Path of Exile 2 introduces players to an expansive and intricate world where character progression and skill customization play pivotal roles. Among the numerous classes available, the mercenary stands out for its unique blend of ranged combat and explosive abilities. However, many players find themselves struggling to optimize their mercenary potential early on, often relying too heavily on crossbows and standard ammo types.

When players begin their journey with the mercenary in PoE 2, they may notice that the class takes some time to fully come online. Early gameplay often emphasizes the use of crossbows, which, while powerful, come with a significant drawback: reload time. This delay can leave players vulnerable, especially in fast-paced encounters where every second counts.

To mitigate this issue, embracing a grenade-oriented playstyle is essential. Once players unlock grenades, they can effectively fill the downtime created by crossbow reloads, transforming their mercenary into a formidable force on the battlefield.Boost your POE 2 Currency in MMOexp today!

In the initial stages of the game, players will primarily rely on the Frag Shot and Permafrost Shot skills.

Frag Shot is an excellent option for dealing with both single and multiple targets, especially at close range. This skill launches a projectile that explodes upon impact, dealing area damage. By investing in support gems that enhance stun damage, players can significantly increase the effectiveness of Frag Shot, allowing them to incapacitate enemies and control the battlefield.

Alongside Frag Shot, Permafrost Shot serves as a powerful complementary skill. It quickly freezes enemies, making them susceptible to additional damage. When combined with Frag Shot, players can utilize the shatter mechanic: when a frozen enemy is hit with Frag Shot, it shatters, dealing extra damage to surrounding foes. This synergy not only clears waves of enemies efficiently but also provides crowd control, allowing players to maintain their distance and avoid incoming damage.

As players progress through the game and unlock more advanced skills, the mercenary playstyle shifts dramatically. The introduction of powerful abilities like Explosive Grenade, Gas Grenade, and Explosive Shot fundamentally changes how players approach combat.

Once players unlock the Explosive Grenade, the mercenary damage output skyrockets. This skill allows players to throw a grenade that explodes upon impact, dealing massive area damage and igniting enemies. The versatility of this skill makes it effective against both groups of enemies and tougher, single targets.

To maximize the potential of Explosive Grenade, players should consider support gems that enhance area damage or increase the chance to inflict status ailments, such as Ignite or Bleed. These effects can significantly amplify the damage output, making the mercenary an unstoppable force in the later stages of the game.

The Gas Grenade further diversifies the mercenary arsenal. This skill releases a toxic cloud upon impact, dealing damage over time to enemies caught within its radius. The lingering effect of the gas can be devastating, especially when combined with other skills. Players can utilize support gems that enhance damage over time or increase the area of effect to maximize the impact of Gas Grenade.

Finally, the Explosive Shot ability serves as a natural evolution of the mercenary ranged capabilities. This skill fires a powerful projectile that detonates on impact, dealing significant damage to a single target or a small area. The key to this skill is its synergy with grenade-based abilities. By utilizing Explosive Shot in conjunction with grenades, players can create devastating combos that decimate enemy ranks.

To truly optimize the mercenary potential, selecting the right support gems is crucial. Here are some of the best support gems to consider:

This support gem enhances the radius of skills like Explosive Grenade and Gas Grenade, allowing players to hit more enemies with each attack. The larger area of effect can turn a single-target skill into a massive wave-clear ability.

Given the mercenary reliance on elemental damage types, incorporating support gems that boost elemental damage can significantly increase overall damage output. Skills such as Elemental Focus or Controlled Destruction can amplify the effectiveness of explosive abilities.Affordable, reliable, fast - MMOexp is your cheap POE 2 Chaos Orbs solution.

In Path of Exile 2, mastering the mercenary class requires a thoughtful approach to skill selection and support gem integration. By transitioning from a crossbow-focused playstyle to a grenade-oriented strategy, players can unlock the true potential of their mercenaries.