Best Path of Exile 2 Mercenary Build - Top 5 Mercenary Builds in PoE 2 Early Access

The Mercenary class appears to be a highly expected choice for Path of Exile 2 Early Access. Let's take a look at the best leveling and early/endgame builds for PoE 2 Mercenary. 

Updated on December 19, 2024

Best Path of Exile 2 Mercenary Leveling and Early/Endgame Builds

The Mercenary class in Path of Exile 2 is a versatile crossbow specialist who excels at adapting to various combat situations through different firing modes and ammunition types. This class can utilize Rapid Shot, Burst Shot, Power Shot, and grenade launcher attachments, along with specialized ammunition skills like Armor Piercing Rounds to handle diverse combat challenges. The Mercenary's adaptability extends to two initial Ascendancy paths: the Witchhunter, who specializes in anti-magic capabilities and can cause enemies to explode (particularly effective against demons and undead), and the Gemling Legionnaire, who can embed Path of Exile 2 gems in their flesh to gain additional skill slots and ignore attribute requirements for gem usage. 

Mercenary offers exceptional versatility through its ammunition system, allowing players to switch between different combat styles - from grenade-like explosives to rapid-fire assault patterns, and even elemental effects like creating ice walls. Both ascendency options provide strong endgame potential, with Witchhunter excelling at boss fights through concentration breaking and high single-target damage, while Gemling Legionnaire offers unique gem-focused mechanics and potential minion build opportunities. Below are the recommended PoE 2 Mercenary builds for leveling and endgame/early game in EA. 

1. Gas and Shrapnel Mercenary 

This is a powerful ranged build focused on massive area damage through a synergistic combination of Gas Grenade and Explosive Grenade, supplemented by versatile crossbow attacks. The build excels at clearing large groups of enemies efficiently and offers safe gameplay through its ranged combat style, making it one of the strongest options in Path of Exile 2 early game. The build may require longer boss fights in the early game but offers consistent, safe clearing capability with strong scaling potential into the late game.

Skill Gems and Support Gems

• Gas Grenade + Scattershot Support + Corrosion Support

• Explosive Grenade (for detonating gas clouds)

• Crossbow Shot + Chain Support + Lightning Infusion Support

• Permafrost Bolts + Ammo Conservation Support

• Fragmentation Rounds + Double Barrel Support + Fire Infusion Support

• Armour Piercing Rounds (utility)

• Rapid Shot (utility)

Strategy or Tips

• Area clear: Spread Gas Grenades using Scatter Shot support, then detonate with Explosive Grenade

• Single target: Utilize Fragmentation Rounds and Permafrost Bolts

• Utility: Armor Piercing Rounds for tough enemies

• Survivability through ranged positioning and crowd control

2. Lightning Galvanic Ballista Mercenary

This powerful Mercenary build focuses on combining Galvanic Shards with crowd control and defensive layers, making it an excellent choice for both clearing and boss fights in Path of Exile 2. The build excels at dealing high lightning damage while maintaining safety through evasion and the Sorcery Ward mechanic, allowing players to progress smoothly through the campaign with minimal gear requirements.

Skill Gems and Support Gems

• Galvanic Shards (40% physical to lightning conversion)

• Herald of Ash (for explosion clear)

• Ripwire Ballista (crowd control)

• Sorcery Ward (defensive layer)

• Added Lightning Damage Support (+25% lightning damage)
  

• Ammo Conservation (25% chance to not consume bolts)

Gear Requirements

• Two-handed Crossbow (preferably with added lightning damage)

• High evasion rating gear

• Items with lightning damage to attacks

Passive Tree Focus

• Projectile damage nodes

• Two-handed weapon damage

• Evasion rating

• Armor scaling

• Crossbow reload speed

• Cooldown recovery rate

• Rare/unique enemy damage bonuses

• Movement speed after killing

3. Explosive Mercenary

The Mercenary Crossbow build in Path of Exile 2 is a powerful and versatile playstyle that excels in both leveling and endgame content. This build enables players to clear maps swiftly and tackle bosses with ease, all without heavily relying on gear. With a focus on explosive grenades and freezing crossbow bolts, players can unleash devastating area damage while maintaining crowd control. The build's early-game proficiency allows for a seamless transition into the late game.

Skill Gems

• Frostbolt: Utilize Pierce and Frost Nexus for crowd control.

• Fragmentation Rounds: Causes frozen enemies to explode, enhancing damage.

• High Velocity Rounds: Effective for boss damage when paired with Scatter Shot and Overpower.

• Gas Grenade: Use with Corrosion for armor break; synergizes with Oil Grenade for explosive damage.

• Flash Grenade: Provides crowd control with blinding effects; can build up stun quickly.

• Explosive Grenade: Your main source of damage, enhanced with Scatter Shot and Magnified Effect.

• Voltaic Grenade: Useful for electrocution and crowd control.

• Ripwire Ballista: Acts as a summon to distract enemies and provides additional damage output.

Passive Tree Focus

• Damage Nodes: Start on the right side of the Mercenary tree for increased damage output.

• Cooldown Reduction: Grab nodes that reduce cooldowns on grenades.

• Movement Speed: Prioritize movement speed nodes for better mobility.

• Crossbow Passives: Focus on increased reload speed and explosive shot synergies.

Ascendancy Choices

Witchhunter offers powerful utility and damage boosts, particularly with Calling Strike for burst damage. Progress towards the right side for enhanced explosive damage.

Gear Recommendations

• Bombard Crossbow: Obtain early in Act 3 for increased grenade effectiveness.

• Defensive Stats: Look for elemental resistances, life, and evasion on gear.

• Movement Speed: Essential boots to enhance leveling speed.

• Life and Mana on Kill: Provides sustainability during combat.

4. Grenade Gemling Legionnaire

The Grenade Gemling Legionnaire Build is a highly effective mercenary setup in Path of Exile 2 designed for rapid clearing and single-target damage through explosive grenade mechanics. This build excels in dealing massive area damage with the ability to one-shot large groups of enemies. Utilizing powerful detonator skills like Explosive Shot and Explosive Grenade, it offers exceptional clearing speed while maintaining solid defensive capabilities through armor and evasion scaling. The combination of high damage output and efficient crowd control makes this build ideal for both mid-game and end-game content.

Skill Gems and Support Gems

• Gas Grenade + Scatter Shot + Elemental Focus + Magnified Effect + Payload

• Explosive Shot + Fast Forward + Primal Armament + Magnified Effect + Payload

• Oil Grenade + Encumbrance + Strip Away

• Flash Grenade + Overpower + Discombobulate + Heft

• Artillery Ballista + Ancestral Urgency + Font of Rage + Font of Mana

• Wind Dancer + Clarity + Cannibalism + Precision

Passive Trees

• Start at Projectile Damage

• Key Nodes: Remorseless, Volatile Catalyst, Crushing Judgement and Authority

• Focus on enhancing cooldown recovery rate and area of effect for grenades.

Atlas Passives

Aim for passives that spawn grouped monsters, focusing on Expeditions and Rituals.

Gear Recommendations

• Weapon: Advanced Bombard Crossbow (high physical damage)

• Helmet: Advanced Fired Great Helm (armor, accuracy)

• Chest: Expert Rogue Armor (armor, evasion)

• Belt: Utility Belt (quick flask recovery)

• Gloves: Expert Layered Gauntlets (max life, lightning resistance)

• Boots: Advanced Mail Sabatons (armor, movement speed)

• Rings: Ruby Ring & Prismatic Ring (resistances, max life)

• Amulet: Lunar Amulet (energy shield, increased spell damage)

5. Shockburst Witchhunter

The Mercenary Witchhunter build in Path of Exile 2 excels in dealing high burst damage with its unique synergy of skills and mechanics, making it ideal for both clearing content and boss fights. Utilizing the Shock Burst Rounds skill, which triggers massive damage pulses on shocked targets, this build capitalizes on shock mechanics using other skills like Storm Caller Arrow and Voltaic Mark to ensure consistent shock application. The build is particularly effective against tanky enemies and bosses, allowing for rapid clearing of difficult content.

Skill Gems and Support Gems

• Shockburst Rounds: Primary skill for dealing damage with pulsing shock effects.

• Stormcaller Arrow: Provides reliable shock application and AOE damage.

• Voltaic Mark: Increases shock chance and effectiveness on marked targets.

• Electrocuting Arrow: Builds electrocution damage, useful against tougher enemies.

• Herald of Thunder: Enhances damage output against shocked targets.

• Martial Tempo Support

• Primal Armament Support

• Fresh Clip Support 

• Coursing Current Support

• Scattershot Support 

• Conduction Support
  

• Lightning Infusion Support

Passive Tree

• Focus on nodes that enhance projectile damage and attack speed.

• Utilize weapon set skill points to optimize between crossbow and bow skills.

Gear Recommendations

• Prioritize movement speed on boots and physical damage on crossbows.

• Seek gear that enhances attack speed and provides resistance.

• Ensure a good balance of life and resistance to survive in higher-tier content.