Path of Exile 2: Mercenary Leveling Revealed!

This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide outlines optimal skills, support gems, passive skills, and item choices for a smooth progression to the endgame. Mercenaries, while easy to level, require strategic build choices to maximize their potential.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems:

Early game relies on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multiple targets) and Permafrost Shot (freezing for increased Fragmentation damage). Unlocking grenades significantly boosts effectiveness.

Later, the core skills become:

Gas Grenade poisons, Explosive Grenade explodes, and Explosive Shot detonates them for massive AoE damage. Ripwire Ballista distracts, Glacial Bolt controls crowds. Oil Grenade is situational, outclassed by Gas Grenade except against bosses. Galvanic Shards excels against hordes. Herald of Ash ignites enemies on death. Use available Level 1-2 support gems initially. Add support gem sockets to key skills using Lesser Jeweler's Orbs.

Prioritized Passive Skills:

Focus on these nodes on the Mercenary Passive Skill Tree:

• Cluster Bombs: Adds projectiles to grenades.
• Repeating Explosives: Chance for double grenade explosions.
• Iron Reflexes: Converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's armor penalty (best Ascendancy choice for leveling).

Other beneficial nodes include Cooldown Reduction, Projectile/Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Prioritize Crossbow Reload/Damage, Armor/Evasion only if needed.

Itemization and Stat Priorities:

Prioritize upgrading your Crossbow first. Focus on these stats:

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

Useful but not essential: Rarity of Items, Movement Speed, Attack Speed. A Bombard Crossbow adds an extra grenade projectile, significantly enhancing damage. Always replace the lowest-level equipped item with a superior one.

By following this guide, you'll optimize your Mercenary build for efficient leveling in Path of Exile 2.