As Path of Exile 2 barrels toward its full release, it continues to captivate fans of the action RPG genre with its bold overhauls, gorgeous visuals, and complex gameplay systems or POE2 Currency. Among the many fresh features and reimagined mechanics, the introduction of nuanced, role-defining classes has brought a breath of new life to Wraeclast. One of the most intriguing additions? The Mercenary.

A departure from traditional fantasy archetypes, the Mercenary is less about brute force or arcane mastery and more about tactical superiority, engineering prowess, and sheer efficiency. Combining ranged weaponry with cutting-edge gadgets and battlefield strategy, the Mercenary appeals to players who prefer to outwit their enemies, using cunning and versatility over raw damage or spell-based devastation.

Whether you're a long-time Path of Exile veteran or someone curious about the sequel’s ambitious new direction, this guide will give you everything you need to know to dominate early access as a Mercenary—from weapons and skills to gear and tactical playstyles.

Who Is the Mercenary?

The Mercenary in Path of Exile 2 is best described as a hybrid of combat engineer and elite marksman. This class thrives on precision, area control, and the creative use of gadgets—deployable tech that adds new layers to traditional ranged gameplay. Think landmines, turrets, drones, grenades, and traps—all enhanced by your tactical awareness and planning.

In a game where fireballs and sword-sweeps are the norm, the Mercenary offers something refreshingly modern. They’re as much about battlefield control as they are about burst damage, rewarding players who enjoy flexible, cerebral combat scenarios.

Core Mechanics of the Mercenary

Let’s break down what makes the Mercenary tick:

Ranged Weapon Specialization: The Mercenary excels with crossbows and other projectile-based weapons. However, unlike traditional bow-users, they focus less on speed and more on calculated, impactful shots—often augmented by elemental bolts or mechanical enhancements.

Gadget Integration: A unique gadget system allows the Mercenary to deploy mechanical aids such as automated turrets, explosive traps, and support drones. These tools help manage mobs, set up ambushes, or deal damage over time.

Tactical Adaptability: Where other classes might lock into a specific playstyle, the Mercenary is flexible. Want to kite enemies while laying traps? You can. Prefer to sit back and let gadgets do the work while you snipe? That works too.

Area Denial and Control: The Mercenary is at their best when they can shape the battlefield. Their toolkit includes ways to slow, debuff, or force enemies into chokepoints—perfect for outnumbered encounters.

Early Access Mercenary Build: Tactical Firepower

For those stepping into PoE2 early access, this Mercenary build is ideal for getting started efficiently. It balances damage output, survivability, and crowd control, making it perfect for leveling and early maps.

Primary Weapon: Elemental Crossbow

Start with a high-damage elemental crossbow—lightning or fire variants work well for early scaling. These weapons synergize with the Mercenary's skill gems that trigger elemental bolts, creating explosive or chaining effects.

Suggested Skills:

Arc Bolt: A bolt skill that chains between enemies. Great for clearing packs.

Explosive Cartridge: Converts normal bolts into AoE fire-based blasts.

Bolt Rain: A wide-area coverage skill that works well with crowd control gadgets.

Secondary Weapon: Trap Launcher

Equip a device-based offhand or skill gem that deploys traps or turrets. These don’t replace attacks but supplement them with automated utility or damage.

Suggested Gadgets:

Auto-Turret: Great for laying down sustained fire in an area.

EMP Trap: Disables enemy abilities or slows down movement.

Fragment Mine: A powerful trap that explodes into shrapnel, scaling with physical and fire damage.

Passive Tree Strategy

The Mercenary’s passive tree focuses on three main pillars: Projectile Damage, Trap & Gadget Efficiency, and Tactical Movement.

Key Nodes to Prioritize:

Efficient Reloading – Reduces cooldowns on gadgets and bolt abilities.

Kinetic Mastery – Boosts projectile damage and accuracy.

Tech Tactician – Increases trap placement speed and gadget AoE.

Opportunist – Grants bonuses for attacking slowed or debuffed enemies.

Escape Protocol – Improves dodge and movement speed when enemies are nearby.

A mix of offensive and defensive nodes ensures you’re not overly fragile while maintaining enough firepower to carry through tougher content.

Gearing Up: What to Look For

Weapons:

Prioritize crossbows with added elemental damage or increased bolt effect.

Look for unique crossbows that grant bonus trap damage or cooldown reduction.

Armor:

Light to medium armor for mobility.

Mods to look for: Trap/Mine damage, cooldown recovery, energy shield, and evasion.

Accessories:

Rings and amulets that boost projectile speed and trap efficiency.

Belts with flask cooldown or additional charges.

Flasks:

Quicksilver Flask (movement speed is essential).

Jade Flask (evasion boost).

Quartz Flask (phasing and dodge).

Gameplay Strategy: Know the Battlefield

A big part of excelling as a Mercenary in Path of Exile 2 is not just about gear and stats—it’s about how you approach each fight.

Positioning Is Everything

Mercenaries don’t excel in toe-to-toe combat. Keep moving, kite enemies, and lead them into pre-laid traps and turret zones.

Pre-Engagement Setup

Use gadgets before enemies arrive. Place turrets near chokepoints and traps where enemies are likely to funnel. This proactive approach makes fights much easier.

Use Line of Sight

While PoE2’s AI improvements make enemies more dynamic, they can still be manipulated. Use corners, walls, or obstacles to limit exposure and isolate enemies into ambushes.

Manage Cooldowns

The Mercenary thrives on precise timing. Don’t spam everything at once—stagger your gadget deployments and bolts for maximum uptime and area control.

Boss Encounters and Group Play

Against Bosses:

Focus on single-target trap builds, like Focused Minefield or Laser Sentry.

Use gadgets to interrupt phases or provide passive DPS during boss invulnerabilities.

In Parties:

The Mercenary shines in support-DPS roles. Provide utility and AoE control with gadgets while letting heavier hitters focus on raw damage.

Bring traps that debuff or slow enemies—great for helping tanks and casters line up their skills safely.

Scaling Into Mid and Late Game

The Mercenary remains viable well into Path of Exile 2’s tougher zones. Your focus will shift slightly:

Start specializing into either critical strike projectile builds or trap-centric burst builds.

Pick up unique gadgets that scale with your elemental damage.

Invest in trap trigger support gems and bolt-infused passives.

Don’t forget: synergy is the name of the game. Build around interactions—such as traps that apply shock, followed by bolts that deal increased damage to shocked enemies.

Final Thoughts: A Class for the Tactical Mind

The Mercenary isn’t just another DPS archetype in Path of Exile 2. It’s a class that rewards thinking ahead, planning encounters, and controlling space. With its mix of high-tech warfare and battlefield adaptability, it feels almost like a modern operator dropped into a chaotic fantasy world—and it works brilliantly.

While other classes may dazzle with brute strength or arcane flair, the Mercenary demands—and rewards—precision. With the right build, smart play, and an eye for synergy, you can turn this soldier-scientist into one of the most potent forces in Wraeclast or poe 2 trade.

So gear up, scout your terrain, and make every shot—and every trap—count.