Best Mercenary Starter Build in Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 Mercenary Starter Guide
Master the Mercenary class with this comprehensive guide to mechanics, skills, and strategies.
Introduction to the Mercenary Class
The Mercenary in Path of Exile 2 is a unique class. It employs Crossbow Skills and Ammunition Mechanics. This guide provides the fundamentals of the class so that players can begin playing.
Key Mechanics and Playstyle
Ammunition and Crossbow Types
Mercenaries use various ammunition types. These types have specific effects. Mastery in switching and combining them is necessary.
- Certain skills for ammunition combine in increasing effectiveness.
- Certain crossbows allow for extra ammo loading for enhancing certain skills.
- Managing reload speeds and avoiding interruptions is crucial.
Grenades and Their Function
Mercenaries also use Grenades with varying effects.
- Fire damage for explosive effects.
- Poison or lightning grenades for tactical play.
- Passive skills can reduce cooldown for rapid grenade use.
Skill Trees and Passive Selection
The choice of suitable passive skills is crucial in damage maximization and survivability.
Suggested Paths
- Opt for Projectile Damage for overall effectiveness.
- Increase grenade cooldown reductions for grenade-specialized builds.
- Employs Lightning Damage passives for extra damage.
Top Skills for the Mercenary
Top Crossbow Skills
- Crossbow Shot: Heavy damage, best suited for single-targeting.
- Fragmentation Rounds: Shotgun-like high-damage attack with AoE potential.
- Permafrost Bolts: Froze enemies, synergizes beautifully with Fragmentation Rounds.
Grenade Skills
- Explosive Grenade: Teleports damage to fire, excellent for AoE.
- Gas Grenade: Synergizes well with Corrosion Support for armor piercing.
Ascendancy Choices
- Witchhunter
A niche pick that raises weapon-skill specific and allows special build optimizations.
- Gemling Legionnaire
Excellent for new players, offering optimized buffs and support skill duplication.
