If you've been intrigued by the buzz surrounding *Path of Exile 2* but aren't a fan of traditional fantasy elements like swords, bows, and magic, then the Mercenary class is tailor-made for you. It transforms the game into a thrilling top-down experience reminiscent of *Doom*, where you can wield a crossbow that feels like a trusty shotgun and dive into the fray against hordes of enemies.

Features of the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2

With the right build, the Mercenary becomes a formidable force, turning monsters into mere stepping stones. This class excels not only against regular mobs but also against challenging bosses. For instance, the final boss of Act 1, which can be a tough nut to crack for a Witch, can be swiftly defeated by a well-prepared Mercenary, often on the first or second attempt.

Let's explore how to craft an effective Mercenary build in the early access version of *PoE2*. Keep in mind that all information here pertains to game version 0.1.0f. Future updates from Grinding Gear Games (GGG) might change some aspects, potentially making parts of this guide outdated.

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Like all *PoE2* characters, the Mercenary can use any weapon, but you'll likely prefer to keep your distance from demons. A crossbow, functioning as a versatile blend of an automatic rifle, shotgun, and grenade launcher, is your ideal weapon. 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

Dexterity is the cornerstone for the Mercenary. Aim to maximize Dexterity through items and your passive skill tree selections. Prioritize Evasion over Armour for better survival rates, and don't overlook Movement Speed to outmaneuver foes. Allocate points to Strength and Intelligence as required by your gear or skills.

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Useful Skills in Early Game Stages

Fragmentation Rounds

Starting out, Fragmentation Rounds can be handy, though you'll soon move past it. Enhance this skill with Brutality for a 35% increase in physical damage and Leverage for a 50% crit chance boost against immobilized enemies. However, it's wise to conserve your gems for more impactful skills later on.

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Permafrost Bolts

A strong choice for beginners, Permafrost Bolts allow you to freeze enemies, keeping them at bay. Enhance with Frost Nexus to increase the chance of freezing the ground around an ice-bound enemy, and Leverage for that crit chance boost. Alternatively, use Double Barrel to fire two bolts at once, though it increases reload time by 30%.

Remember, different skills allow varying numbers of bolts in the crossbow. You can refresh your charge by pressing the quick key again. Also, attack speed impacts reload speed, so don't ignore this stat.

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Explosive Grenade

Grenades are crucial for crowd control. Enhance Explosive Grenade with Scattershot to throw three grenades at once, despite a 20% damage reduction, and Second Wind for additional utility. Keep in mind grenades' physics and range; aim carefully to avoid obstacles that could deflect them.

When throwing into enclosed spaces, get close to ensure all grenades enter. If enemies are charging at you, throw grenades their way and roll towards them to avoid hits while they get caught in the blast.

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Gas Grenade

Gas Grenades release a cloud of poisonous gas, which can be enhanced with Corrosion to reduce enemy armor by 80%. This replaces the need for Armour Piercing Rounds and High Velocity Rounds. Add Bursting Plague to increase damage. The key feature is detonating the gas with fire for massive damage, using skills like Explosive Grenade or later, Explosive Shot.

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Galvanic Shards

Available in Act 2, Galvanic Shards turns your crossbow into an electric shotgun with 5 charges. Enhance with Conduction and Lightning Infusion to amplify its already impressive damage. With increased reload speed, it becomes an electro-automatic rifle, perfect for mowing down waves of enemies.

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Herald of Thunder

A top choice for early gameplay, especially with Galvanic Shards and Conduction. It guarantees a 100% chance to shock monsters, triggering lightning strikes from above. This aura requires 30 spirit units, obtainable by defeating a boss in Act 1.

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Explosive Shot

Embrace your inner Doomguy with this skill, which synergizes with grenades by detonating them on impact. Enhance with Fire Infusion for increased fire damage, making it an excellent choice for clearing labyrinths. Unlike Galvanic Shards, Explosive Shot maintains distance while offering a different elemental damage type, useful against fire-weak enemies.

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These skills will help you efficiently level your Mercenary to around levels 20-25, allowing you to grasp the class mechanics. Aim to acquire as many of these abilities as possible to handle diverse enemy types in tougher areas. Now, let's look at developing the passive skill tree.

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Passive Skills of the Mercenary

Focus on passive skills that boost projectile damage:

**⚔️ Remorseless** — 15% increased projectile damage, 30% increased stun buildup against enemies within two meters, +5 strength and dexterity. A solid starting buff.

**⚔️ Ricochet** — 15% increased projectile damage, projectiles have a 10% chance to chain an additional time. A nice damage boost.

**⚔️ Blur** — 4% increased movement speed, 20% increased evasion rating, +10 dexterity. Enhances survivability and attribute leveling.

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**⚔️ Heavy Ammunition** — 8% reduced attack speed, 40% increased projectile damage, 40% increased projectile stun buildup. A significant damage increase if paired with Blur.

**⚔️ Careful Aim** — 16% increased Projectile Damage, 40% increased Accuracy Rating at Close Range. Essential for improving accuracy over time.

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**⚔️ Cluster Bombs** — 50% increased grenade fuse duration, grenade skills fire an additional projectile. Ideal for Explosive Shot users.

**⚔️ Adrenaline Rush** — 4% increased Movement Speed if you've Killed Recently, 8% increased Attack Speed if you've Killed Recently. A useful skill en route to Instant Reload.

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**⚔️ Doomsayer** — Herald Skills have 30% increased Area of Effect, Herald Skills have 30% increased Damage. Enhances Herald of Thunder's effectiveness.

**⚔️ Instant Reload** — 40% increased Crossbow Reload Speed. Offers a total of 70% reload speed bonus and unlocks the first Jewel Socket.

**⚔️ Volatile Grenades** — 25% reduced Grenade fuse duration. Only useful if you're not using Explosive Shot.

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These passive skills, requiring about 30-35 points, provide a strong foundation for your Mercenary. As you level up, you'll have plenty of time to understand the class dynamics. Remember, the joy of playing a Mercenary in *PoE2* lies in experimenting and discovering your unique builds and combinations!