Path of Exile 2: Unlocking Mercenary Mastery

This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide outlines optimal skill choices, support gems, passive skill tree nodes, and itemization strategies for a smooth progression to endgame. While Mercenaries are relatively easy to level, strategic build choices significantly impact efficiency.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems

Early-game success hinges on Fragmentation Shot and Permafrost Shot. Fragmentation Shot excels at close-range multi-target combat, enhanced further with stun-focused support gems. Permafrost Shot's freezing effect synergizes well with Fragmentation Shot, maximizing damage against frozen foes.

The late-game meta shifts dramatically upon unlocking powerful grenades and Explosive Shot. This transition significantly boosts damage output and area-of-effect clearing.

Key skill interactions are crucial. Utilize available support gems until acquiring the recommended ones. Employ a Lesser Jeweller's Orb to add support gem sockets to Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade for optimal gem allocation.

Prioritized Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Focus on Cluster Bombs, Repeating Explosives, and Iron Reflexes along the Mercenary passive skill tree.

Cluster Bombs extends grenade detonation time, adding projectiles. Repeating Explosives offers a chance for double explosions, amplified by increased projectiles. Iron Reflexes converts evasion into armor, mitigating the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy skill's armor/evasion penalty. Prioritize cooldown reduction, projectile/grenade damage, and area of effect nodes. Crossbow-related nodes and armor/evasion nodes are secondary priorities, only addressed if necessary.

Itemization and Stat Priorities

Crossbow upgrades deliver the most noticeable power increase. Prioritize replacing the weakest equipped item. Focus on Dexterity, Strength, Armor, Evasion, elemental resistances (excluding Chaos), physical and elemental damage, mana on hit, and resistances. Rarity, movement speed, and attack speed are beneficial but not essential.

A Bombard Crossbow significantly enhances grenade projectile count, making it a highly sought-after item. Actively seek and upgrade these crossbows using PoE 2's crafting currency.