res setup. You also get cannot be frozen and some life leech for consistent sustain. Most importantly you get the decrepify proc which absolutely cripples enemies when combined with holy freeze. As long as you can get by without medi aura that setup works great and isn't too hard to acquire.
jandegroef3451: I am a fan of Harmony runeword for act 1 merc. It gives vigor and does nice damage. It needs a sol and a ko rune.
barryschalkwijk9388: Act 2 might merc, Obedience ethereal cryptic axe, treachery armor and a Guillames face. Or, if you can't support him and he needs a bit more survivability: Andy helm with a fire res and dmg jewel (or tals mask/vampire gaze until you find an andy). Boom, done. You're welcome.
ChuckCanada1: bulwark, smoke, insight. will the merc die from time to time, yeah. but it takes quite a bit to take the merc out.
returnofmerenguespersempre6664: Reapers with socketed amn (yeah i dont feel socking it is a waste), gface and griswolds with triple sol.
Merc absolutely tears and never dies
euklesio: Ngl after they added the Cure runeword, for me is always: act2 Prayer Merc Insight Cure. Is insane to have 30 hp/s, is a permanent super heal potion.

Plus the insane mana regen, and also Insight is super strong with the Critical Strike allowing your merc to deal double dmg (CS level 6 is a f 46% to double dmg)

And having a life leach armor makes it perfect, early on Greyform, Boneflesh, Skin of the Flayed one, stuff found in Normal/Nm, or even crafting a Blood Armor if you are unluck to find one of those uniques.

In late the BiS Chains of Honor runeword makes your merc a Tank
amfitness5598: Best budget act 2. Cure helm, Boneflesh armor with an IAS jewel or AR jewel or Shael rune for more FHR and a thresher Insight for casters or Hustle for mele.
generaladvance5812: Undead crown can be reasonably decent if you happen across one. 5% LL, 50% poison res and half freeze duration. Relatively easy to find budget option.
LuanNguyen-qe8bm: I threw glad bane on my merc.. it takes forever for anything to hit him.. people underestimate that thing.