Path of Exile 2 has garnered significant praise, but the fantasy setting with its swords, bows, and magic might not appeal to everyone. Fear not, for the Mercenary class offers a unique, action-packed alternative! Transform PoE2 into a top-down shooter experience, wielding a powerful crossbow (think shotgun meets grenade launcher) to obliterate hordes of enemies. Forget delicate spells and precise archery; this is raw, explosive power.
Table of Contents
- Features of the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2
- Main Characteristics of the Mercenary
- Useful Skills in Early Game Stages
- Fragmentation Rounds
- Permafrost Bolts
- Explosive Grenade
- Gas Grenade
- Galvanic Shards
- Herald of Thunder
- Explosive Shot
- Passive Skills of the Mercenary
Features of the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2
With strategic leveling, the Mercenary becomes a devastating force, efficiently dispatching both regular mobs and challenging bosses. A well-built Mercenary can even conquer the notoriously difficult Act 1 final boss with relative ease, a stark contrast to the struggles faced by other classes. This guide focuses on building an effective Mercenary in the PoE2 early access version (0.1.0f). Note that GGG may implement changes in the full release, potentially altering some strategies.
While the Mercenary can technically use any weapon, the crossbow reigns supreme. Its versatility, acting as a blend of automatic rifle, shotgun, and grenade launcher, makes it the ideal tool for ranged combat. Leave melee combat to others; your crossbow is your lifeline.
Main Characteristics of the Mercenary
Dexterity is the Mercenary's most crucial stat. Prioritize maximizing Dexterity through equipment and passive skill tree choices. Evasion significantly outweighs Armor in terms of survivability. Movement speed is also key for maneuvering and dodging attacks. Allocate Strength and Intelligence as needed to meet equipment or skill requirements.
Useful Skills in Early Game Stages
Fragmentation Rounds
While useful early on, Fragmentation Rounds is quickly outclassed. Consider support gems like Brutality (35% increased physical damage) and Leverage (50% increased critical strike chance against immobilized enemies), but these might be better saved for more powerful skills.
Permafrost Bolts
Permafrost Bolts is a much stronger starting skill. Freezing and immobilizing enemies provides crucial control. Support gems like Frost Nexus (increased chance to freeze the ground) and Leverage synergize well. Double Barrel adds more bolts but increases reload time (though this can be mitigated later).
Remember that attack speed affects reload speed. Efficiently manage your bolts; reloading after eliminating enemy groups is crucial.
Explosive Grenade
Explosive Grenades are invaluable for crowd control. The Scattershot support gem allows for three grenades instead of one (with a damage reduction), significantly increasing AoE potential. Second Wind is another useful support gem.
Remember that grenades are affected by physics; consider obstacles and enemy positioning when throwing.
Gas Grenade
Gas Grenades create a cloud of poison gas, and the Corrosion support gem reduces enemy armor against poison damage. Bursting Plague further boosts damage. The key advantage is detonating the gas cloud with fire-based skills (like Explosive Grenade and later Explosive Shot) for massive damage.
Galvanic Shards
Available around Act 2, Galvanic Shards transforms your crossbow into a powerful automatic shotgun. Conduction and Lightning Infusion support gems amplify its already high damage output, turning it into a devastating weapon against swarms of enemies.
Herald of Thunder
This buff synergizes exceptionally well with Galvanic Shards and Conduction, achieving near-100% shock chance. This unleashes a storm of lightning, decimating enemies.
Explosive Shot
Explosive Shot, combined with grenades, creates a powerful synergy. The explosion from a hit detonates nearby grenades. Fire Infusion increases fire damage, offering a strong AoE clearing method. It provides a valuable alternative to Galvanic Shards, especially for ranged combat and fire-weak enemies.
These skills provide a solid foundation for leveling the Mercenary to levels 20-25. Experimentation is key to discovering optimal combinations.
Passive Skills of the Mercenary
Prioritize passive skill nodes that boost projectile damage. Key nodes include:
- Remorseless: 15% increased projectile damage, 30% increased stun buildup at close range, +5 strength and dexterity.
- Ricochet: 15% increased projectile damage, 10% chance for projectiles to chain.
- Blur: 4% increased movement speed, 20% increased evasion rating, +10 dexterity.
- Heavy Ammunition: 8% reduced attack speed, 40% increased projectile damage, 40% increased projectile stun buildup.
- Careful Aim: 16% increased Projectile Damage, 40% increased Accuracy Rating at Close Range.
- Cluster Bombs: 50% increased grenade fuse duration, grenade skills fire an additional projectile.
- Adrenaline Rush: 4% increased Movement Speed and 8% increased Attack Speed after a kill.
- Doomsayer: 30% increased Area of Effect and Damage for Herald Skills.
- Instant Reload: 40% increased Crossbow Reload Speed.
- Volatile Grenades: 25% reduced Grenade fuse duration.
These passive skills, requiring approximately 30-35 skill points, provide a strong foundation. Remember to experiment and discover your own unique builds!
