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PoE 2 Build

[0.4] Lockdown Explosive Shot Tactician - Delete All Content - Endgame to Starter Build Guide

End Game

Starter

Tactician

Mercenary

Creator

0.4 TLotD

By FGKorbyn21

Updated on Dec 14, 2025

Dec 14, 2025

Build Overview

Here's my guide for my Explosive Shot Tactician Endgame to Starter Build for patch 0.4 The Last of the Druids!

Waiting on Skill Tree Update so changes to follow!

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🚨Work in Progress, be sure to come by the Twitch Stream for the Newest Skill Tree and Gems as I'm changing it to test new things!🚨

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🚨I've included a League Starter Leveling Guide, Early Mapping Guide, and Endgame Guide to cover your run on Mercenary from Start to Finish. Click the appropriate Tab for Gear and the Passive Tree🚨

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The Tactician received a TON of buffs in the 0.3 update so it was time for an update to my previous Tactician build! This ascendancy is GREAT for Offense and Defense as the Right Where We Want Them Ascendancy Node allows ALL Projectile Damage to Pin and prevent them from performing any actions. This means they can't Move or Attack leaving them open to all our Attacks!

We use Explosive Shot combined with Fork Support Gem to allow it split our shots and clear with ease. We'll use the Valako's Vice to convert our Fire Damage --> Lightning Damage which means we can use Herald of Thunder for extra Clear Speed. We'll run Run and Gun and Spray and Pray for a ton of Damage and Movement Speed when Firing.

Our Single Target DPS is handled by Explosive Grenade as this plus the new Abyss Desecration Mods have MASSIVELY increased the DPS of these Grenades. I'm talking INSTANT melt of Uber Pinnacle Bosses like butter. We'll boost the damage of our Grenades by using Rapid Shot to build up Heat which boost our Grenade Damage. We'll also mix in Mortar Cannon and Mirage Archer to get EVEN MORE Grenades which we instant detonate with Explosive Grenade so no pesky Detonation Time. The Siege Crossbow will also add an Additional Projectile for MORE Grenades.

Our Defenses are Bolstered by Scavenged Plating for more Armor, Charge Regulation which gives us 20% More Defenses when we have an Endurance Charge which we'll generate via Armour Break III on Explosive Shot and Eroding Chains. This will give us the scraps for Scavenged Plating and the Endurance Charges. We convert all our Evasion into Armor using Iron Reflexes and use the Tactician Ascendancy Node Polish That Gear to get Deflection from Armor. Combine this with Glancing Blows and we have Lucky Deflection. I also use Blasphemy with Enfeeble to provide some Extra Damage Reduction and stack as much Life as possible.

We take advantage of the Constricting Command as this allows us to use super strong Surrounded Nodes such as Frantic Fighter, Tactical Retreat, and Thrill of Battle. We also get to Ignore ALL MANA COST thanks to Defy II.

Overall the build is a fun 1 to 2 button build for Mapping which can Melt Uber's with ease and is surprisingly chunky with 90% Physical Damage Reduction, 87% of Armor Applies to Elemental Damage, 75%+ Deflection, Enfeeble, Pin, and Intimidate via Fearful Paralysis.

Permanent Buff's From Act Rewards Recommendations:

Valley of the Titans

- +30% Increased Charm Charges

The Venom Crypts

- +25% Increased Stun Threshold

Halls of the Dead

- +5% Lightning Resistance
- +5% Cold Resistance
- +5% Fire Resistance

Goddess Of Justice

+30% Increased Life Recovery from flasks

The Seven Pillars

+5% to all Elemental Resistances (Interchangeable)
15% Increased Global Defenses (Interchangeable)

Strengths and Weaknesses

Melt Uber Pinnacle's
Insane Clear Speed
1-2 Button Gameplay
Armor Gear is Cheaper than Most
LOTS of Explosions
EZ to Craft Crossbows
Infinite Mana (Defy II)

Not as Tanky as ES Build
LOTS of Explosions (FPS Drops)

Build Variants

Uber Endgame Variant

Budget Endgame Variant

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Interlude Acts

This variant will use some Unique's if you have them to speed up the Campaign Process as much as possible. If you can't use them, check the Equipment Description for Rare Options that I've provided.

We'll be using Explosive Shot plus Fork for Clear. Also try out Siege Cascade which was buffed in 0.4! We'll start using Explosive Grenade for single target DPS and eventually get the Mortar Cannon and Mirage Archer for TONS of Grenades to NUKE bosses.

Use Explosive Shot to Detonate the Grenades so we don't have to worry about Detonation Time.

We'll use Mirage Archer equipped with Explosive Grenade for a little clear speed boost and Wind Dancer for an Evasion Boost if wanted. Otherwise scoop up either Herald of Ash for more clear or War Banner for damage on Rare's/Bosses if wanted.

This is closer to the Final Variant so less changes from here on out.

Equipment

Uber Endgame Variant

Budget Endgame Variant

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Interlude Acts

Set 1

Set 2

Equipment Priority

Crossbow:

Go for a Bombard Crossbow for the Extra Grenade Projectile to Increase our Grenade DPS. You'll want as much Physical/Fire Damage as possible. Level of all Projectile Skills and Attack Speed are the best Suffixes available at the moment.

The new Unique Crossbow Double Vision is also a fun and cool Crossbow to try out around this time if you manage to get one to drop.

Body Armor:

We're going to go for a Armor, Armor/Evasion, or Evasion Body Armor with as much Defense and Max Life as possible. You'll need to prioritize Life as much as possible around this time to ensure you're not getting One-Shot and have a decent Hit Pool.

The Rat Cage is a decent substitute Body Armor if you want a cheap and easy Unique to swap onto since it provides so much Max Life.

Gloves:

We're going to go for a pair of Gloves with as much Armor/Evasion and Max Life as possible. Added Damage to Attacks and Attack Speed is also nice for a DPS increase.

We'll eventually swap to Valako's Vice so keep these in mind as you get closer to Act 4.

Helmet:

We're going to use an Armor/Evasion Base Helmet with as much Evasion and Max Life as possible. Pick up any needed Resistances or Attributes if you can, Strength is always nice for extra Life.

Goldrim is a great option once you hit Level 10 for All Elemental Resistances. Crown of the Victor is a nice DPS bump but doesn't provide any Defense, Thrillsteel if you want Onslaught here instead of on the Ring is nice, Erian's Cobble for the meme.

Constricting Command is an INSANE Helmet to run if you already have it or can afford it. Be sure to buy one with Requires -5 Fewer Enemies to be Surrounded! No more, no less!

Boots:

We're going to use Bushwhack for Pin and the best Movement Speed from a Unique available at the time. Feel free to continue using Wanderlust if you want as well.

If you don't have these Unique's, feel free to use ANY Boots you find early on with Movement Speed as this will increase your Speed massively. Prioritize Max Life, Resistances, and Attributes as well.

Belt:

We're going to swap to a Life and Strength belt, preferably an Plate Belt for a little bit of Armor. This is just more effective if you get a decent roll for more Max Life. As you level up, use any Belt that provides the best amount of Life.

Amulet:

Go for any Amulet with Max Life and Level of All Projectile Skills. Preferably a Strength based or Life/Life Regen for extra HP. % Increased Armor and Evasion and going to be nice for a Hit Pool increase if you can get them at this point.

The Everlasting Gaze is a good Unique Amulet for early leveling for a slightly larger Hit Pool and Infinite Mana.

I anoint with Spray and Pray if you have the resources to do so as this is a MASSIVE DPS buff and lets you move faster when shooting.

Rings:

We're going to use Death Rush for Onslaught which is a 20% Skill Speed and 10% Movement Speed increase. This can also be gained via Thrillsteel if you want to save the Ring Slot for more Damage.

Rare Ring options are any and all Rings that give Added Damage to Attacks, Max Life, Resistances and Attributes.

Skill Gems

Uber Endgame Variant

Budget Endgame Variant

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Interlude Acts

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 40

Dex 40

Int 25

Expand all

Explosive Shot

Explosive Grenade

Oil Grenade

Mortar Cannon

Mirage Archer

Wind Dancer

Gem Priority

+20

Support Gems are Ordered in Priority of which you pick them!

You'll use Explosive Shot with Fork to clear. Since they nerfed Nova Projectiles number of projectiles we'll take this approach instead. There's also Siege Cascade which was buffed in 0.4!

Explosive Grenade will be your single target DPS tool. Shoot your Grenades at the feet of the Boss/Rare and shoot Explosive Shot to Detonate all of them. Combine Oil Grenade for Elemental Exposure to lower Resistances of the target.

Mortar Cannon is going to support you during Boss fights with more Grenades for you to Detonate and grab Agro. Place it down and shoot Explosive Shot to Detonate.

Mirage Archer will activate whenever you Dodge and spawn a Mirror Version of you which will Auto-Target nearby enemies and shoot Explosive Grenade at them. Same as the rest, shoot your Explosive Shot to Detonate the Grenades.

Wind Dancer is nice for now for a little extra Evasion. If you have any leftover Spirit, use either Cannibalism I or Herald of Ash.

Passive Tree

Uber Endgame Variant

Budget Endgame Variant

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Interlude Acts

main:

123

set 1:

set 2:

We'll go for Remorseless and Ricochet for Projectile Damage, Fearful Paralysis for Intimidate for 20% More Damage Dealt to Intimidated Targets and they deal 20% Less Damage, Prolonged Assault for Attack Damage, Feel no Pain and Battle-hardened for some Defenses.

Overwhelm is nice for a DPS boost and Adrenaline Rush will net us even More Movement Speed and Attack Speed. We pick up Rapid Reload for more Reload Speed and Cluster Bombs for an Extra Projectile.

We'll path towards Spray and Pray and Run and Gun for 50% Increased Attack Damage while moving which is INSANE. The Reduced Movement Speed Penalty is nice for speeding through the campaign as well.

A Solid Plan will be your First Ascendancy Node you'll take so we can run more Spirit Gems. Suppressing Fire is the Second Ascendancy Node you'll take as its needed to path towards our third Node.