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Mercenary Class Guide

Attribute Strength and DexteritySignature weapon CrossbowsAdded Early access (0.1)Ascendancies 3
WitchhunterAdded in 0.1Gemling LegionnaireAdded in 0.1TacticianAdded in 0.2

Path of Exile 2's crossbow class – Strength and Dexterity, special bolt ammo and dodge-heavy gunplay, with the Witchhunter, Gemling Legionnaire and Tactician ascendancies.

Updated 1 November 2026Checked for patch patch 0.5.5e2 sources
Image: Path of Exile / YouTube

The Mercenary mixes Strength and Dexterity and fights with crossbows. Crossbow skills load different kinds of bolts – explosive, piercing, rapid-fire – so playing a Mercenary feels close to a twin-stick shooter.

Ascendancies

WitchhunterHeavy hits that cull weakened enemies.
Gemling LegionnaireBonuses from skill gems and attributes.
TacticianA third Mercenary ascendancy, added in 0.2.

Who it suits

Players who like ranged combat with a shooter feel. Crossbows reward reloading at the right time.

Next steps

Compare the Mercenary with the other classes on the class overview, or start with the Beginner's Guide.

Reference page written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games change with every patch – the patch this page was last checked for is shown at the top.