If you’ve been grinding through the Rise of the Abyssal league in Path of Exile 2, you’ve probably noticed it’s pure madness out there. Mob clusters everywhere, screen shaking from chain explosions—it’s a lot. That’s exactly why the Explosive Witchhunter Mercenary feels so good to play. It clears maps at insane speed and still has the bulk to handle endgame bosses without turning into a glass cannon. I’ve been running it for days now, and honestly, it’s more like running a light show than an ARPG. The pace is addictive, and once you’ve got the kit dialed in, it’s hard to switch to anything else. If gear farming sounds like a slog, checking PoE 2 Currency can speed the process so much, letting you focus on the fun part sooner.

Fast clear and boss melt potential

The rhythm of this build is simple: blast away with Explosive Shot, watch mobs evaporate, and move on. The AoE detonations chain perfectly with Herald effects, so packs vanish before you even notice them. Boss fights are where things get intense—you swap to Shockburst Rounds and watch big health bars drop like they’re nothing. Apply Shock through grenades or your primary shot, and the single‑target numbers go wild. With tuned gear, DPS can push past 30 million, and it’s genuinely funny seeing Uber bosses just… disappear.

Survivability that feels unusual for a Ranger archetype

Normally, you’d expect high‑damage bow or crossbow setups to fold under pressure. Here, it’s different. The Witchhunter packs serious defense—stacked Evasion and Energy Shield, with Wind Dancer and Ghost Dance smoothing out incoming hits. Sitting at roughly 90% evasion and 5,000 ES means even nasty abyssal modifiers don’t feel like a death sentence. The ascendancy perks help too: ‘Judge, Jury and Executioner’ chunks rares down quickly, while ‘Pitiless Killer’ keeps trash mobs from cluttering the battlefield.

Key gear and investment

The build really pops when you get hold of a solid Gemini Crossbow with extra projectiles and “The Three Dragons” helmet. That elemental status swap plays beautifully with lightning damage, letting freezes and shocks land in ways enemies don’t expect. Of course, lining up the right mods can be expensive—expect to fork out 20–50 Divines to get a properly rolled setup. Many players sidestep the grind entirely, buying their core gear through trade instead of endless map farming.

Why it’s worth running

This is one of those builds that feels like a statement—fast clears, brutal boss takedowns, and enough staying power that you’re not sweating every hit. It’s perfect if you’re running solo or dragging a team through high‑tier content. And if you decide you’re done waiting for RNG to smile on you, grabbing what you need via poe 2 currency can get you blasting the Abyssal league at full power in no time.