This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide details strategies for a smooth progression to the endgame. While Mercenaries are considered easy to level, optimizing your build is key. This guide covers crucial skill gems, support gems, passive skill tree nodes, and essential item modifiers.
Optimal Skills and Support Gems
Early game relies on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multi-target damage, boosted by stun support gems) and Permafrost Shot (quick freezes, enhancing Fragmentation Shot damage).
The mid-to-late game shifts to a grenade-focused approach.
| Core 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 |
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Key skills include: Gas Grenade (large area poison), Explosive Grenades (delayed explosions), Explosive Shot (massive AoE damage by detonating grenades), Ripwire Ballista (enemy distraction), and Glacial Bolt (crowd control). Consider swapping Glacial Bolt for Oil Grenade against bosses. Galvanic Shards provides low-risk AoE clearing. Herald of Ash adds ignite damage. Use available support gems until you acquire the recommended ones. A Lesser Jeweller's Orb is recommended to add support gem sockets to key skills.
Prioritized Passive Skills
Focus on these passive skill nodes: Cluster Bombs (adds projectiles to grenades), Repeating Explosives (chance for double grenade explosions), and Iron Reflexes (converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's armor penalty).
Iron Reflexes should be acquired near the edge of the tree, after securing attribute nodes. Other valuable nodes include Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Crossbow-related nodes and Armor/Evasion should be prioritized only if needed.
Essential Items and Stats
Upgrade equipment progressively, focusing on the weakest piece first. A strong Crossbow is paramount.
Prioritize these stats: Dexterity, Strength, Armor, Evasion, Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos), Physical and Elemental Damage, Mana on Hit, and Resistances. Useful but not essential stats include Rarity of Items, Movement Speed, and Attack Speed. A Bombard Crossbow significantly boosts grenade projectile count.
This optimized approach ensures a streamlined and powerful Mercenary leveling experience in Path of Exile 2.
