Path of Exile 2: Mercenary Leveling Guide

This Path of Exile 2 guide focuses on efficiently leveling a Mercenary, one of the game's easiest classes to progress with. While some classes struggle with enemy hordes or require close-range combat, the Mercenary's versatility allows it to tackle various combat scenarios. However, maximizing its potential requires strategic skill and item choices.

This guide details recommended skills, support gems, essential item modifiers, and crucial passive skill tree nodes for a smooth journey to the endgame.

Optimal Mercenary Leveling Skills and Support Gems

Early-game success hinges on utilizing Fragmentation Shot and Permafrost Shot before unlocking more powerful skills. Fragmentation Shot excels in close-quarters combat against multiple targets, particularly when boosted by stun support gems. Permafrost Shot quickly freezes enemies, amplifying the damage of subsequent Fragmentation Shots.

The playstyle transforms significantly after unlocking powerful grenades and Explosive Shot.

Core Mercenary Leveling Skills	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

Gas Grenade poisons a wide area, detonatable with a Detonation skill. Explosive Grenades explode after a delay or detonation. Explosive Shot detonates both grenade types, providing substantial AoE and single-target damage. Ripwire Ballista distracts enemies, while Glacial Bolt controls hordes. Oil Grenade is useful for AoE but often inferior to Gas Grenade; consider swapping it for Glacial Bolt except against bosses. Galvanic Shards is a low-risk horde clearer, replacing Fragmentation Shot effectively. Herald of Ash ignites nearby enemies upon an enemy's death based on overkill damage.

The listed support gems are readily available early in Act 3. Prioritize using Lesser Jeweller's Orbs to add support gem sockets to Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade.

Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes for Leveling

Focus on Cluster Bombs, Repeating Explosives, and Iron Reflexes on the Mercenary passive skill tree. Cluster Bombs increases grenade projectile count, while Repeating Explosives provides a chance for double explosions. Iron Reflexes converts evasion to armor, mitigating the drawback of the Sorcery Ward ascendancy skill (the best choice for leveling Mercenaries). Prioritize cooldown reduction, projectile/grenade damage, and area of effect nodes. Crossbow skills, armor/evasion nodes can be prioritized later as needed.

Recommended Items and Stat Priorities

Prioritize upgrading your Crossbow, the core weapon, followed by other gear with powerful modifiers. Focus on Dexterity, Strength, Armor, Evasion, elemental resistances (excluding Chaos), physical and elemental damage, mana on hit, and resistances. While leveling, consider movement speed and attack speed, but they are not strictly essential. A Bombard Crossbow significantly improves grenade projectile count.

By following these strategies, players can quickly and effectively level their Mercenary character in Path of Exile 2.