The Mercenary is one of the easiest classes to level in Path of Exile 2. Unlike some classes that struggle with hordes or require close-range combat, Mercenaries possess versatile tools for diverse combat scenarios. However, maximizing their potential requires strategic skill and item choices. This guide outlines recommended skills, support gems, items, and passive skill tree nodes for efficient Mercenary leveling.
Many players initially rely solely on crossbow bolts, neglecting the potent grenade-based playstyle. This leads to a slower leveling experience. Unlocking grenades significantly enhances the Mercenary's effectiveness, mitigating the crossbow's reload time.
Early game, before accessing powerful grenades like Explosive Grenade and Gas Grenade, Fragmentation Shot and Permafrost Shot are reliable options. Fragmentation Shot excels in close-quarters combat against single or multiple targets, especially when boosted with stun support gems. Permafrost Shot quickly freezes enemies, increasing the damage of subsequent Fragmentation Shots.
Later, with access to high-impact grenades and Explosive Shot, the playstyle transforms. Gas Grenade poisons a large area and can be detonated; Explosive Grenades detonate after a delay or upon detonation skill activation. Explosive Shot detonates these grenades, causing massive area-of-effect damage. Ripwire Ballista provides a distraction, while Glacial Bolt helps control hordes. Oil Grenade is useful for AoE but is generally outclassed by Gas Grenade. Consider swapping Glacial Bolt for Oil Grenade against bosses. Galvanic Shards is a low-risk horde clearer, a good replacement for Fragmentation Shot. Herald of Ash ignites nearby enemies upon their death, dealing damage over time based on overkill.
| 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 |
The listed support gems are generally available early. The skill interactions are key; use available gems until obtaining the recommendations. Use a Lesser Jeweller's Orb to add support gem sockets to Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade.
Prioritize these passive skill tree nodes: Cluster Bombs (adds projectiles), Repeating Explosives (chance for double explosions), and Iron Reflexes (converts evasion to armor, mitigating Sorcery Ward's downside). Sorcery Ward, from the Witchhunter Ascendancy (the best for leveling), reduces non-physical damage but halves armor and evasion. Iron Reflexes counters this effectively. Other useful nodes include cooldown reduction, projectile/grenade damage, and area of effect. Crossbow skills and armor/evasion nodes are less critical unless needed.
Focus on upgrading equipment, prioritizing items with significant modifiers. Crossbow upgrades provide the largest power increase. Mercenaries benefit from Dexterity, Strength, Armor, Evasion, elemental resistances (except Chaos), physical and elemental damage, Mana on Hit, and resistances. Rarity, movement speed, and attack speed are beneficial but not essential. A Bombard Crossbow adds an extra grenade projectile, significantly improving grenade skills.
