menu
MobalyticsUse your favourite features in-game with our Desktop App
PoE 2 Build

Mercenary Thunder Levelling Build

presentationMercenary
Starter
Creator
0.1 Early Access
Updated on Jun 23, 2025
Jun 23, 2025

Build Overview

Thunder Shock Build

This build will help you to level up with your mercenary using the amazing crossbow to deliver big damage and fast clear. Initially I am just realeasing a levelling up guide but soon I will come up with the end game which should be similar to act 3 cruel.

With this build we will only use 1 to 3 skills most of the time and you will have a huge power spike Starting at cruel 1 with this build.

This build can be used with both ascendancies.

Build Variants

Start at act 1 we don't have much options, grab your best crossbow or a Rampart Raptor to start you levelling. At Act 1 we will feel a bit weak since we don't have much options but it will get better and better.

Equipment

item
1
item
3
item
2
item
4
item
5
Equipment Priority
0
Main Hand
Rampart Raptor
1
Amulet
Surefooted Sigil
2
Body
Enfolding Dawn
3
Gloves
Painter's Servant
4
Boots
Luminous Pace

EQUIPMENT

This are a few items you can start at level 1 if you playing standard league. You can find all of this items for less than 1 exalted in store and this way you can level up faster and stronger.

WEAPON

You can start with a Rampart Raptor this one will help you a lot since it gives you a chance to not consume a bolt. This way you can spam your main skill much more often and clear maps and bosses faster

BODY ARMOR

Enfolding Dawn is a good option to start at level 1 but you can start with any body armour that suits your needs.

BOOTS

Luminous Pace will be the first unique boots that can give you extra movement speed and extra movement speed is equal to faster levelling up.

GLOVES

Painter's Servant will be an amazing choice for most of your journey. This ones can be used until Act 1 cruel and they will help your damage and make this build work better.

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 5

Dex 25

Int 10

Expand all
1

Galvanic Shards

Galvanic Shards
supportchancetoshockplayer
supportweaponelementaldamageplayer
2

Herald of Thunder

Herald of Thunder
supportaddedlightningdamageplayer
supportambushplayer
3

Explosive Grenade

Explosive Grenade
supportpayloadplayer
supportcooldownreductionplayer
4

Gas Grenade

Gas Grenade
supportmultipleprojectilesplayer
supportelementalfocusplayer
Gem Priority
+8

SKILL GEMS

This gems will be all you need for Act 1.

You start with Galvanic Shards and Primal Armament to increase your damage and as soon as you get Herald of Thunder you allocate Conduction on Galvanic Shards to trigger this herald much more often.

While fighting bosses use spam your grenades use first Gas Grenade and then Explosive Grenade to trigger the explosion on Gas Grenade.

Passive Tree

main:
123
123
set 1:
20
20
set 2:
20
20

The build for Act 1 is pretty simple. Just some projectile damage and increased damage with two hands since we are using a crossbow which is a two hand weapon will have the damage increased. And all skills we use are projectiles so they will have the damage increased as well.

How it Plays

Map clearing: Galvanic Shards.

Bossing: Ball Lightning then cast Lightning Warp on it to shock the boss and burst him down with Shockburst Rounds and Emergency Reload for extra bolts.

Video Guide

Table of Contents

Featured Builds

Invoker Hollow Palm - Campaign to Endgame
Updated on Dec 4, 2025
0.3 Bigdaddy Arc/Spark CoC Stormweaver
Updated on Dec 4, 2025
LICH Minions Leaguestarter (being updated for 0.4, WIP right now)
Updated on Dec 4, 2025
0.3 Fubgun's Lightning Arrow Deadeye leveling Guide
Updated on Dec 4, 2025
[0.3] Skadoosh's Poison Pathfinder Leveling 1-58
Updated on Dec 3, 2025

Become a Creator

Want to earn rewards by sharing your builds with your community?