Path of Exile 2: Mercenary Leveling Guide

This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide details optimal skills, support gems, passive skills, and item choices for a smooth progression to the endgame. While Mercenaries are considered easy to level, strategic choices significantly impact effectiveness.

Early Game Strategy: Initially, focus on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multiple targets) and Permafrost Shot (quick freezing for increased Fragmentation damage). These skills bridge the gap until unlocking powerful grenade abilities.

Mid to Late Game Power Spike: The Mercenary's strength truly shines with grenades. The core skills become Explosive Shot, Gas Grenade, and Explosive Grenade. Explosive Shot detonates the other two for massive AoE damage. Ripwire Ballista provides a distraction, while Glacial Bolt helps control enemy crowds. Consider Oil Grenade for AoE situations, but Gas Grenade generally surpasses it. Galvanic Shards offers a low-risk crowd control alternative to grenades. Herald of Ash provides additional damage through igniting nearby enemies.

Skill Gem and Support Gem Combinations:

Use Lesser Jeweler's Orbs to add support gem sockets to key skills (Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, Gas Grenade). Prioritize available support gems until you obtain the recommended ones.

Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes: Prioritize Cluster Bombs, Repeating Explosives, and Iron Reflexes. Cluster Bombs increases grenade projectiles, Repeating Explosives adds a chance for double explosions, and Iron Reflexes mitigates the Armor/Evasion penalty of the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy skill (recommended for leveling). Also focus on Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Crossbow-related nodes and Armor/Evasion can be addressed later as needed.

Gear and Stat Priorities: Prioritize upgrading your Crossbow first. Focus on Dexterity, Strength, Armor, Evasion, elemental resistances (excluding Chaos), Physical and Elemental Damage, Mana on Hit, and Resistances. Rarity of Items, Movement Speed, and Attack Speed are beneficial but not critical. A Bombard Crossbow significantly enhances grenade damage.

By following these guidelines, you'll optimize your Mercenary build for efficient leveling in Path of Exile 2.