In *Path of Exile 2*, the Mercenary class offers one of the smoothest leveling experiences among the six available classes. While other classes might struggle with managing hordes or maintaining effectiveness in melee range, Mercenaries are equipped with versatile tools to handle various combat scenarios effectively. However, mastering a Mercenary requires a strategic approach, as some builds are more conducive to efficient leveling. This comprehensive Mercenary leveling guide for *Path of Exile 2* outlines the optimal skills, support gems, essential items, and crucial Passive Skill Tree nodes to prioritize on your journey to the endgame.
Best Mercenary Leveling Skills & Support Gems
Leveling a Mercenary in *Path of Exile 2* can feel slow at first, especially if you rely solely on your Crossbow's bolts and ammo types. The key to unlocking the class's true potential lies in transitioning to a Grenade-focused playstyle, which mitigates the inherent reload time of Crossbows. Here's how to make the most of your Mercenary's abilities:
- In the early stages, before unlocking advanced skills like Explosive Grenade, Gas Grenade, and Explosive Shot, rely on **Fragmentation Shot** and **Permafrost Shot**. **Fragmentation Shot** excels in close-range combat against single or multiple targets, particularly when enhanced with Support Gems that boost Stun damage. **Permafrost Shot** can quickly freeze enemies, enhancing the effectiveness of Fragmentation Shots by shattering frozen targets.
As you progress and unlock more powerful Grenades and the Explosive Shot ability, your playstyle will shift significantly. Below is a table summarizing the core Mercenary leveling skills and their recommended Support Gems:
| Core Mercenary Leveling Skills | |
|---|---|
| Skill Gem | 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 |
**Gas Grenade** inflicts poison over a large area, which can be detonated with a Detonation skill, while **Explosive Grenades** detonate after a few seconds or when hit with a Detonator skill. **Explosive Shot** can trigger the detonation of both Explosive Grenade and Gas Grenade, providing immense area of effect (AoE) and single-target damage. **Ripwire Ballista** distracts enemies, while **Glacial Bolt** helps manage hordes. Consider replacing **Permafrost Shot** with **Glacial Bolt** for better crowd control.
For boss fights, swap **Glacial Bolt** with **Oil Grenade** for enhanced damage. **Galvanic Shards** is excellent for clearing weak enemy groups without setting up multiple Grenades. Replace **Fragmentation Shot** with this skill when appropriate. **Herald of Fire** can cause enemies to ignite nearby foes upon death, adding to your damage output.
These Support Gems are Level 1 or 2, accessible before reaching far into Act 3. Use the interactions of base skills to maximize your Mercenary's potential, and equip recommended Support Gems as soon as possible. Use a Lesser Jeweller's Orb to add a Support Gem socket to your Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade skills.
Best Mercenary Passive Skills For Leveling
As you navigate the Mercenary Passive Skill Tree, prioritize these three key skills: **Cluster Bombs**, **Repeating Explosives**, and **Iron Reflexes**.
- **Cluster Bombs** increases the time before Grenades explode but adds an additional Projectile, ensuring at least two Grenades per skill use.
- **Repeating Explosives** offers a chance for Grenades to explode twice, amplifying damage as you acquire more Projectiles.
- **Iron Reflexes** converts all Evasion into Armor, counteracting the **Sorcery Ward** Ascendancy skill's reduction of Armor and Evasion. This is particularly beneficial in the Witchhunter Ascendancy tree, where **Sorcery Ward** provides a strong barrier against non-Physical damage at the cost of halved Armor and Evasion.
While leveling, also consider picking up **Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect** to enhance your Grenades' effectiveness. **Crossbow Reload Time, Crossbow Damage, and the Armor & Evasion** nodes are useful but should be prioritized only when necessary. If your Grenades are performing well, delay investing in Crossbow-specific skills until they're needed, and similarly, prioritize Armor & Evasion only if you're facing survivability issues.
Recommended Items & Mercenary Stat Priority
Upgrading your equipment is crucial while leveling as a Mercenary. Always aim to replace the lowest-level gear with items boasting powerful modifiers. Your **Crossbow**, the primary Mercenary weapon, is vital as it enables the use of Mercenary Skill Gems. A significant upgrade in your Crossbow will markedly enhance your character's power.
Mercenaries require a balance of **Dexterity** and **Strength**, as well as a mix of **Armor** and **Evasion** for gear types. Prioritize gear that enhances these stats to build a robust defensive foundation and meet Attribute requirements for advanced Skills and Weapons.
In addition to these core stats, seek out modifiers that boost **Physical and Elemental Damage, Mana on Hit, and Resistances**. While **Rarity of Items, Movement Speed, and Attack Speed** can improve your leveling experience, they are not essential for reaching the endgame in *Path of Exile 2* as a Mercenary.
- Dexterity
- Strength
- Armor
- Evasion
- All Elemental Resistances (except 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
A **Bombard Crossbow** significantly enhances Mercenary leveling by adding an extra Grenade projectile to Grenade Skills, increasing the minimum from two to three per skill. Collect every Bombard Crossbow you find, as they offer great potential for crafting powerful upgrades using *Path of Exile 2*'s currencies.
