This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide streamlines your journey to the endgame. Mercenaries offer straightforward leveling, but optimal skill choices and gear are key. This guide details essential skills, support gems, passive skills, and item attributes to prioritize.
Top Mercenary Leveling Skills & Support Gems
Early-game success relies on Fragmentation Shot (excellent close-range, multi-target damage, especially with stun support gems) and Permafrost Shot (rapid freezing for increased Fragmentation Shot damage).
Unlocking grenades transforms gameplay. The late-game meta shifts to:
| Core Mercenary Skills | Useful Support Gems |
|---|---|
 |
Ignition, Magnified Effect, Pierce |
 |
Scattershot, Fire Penetration, Inspiration |
 |
Ruthless |
 |
Fire Infusion, Primal Armament, Magnified Effect |
 |
Ignition, Magnified Effect |
 |
Overpower |
 |
Lightning Infusion, Pierce |
 |
Fortress |
 |
Clarity, Vitality |
Explosive Shot detonates grenades for massive AoE damage. Gas Grenade poisons over a wide area. Ripwire Ballista provides enemy distraction. Glacial Bolt helps control hordes (swap with Oil Grenade for bosses). Galvanic Shards offers low-risk horde clearing. Herald of Ash ignites enemies on death. Use available support gems until you acquire the recommended ones. Enhance Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade with a Lesser Jeweler's Orb for extra support gem sockets.
Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes for Leveling
Prioritize Cluster Bombs (adds projectiles), Repeating Explosives (chance for double explosions), and Iron Reflexes (converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's armor penalty). Also seek Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Crossbow skills and Armor/Evasion nodes are secondary; prioritize them only if needed.
Recommended Items & 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
Bonuses like Attack Speed, Movement Speed, and Rarity are helpful but not critical. A Bombard Crossbow significantly boosts grenade projectile count.
This optimized approach ensures a smooth and efficient Mercenary leveling experience in Path of Exile 2.
