This guide details effective leveling strategies for the Mercenary class in Path of Exile 2. While Mercenaries are considered easy to level, optimizing your build significantly improves efficiency. This guide covers skill gems, support gems, passive skill tree choices, and essential item attributes.
Optimal Leveling 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 approach.
| Core Mercenary Leveling Skills | 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 |
Key interactions: Explosive Shot detonates Gas and Explosive Grenades for massive AoE damage. Glacial Bolt provides crowd control, while Oil Grenade offers additional AoE but is generally outclassed by Gas Grenade except against bosses. Galvanic Shards excels at clearing weaker enemies. Herald of Ash provides additional damage through ignites. Use available support gems until you acquire the recommended ones. Utilize Lesser Jeweller's Orbs to add support gem sockets to key skills.
Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes
Prioritize Cluster Bombs (adds projectiles to grenades), Repeating Explosives (chance for double explosions), and Iron Reflexes (converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's downside). Also seek out Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect nodes. Crossbow related nodes and Armor/Evasion nodes are secondary priorities, obtained as needed.
Itemization and Stat Priorities
Focus on upgrading your Crossbow first. Prioritize items with:
- Dexterity
- Strength
- Armor
- Evasion
- Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos)
- Physical and Elemental Damage
- Mana on Hit
- Resistances
Other beneficial modifiers include Attack Speed, Mana/Life on Kill/Hit, Item Rarity, and Movement Speed. A Bombard Crossbow significantly enhances grenade damage by adding an extra projectile.
This optimized approach ensures a smoother and more powerful leveling experience for the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2.
