Guide to Leveling Mercenaries in Path of Exile 2

This Path of Exile 2 Mercenary leveling guide outlines optimal skills, support gems, passive skills, and items to help you easily progress to the endgame. While some classes struggle, the Mercenary's versatility makes leveling relatively straightforward. However, maximizing its potential requires strategic skill choices and gear upgrades.

Optimal Skills and Support Gems

Initially, focus on Fragmentation Shot (effective close-range, multi-target) and Permafrost Shot (freezes enemies, boosting Fragmentation Shot damage). Once you unlock more powerful skills, your playstyle shifts.

Later, Explosive Shot becomes crucial for detonating Gas and Explosive Grenades, creating massive AoE damage. Gas Grenade poisons a wide area, while Explosive Grenades explode after a delay or detonation. Ripwire Ballista provides a distraction, and Glacial Bolt helps control enemy crowds. Oil Grenade is less effective than Gas Grenade for most situations, but shines against bosses. Galvanic Shards offers a low-risk crowd control option. Herald of Ash ignites nearby enemies upon their death. Use available Level 1 or 2 Support Gems until you acquire the recommended ones. Enhance Explosive Grenade, Explosive Shot, and Gas Grenade with a Lesser Jeweller's Orb for additional support gem sockets.

Essential Passive Skill Tree Nodes

Prioritize these three key passive skills:

• Cluster Bombs: Increases Grenade projectile count.
• Repeating Explosives: Chance for Grenades to explode twice.
• Iron Reflexes: Converts Evasion to Armor, mitigating the downside of the Sorcery Ward Ascendancy skill (the best Ascendancy for leveling).

Also, focus on nodes that boost Cooldown Reduction, Projectile & Grenade Damage, and Area of Effect. Crossbow skills, Armor, and Evasion nodes are valuable but secondary priorities; upgrade them only when necessary.

Recommended Items and Stat Priorities

Prioritize upgrading your Crossbow, the core weapon. Focus on gear with these stats:

• 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 Grenade damage by adding another projectile. Actively seek them out for crafting potential. Always replace the lowest-level equipped item with a superior one.