Path of Exile 2 - Boss Slayer Mercenary BUILD CONCEPT | Witchhunter

In today's video, I'll be sharing my extremely rough Mercenary build plan for Path of Exile 2's early access launch tomorrow! This PoE 2 Merc Build is a rough concept of what I'm going for and the types of ideas I like to think about when making Path of Exile 2 builds. The idea for this Mercenary build is that it will be a great bossing build but one good clear too. However, SO many questions remain unanswered and it's impossible to know how good it will be until we get our hands on the game tomorrow!
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Links:

► PoE Profile:
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Chapters:
00:00 - DISCLAIMER
01:04 - Build Concept
01:56 - Build Framework for All Builds
03:28 - Single Target Setup Idea
04:55 - Questions
05:45 - Critical Strike Plan
07:25 - Freezing Bosses
08:45 - Armour Piercing Rounds
09:45 - Clear Setup Idea
11:25 - Zealous Inquisiton (Explode)
12:20 - Curse / Mark Setup
13:20 - Defensive Layers
14:45 - Sorcery Ward
15:55 - Mobility
17:10 - Immunity
17:50 - Recovery Layer
18:51 - Witchhunter Ascendancy
22:51 - Passive Skill Tree
24:39 - Outro
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Path of Exile 2 - Boss Slayer Mercenary BUILD CONCEPT | Witchhunter
#poe2 #pathofexile2 #poe2builds

[Lolcohol]

Which build/class are you planning to play tomorrow? :D

[Sunrunner]

Thank you for this very in detail 100% safe build guide! I will defenitely put all my hopes into this!

[OLApplin]

Witchbane + No Mercy looked really good at first to me, but when I realized its 40% of their max health... urg, I don't want to wait for almost 1/2 the fight to get the full power out of those nodes. And if it recharges, then the bonus damage drops... I was quite excited at first with the ascendency, but not sure anymore. I still think I'm gonna start with it and we'll see how it goes! Great content as usuall!

[crimtide]

@Locohol Freeze rate is finnicky, as it depends on a variety of factors as you mentioned. To time both freeze and heavy stun (which allows for Devastate to work), will be hard to time it right. Also, after the initial freeze, freeze resistance on the boss is temporarily increased, so it will take longer to freeze the same target again.
I think going with frag rounds for the guaranteed more damage on freeze consumption would be more consistent.

[awzap]

This is an awesome build guide! I will follow it EXACTLY! :3

[DouglasDoMetal]

there are nodes that increase the Culling threshold i believe, so those might be worth looking into

[simple-human-being]

One more Really cool to see a proto-build guide already, some great ideas

[spicygiblets]

God i cant wait to see your setup for this

[jethrolarson]

I was gonna go witchhunter too! It's good to see someone else that isn't bee-lining for gemling

[Dioliolio]

You should look into glacial bolt. Idk if it’s bugged but on bosses they shards almost immediately shatter and can freeze bosses in 2-3 shots.

[ericlaplante]

One idea I had was using poison hammer of the gods with corrosion to break Armour so I can be using cold bolts to build my freeze, there are also nodes that increase freeze duration or armor broken duration if the timing doesn't add up

[Matsmellwood]

I’m planning on doing the exact opposite, assuming point blank is still in the skill tree as a Gemling
I’ve only thought of the main skill, but I’m going;
Undetermined shotgun shot
Double Barrel
close Combat
Conc effect
Physical skill sup
Either reload speed or Brutality

[time.]

Glad I found this video. I am planning on doing a crossbow/nade build to start out myself with armor breaking skills. Have you thought about possibly going with the warbringer ascendancy? There's a node that will break armor equal to 10% of hit damage dealt. That could be huge having the capability for ALL attacks to break armor. I suspect using grenades and rapid shot could break boss armor pretty quickly, then switch to hvr to finish off boss. This will need to be tested, but I do not believe incendiary rounds will detonate grenades, you'll need to use explosive shot. Explosive shot specifically says will detonate grenades while incendiary rounds does not. I'm also worried about the culling and decimating strike nodes. You're not doing damage, the hp is just disappearing, so we'll be losing the health/damage multipliers since the health is removed before the hit. Just my two cents but will certainly be watching your channel for updates! Good luck Exile!

[CobusGreyling]

Heyyy I talked to you about this in our Deadlock game :) Glad I could twist your arm (?) in the direction of the Witch Hunter!

Now we just wait and pray that the actual damage stats on the skill gems (and x-bows) aren't complete trash 🥴

[TheYashakami]

From what I've seen so far, most things that consume an effect do that before the damage is dealt, so you're going to be missing out on the benefit of the broken armor.

[CatalysedCat]

i was thinking of a ranged build up until i heard jonathan rogers say melee and risk v reward is making melee damage much higher, so gonna roll with monk and work on dodging (and dying...) like a champ

[danboyd]

I want to make a Merc that summons Druid Wolves!!
Cause wolves kick ass that why

[yesitsreallyOtter]

I'm probably going witchhunter with a big hammer. This is SIMILAR to your concept. It involves more hitting the boss with the big hammer, though. Possibly dual wielding hammers with Giant's Blood.

[natendragon]

Hey Lolcohol, long time caller, first time fan - real quick, I followed this build and died IRL. Why do you make bait?

[Gore-okami]

im goin duo - with my friend on shield and armor break and me as witchhunter for velocity rounds - we will do SWAT raids on bosses
They said Multi projectiles will work but will not be spread like in poe but added as a magizne rounds.