instead of stone or shaft, use bramble for your merc. just make sure that he's not using defiance or else throns will most likely not activate (cuz defense too high). being a zoomancer, you'll have these auras:
from merc - holy freeze, thorns, might (if you choose the might merc)
from you - fanatacism (from beast runeword)...it's really really fun for pvm...for pvp, i'd just teleport right onto the person your fighting, since your summons go w/ u, and let them take the dmg and give it back w/ thorns and their other auras
have fun!

What is this!?! A center for ants!?