POE2 - The Best Mercenary Leveling and Endgame Build

[@LuckyGhost]

Thanks so much for watching! Sub for more POE2 Content! POE2 Beginner Guide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmTHdoVnmpeXbcU I see a lot of people asking for a written guide - I'll work on that now and link it here when its done!

[@euroking1337]

Wow, thanks for doing the written guild 😮😮😮😮❤❤❤❤

[@andreasb6487]

Thank you. Great stuff as always!!

[@taviungureanu1792]

Please make a full build step by step in maxroll, to be more easy to follow for the new players.

[@Yoreel_]

+3 (up to 7) to Level of all Projectile Skills is important

[@teentitanbg]

Make a guide on Mobalytics, please. (I meant this build)

[@Shazza53]

Thanks! Love your guides, you helped me save my mercenary. I finished my first ascendancy trial and the Act 2 boss today, thanks to you. I loved your Elden Ring “get a good start” video earlier this year. You are a fave. Please keep up the good work.

[@LuckyGhost]

You made my day man, thanks for the kind words and the tip. Sleeping with a smile tonight ☺️

[@davkrnk]

I just wanted to say that your video is edited fantastically. I love that you zoom in, have a blue arrow to indicate information, it moves and lights up, etc. It is a really really well made informational video

[@LuckyGhost]

Thanks, I really appreciate you noticing the effort I put into the editing!

[@comradestannis]

@@LuckyGhost yes, I have noticed too!

[@OrganicJKW]

SKILLS Fragmentation Rounds: (none provided) Explosive Grenade: Fire Infusion, Magnified Effect, Scattershot, Primal Armament, Concentrated Effect Explosive Shot: Martial Tempo, Nimble Reload, Inevitable Critical, Ignition Herald of Ash: Cannibalism Attrition: Vitality (swap for bosses) GEAR Crossbow: Physical, Accuracy Armor: Armor/Evasion, Resistances, Life, Movement Speed Accessories: Resistances, Fire Damage PASSIVES 1. Remorseless 2. Heavy Ammunition 3. Ricochet 4. Feel No Pain 5. Battle-Hardened 6. Overwhelm (Colossal Weapon) 7. Cluster Bombs 8. Grenadier 9. Adrenaline Rush 10. Repeating Explosives 11. Sand in the Eyes 12. Authority 13. Crushing Judgement 14. Iron Reflexes 15. Giantslayer 16. Smoke Inhalation 17. Relentless 18. Sturdy Metal 19. Beef 20. Blade Catcher 21. Polished Iron 22. Devastation 23. Mass Hysteria Witch Hunter: Witchbane, No Mercy, Zealous Inquisition

[@benaaronwalters]

Thank you so much

[@GrillMarksBud-S-n-P]

I am having huge trouble getting some support gems to drop lately anybody else?

[@bazookamidget856]

@@GrillMarksBud-S-n-P same

[@addidaswguy]

LEGEND. I really wish every KZbinr would have this at the end of every video.

[@CWAGY]

Yessirrrrr

[@angelherrera189]

I love how you explain everything, specially the skill tree. Too many creators from path of exile 1 that made it more confusing than it needed to be. Earned a subscriber.

[@Khajar]

A mobalytics version of this guide would be nice.

[@Nepli00]

I didn't see anyone mention this so I just want to point it out since people will misunderstand the gem, inevitable critical does not make your skill have 100% crit chance, a garanteed crit. It increases the skill's crit chance by 100%, meaning it scales the base crit on the ability by 100%. Base crit on it is your crossbow's crit chance, likely 5% so this would mean the ability has 10% critical strike chance after 4 seconds.

[@sosovoo1]

I haven't even started playing yet, Im gonna run this as my first build. Looks pretty solid, Thank you

[@LuckyGhost]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@56kModemNoise]

I found my first unique last night in Act 1 graveyard on merc, some level 11 boots with 20% speed and immunity to all slows. I'm not sure I'm ever going to take them off.

[@LuckyGhost]

That's a fantastic find! Wish I found that in act 1!

[@Fergus-H-MacLeod]

Oh yeah those are awesome, I saw a streamer find those.

[@exodus2oo]

i found a unique mace in act 2 , made a warrior and steam rolled Act 1 but Act 2 was hell lmao

[@CNosaj]

Nice!! I also got a unique in A1 as well. The first boss you get to (I think the Bloated Miller), before you enter clearfell encampment, I got the Grip of Winter gloves. I was so confused by it, but didn’t complain lol. It took me so long to finally say goodbye to them. I enjoyed them while they lasted, that’s for sure. How are yours working out for you so far?

[@mr.destroyer828]

You'd eventually take them off and build around resistance, more movement speed, life and other QoL mods to help improve the build. Resistance penalties hit really hard in the endgame, I was at -13% fire resistance and the others were also not that good. Couldn't get past T2 maps at all. All that said, I've worked around a bit and capped the resistances. Now I am looking to get more life and DPS :p

[@Birdoggydog]

Merc makes this game feel like a twin stick shooter and i love it so much.

[@r4iled679]

Yeah! Think the same :D epic gameplay

[@evanshea5199]

Merc is just POE 2 east mode. Not sure I could play such a boring class.

[@chiefinasmith]

@@evanshea5199any class is easy mode if you know how to make a build

[@evanshea5199]

@ fair point. Just don’t see how Merc could be fun. Backpedaling with basically a machine gun.

[@Grauer1510]

​@@evanshea5199 yeah one couldn't possibly see how a class with an whole army supply of weapons mixed with magic ammunition, that plays like a twin stick shooter could be fun in a hack&slay.........

[@DESHPLEASE]

aLG always bringing the highest quality to his build guides! thanks! Was looking for an easy-to-play and powerful build like this one!

[@LuckyGhost]

Glad I could help!

[@N0SHKS]

Seems a fun build, it would be nice to have that build also on Mobalytics or something similar to be easier to follow the build or also easier to update id there's a patch.

[@MrSmithwayne]

I played merc but without the explosive shell build and found it very powerful. Cannot wait to try it after I level up my lighting Ranger.

[@javi10872006]

Galvanic shard has carried me through act 2 and 3. Just mix in some gas, voltaic and frag grenades.

[@chamber32doors]

Same.

[@akinpinkman]

Is Galvanic or Granede one better?

[@javi10872006]

@@akinpinkman I throw all my points into projectile damage, then worked my way down to the bottom through the elemental damage/lightning damage route until I got to the shape of the crossbow on the bottom and got all those nodes to get the reload speed up

[@javi10872006]

So down to the right slightly then when I got to the bottom i moved left to get to the middle where the crossbow shape is to get the nodes

[@Lee-qq4rb]

@@akinpinkman I run a mix of both. Galvanic if you build into it is plenty to take out any pack of adds through cruel and into end game. I use my grenades for bosses and elites

[@xBlackBeardx]

thanks for working on wriiten guide! love how the build looks and started it not long a ago i just feel like i might have already started messing it up lol. Great vid though, excellent voice over. cheers!

[@edwinzunigasobalvarro9255]

could you add a guide in maxroll or mobalitycs?

[@GenocideLv]

this game is visually gorgeous. One might have to try out the different "upscaling" settings to get it right. But running down titans hollow with magenta and cyan exploding mobs on the bridges... really one of the best gaming experiences ive had past 5 years

[@harmonsmith7308]

Thank you so much! I was having difficulty with the last area/boss on act 1, but your skill tree helped me pass it, no sweat. You rock!

[@LuckyGhost]

That's awesome to hear! I'm glad I could help!

[@rizzy_03]

Just reach endgame with this build. When can we get an update on this build?

[@Olindawg]

yeah same we need an update

[@flacoart5713]

You explain every single thing and that is so useful thank you so much ! Subscribed !

[@TheActualGamer]

How goes work on the written guide? Loved the video and following the build from it, but would love to have a planner in front of me for ease of access, so looking forward to it!

[@bazzake7792]

Amazing video !! Had the written guide been done yet at all? Cheers

[@jacobisterrible]

This is such a fun build lmao this coupled with the witch hunter ascendancy skill that lets enemies explode on death is such a game changer,you clear out mobs and level so fast

[@jacobisterrible]

You can do it fairly early aswell

[@robertwarner6977]

when will there be an update date and written guide on this?

[@petebagwell6666]

I'd love to see a playthrough where it's a squad of 6 mercs, feel like it would look like warhammer

[@johannesschmitz6370]

It just would be goodbye frames

[@Daviduber]

Very fun build, and great video! Thank you for explaining everything so thoroughly, you helped me get more comfortable with the skills/passives in this game! Keep up the great stuff!

[@adrianofrota7103]

Used to come here for your ESO guides. Really glad to see you doing some PoE2 content as well. Cheers

[@robgrant8285]

Brilliant Guide bro.I will use this to reconfigure my lvl 19 merc.Thanks again.Liked and subscribed.Cheers!

[@matyice2135]

Right on for the knowledge had my tree a little all over the place this really helped understand this build better!

[@shoearnold]

bro this video was actually so helpful, thank you

[@edgarcourbot7344]

good video good explanations good chaptering on the timelinie, great work sir.

[@RicardoPoleo]

Loved your zero bs, direct and concrete (with some useful comments) video! Subscribed right away :D. Thanks!

[@tarnyshd__dash__4850]

I just beat act 3 last night. It took me over 80 (yes 80) hours. Went in totally blind, utterly confused and had a blast. Now dipping my toe into looking stuff up and one thing that seems extremely consistent across the board is that my sheer refusal to use grenades, maybe not the smartest idea. My tree is 90% projectile dmg, two-hand dmg with a couple points in speed, accuracy and attributes. Bosses have been a battle of attrition. While I did one-shot about half of them there was no health deleting any. I've basically played the entire game like an isometric Remnant. All this to say I'm completely torn on whether to respec into grenades. Clearly this is the smart thing to do but man did I have so much fun learning the bosses and slowly getting better through skill and sheer determination. I assume in 'cruel' playing that way is a really bad idea haha. Great video dude.

[@whocaresreallywho2464]

Great build, was wondering will you be adding this to a build planner site so we can look over it better?

[@Chef_Handsome]

build guide on mobalytics would be amazing to be able to refrence!

[@yohecleal1741]

Thanks so much, very helpful and your explanation is so easy to understand, no everybody can do that. THANKS SO MUCH

[@uspatriot6414]

My alt character (my main is only in the mid 20's) is a Mercenary I use to play the game with my son. I'm definitely using your build. I really like how you present everything. I'm hoping one day you'll put out a Sorceress build guide as that's my main class :). If not, do you have recommendations for a build for a Sorceress or do you know of other content creators that specialized in Sorceress that you could recommend.

[@iikingvegasii]

Quality video. Thanks! Helped a lot.

[@usernamehayz]

Your Blinding enemies (less accuracy and less evasion) but... 1. You took the node that converts all of your Evasion into Armour. Basically you have "Zero" Evasion. So making enemies accuracy less is kinda useless since you have zero percent chance to evade. 2. Enemies have less Evasion, your grenades explosions doesn't care about your accuracy. It doesn't matter if your enemies have 100% evasion, they will get caught by the explosion. They will die.

[@artamesfrost4179]

When you get deeping in to the skill tree you will be taking a lot of armor nodes. So most of us take that one for more armor, for me since we use dual attributes we don't get enough evade like ranger who only has to stack dex. Mind you to use lvl 79 bomb bard Xbox you need 116dex and 116str unless you hunting the less stat requirements.

[@usernamehayz]

I'm not against "Iron Reflexes" node (I have it also), all I'm saying is that taking "Sand in the Eyes" node is kinda pointless in my opinion.

[@artamesfrost4179]

I can agree with that, it's why I didn't make mention of it. I use oil to slow and flash to blind so it is a wasted point and can be moved. I my self don't use explo shot.

[@usernamehayz]

Men I don't know what your trying to say when you replied to me. I don't know if you're agreeing or disagreeing on what I first commented. Your confusing me. 😕

[@artamesfrost4179]

After getting home and looking it's a disagree. The 10% atk speed is very much needed.

[@andrewpeli9019]

I also noticed that the grenades seem to outshine the bow shots. I’ve been using the poison grenades to shred armor and the high velocity shot to trigger the fully exposed debuff the poison grenade causes. But I can see how the direct damage of the fire grenade can really compound later in the game.

[@billmackinaw9254]

Love the build looking forward to a guide...love rapid fire early game with fork to empower grenades!

[@xrottenrudyx]

Great vid

[@sdteague83]

Do you have the build posted anywhere so someone can follow the build? Loving the POE 2 videos!!!

[@Olindawg]

best video about this build on youtube

[@Svoorhout85]

Im new to the game playing merc and just doing whatever. My current strategy is peppering the enemies with gas grenades to break their armor and finishing them off with frag rounds. And using an explosive grenade to blow up all the gas if the enemies are slow.

[@junjiexiang5991]

could you make a build planner with this? Thx

[@bluepoet-2k]

Giving this build a try - the biggest issue I am having so far is explosive shot takes sooo long to start to fire that I cant always detonate my grenades fast enough. Otherwise I am loving it so far. Thank you.

[@hodezackreman3004]

I love your simple explanations ❤ Are you going to do electric build also?

[@LuckyGhost]

I hope to do many builds! I'm not sure what will be next 🤔

[@DimonNovok]

electric build please 😊

[@yatingzhu4245]

really liked the huge amount of effort you put into editing this video. I have 2 questions: (1) why do you choose not to have any evasion? Do you feel armor is always more important than evasion as a defense stat? (2) why do you want a cross-bow with high-physical damage? Is that gonna help increase the explosive grenade damage? Thank you.

[@LuckyGhost]

I prefer not to rely on luck to stay alive (evade). On evade builds you tend to have less damage mitigation which will result in a lot more insta deaths that leave you scratching your head because your evade failed to proc on a big dmg hit. Grenades dmg is based on phys dmg. It converts phys to fire, so without phys it will have no fire dmg

[@AardaD]

guys if you can buy breach ring with %%50 modifier and good fire dmg on both ring slots it also gives all elemental resistance

[@SobrinhoCDG33]

ty bro, helped me a lot

[@correia616]

Thanks brother for this excellent video! really appericiate it.

[@shellyfagan6931]

Great video. Taking your advice. Thx

[@--5916]

Thanks god i found you before i started playing )) perfectly explained ) thanks for the guide !

[@MarauderLizCity]

Nice Build. Mobalytics guide anywhere by chance?

[@sosovoo1]

Are you doing a follow up video to this to see how you finished it out?

[@furshizzle]

I've been waiting to try mercenary until you guys figure out best builds lol. Now I can try this, thanks!

[@christiangonzales3337]

What variant is it? The ammunition?

[@davinci6125]

My current Merc is running Pinned Down support for the other Merc & Ranger I run with. Ripwires have been great for mob control for other Merc's Grenades build ( this build I believe ) & Toxicity Ranger.

[@Cabull86]

Thanks. You made me understand some of the gems way more

[@carlohilario4253]

Me: Who needs defensive skills when you can just kill them all 1 shot :D - glass cannon merc

[@foxxcharmer]

There's defensive skills 😮😂

[@ilikemushr00ms66]

are you gonna give an update for this build

[@Halwa_poori]

Thanks very helpful guide... Information is clear and precise 👌🏻

[@IlluminatusVII]

The build im doing is a little different, i use rapid shot (which slaps at higher levels) and i have short fuses on my grenades, i use explosive grenades as my detonator. And im going for fire damage so im currently going to the fire damage nodes in the skill tree. It works pretty good so far (im level 62)

[@daft2114]

thanks for your build. I'd really love to watch a just gameplay video about this build.

[@ReDsCaRe78]

Great video, subscribed.

[@LuckyGhost]

Thanks for the sub!

[@brucecampbellx]

Great build, I'm loving it. Still looking for that perfect phys dam crossbow with extra nade. Sub!

[@zacksphantomvids7198]

I am kicking butt with this build. It’s soo good that when I played with my friend who is a witch, he got mad that I was so much stronger than him. He even talked about quitting because he couldn’t get his witch as strong as my Merc. lol.

[@ShanWolf]

I have to say this build has been hella fun. thank you.

[@LastAphelion]

Whether it is with the gas and exp nade combo or any other nade build variant, I found myself falling in love with Voltaic nades right away and now they are always a picked up skill for me. I noticed they had an insane often instant electrocute proc on them, making them function even better than flash nades, which I've come to hate because it can scatter the mobs all over the place when they were grouped nicely. I often open a rotation up now with Voltaic which paralyzes the whole group still so I can either gas combo them or just spam nades before they start running again. Can opt for 100% shock duration to enjoy 8 second 20% shock debuff on tough elites and bosses as well. Sometimes they are just adequate on their own to spam out and freeze and finish trash on their own like those gorawful mosquitos that always fly out of my aoe. It makes me want to try a test a pure lightning nade build. Btw do bosses count as a unique for Giant Slayer?

[@LuckyGhost]

yes bosses do count as unique!

[@MrPFMneto]

Great! Can't wait to test it

[@LuckyGhost]

Good luck with it!

[@RojakKnowledgewithMeandAI]

Thank you, your guide has succesfully free me from the nightmare that i tot mercenary is the toughest job ever!!! I have never tot of generade build I have suffer much.

[@tazerfac3418]

Seizure

[@AmirulNaimNasir]

Nice work, you need a written guide for sure !

[@artamesfrost4179]

I went Gemling grenades. Being able to utilize two of the same gem is really useful. Have 40% area and 25% atk speed on both gas and explosive grenades is a beast. Im using all six grenades plus enpheble. Not using explsive shot at all. Its a really good class to start out with.

[@LuckyGhost]

awesome, glad you found something you enjoy!

[@AlandsonMatosDosSantos-p7f]

@Lucky Ghost Can I still wait for this amazing Build on Maxroll or Mobalystic? If so! When do you think you can share?

[@Fergus-H-MacLeod]

I'm loving the Merc so far. I was so hoping to get to the quick reload passives, and then I realized they're locked up behind a jewel socket. I don't know what the hell I'm doing with my build but it's fun. I can't decide which skills to use but im only level 20. Looking forward to that explosive shot

[@EvilContainment]

You don't have to put anything in the jewel socket if you don't have one. You can go passed it. I recommend a good jewel with 4 stat's, it's worth 4 nodes!

[@jp-cb8wc]

Are you gonna put out another vid finishing this build?

[@ivanaridipaolo]

Hi Lucky, amazing guide ! AMZING! Let me ask you, what venom draught you have chosen on act 3 cruel from Servi? 10% chaos resistance +5 to all attributes 15% reduced slowing?

[@LuckyGhost]

Chaos res for sure :)

[@whitefaze13]

I dunno while I know it’s tiered towards ranger class, I really gravitated towards using a Bow on my Mercenary and love it. I’m running a high evasion build + focusing lightning build

[@iamphL]

Hey thanks for the guide! One question about the support gems. The order they are put into the slots is it also the order you would use them when you only have 2,3 and so on support slots? (Is my question even understandable?)

[@Tally7777]

Loving the build and the help! I'm early Act 2 and liking lighting. How would you tweak for Exp grenades and lightning (galvanic shards)?

[@Seiza_InSomnia]

Correct me if i'm wrong but i see you have some empty skill slots... Did u consider using emergency reload to boost 40% the dmg of your explosive shot? With a couple gems that you are not using, this effect can last for like 7-8s and boost 42% the damage of bolts that you reload in those 8s so u can even burst bosses faster. I guess the potential of the build is from the granades, but free dps is free dps xD

[@raphroy8085]

hey never comment normaly but just discover u today your content seems really good! was searching for a mercenary build that dont need 50 interraction to do damage and i think i found the best one so far and for the last do u have a planner somewhere of this build ? thanks a lot

[@Krisszgeeeh]

Awesome guide, thanks! Would you mind sharing your loot filter?

[@TheeYeti1]

Thank you for the build and information. I definitely realized my support gems were all off 😂

[@ThePafciu]

Great video! I wonder if i can make my build work as well, since i chose gremlin ascendancy.

[@AristotelisMelas]

I just started mapping with my under-geared gemling and it's been very smooth with a high velocity scattershot with pin and tons of 'chain off terrain' passives. I can sit in the next room, shoot at the wall and the mobs get rooted and die without even an angle to shoot back. Which is a good thing as most things will 1shot me. Not sure if this will work as I get into harder maps, I'm new to arpgs so I'm doing whatever.

[@artamesfrost4179]

That's a good way. My Gemling I run only grenades, my rotation is depending on the sitch but it starts out with flash grenade followed by gas then explosive then gas then explosive. If I'm going up against fast enemy's I start with grease grenade to slow them by 30% and if I'm in a small area I will throw in a scatter grenade to fill the room up with lil bomb let's. Have a support that gives it a 50% chance to go off again.

[@rasmillion]

Wondering if deadeye might be better for crossbows

[@dtech1224]

This has been a great build thank you. Have you made any adjustments since releasing this? I appreciate your time and sharing of your knowledge.

[@JorelJames-z4e]

Great video

[@Kontract_]

Iron Reflexes, you hovered over it but didn't speak to it. Why is converting all evasion to armor better than having both armor and evasion? It must be important cause it's a huge looking node but I don't understand the benefits.

[@darksavior1187]

If I had to guess, instead of having evasion and armor both at about half as high as it would be if you devoted to one or the other, it allows you to instead pour all of your stat into one, armor.

[@G1ZM0S1S]

Man... ive been so enthralled in the game, i didnt even notice there's no swords in the game yet lol

[@demonslayer9016]

can you link the skill tree in the future , just referring to the youtube video is kinda awkward to find out what the skills do without mouseover

[@rodrigodiniz13]

Some wont put the build on the websites because it is good for their retention on youtube.

[@bludwurm]

I'm having tons of trouble with my merc as a noob. So much so that I've been playing different games that I have. Watching this had got me to go back and give it another go. Hope my passives aren't too different than yours.

[@steve1170]

any suggestions for killing the Act 2 final boss (not giving spoilers here). I've got 70% lightning resist and am following the grenade guide. Have Heavy Ammunition etc. Just can't seem to clear this fight with Grenades and Explosive Shots. GREAT video!

[@erikjoyner7767]

Great guide! Can you specify which support gems to prioritize before having all the extra sockets?

[@LuckyGhost]

definitely multi projectiles and anything that increases damage without a drawback. the later grab increase AOE and concentrated

[@vladtheinhailer1428]

Any chance of a 'Maxroll' or a 'Mobalytics' build page/guide good sir?

[@LuckyGhost]

working on getting something up!

[@POE2FAN]

Lucky ghost making POE builds? We're living in an alternate timeline....

[@pavelcelba6976]

Can you clarify how grenades work in terms of accuracy needed? And what is the point the distance is measured from for grenades regarding accuracy?

[@dah_goofster]

Scattershot has carried me further than I’d ever imagined. Throw double barrel and extra attack speed on it and you have the doomguy shotgun. I highly recommend finding someone to play act 1 with, pretty much every class has difficulties getting thru the bosses, merc + witch is insanely fun. I’m at the point where I can start using explosive shot but it’s so insanely mana hungry and the reload is rather slow. The damage is great vs trash mobs but into bosses it’s a whole lotta work with just meh payoff

[@GrinningJest3r]

I play with a buddy playing ice sorceress, so I played frag ammo with double barrel, scattershot, and arcane tempo for so much of the game. It was so nice. However I'm finding the sheer clear speed of the explosive grenades and explosive shot is flat better for when I'm playing solo - even against bosses, just add some oil to keep them slow and kite around with small grenade spread so they get 8-12 grenades plus the arrow damage all at once every few seconds.

[@dah_goofster]

@ yeah I’m having a problem getting the right gems and skill points for the explosive set up. Everything comes out so damn slow and clunky even though I stacked a crap load of attack speed. I’m middle of act2 right now. Oftentimes against bosses I just throw on my frag setup for better stun and dps. I’m really not sure where I messed up, it could be my xbow reload speed. I’m running the one that adds another bolt.