If you're looking for a leveling build in Path of Exile 2 that combines ranged precision, explosive power, and lightning-fast mobility, look no further than the Grenade Mercenary. This build takes full advantage of the Mercenary class's agility and tactical edge while packing a serious POE2 Currency punch with cleverly placed grenades and well-timed combos.
Whether you're a new exile or a returning veteran, this guide will walk you through how to level efficiently with the Grenade Mercenary, from early game strategies to explosive end-of-act bosses.
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Why Choose the Grenade Mercenary?
The Grenade Mercenary build is all about area control, status effects, and fast-paced decision-making. Grenades aren't just flashy—they're functional. You can apply debuffs, create chaos on the battlefield, and deal massive burst damage, all while darting around enemies and avoiding danger.
Key benefits of this build include:
- Smooth early leveling with minimal gear dependence
- High clear speed thanks to wide-area grenade effects
- Strong single-target damage using detonation combos
- Built-in utility with crowd control and movement support
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Core Mechanics: How It All Comes Together
At its core, the Grenade Mercenary playstyle revolves around two phases:
1. Grenade Setup – You toss grenades ahead of or around enemies, choosing from a variety of types (e.g. Fire, Ice, Shock, Smoke).
2. Detonation or Follow-up – Trigger or combo into other skills that ignite, freeze, or blast enemies using your traps or attacks.
The skill synergy in this build is what makes it so satisfying. You'll be constantly setting traps, dashing around enemies, and chaining effects for maximum chaos.
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Recommended Skills
As you level through Path of Exile 2, here's a breakdown of key skills to focus on:
Grenade Toss
Your main utility and offense skill. Use Fire Grenades for burn, Ice Grenades for chill/freeze, and Shock Grenades for shock stacks.
Detonation Trigger (or Detonate Mines/Traps)
You can manually detonate placed explosives for burst damage or let certain triggers handle that for you with linked support gems.
Smoke Grenade
Use this to blind enemies and escape sticky situations. It also grants mobility options when paired with a movement skill.
Dash / Roll
Essential for repositioning quickly between grenade placements. Staying mobile is a huge part of survival with this build.
Elemental Trap (Optional)
Great supplemental damage. You can mix in traps that align with your primary grenade element for more sustained AOE.
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Passive Tree Tips
The Grenade Mercenary takes advantage of nodes that improve:
- Trap and Mine Damage
- Area of Effect and Radius
- Projectile Speed and Cooldown Recovery
- Elemental Damage and Status Effects
Invest early in utility nodes for survival and cast speed, then move into heavier damage scaling as you progress. Don't forget to pick up cooldown recovery if you rely heavily on detonation chaining.
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Gear Priorities
Leveling with the Grenade Mercenary is forgiving when it comes to gear, but you'll want to look for:
- Increased Elemental Damage
- +1 to Level of Fire/Ice/Lightning Skill Gems
- Cooldown Recovery Rate
- Movement Speed on Boots
- Life and Resistances for Survivability
Don't stress over perfect gear during acts—just keep refreshing your gear every few levels with better mods and keep your flask setup updated.
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Leveling Flow: Act-by-Act Strategy
Early Acts (1–3):
- Focus on using Fire Grenades and a Detonation skill.
- Use Smoke Grenade and Dash liberally to avoid damage.
- Pick up basic gear with life and resistances.
Mid Acts (4–6):
- Add Shock Grenades for better clear.
- Start scaling Elemental or AOE damage on the passive tree.
- Craft or purchase gear with +1 to gem levels.
Late Acts (7–10):
- Focus on detonation combos and high AOE.
- You should have multiple grenade types and traps linked by now.
- Prepare for boss fights by adjusting your trap types (e.g., slow bosses with Ice Grenades).
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Bossing Tips
When you reach tougher encounters:
- Pre-load grenades before a boss spawns or becomes active.
- Keep moving—this build shines with hit-and-run tactics.
- Use chill/freeze or shock to weaken enemies before detonating.
- Save Smoke Grenade for phase transitions or emergency disengages.
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Pros and Cons of the Grenade Mercenary
Pros:
- Super mobile and fun to play
- Excellent AOE coverage
- Diverse skill options—customize your grenade loadout
- Scales well into endgame with clever gear and passive investments
Cons:
- Can feel squishy without good movement discipline
- Relies on understanding grenade/trap timing
- May need practice to master pre-loading and combo timing
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Final Thoughts
The Grenade Mercenary is one of Path of Exile 2's most creative and rewarding leveling builds. It combines fast gameplay with tactical depth, allowing you to approach encounters in explosive and efficient ways.
For players who love mobility, clever mechanics, and controlling the battlefield, this is a must-try build.
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