If you’ve been deep in the Rise of the Abyssal league lately, you know it’s absolute chaos. The monster density is off the charts – sometimes it feels like you’re wading through an ocean of mobs. That’s exactly why the Explosive Witchhunter Mercenary is such a blast to play. For me, it’s been less like running an ARPG build and more like pulling the trigger on a never-ending fireworks show. It’s insanely quick at clearing, but still somehow not as fragile as you’d expect. Getting it online can be pricey unless you grab a deal on PoE 2 Currency, which makes gearing so much smoother right from the start.
Fast-Clear Mayhem
The build’s loop is addictive. You’re not just poking enemies with projectiles – you’re turning every corner into a death zone. Spam Explosive Shot and those AoE blasts chain off Herald effects, taking out whole packs before they fully appear. It’s one of those setups where you stop worrying about strays because they don’t have time to reach you. Then, when a boss shows up, the tone changes. Out come the Shockburst Rounds. Once Shock is applied – either from grenades or your main skill – the single-target DPS jumps to ridiculous numbers. Getting it tuned right, I’ve seen fights where Uber Arbiter lasted only seconds.
Tougher Than It Looks
Usually, high-damage ranged builds fold the moment something touches them. Not here. The Explosive Witchhunter layers Evasion with Energy Shield, and that combo, backed by Wind Dancer and Ghost Dance, means you can take a hit and recover almost instantly. My own setup sits comfortably with a 90% evasion rate and around 5k ES. Even those nasty abyssal mods barely slow it down. The ascendancy helps – 'Judge, Jury and Executioner' cracks through rare monsters fast, while 'Pitiless Killer' stops trash mobs from cluttering the screen.
Gear Choices
To max out the build, a Gemini Crossbow with bonus projectiles is a must. Pair it with "The Three Dragons" to mess with elemental status effects, letting lightning freeze or shock in some wild combinations. Rolling the right mods can be expensive – expect anywhere between 20 to 50 Divines for a top-tier setup if you’re buying. That’s a big grind unless you plan ahead on trades.
This build is loud, fast, and made for climbing the ladder. Whether you’re soloing Ubers or carrying friends through Zarokh runs, it just works. Keep moving, keep the reload rhythm, and let the lightning eat everything in sight – especially if you’ve topped out the gear using u4gm poe currency so you can focus on the fun instead of the farm.