His blade in Path of Exile 2 is at your service: How to make a Mercenary build

Master the Path of Exile 2 Mercenary: A Beginner's Guide to Ranged Mayhem!

Tired of fantasy tropes? Path of Exile 2's Mercenary class offers a unique, action-packed experience reminiscent of a top-down Doom-style shooter. Ditch the swords and magic; embrace the crossbow and unleash explosive carnage! This guide covers early-game strategies for building a devastating Mercenary in PoE2 version 0.1.0f (subject to change in future updates).

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The Mercenary's Arsenal: Crossbow Domination

While capable of wielding any weapon, the Mercenary excels with crossbows. Think of it as a versatile blend of automatic rifle, shotgun, and grenade launcher. Leave bows to the Ranger; your crossbow is your best friend.

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Key Mercenary Attributes

Dexterity is king. Prioritize it for increased damage and evasion. Evasion trumps armor. Boost Strength and Intelligence as needed for equipment and skill requirements. Movement speed is crucial for dodging attacks.

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Essential Early-Game Skills

• Fragmentation Rounds: A decent starting skill, but quickly outclassed. Consider Brutality and Leverage support gems.

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• Permafrost Bolts: A solid choice. Freeze and immobilize enemies with frost projectiles. Pair with Frost Nexus and Leverage for increased critical hit chance. Double Barrel support gem adds more bolts but increases reload time.

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• Explosive Grenade: AoE damage king. Use Scattershot for three grenades at once (damage reduction is worth it!) and Second Wind support gems. Master grenade trajectory and positioning for maximum impact.

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• Gas Grenade: Poison damage over time. Corrosion support gem reduces enemy armor. Bursting Plague boosts damage. Detonate gas clouds with fire skills (like Explosive Grenade later Explosive Shot) for massive damage boosts.

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• Galvanic Shards (Act 2): Transforms your crossbow into an electric shotgun. Use Conduction and Lightning Infusion support gems for devastating damage.

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• Herald of Thunder: Excellent buff, especially with Galvanic Shards and Conduction. 100% shock chance triggers the aura, unleashing lightning strikes. Requires 30 spirit.

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• Explosive Shot: Combines ranged attacks with grenade detonations. Fire Infusion support gem increases fire damage. Offers a powerful alternative to Galvanic Shards for ranged AoE and fire damage.

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Recommended Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Prioritize nodes that increase projectile damage:

• Remorseless: Increased projectile damage, stun buildup, and attribute boosts.
• Ricochet: Increased projectile damage and chain chance.
• Blur: Increased movement speed and evasion.
• Heavy Ammunition: Increased projectile damage and stun, reduced attack speed.
• Careful Aim: Increased projectile damage and accuracy at close range.
• Cluster Bombs: Increased grenade fuse duration and additional projectile. (Use with Explosive Shot)
• Adrenaline Rush: Increased movement and attack speed after kills.
• Doomsayer: Increased Herald skill area of effect and damage. (For Herald of Thunder)
• Instant Reload: Significantly increased crossbow reload speed.
• Volatile Grenades: Reduced grenade fuse duration. (If not using Explosive Shot)

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Experiment and discover your own optimal build! This guide provides a solid foundation for early-game success. Remember to adapt and adjust your strategy based on the challenges you encounter. Happy hunting!