Following the launch of Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, classes are gradually adjusting to the updated mechanics, and a growing number of builds and configurations are now showcasing their unique strengths, giving players the freedom to pick according to their preferred playstyle.
Here, we must mention the consistently powerful Mercenary build – Shotgun Cluster Grenade. This build adapts well to the new equipment system, and is even stronger.
Shotgun Cluster Grenade build is renowned for its extremely high burst damage and the ease of hands-free combat. In Return of the Ancients, there are currently two extremely powerful configurations, and its strength can be further enhanced to terrifying levels with a rare charm.
Below, POECURRENCY.com will guide players through an in-depth exploration of this advanced build.
Set One – Three-Grenade System
This configuration centers on three types of grenade attacks: Cluster Grenade, Explosive Grenade, and Flash Grenade, forming the strongest triangle.
1. Cluster Grenade
Cluster Grenade is the core of this build’s burst damage. Its basic mechanism involves firing four main grenades, each of which explodes into 18 micro grenades, totaling 72 micro grenades. However, a fatal flaw is that these micro grenades are scattered across the entire screen by default, severely diluting their damage.
Thus, the central strategy of this build is to minimize the fuse duration, causing all 72 micro grenades to explode in nearly the same focused spot, which delivers a shotgun-style blast and devastating explosive damage.
And an another requirement is sufficient PoE2 Currency. To use this build fast, you can buy cheap POE 2 currency from POECURRENCY.com, a platform widely recognized for its highly competitive trade rates and positive reputation within the player community.
Support Gems Selection
- Short Fuse II
- Multishot
- Second Wind
- Close Combat
- Payload
In addition, it’s essential to pursue skill gems of 20%+ quality. Combined with Alternate Quality from Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, this further reduces bomb detonation time, which is crucial for achieving the instant burst of Cluster Grenade.
2. Explosive Grenade
With the added bonus of high quality, Explosive Grenade gains an extra 3 projectiles, resulting in a considerable total number of projectiles. POECURRENCY suggests pairing it with a short fuse to reduce detonation delay, making it the most comfortable clearing tool when advancing on maps.
Support Gems Selection
- Short Fuse I
- Magnified Area II
- Elemental Armament
- Multishot
- Payload
Explosive Grenade is primarily used to clear large areas of small enemies. When paired with a Gas Grenade, it can instantly detonate poison mist, causing screen-clearing damage.
3. Flash Grenade
Flash Grenade has two core uses: firstly, to break enemy armor, triggering Scavenged Plating stacks and significantly increasing its own armor; secondly, to create the preconditions for armor breakage with high-velocity armor-piercing rounds.
Support Gems Selection
- Armour Break
- Smelting
- Multishot
- Heft
Flash Grenade is not used for stacking damage, but rather for controlling area of effect and armor break value. Against PoE2 Bosses, it interrupts their actions and breaks their armor.
Practical Tactics
When farming and facing bosses, the three-grenade system has a fixed operational rhythm:
- First Blind: Throw Flash Grenade at a group of monsters or the boss. The monster group is instantly blinded and stunned, while also having its armor broken.
- Wide-Area Clearing: If there is a group of monsters in front, follow up with an Explosive Grenade, using the high base explosion damage and area of effect to clear the area directly.
- Close-Range Melee: When facing a boss that is stunned by Flash Grenade, move in front of the boss and use Cluster Grenade for close-range explosion.
Set Two: Crossbow and Ballista System
If the three-grenade system of Set One is a sharp blade for proactive offense, then the crossbow and ballista system of Set Two is a heavy firepower network capable of completely dominating Path of Exile 2 battlefield and providing multi-functional support.
1. Mortar Cannon
Mortar Cannon summons a Ballista Totem, which automatically attacks enemies using the linked grenade skill and significantly increases cooldown recovery speed. Ballista Totems last for 8 seconds, enough to cover an entire wave of monsters.
Support Gems Selection
- Payload
- Urgent Totems
- Magnified Area
In actual combat, when facing dense groups of monsters, simply repeatedly summon Ballista Totems while running. POECURRENCY believes you can focus entirely on positioning and survival; they will automatically handle all surrounding enemies.
2. High Velocity Rounds
High Velocity Rounds inflict Riven Armour debuff when attacking enemies with Fully Broken Armour. Riven Armour stores the initial 5% physical damage reduction before applying it. Subsequent attacks will gain an equal amount of additional physical damage. Riven Armour lasts for 5 seconds or until the armor breaks.
For Cluster Grenade, a damage pattern consisting of 72 micro grenades, the damage increase from Riven Armour is amplified by the high frequency of attacks, resulting in considerable damage stacking.
Support Gems Selection
- Heft
- Brutality
- Longshot
- Hourglass
Note that Hourglass can only be fired once every 10 seconds. It is recommended to aim when the boss is controlled or stationary to ensure a hit.
Practical Tactics
- When encountering PoE2 Boss, instantly drop 4 Mortar Cannons around Boss.
- Throw a Flash Grenade to blind and immobilize the boss.
- Switch to High Velocity Rounds and unleash a barrage of attacks on the boss.
- Continuously deploy Mortar Cannons using movement.
In summary, this Merchant Shotgun Cluster Grenade build is not simply about stacking damage numbers, but rather about maximizing the class’s potential through a deep exploration of skill quality. Players who haven’t yet experienced the thrill of instant kills should definitely give it a try!
