If you're intrigued by the buzz around *Path of Exile 2* but not particularly drawn to traditional fantasy elements like swords and magic, the Mercenary class might just be your gateway to enjoying this game. Think of it as a top-down *Doom* experience within *Path of Exile 2*—where you can wield a crossbow, akin to a trusty shotgun, and dive into hordes of enemies with gusto!
Features of the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2
With the right build and leveling strategy, the Mercenary becomes an efficient machine for turning monsters into mere obstacles. This class excels not only against regular mobs but also against challenging bosses, making even the first act's final boss a breeze on the first or second attempt, a stark contrast to the struggles faced by the Witch class.
This guide is tailored for the early access version of *Path of Exile 2*, specifically version 0.1.0f. Keep in mind that Grinding Gear Games (GGG) might introduce changes in the final release, potentially affecting the relevance of some of the strategies outlined here.
Image: ensigame.com
The Mercenary, like all *Path of Exile 2* characters, can technically use any weapon. However, for this class, the crossbow is your weapon of choice—a versatile tool that functions as an automatic rifle, shotgun, and grenade launcher rolled into one. While bows are an option, they are better suited for the Ranger. As the Mercenary, your crossbow is your best ally, echoing the sentiment from *Full Metal Jacket*: "Without me, my crossbow is useless. Without my crossbow, I am useless."
Image: ensigame.com
Main Characteristics of the Mercenary
Dexterity is paramount for the Mercenary. Focus on accumulating as much Dexterity as possible through items and the passive skill tree. Prioritize Evasion over Armour for better survivability, and don't underestimate the importance of Movement Speed for dodging enemy attacks. Allocate points to Strength and Intelligence as needed, based on your equipment and skill requirements.
Image: ensigame.com
Useful Skills in Early Game Stages
Fragmentation Rounds
At the outset, the Fragmentation Rounds skill can be helpful, but it's not a long-term solution. Enhance it with Brutality for a 35% increase in physical damage and Leverage for a 50% crit chance against immobilized enemies. However, consider saving your gems for more impactful skills as you progress.
Image: ensigame.com
Permafrost Bolts
Permafrost Bolts is a strong starting skill, allowing you to freeze and immobilize enemies with frost projectiles. Enhance it with Frost Nexus to increase the chance of freezing the ground around ice-bound enemies, and use Leverage for the crit chance boost. Consider Double Barrel for a dual-bolt shot, though it increases reload time by 30%.
Remember, different skills allow varying numbers of bolts to be loaded into the crossbow. You can refresh the charge by pressing the quick key again. Also, attack speed impacts reload speed, so keep an eye on that stat.
Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Explosive Grenade
Explosive Grenades are crucial for crowd control, delivering area-of-effect damage to clear large groups of enemies. Use Scattershot to throw three grenades at once, albeit with a 20% damage reduction, and Second Wind for additional throws. Be mindful of the grenades' physics; ensure no obstacles block your path to maximize their effectiveness.
Image: ensigame.com
Gas Grenade
Gas Grenades release a cloud of poisonous gas, effective when combined with Corrosion to reduce enemy armor by 80%. Enhance with Bursting Plague for increased damage. A unique feature of Gas Grenades is their ability to be detonated with fire, significantly boosting damage. Use skills like Explosive Grenade or Explosive Shot, which have the Detonate keyword, to achieve this.
Image: ensigame.com
Galvanic Shards
Introduced in the second act, Galvanic Shards transforms your crossbow into an automatic shotgun with five charges of lightning. Enhance it with Conduction and Lightning Infusion to maximize its devastating potential. With increased reload speed, it becomes an electro-automatic rifle, perfect for mowing down waves of enemies.
Image: ensigame.com
Herald of Thunder
Herald of Thunder is an excellent early-game buff, especially if you've adopted Galvanic Shards with Conduction. It ensures a 100% chance to shock enemies, triggering lightning strikes from above. Activating this aura requires 30 spirit units, obtainable by defeating a first-act boss.
Image: ensigame.com
Explosive Shot
Embrace your inner Doomguy with Explosive Shot, which synergizes well with grenades. The explosion from a bolt can trigger grenades on the ground. Enhance with Fire Infusion for increased fire damage, making it an effective area-clearing method for labyrinths. Explosive Shot offers the advantage of engaging enemies at a distance, unlike the close-range Galvanic Shards.
Image: ensigame.com
These skills are essential for leveling the Mercenary to around level 20-25, helping you grasp the class's mechanics. As you progress, aim to diversify your elemental damage types to tackle various enemies effectively. Now, let's explore the passive skill tree.
Image: ensigame.com
Passive Skills of the Mercenary
Focus on passive skills that boost projectile damage. Here are some key nodes to consider:
⚔️ Remorseless — Boosts projectile damage by 15%, increases stun buildup against nearby enemies by 30%, and adds +5 to strength and dexterity. A solid starting buff.
⚔️ Ricochet — Increases projectile damage by 15% and adds a 10% chance for projectiles to chain an additional time. Enhances your damage output.
⚔️ Blur — Increases movement speed by 4%, boosts evasion rating by 20%, and adds +10 to dexterity. Enhances survivability and attribute growth.
Image: ensigame.com
⚔️ Heavy Ammunition — Reduces attack speed by 8% but increases projectile damage and stun buildup by 40%. A great choice for a significant damage boost if you're also taking Blur.
⚔️ Careful Aim — Increases projectile damage by 16% and boosts accuracy rating at close range by 40%. Essential for ensuring your shots hit the mark.
Image: ensigame.com
⚔️ Cluster Bombs — Increases grenade fuse duration by 50% and adds an additional grenade projectile. Ideal if you're using Explosive Shot.
⚔️ Adrenaline Rush — Increases movement speed by 4% and attack speed by 8% if you've killed recently. A handy buff you'll naturally acquire on the path to Instant Reload.
Image: ensigame.com
⚔️ Doomsayer — Increases the area of effect and damage of Herald Skills by 30%. A great way to enhance Herald of Thunder if you're using it.
⚔️ Instant Reload — Increases crossbow reload speed by 40%. On the path to this node, you'll also gain an additional 30% reload speed, totaling 70%. You'll unlock the first Jewel Socket along the way.
⚔️ Volatile Grenades — Reduces grenade fuse duration by 25%. Only take this if you're not using Explosive Shot in combat.
Image: ensigame.com
These passive skills should be your initial focus, requiring around 30-35 skill points to acquire. As you develop your build, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the Mercenary's mechanics in *Path of Exile 2*. Remember, the joy of playing as a Mercenary lies in experimenting with different combinations and crafting your unique build!
