Exile Recruits: Mercenary Mastery in Path of Exile 2

This Path of Exile 2 guide focuses on efficiently leveling a Mercenary, one of the game's six classes. While Mercenaries are relatively easy to level, maximizing their potential requires strategic skill and item choices.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems for Leveling:

Initially, rely on Fragmentation Shot (effective at close range) and Permafrost Shot (for freezing and increased Fragmentation damage). However, the Mercenary's strength truly emerges with Grenade skills.

Later, integrate Explosive Shot (detonates Grenades for massive AoE damage), Gas Grenade (poison AoE), and Ripwire Ballista (enemy distraction). Consider swapping Permafrost Shot for Glacial Bolt (crowd control) and Oil Grenade for Glacial Bolt (except against bosses). Galvanic Shards provides excellent AoE clearing for weaker enemies. Herald of Ash ignites enemies upon death. Use available Level 1 or 2 Support Gems until you acquire the recommended ones. Add Support Gem sockets to key skills using a Lesser Jeweller's Orb.

Prioritized Passive Skill Tree Nodes:

Focus on these key Passive Skills:

• Cluster Bombs: Increases Grenade projectiles.
• Repeating Explosives: Chance for double Grenade explosions.
• Iron Reflexes: Converts Evasion to Armor (crucial for mitigating the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy drawback).

Other valuable nodes include Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Prioritize Crossbow Reload Time, Crossbow Damage, Armor, and Evasion only if necessary.

Essential Items and Stat Priorities:

Prioritize upgrading your Crossbow. Focus on gear with:

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

Optional but beneficial: Attack Speed, Mana/Life on Kill/Hit, Rarity of Items Found, and Movement Speed. A Bombard Crossbow significantly boosts Grenade projectiles.

This strategic approach to skills, gems, passive skills, and item selection will optimize your Mercenary's leveling experience in Path of Exile 2.