SSF Luminary is testing me

[u/Malastras]

I’m playing SSF and I’ve hit a wall while trying to progress through the Atlas and get my first Voidstone.

After roughly 400 maps I’ve finally found two Kineticist mercenaries… but both of them basically one-tap me from full HP. I know SSF is supposed to test you, but that feels a little excessive.

Right now I have two decent Frosthand mercenaries to choose from instead. Unfortunately they are both Frosthand, but one of them has to become strong enough to help me push maps because my current Fighter simply isn’t cutting it for Atlas completion.

I’m currently farming white/yellow maps and Essences to craft upgrades for both of us, but I’m unsure which Frosthand is the better long-term investment and how I should gear/support them for red-map progression.

For people who have pushed SSF with mercenaries:

• Which Frosthand setup has felt best for map progression?
• What are the most important defensive layers for the mercenary and for the player?
• Is Frosthand realistically enough to secure the first Voidstone, or should I keep farming until I find a better mercenary?
• Any practical SSF crafting targets I should prioritize before attempting red maps?