Path of Exile 2: Guide to Leveling Mercenaries

This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide details optimal skills, support gems, passive skills, and items for a smooth progression to endgame. While Mercenaries are generally easy to level, strategic choices significantly impact effectiveness.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems:

Early game relies on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multiple targets) and Permafrost Shot (freezes enemies, boosting Fragmentation Shot damage).

Later, the build shifts to a grenade-focused playstyle. Key skills include:

Gas Grenade poisons over a large area, Explosive Grenades explode after a delay or detonation, and Explosive Shot detonates both, creating massive AoE damage. Ripwire Ballista provides a distraction, while Glacial Bolt controls crowds. Oil Grenade is situational, often outperformed by Gas Grenade. Galvanic Shards is excellent for clearing hordes. Herald of Ash ignites nearby enemies upon overkill damage. Use available Support Gems until the recommended ones are acquired. Use a Lesser Jeweller's Orb to add support gem sockets to key skills.

Prioritized Passive Skills:

Focus on Cluster Bombs (adds projectiles), Repeating Explosives (chance for double explosions), and Iron Reflexes (converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's downside). Also prioritize Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Consider Crossbow Reload Time, Crossbow Damage, Armor, and Evasion later, as needed.

Itemization and Stat Priorities:

Prioritize crossbow upgrades. Focus on Dexterity, Strength, Armor, Evasion, Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos), Physical and Elemental Damage, Mana on Hit, and Resistances. Rarity of Items, Movement Speed, and Attack Speed are beneficial but not essential. A Bombard Crossbow significantly enhances grenade projectile count.

Remember to upgrade the lowest-level equipped gear first. A strong crossbow upgrade will significantly boost power.