Path of Exile 2 Mercenary Leveling Guide: A Smooth Path to Endgame

The Mercenary class in Path of Exile 2 boasts one of the easiest leveling experiences. Unlike some classes that struggle with hordes or require close-quarters combat, the Mercenary possesses versatile tools for diverse combat scenarios. However, maximizing its potential requires strategic skill choices and item selection. This guide outlines optimal skills, support gems, passive skills, and items to ensure a streamlined leveling process.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems

Early-game success relies on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, single or multiple targets, enhanced with stun support gems) and Permafrost Shot (rapid freezing, boosting Fragmentation Shot damage on shatter).

The late-game meta shifts dramatically with the acquisition of 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

Key skills include: Gas Grenade (massive area-of-effect poison), Explosive Grenades (delayed explosion or detonator activation), and Explosive Shot (detonates grenades for immense AoE damage). Ripwire Ballista provides enemy distraction, while Glacial Bolt handles hordes. Oil Grenade is situational, outperformed by Gas Grenade generally, but useful against bosses. Galvanic Shards excels at clearing low-threat hordes. Herald of Ash provides additional damage through ignites.

Prioritize Level 1 or 2 support gems readily available before Act 3. Use Lesser Jeweller's Orbs to add support gem sockets to Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade.

Essential Passive Skills

Focus on these key passive skills:

• Cluster Bombs: Increases grenade explosion time but adds projectiles (at least doubling grenade count).
• Repeating Explosives: Chance for grenades to explode twice, amplified by multiple projectiles.
• Iron Reflexes: Converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's armor/evasion penalty (Witchhunter ascendancy).

Other crucial nodes include Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Crossbow Reload Time, Crossbow Damage, Armor, and Evasion are valuable but secondary priorities, only addressed if necessary.

Itemization and Stat Priorities

Prioritize upgrading the weakest gear piece. Crossbow upgrades provide the most significant power increase. Focus on these stats:

• Dexterity
• Strength
• Armor
• Evasion
• All Elemental Resistances (excluding Chaos)
• Increased Physical Damage
• Increased Elemental OR Fire Damage
• Attack Speed
• Mana On Kill OR Hit
• Life on Kill OR Hit
• Rarity of Items Found
• Movement Speed

Bombard Crossbows are highly recommended for their extra grenade projectile.

By following these guidelines, players can effectively level their Mercenary character in Path of Exile 2, preparing for a smooth transition into the endgame.