A month ago, I wouldn't have bet on Mercenary feeling this clean to play in Path of Exile 2. Patch 0.4 fixed the stuff that used to slow everything down—reload movement penalties, awkward pacing, that constant "why am I stuck." moment—and it also gave grenades the kind of buffs that change how a whole class flows. Now you can actually push maps at a decent clip without playing finger-gymnastics or dumping a fortune in PoE 2 Currency just to make the build function.

1) Galvanic Shards Witchhunter

If you like fast, reactive gameplay, Galvanic Shards Witchhunter is the one you'll notice first. The reload improvements are the real difference-maker. You're not stopping to "reset" your damage anymore; you're just moving, firing, and letting the screen melt. It plays like a lightning-focused run-and-gun setup where shock stacks and crit scaling do the heavy lifting. You'll feel it in regular mapping right away: packs don't just die, they disappear in a chain reaction. The nice part is it doesn't demand some absurd shopping list either—grab a Cannonade Crossbow, pair it with a Constricting Command helm, and you've got enough power to start cruising without that early-game slog.

2) Explosive Shot Witchhunter

Explosive Shot Witchhunter is for the players who'd rather keep moving than keep aiming. The grenade buffs made this style go from "cute gimmick" to "everything is on fire all the time." The loop is simple: sprint, shoot, let automated grenade drops clean up what's behind you, and don't overthink it. It also has that momentum feel—once you're rolling, the map sort of collapses around you, especially with Herald of Thunder procs adding extra noise and damage. It can get pricier if you want it to feel perfect, since items like Headhunter and a Desolate Crossbow push it into true farming territory, but even before that it's a comfy, brain-off way to print loot.

3) Siege Cascade Tactician

Siege Cascade Tactician isn't trying to win any style points, but it's the build I'd pick when content starts hitting back. You're basically letting mortar cannon ballista totems do the dangerous work while you play the edges—dropping curses, lining up Frost Bombs, and staying out of trouble. Bossing feels steadier because you're not forced to stand still and trade. Gear like Morior Invictus and a solid Gemini Crossbow turns it into a reliable long-range setup that keeps your XP safer, even if your clear speed isn't as flashy.

Where these builds land in 0.4

The common thread is that Mercenary finally rewards tempo instead of punishing it, and you can pick your flavor: lightning gunplay, explosive sprinting, or careful artillery control. If you're short on time and just want to get rolling, it helps to price-check upgrades and fill the gaps quickly—sites like U4GM are handy for grabbing currency or key items without turning gearing into a second job, so you can spend more time mapping and less time stuck in trade chat.