Patch 0.4 has completely reshaped what it means to play Mercenary in Path of Exile 2, pushing the class from a niche pick into one of the most dominant endgame archetypes in the game. If you're looking for the best PoE 2 0.4 Mercenary builds, these are for you.
PoE 2 0.4 Best Mercenary Build - Top 3 Best Merc Builds in Path of Exile 2
Between crossbow reload reworks, massive grenade buffs, new support gems, and long-overdue passive tree fixes, Mercenary now offers some of the fastest mapping, strongest burst damage, and smoothest gameplay loops available in the current patch. Whether you want lightning-fast screen clears, no-aim explosive farming, or a tactical artillery playstyle that trivializes dangerous encounters, patch 0.4 finally gives Mercenary builds that can compete at the highest level.
No.1 PoE 2 Best Mercenary Build
The Galvanic Shards Witchhunter stands out as the best Mercenary build in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.4 because it perfectly converts the patch’s crossbow and lightning buffs into real, practical power without introducing clunky gameplay. The removal of reload movement penalties, the Galvanic Shards reload-speed fix, and the addition of new crossbow support gems turn the build into a hyper-fluid, high-tempo playstyle that clears like a machine gun while retaining deadly burst for bosses. Galvanic Shards scales absurdly well with shock, fork, and lightning exposure, allowing entire packs to chain-explode while crit shock multipliers push damage far beyond what other Mercenary setups can achieve at similar investment.
Euipment
Main Hand: Cannonade Crossbow
Helm: Constricting Command
Armour: Corsair Coat
Gloves: Stalking Bracers
Belt: Rawhide Belt
Boots: Cinched Boots
Ring: Prismatic Ring x 2
Amulet: Bloodstone Amulet
Passive Tree
Atlas Tree
No.2 Path of Exile 2 Best Merc Build
The Explosive Shot Witchhunter is the best Mercenary build in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.4 because it fully capitalizes on the newly buffed grenade and crossbow mechanics to deliver unmatched clear speed, mobility, and burst damage in a single, cohesive package. By combining Explosive Shot with Explosive Grenade, the build turns mapping into a no-aim, full-screen detonation loop where enemies die instantly as you sprint through maps at extreme movement speeds without suffering firing penalties. The interaction between grenade stacking, instant detonation, Herald of Thunder shock chaining, and automated debuffs creates constant explosions that scale effortlessly with speed rather than precision, making it one of the smoothest builds to play at high investment.
Euipment
Main Hand: Desolate Crossbow
Helm: Ancestral Tiara
Armour: Vile Robe
Gloves: Grim Gloves
Belt: Headhunter
Boots: Elegant Slippers
Ring: Ruby Ring, Sapphire Ring
Amulet: Solar Amulet
Passive Tree
Atlas Tree
No.3 PoE 2 Best Merc Build
The Siege Cascade Tactician is the PoE 2 0.4 best Mercenary build because it delivers the highest consistency and control of any endgame setup while remaining exceptionally safe and scalable. By combining mortar cannon ballista totems with an active banner-based offense and defense system, the build turns every encounter into a controlled battlefield where enemies are slowed, cursed, pinned, and destroyed before they can meaningfully respond. Unlike direct-fire Mercenary builds, Siege Cascade gains its survivability from distance, uptime, and tempo control—your totems maintain near-constant artillery pressure while dual curses and Frost Bomb shred resistances and action speed.Euipment
Main Hand: Gemini Crossbow
Helm: Imperial Greathelm
Armour: Morior Invictus
Gloves: Sine Aequo
Belt: Headhunter
Boots: Tasalian Greaves
Ring: Sapphire Ring, Topaz Ring
Amulet: Bloodstone Amulet
Passive Tree
