Merc Mastery: Unlock Endgame in PoE 2

This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide outlines strategies for efficient progression, focusing on skill selection, gem support, passive skill tree prioritization, and optimal itemization. Mercenaries, while straightforward to level, benefit greatly from strategic build choices.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems

Early-game success hinges on utilizing Fragmentation Shot and Permafrost Shot. Fragmentation Shot excels in close-quarters combat against multiple foes, particularly when amplified by stun-enhancing support gems. Permafrost Shot's freezing effect synergizes well, boosting the damage of shattering frozen enemies.

The late-game meta shifts dramatically with the acquisition of powerful Grenades and Explosive Shot.

Gas Grenade and Explosive Grenades offer substantial area-of-effect damage. Explosive Shot detonates these Grenades, creating massive damage output. Ripwire Ballista provides a distraction, while Glacial Bolt controls enemy crowds. Oil Grenade is situational, generally outperformed by Gas Grenade, except against bosses. Galvanic Shards is a low-risk crowd control option. Herald of Ash provides additional damage via ignition on enemy deaths. Prioritize Level 1 or 2 support gems readily available before Act 3. Use Lesser Jeweler's Orbs to add support gem sockets to key skills.

Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Focus on Cluster Bombs, Repeating Explosives, and Iron Reflexes. Cluster Bombs increases grenade projectiles, while Repeating Explosives adds a chance for double explosions. Iron Reflexes converts evasion to armor, mitigating the drawbacks of the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy skill (the optimal Ascendancy for leveling). Other crucial nodes include cooldown reduction, projectile/grenade damage, and area of effect. Prioritize these over crossbow-specific nodes or armor/evasion unless absolutely necessary.

Itemization and Stat Priorities

Prioritize crossbow upgrades; they significantly impact damage output. Focus on replacing your lowest-level gear first. Balance Dexterity and Strength, along with Armor and Evasion. Essential modifiers include physical and elemental damage, mana on hit, and resistances. While helpful, movement speed, attack speed, and item rarity are secondary priorities.

Ideal stats include:

• Dexterity
• Strength
• Armor
• Evasion
• Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos)
• Increased Physical Damage
• Increased Elemental or Fire Damage
• Attack Speed
• Mana on Kill/Hit
• Life on Kill/Hit
• Item Rarity
• Movement Speed

A Bombard Crossbow is highly recommended, adding an extra grenade projectile to your skills.

This optimized approach ensures a smooth and efficient leveling experience for Mercenaries in Path of Exile 2.