This guide outlines an effective leveling strategy for the Mercenary class in Path of Exile 2. While Mercenaries are generally easy to level, optimizing your build significantly enhances the experience.
Optimal Skills and Support Gems:
Early game relies on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multiple targets) and Permafrost Shot (freezes enemies, boosting Fragmentation Shot damage).
Later, the build shifts to a grenade-focused strategy:
| Skill Gem | Useful Support Gems |
|---|---|
| Explosive Shot | Ignition, Magnified Effect, Pierce |
| Gas Grenade | Scattershot, Fire Penetration, Inspiration |
| Ripwire Ballista | Ruthless |
| Explosive Grenade | Fire Infusion, Primal Armament, Magnified Effect |
| Oil Grenade | Ignition, Magnified Effect |
| Flash Grenade | Overpower |
| Galvanic Shards | Lightning Infusion, Pierce |
| Glacial Bolt | Fortress |
| Herald of Ash | Clarity, Vitality |
Consider these skill swaps: Replace Permafrost Shot with Glacial Bolt; swap Oil Grenade for Glacial Bolt against bosses; replace Fragmentation Shot with Galvanic Shards for horde clearing.
Use Lesser Jeweler's Orbs to add support gem sockets to key skills.
Essential Passive Skills:
Prioritize these passive skills on the Mercenary tree: Cluster Bombs, Repeating Explosives, and Iron Reflexes (crucial for mitigating the drawbacks of the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy). Also seek out nodes boosting cooldown reduction, projectile/grenade damage, and area of effect. Consider Crossbow Reload Time, Crossbow Damage, Armor, and Evasion nodes as needed, but prioritize grenade damage first.
Itemization and Stat Priorities:
Focus on upgrading your Crossbow first. Prioritize gear with:
- Dexterity
- Strength
- Armor
- Evasion
- Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos)
- Physical and Elemental Damage
- Mana on Hit
- Resistances
Beneficial but not essential: Attack Speed, Mana/Life on Kill/Hit, Item Rarity, Movement Speed.
A Bombard Crossbow significantly boosts grenade projectile count.
This optimized approach will ensure a smooth and powerful leveling experience for your Mercenary in Path of Exile 2.
