Path of Exile 2: Mercenary Leveling Guide

This Path of Exile 2 guide streamlines Mercenary leveling, a surprisingly easy class to progress with. While other classes struggle with mob control or require close-quarters combat, the Mercenary boasts versatility. However, effective Mercenary play requires strategic skill and item choices. This guide details optimal skill gems, support gems, passive skills, and equipment for a smooth journey to endgame.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems for Mercenary Leveling

Early-game reliance on Crossbow bolts can be inefficient. Unlocking Grenades significantly boosts Mercenary power.

• Early Game: Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multi-target) and Permafrost Shot (freezes enemies, amplifying Fragmentation Shot damage) are reliable. Prioritize stun damage support gems for Fragmentation Shot.

• Late Game: The playstyle shifts dramatically with Explosive Grenade, Gas Grenade, and Explosive Shot.

Gas Grenade poisons widely, Explosive Grenades detonate after a delay or via a detonator skill. Explosive Shot detonates both, creating massive AoE damage. Ripwire Ballista distracts enemies, while Glacial Bolt controls crowds. Oil Grenade offers AoE but is generally outmatched by Gas Grenade; consider swapping it for Glacial Bolt against bosses. Galvanic Shards is a low-risk crowd clearer. Herald of Ash ignites nearby enemies upon overkill damage.

Use Lesser Jeweler's Orbs to add support gem sockets to key skills.

Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Prioritize these passive skills:

• Cluster Bombs: Increases Grenade projectiles.
• Repeating Explosives: Chance for double Grenade explosions.
• Iron Reflexes: Converts Evasion to Armor, mitigating the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy penalty (best Ascendancy choice for leveling).

Also prioritize: Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Crossbow skills, Armor & Evasion nodes are secondary; focus on them only if needed.

Itemization and Stat Priorities

Prioritize upgrading the weakest equipped item. A superior Crossbow is key.

Focus on these stats:

• Dexterity
• Strength
• Armor
• Evasion
• Elemental Resistances (except Chaos)
• Physical and Elemental Damage
• Mana on Hit
• Resistances

Useful but not essential: Rarity of Items, Movement Speed, Attack Speed, Life on Kill/Hit.

A Bombard Crossbow significantly enhances Grenade projectiles, making it a highly sought-after item.

This optimized approach ensures efficient Mercenary leveling in Path of Exile 2.