How can I best use Hired Hands?

Solution 1:

Hired Hands, in general, are not that beneficial. However, they do have a few uses:

• Carrying more than one item to the next level. Sometimes you want to carry two items (say, a shotgun and the eggplant) but you can only take one. A hired hand will carry one for you. It is extremely difficult to do the 'Eggplant Run' without a hired hand. So much so that people will delete their saves to restore the hidden robot character in the Mothership level to act as a hired hand again when freed.
• Sacrifice. Hired hands are worth the same amount as a damsel when sacrificed (8 when stunned, 4 when dead.)
• General Spelunky-ing. They will attack monsters and collect treasure for you. This is minorly useful.

However, they are stupid and will get themselves (or you) killed just about as often as they do something useful. Whatever you do, don't let them carry the shotgun.