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Mercenary
Witchhunter
[BUFFED 0.2] Hellfire Vapor Witch Hunter
MercenaryWitchhunterStarter
FearlessDumb0
Verified
0.2 DotH
Build Overview
Witch Hunter is extremely strong with Grenades, got massive buffs in patch 0.2. This build leverages AoE shotgunning synergies with 
Gas Grenade and Ingite to push high single target damage.
Completely deletes everything through T15s. And you can go deep into maps even on a 4L once you equip Gas Grenade.
Extremely good mapping. Extremely good boss damage through campaign and into your first T15 bosses. With investment I've done all content in the game, but importantly it's a really comfortable build even for new Path of Exile players. Login.
HUGE Damage buffs for this build that are multiplicative with each other. On paper it looks like 2.5-3x the damage as in patch 0.1.
Leveling Build that transitions into this endgame setup: https://mobalytics.gg/poe-2/builds/mercenary-leveling-build
Changes in Patch 0.2
Buffs
- MASSIVE buff to base Explosion damage for Gas Grenade. An endgame build with level 25-27 gems would have approximately 70% more damage JUST from the gem. Combined the buffs for Xbow/Gem/Spread are 2.5-3x damage.
- Base damage on Crossbows was increased AND upgraded from 1H values to 2H values, giving approximately 42% more damage
- Reload speed is now affected by local Attack Speed on the weapon, which is a significant quality of life improvement.
- Mana costs were reduced for Attack skills, which is a HUGE win for patch 0.2. This was the primary limiting factor for DPS in 0.1.
- HUGE single target buff from the 40% reduction in spread of Grenades that have multiple projectiles. This gives more AoE shotgunning and is the primary damage dealer, though it means we probably want to supplement our clear with a skill like
Galvanic Shards
Nerfs
- The cooldown for
Explosive Grenade was increased from 3s to 7s, though I'm expecting an accompanying increase in baseline dmg to go with it and will update this as soon as the data mine info is dumped online.
Build Variants
T15 Endgame
Act 3 - Early Maps
Act 1 - Act 2
IMPORTANT - DONT SKIP THIS
There is now a progression and tree / gear / skill toggle. The tabs above for A1-2, A3-Maps, and T15 Endgame will give you a progression.
T15 Endgame Variant
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Equipment
Crossbow
Advanced or Expert Bombard Crossbow are the base of choice as they give an additional grenade. Look for Flat Physical Damage and %Increased Physical Damage are by far the most important. Flat Fire Damage is a plus, and Attack Speed is always helpful as it reduces the amount of time it takes to fire ammunition.
Offhand Bow/Quiver for Shocks
Go cheap, you don't need to invest much in this. High flat lightning roll with a modest amount of physical damage works great. Your quiver should have a high flat lightning roll too, and probably some accuracy. You can find a good bow here for 1-10 exalts, just set a max budget and reverse sort by DPS:
https://www.pathofexile.com/trade2/search/poe2/Standard/8Gan9evhV
Gear Priority
Chest: Resist Cap > Life > Evasion/ES
Gloves: Resist Cap > Life > Evasion/ES
Boots: Movement Speed > Life > Evasion/ES
Jewelry: Resist Cap > Life > Mana Management > Rarity
Belt: Resist Cap > Life > Strength
All Gear: Mana somewhere. The more mana you have, the easier constant sustain will be. Mana Regen is also a great stat to have.
Solving for Mana
Gas Grenade costs a disgusting amount of mana, though now less in 0.2. Flat mana will improve both your pool and regen amount. You can also roll flat %Inc Mana Regen on gear to help with that, and I've annointed a notable that grants %Inc Mana Regen as well. The more mana you have, the easier it will be to sustain constant grenades.
Radiant Grief
This helmet will automate your grenades for you. It provides a 6m aura that Ignites anything around you, which causes your grenades to explode on hit. Because we throw 5 grenades in a single shot, these 5 grenades have a chance to AoE shotgun instead of form a single cloud, giving us 5x damage. You can accomplish the same thing with 
Explosive Shot on 
Oil Grenade's, but this helmet makes gameplay much smoother.
IMPORTANT: If you are using Radiant Grief, DONT take 
Subterfuge Mask as it's a dead notable on the tree. Instead take
Death Rush
Once you get Resistances Sorted out, if you can squeeze more into your rings and other gear you get Onslaught on kill which grants +10% movement speed and +20% skill speed, boosting our movement speed considerably and reducing our grenade attack time by about 0.2s. It feels amazing, particularly because movement speed is so rare. This is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL QoL only.
Runes
Prioritize resistance capping first. If you've got that down, put %Increased Evasion/Energy Shield Runes in your Chest and Gloves. If you aren't Chaos resistance capped, do that next, then again %Increased Evasion/Energy Shield everywhere. Note that with patch 0.1.1 you can replace runes and aren't stuck with whatever is in your equipment.
You want as much Evasion as you can get to offset the Sorcery Ward penalty.
More Information
See the accompanying video for a thorough explanation of which gear pieces to choose, and why.
T15 Endgame Variant
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Skill Gems
Support Gem Requirements:
Str 40
Dex 45
Int 20
Gas Grenade
Oil Grenade
Flash Grenade
Herald of Ash
Wind Dancer
Attrition
Stormcaller Arrow
Explosive Grenade
Skill rotation
- Mapping:
Mapping is one-button if you have Radiant Grief. Throw Gas Grenade Check the video for an explanation on why this setup with this gear works the way it does.
If you run into a tankier pack of mobs, lay down Oil Grenade first and kite them into it while laying down Gas Grenade
- Bosses:
- Get close enough to Ingite them with Radiant Grief, about 6m (this is pretty far away, most of the screen in 1080p).
- Hit them with Stormcaller Arrow to apply a 50% shock which will increase the damage they take by 50% and is a more multiplier with post-hit mitigation.
- Put an Oil Grenade at their feet. The ignite will trigger a burn that will further debuff them with Fire Exposure removing -26% fire resistance.
- Spam Gas Grenade and alternate Explosive Grenade until the burning oil expires, then lay down another Oil Grenade .
- Get close enough to Ingite them with
Permanent Shocks on Bosses
I keep an offhand Bow with high flat Lightning Damage and any reasonable Physical Damage amount, coupled with a Quiver that has Flat Lightning and Accuracy on it (only those two mods matter). Use Stormcaller Arrow ~ Stormfire ~ Overcharge ~ Conduction which will trigger a high shock even on 15+3 level map bosses. The Stormfire support paired with the unique ability of Radiant Grief will give you permanent Shock, causing the boss to take a HUGE chunk of additional damage for almost nothing.
Note that this does NOT work with 
Voltaic Grenade without considerable investment on the tree and in ailment effect/chance. You literally need nothing to get Stormcaller Arrow to shock a boss.
5L Setup
If you don't yet have a 5L, you can get one easily by using the Lesser Jewellers Orbs to 4L an level Uncut Skill Gem, then use a Vaal Orb to corrupt another socket on it. This will likely take several tries but it's vastly cheaper than buying a Greater Jewellers Orb at current market prices.
Get Inspiration if you need it as it can hard carry mana requirements. If you can get a Radiant Grief it turns into a one-button build. With the hat you can trade one of the Fire supports from the 4L setup above for Immolate . If you'd prefer more damage, you can skip Inspiration and socket Fire Infusion instead
Gas Grenade ~ Scattershot ~ Immolate ~ Elemental Focus ~ Inspiration
Mapping Auras
Use Wind Dancer and Herald of Ash.
Bossing Auras
Swap Herald of Ash and Wind Dancer out for Attrition, which gives a significant damage increase even for fights that only last 20-30 seconds.
T15 Endgame Variant
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Passive Tree
main:
8
123
set 1:
20
20
set 2:
20
20
Notable Order
Remorseless- Volatile Catalyst
Adrenaline Rush
Instant Reload (you'll trade this at level 22 for 
Volatile Grenades)
Overwhelm- Colossal Weapon
- Cluster Bombs
- Grenadier
Distracting Presence
Crushing Judgement- Authority
Giantslayer
Smoke Inhalation
Incendiary
Afterimage
Forces of Nature
Blur - Once we get into maps we need to focus on stacking Evasion/ES
Catlike Agility- Freedom of Movement
- Escape Velocity
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Beastial Skin
- Subterfuge Mask
Attributes
Take as much Str as you can, only as much Dex as you need for gear. Accuracy doesn't help us, so stacking Dex isn't important.
Ascendency
1. 
Zealous Inquisition
2. 
Obsessive Rituals
3. 
Ceremonial Ablution
4. 
Pitiless Killer
How it Plays
See the accompanying video for a thorough explanation of how it works and skill rotation.
How it Works
See accompanying video for a thorough mechanical explanation.
