His blade in Path of Exile 2 is at your service: How to make a Mercenary build

Conquer Path of Exile 2 as a Mercenary: A Beginner's Guide

Tired of fantasy tropes in Path of Exile 2? The Mercenary class offers a unique, action-packed experience reminiscent of a top-down Doom game. Ditch the swords and magic; embrace the crossbow, your trusty shotgun-grenade launcher hybrid, and obliterate hordes of enemies! This guide focuses on build strategies for the early game (version 0.1.0f). GGG may implement changes affecting this guide's accuracy in future updates.

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Key Mercenary Attributes

Prioritize Dexterity for increased damage and evasion. Evasion is superior to Armor in this build. Movement speed is crucial for dodging attacks. Allocate Strength and Intelligence as needed for equipment and skill requirements.

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Essential Early-Game Skills

• Fragmentation Rounds: A decent starting skill, but quickly outclassed. Consider Brutality and Leverage support gems for increased damage and critical strike chance against immobilized enemies.

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• Permafrost Bolts: A strong early-game choice. Freeze and immobilize enemies with frost projectiles. Use Frost Nexus and Leverage support gems for enhanced freezing and critical strike chance. Double Barrel adds extra bolts but increases reload time (mitigable with increased attack speed).

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• Explosive Grenade: Excellent for crowd control. Scattershot support gem allows three grenades at once (reduced damage, but worth it!). Second Wind is a valuable support gem. Remember grenade trajectory and physics.

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• Gas Grenade: Releases poisonous gas, enhanced by Corrosion (reduces enemy armor) and Bursting Plague (increased damage). Detonate the gas with fire skills (Explosive Grenade early on, Explosive Shot later) for massive damage boosts.

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• Galvanic Shards (Act 2): Transforms your crossbow into a lightning shotgun. Conduction and Lightning Infusion support gems significantly increase damage. High reload speed turns it into a powerful automatic weapon.

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• Herald of Thunder: A powerful buff, especially with Galvanic Shards and Conduction. Requires 30 spirit units (obtainable by defeating a first-act boss). Shocking enemies ensures the buff's activation.

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• Explosive Shot: Combines well with grenades; exploding bolts detonate nearby grenades. Fire Infusion increases fire damage. Provides ranged AoE clearing and an alternative to Galvanic Shards.

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Recommended Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Focus on nodes increasing projectile damage:

• Remorseless: Increased projectile damage, stun buildup, and attribute bonuses.
• Ricochet: Increased projectile damage and chain chance.
• Blur: Movement speed, evasion, and dexterity.
• Heavy Ammunition: Reduced attack speed, but significantly increased projectile damage and stun buildup.
• Careful Aim: Increased projectile damage and accuracy at close range.
• Cluster Bombs: Increased grenade fuse duration and additional projectiles. (Use if not using Explosive Shot)
• Adrenaline Rush: Increased movement and attack speed after kills.
• Doomsayer: Increased Herald skill area of effect and damage.
• Instant Reload: Increased crossbow reload speed.
• Volatile Grenades: Reduced grenade fuse duration. (Use if not using Explosive Shot)

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These skills and passive nodes provide a solid foundation for leveling your Mercenary to levels 20-25. Experiment with different skill combinations to discover your optimal build!