Top 4 Best PoE 2 0.3 Mercenary Builds for The Third Edict

Mercenary will be top tier in Path of Exile 2 0.3. With massive balance changes, new gear options, and fresh mechanics, choosing the right build isn’t just about raw power. Read our PoE 2 0.3 mercenary build guide, we'll bring you the top 3 best merc builds for the Third Edict.

PoE 2 0.3 Mercenary Build Guide - Top 3 Best Merc Builds in the Third Edict

You need a good Mercenary build in Path of Exile 2 for the same reasons you need a solid build on any class, but Mercenary in particular punishes weak setups harder than most. Unlike some classes that can brute force through the campaign with raw skill gems, Mercenary relies heavily on synergy between grenades, cooldowns, and supports. A weak setup means you’ll constantly run out of damage, mismanage cooldowns, or have clunky clearspeed that feels awful compared to other classes. A good build smooths all of this out.

1 - Galvanic Shards Witchhunter Mercenary

Galvanic Shards shotgun effect clears entire packs instantly, while Shockbuster Rounds scale into monstrous boss damage. With gear like Death Rush and Plate Belt, the build can stack up to 15,000+ effective shield, making it nearly unkillable while still dishing out DPS. Key items like Desolate Crossbow and Vaal Mitts let you scale hybrid physical + lightning damage quickly, while the Lapis Amulet boosts gem levels for core projectile skills. This is the go-to “unstoppable melting machine” mercenary build for 0.3 — top-tier for players who want both survivability and raw burst.

Gear

Main Hand: Desolate Crossbow

Helm: Champion Helm

Armor: Death Mail

Gloves: Vaal Mitts

Boots: Fortress Sabatons

Belt: Plate Belt

Ring: Death Rush, Amethyst Ring

Amulet: Lapis Amulet

2 - Gemling Legionnaire Mercenary

Grenade skills (Gas, Oil, Flash) synergize with the Gemling Ascendancy (double support gems) to cover the screen in chain detonations. This makes it one of the fastest mapping builds in PoE 2. With Cannonade Crossbow and Utility Belt, you get high physical scaling plus flask recovery — fueling a run-and-gun playstyle that’s hard to pin down. Ruby Rush and Lunar Amulet add fire resistance, elemental scaling, and energy shield, allowing the build to handle both mobs and endgame bosses effectively. This is the best clear-speed farming mercenary, perfect for those who love tactical play with grenades and AoE chain reactions.

Gear

Main Hand: Cannonade Crossbow

Helm: Elegant Greathelm

Armor: Dastard Armour

Gloves: Commander Gauntlets

Boots: Soldiering Sabatons

Belt: Utility Belts

Ring: Ruby Rush, Prismatic Ring

Amulet: Lunar Amulet

3 - Permafrost Witch Hunter Mercenary

Permafrost Bolts freeze enemies, locking bosses in place, then Explosive Grenades + Explosive Shot ignite them for massive DoT explosions. Using Twin Crossbow for fast reloads and hybrid gear like Trailblazer Armour + Stacked Sabatons, it balances DPS with reliable defenses. The Ruby + Sapphire Ring combo shores up resistances early, while Jade Amulet adds much-needed Dexterity to smooth leveling into late-game. This is the best control-focused mercenary build, perfect for players who want tactical crowd control while still dishing out heavy ignite damage.

Gear

Main Hand: Twin Crossbow

Helm: Shielded Helm

Armor: Trailblazer Armour

Gloves: Bolstered Mitts

Boots: Stacked Sabatons

Belt: Mail Belts

Ring: Ruby Rush, Sapphire Ring

Amulet: Jade Amulet

4 - Mortar Mercenary

The Mortar Mercenary (Tactician) is shaping up to be the best Mercenary build in PoE 2.0.3 because it combines insane firepower, mobility, and scaling in one package. With the new Mortar Totem granting up to four totems at once, you effectively create a mobile artillery battery that clears packs and melts bosses without needing to stand still. The synergy with Rapid Shot (now reworked to fire instantly with no clunky delay) solves the problem of totem activation, letting you keep constant grenade fire raining down while you zip around dodging mechanics. On top of that, support gems like Expedite, Scattershot, and Payload now apply to all grenade types, doubling gas clouds, chaining explosions, and stacking damage far faster than before.