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 and unleash explosive mayhem! This guide focuses on building an effective Mercenary in PoE2's early access version (0.1.0f). Note that Grinding Gear Games (GGG) may implement changes in the final release.
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The Mercenary's Arsenal: Crossbow Domination
While capable of wielding any weapon, the Mercenary excels with crossbows. Think of it as a versatile blend of automatic rifle, shotgun, and grenade launcher. Leave bows to the Ranger; your crossbow is your lifeline.
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Key Mercenary Attributes
Dexterity is paramount. Prioritize it in gear and passive skills. Evasion trumps Armor; focus on boosting evasion. Movement speed is crucial for dodging attacks. Allocate Strength and Intelligence as needed for equipment or skill requirements.
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Early Game Skill Choices
- Fragmentation Rounds: A decent starting skill, but quickly outclassed. Consider Brutality and Leverage support gems, but prioritize saving gems for stronger skills.
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- Permafrost Bolts: A solid early-game choice. Freezing and immobilizing enemies is key. Pair with Frost Nexus and Leverage support gems for increased freeze chance and critical strike damage against frozen foes. Double Barrel is another strong option, but consider the increased reload time.
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Image: ensigame.com
- Explosive Grenade: Essential for crowd control. Scattershot (three grenades instead of one) and Second Wind support gems are highly recommended. Master grenade trajectory; they obey physics!
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- Gas Grenade: Releases a cloud of poison gas. Corrosion (reduces enemy armor) and Bursting Plague (increased damage) support gems are beneficial. Detonate the gas with fire skills (like Explosive Grenade later Explosive Shot) for massive damage boosts.
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- Galvanic Shards (Act 2): A game-changer. Transforms your crossbow into an automatic shotgun. Conduction and Lightning Infusion support gems are highly recommended.
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- Herald of Thunder: A powerful buff, especially with Galvanic Shards and Conduction. Requires 30 spirit units.
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- Explosive Shot: Pairs well with grenades; exploding bolts detonate nearby grenades. Fire Infusion increases fire damage.
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Image: ensigame.com
Passive Skill Tree Recommendations
Prioritize nodes that increase projectile damage:
- Remorseless: Increased projectile damage, stun buildup, and attribute boosts.
- Ricochet: Increased projectile damage and chain chance.
- Blur: Increased movement speed and evasion.
- Heavy Ammunition: Increased projectile damage and stun, but reduced attack speed.
- Careful Aim: Increased projectile damage and accuracy at close range.
- Cluster Bombs: Increased grenade fuse duration and additional projectiles.
- Adrenaline Rush: Increased movement and attack speed after kills.
- Doomsayer: Increased Herald skill area of effect and damage.
- Instant Reload: Significantly increased crossbow reload speed.
- Volatile Grenades: Reduced grenade fuse duration (use only if not using Explosive Shot).
Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Experiment and discover your optimal build! This guide provides a strong foundation for a devastating Mercenary.
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