The Grenade Merc has always been a favourite among Path of Exile players for its explosive fun and satisfying gameplay. However, traditional Ascendancies such as Witch Hunter and Gemline Legioner have not been the best fit, often leaving players wanting more from their grenade-focused builds. Enter the Deadi Ey Ascension, which brings a new level of destruction with its ability to fire additional projectiles. Here's how you can create your very own Grenade Merc 2.0, tailored with the unique traits of a Ranger, to wreak havoc like never before.
Why Rangers for Grenade Merc?
The Ranger profession offers unique benefits for a grenade-focused build, particularly through the Dead Ey Ascendency. This ascension provides skills that fire an extra projectile, turning your three grenades into four or more, greatly increasing your area of effect and damage output.
Starting Gear: Start with a bow, but quickly add a crossbow. The synergy between lightning arrows for clearing and explosive grenades for area damage creates a powerful gameplay loop.
Skill Setup:
Explosive Grenade: Your main damage dealer. Use Scattershot for more projectiles and Fast Forward to reduce fuse time for faster explosions.
Flash Grenade: Equipped with Overpower and Brutality for increased stun due to its physical damage nature.
Gas Grenade: Use Corrosion to remove armour and Fire Infusion for additional fire damage.
Oil Grenade: Adds Fire Exposure, making enemies more vulnerable to your fire-based attacks. Boost with Persistence and Strip Away for prolonged effects.
Passive Tree Pathing:
Early game: Focus on projectile damage and attack speed. Remember that your skills require both strength and agility, so balance your points. Aim for a key Strength node early on to meet skill requirements.
Mid-game: Head towards nodes that offer more projectile damage, bonus use of skills and area of effect. The 15-point mark is crucial for grabbing essential nodes such as bonus projectiles and reduced cooldowns.
End game: Consider investing in Energy Shield and Dodge with skills such as Grim Feast and Ghost Dance to improve survival, especially in mapping.
Moving into Act 2 and beyond:
Explosive Shot: Introduced in Act 2, this skill allows for instant grenade detonation. Double Barrel and Marshall Tempo make this skill feel more fluid and less cumbersome.
Gear Choices: Look for a bombardment crossbow for additional projectiles. Your gear should prioritise physical damage with bonuses to projectile and elemental damage.
Advantages: Tailwind for speed and dodge, Endless Ammo for more projectiles, but be aware of the scatter issues with increased projectile speed.
Cruel Difficulty and beyond:
Support gems: Nimble Reload for your crossbow, Despoiler for oil grenades, and Payload for explosive grenades to detonate more frequently.
Defensive Strategy: While this build focuses on offense, don't ignore defence. Use Wind Dancer for dodge boosts and knockback effects to give you some breathing space in the fight.
Future updates:
We'll be looking to integrate the Artillery Ballista for additional damage and utility, and possibly Curses to debuff enemies once we venture into the endgame content.
Thanks for Reading
This build not only retains the explosive nature of the Grenade Merc, but enhances it through strategic use of the Ranger's skills. Whether you're new to Path of Exile or an experienced player, this guide should give you the tools to create a devastating Grenade Merc 2.0.
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