Path of Exile 2: Mercenary Leveling Guide

This guide details effective leveling strategies for the Mercenary class in Path of Exile 2. While Mercenaries offer versatile combat options, maximizing their potential requires strategic skill and item choices.

Optimal Leveling Skills and Support Gems

Early-game success relies on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multiple targets) and Permafrost Shot (freezing for increased Fragmentation Shot damage). However, the Mercenary's true strength emerges with Grenade skills.

The table below outlines core skills and recommended support gems:

Explosive Shot detonates Gas and Explosive Grenades for massive AoE damage. Gas Grenade poisons a wide area. Ripwire Ballista provides a distraction. Glacial Bolt controls crowds. Oil Grenade (less effective than Gas Grenade) can be swapped for Glacial Bolt against bosses. Galvanic Shards is excellent for clearing weaker enemies. Herald of Ash ignites enemies upon death. Use available support gems until you acquire the recommended ones. Utilize Lesser Jeweller's Orbs to add support gem sockets to key skills.

Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Prioritize Cluster Bombs (adds projectiles to Grenades), Repeating Explosives (chance for double explosions), and Iron Reflexes (converts Evasion to Armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's downside). Also seek Cooldown Reduction, Projectile/Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect nodes. Address Crossbow skills, Armor/Evasion nodes only when necessary.

Itemization and Stat Priorities

Focus on upgrading your Crossbow first. Prioritize gear with:

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

Additional beneficial modifiers include Attack Speed, Mana/Life on Kill/Hit, Item Rarity, and Movement Speed. A Bombard Crossbow significantly boosts Grenade projectiles. Always replace your lowest-level equipped item with a superior one.