This guide outlines a streamlined leveling strategy for the Mercenary class in Path of Exile 2. While Mercenaries are generally easy to level, optimizing skill choices and gear significantly improves efficiency.
Optimal Skills and Support Gems for Leveling:
Early-game reliance on Fragmentation Shot and Permafrost Shot provides solid damage. However, the true power of the Mercenary unlocks with Grenades.
| 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 |
Early access to Level 1 or 2 Support Gems is key. Prioritize these gems as they become available, leveraging existing gems until then. Use Lesser Jeweller's Orbs to add support gem sockets to your core Grenade skills (Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, Gas Grenade).
Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes:
Focus on these three key passive skills:
- Cluster Bombs: Increases Grenade projectiles.
- Repeating Explosives: Chance for double Grenade explosions.
- Iron Reflexes: Converts Evasion to Armor, mitigating the downside of the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy node (recommended Ascendancy for leveling).
Other important nodes include Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Prioritize these over Crossbow-specific nodes and Armor/Evasion unless necessary for survivability.
Gear and Stat Priorities:
Focus on upgrading your Crossbow first. Prioritize replacing the weakest piece of gear.
Essential stats include:
- Dexterity
- Strength
- Armor
- Evasion
- Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos)
- Physical and Elemental Damage
- Mana on Hit
- Life on Hit/Kill
Beneficial but less crucial stats: Attack Speed, Movement Speed, Rarity of Items Found.
A Bombard Crossbow is highly recommended, as it adds an extra projectile to Grenade skills.
This optimized approach ensures a smooth and powerful leveling experience for the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2.
