If you're intrigued by the buzz around Path of Exile 2 but not a fan of the traditional fantasy elements like swords, bows, and magic, then the Mercenary class is your perfect entry point. This class transforms Path of Exile 2 into a thrilling top-down shooter, akin to Doom, where you can arm yourself with a crossbow (think of it as a futuristic shotgun) and dive headfirst into the fray.
Table of Contents:
- Features of the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2
- Main Characteristics of the Mercenary
- Useful Skills in Early Game Stages
- Fragmentation Rounds
- Permafrost Bolts
- Explosive Grenade
- Gas Grenade
- Galvanic Shards
- Herald of Thunder
- Explosive Shot
- Passive Skills of the Mercenary
Features of the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2
With the right leveling strategy, the Mercenary becomes a formidable force capable of turning monsters into mere fodder. This isn't limited to regular mobs; even bosses like the first act's final boss, which can be challenging for a Witch, can be vanquished by a well-equipped Mercenary in one or two attempts.
This guide is tailored for the early access version of Path of Exile 2, specifically version 0.1.0f. Keep in mind that Grinding Gear Games (GGG) may introduce changes in the full release, which could affect some of the strategies outlined here.
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Like all classes in PoE2, the Mercenary can use any weapon, but the crossbow is your go-to for maintaining a safe distance from the chaos. It's a versatile tool that combines the functions of an automatic rifle, shotgun, and grenade launcher. While bows are an option, they're better left to the Ranger. As the saying goes, inspired by Full Metal Jacket: "Without me, my crossbow is useless. Without my crossbow, I am useless."
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Main Characteristics of the Mercenary
The key attribute for the Mercenary is Dexterity. Focus on boosting this stat through items and your passive skill tree choices. Prioritize Evasion over Armour for better survivability, and don't overlook Movement Speed to keep yourself agile and out of harm's way. Allocate points to Strength and Intelligence as needed, depending on your equipment and skill requirements.
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Useful Skills in Early Game Stages
Fragmentation Rounds
This skill is handy at the outset but won't be a long-term solution. Enhance it with Brutality and Leverage for increased physical damage and crit chance against immobilized foes, though it might be wiser to conserve your gems for more impactful skills later on.
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Permafrost Bolts
A strong starting skill, Permafrost Bolts lets you freeze and immobilize enemies with frost projectiles. Use Frost Nexus to increase the chance of freezing the ground around frozen foes, and Leverage for boosted crit chance. Consider Double Barrel to fire two bolts at once, though this increases reload time.
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Remember, different skills allow for varying bolt counts in your crossbow. Reload by pressing the quick key again if needed. Attack speed influences reload speed, so keep that in mind.
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Explosive Grenade
Grenades are essential for area-of-effect damage. Use Scattershot to throw three grenades at once, though this reduces explosion damage by 20%. Second Wind is another beneficial support skill. Grenades have a wide range and follow physics, so plan your throws carefully to avoid obstacles and maximize impact.
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Gas Grenade
This grenade releases a poisonous gas cloud that expands and can be enhanced with Corrosion to reduce enemy armor by 80%. Use Bursting Plague to increase damage. The coolest trick? You can detonate the gas with fire for massive damage using skills like Explosive Grenade or Explosive Shot.
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Galvanic Shards
Available from the second act, Galvanic Shards transforms your crossbow into an automatic shotgun firing lightning. Enhance it with Conduction and Lightning Infusion for devastating effects. With increased reload speed, it becomes an electro-automatic rifle, perfect for mowing down waves of enemies.
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Herald of Thunder
If you're using Galvanic Shards with Conduction, Herald of Thunder is an excellent early-game buff. It ensures a 100% chance to shock monsters, triggering lightning strikes from above. Activation requires 30 spirit units, obtainable by defeating a first-act boss.
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Explosive Shot
Embrace your inner Doomguy with this skill, which synergizes well with grenades by detonating them on impact. Enhance it with Fire Infusion for increased fire damage and effective area clearing. While more complex to use than Galvanic Shards, it offers the advantage of keeping enemies at a distance and dealing with fire-weak foes.
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These skills will help you level the Mercenary to around 20-25, giving you a solid grasp of the class mechanics. Aim to acquire as many of these abilities as possible to handle diverse enemy types effectively.
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Passive Skills of the Mercenary
Focus on passive skills that boost projectile damage. Here are some key nodes to consider:
⚔️ Remorseless — 15% increased projectile damage, 30% increased stun buildup against nearby enemies, +5 strength and dexterity. A solid starting buff.
⚔️ Ricochet — 15% increased projectile damage, with a 10% chance for projectiles to chain an extra time. A nice damage boost.
⚔️ Blur — 4% increased movement speed, 20% increased evasion rating, +10 dexterity. Enhances survivability and attribute growth.
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⚔️ Heavy Ammunition — 8% reduced attack speed, 40% increased projectile damage, 40% increased projectile stun buildup. A significant damage increase if you're going for Blur.
⚔️ Careful Aim — 16% increased Projectile Damage, 40% increased Accuracy Rating at Close Range. Essential for improving your accuracy.
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⚔️ Cluster Bombs — 50% increased grenade fuse duration, grenade skills fire an additional projectile. Ideal if you're using Explosive Shot.
⚔️ Adrenaline Rush — 4% increased Movement Speed if you've Killed Recently, 8% increased Attack Speed if you've Killed Recently. A useful skill on the path to Instant Reload.
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⚔️ Doomsayer — Herald Skills have 30% increased Area of Effect, Herald Skills have 30% increased Damage. Boosts Herald of Thunder's effectiveness.
⚔️ Instant Reload — 40% increased Crossbow Reload Speed. A crucial skill that also provides an additional 30% bonus along the way, totaling 70%. It also unlocks the first Jewel Socket.
⚔️ Volatile Grenades — 25% reduced Grenade fuse duration. Useful if you're not using Explosive Shot.
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These passive skills should provide a solid foundation, requiring about 30-35 skill points. As you work towards these, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the Mercenary's mechanics in PoE2. Remember, the joy of playing a Mercenary comes from experimenting and discovering your own unique builds and combinations!
