Complete Guide to the Explosive Shot Witch Hunter Build with Mercenary in Path of Exile
Updated: Jan 30
If you're looking for an explosive build with high map clear speed and impressive boss damage, the Explosive Shot Witch Hunter with the Mercenary class is a fantastic choice. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about this build, including its pros, cons, budget, and gameplay mechanics.
Whether you're a seasoned player or new to Path of Exile, this build offers a satisfying and powerful experience.

Why Choose the Explosive Shot Witch Hunter Build?
The Explosive Shot Witch Hunter is a build that focuses on area-of-effect (AoE) damage, allowing you to clear entire screens of enemies with just one click. Combined with the Heralds of Ice, Ash, and Thunder, this build creates a chaotic and visually stunning mix of elemental effects. Fire can shock, cold can ignite, and lightning can freeze—making it not only powerful but also incredibly fun to play.
Key Features of the Build
1. Explosive Clear Speed
Rating: 10/10The Explosive Shot ability has a massive AoE, making it perfect for clearing large groups of enemies quickly. With just one shot, you can obliterate everything on your screen, making it ideal for farming low to high-tier maps efficiently.
2. Strong Single-Target Damage
Rating: 9/10This build excels at dealing with bosses, especially tier 15 bosses. The Shockburst Rounds ability deals massive damage to shocked enemies, allowing you to take down tough foes with style. However, you’ll need to reapply the shock effect for bosses with over 2 million life, which adds a slight learning curve.
3. Survivability
Rating: 9/10The build has excellent evasion and elemental damage mitigation, but it lacks armor. This means that if a physical attack bypasses your evasion, it can deal significant damage. However, with proper positioning and gameplay, this is rarely a major issue.
Pros and Cons of the Build
Pros
Incredible clear speed: Perfect for farming maps quickly.
High single-target damage: Great for boss fights.
Satisfying gameplay: The mix of elemental effects is visually stunning and fun to play.
Budget-friendly: Affordable to start, with room to scale into endgame content.
Cons
Learning curve: Requires practice to master the single-target damage rotation.
No armor: Physical hits can be dangerous if they bypass evasion.
Reliance on shock: Bosses require consistent reapplication of the shock effect for maximum damage.
Learn More About Skill Tree
Learn More About Hammer of the God
Learn More About Pob
Budget and Gear Recommendations
Starter Budget (Low-Tier Maps)
Cost: Around 60 Exalted OrbsThis is enough to get the build running and start farming low-tier maps effectively.
Mid-Tier Budget (Mid-Tier Maps)
Cost: Around 100 Exalted OrbsAt this stage, you’ll want to invest in better gear to improve your survivability and damage output.
Endgame Budget (High-Tier Maps)
Cost: Around 6 Divine OrbsFor high-tier maps, you’ll need to optimize your gear further. Don’t worry—you’ll earn plenty of currency while farming lower-tier maps.
Mandatory Unique Item
Three Dragons HelmetThis helmet is essential for the build. It grants up to 20% elemental resistances and allows your Explosive Shot to shock enemies while enabling Shockburst Rounds to freeze them.
For a full list of recommended gear, including direct links to items sold by other players, visit Poe Builds.
Gameplay Tips and Mechanics
1. Elemental Synergy
The combination of Heralds of Ice, Ash, and Thunder creates a dynamic mix of elemental effects. Fire can shock, cold can ignite, and lightning can freeze, making your attacks unpredictable and devastating.
2. Single-Target Damage Rotation
To maximize damage against bosses, follow this rotation:
Use Explosive Shot to apply shock.
Switch to Shockburst Rounds to deal massive damage while the enemy is shocked.
Reapply shock as needed for longer fights.
3. Movement Speed
The passive tree provides a good amount of movement speed, allowing you to navigate maps quickly and efficiently.
FAQs About the Explosive Shot Witch Hunter Build
1. Is this build beginner-friendly?
Yes, the build is relatively easy to pick up, but mastering the single-target damage rotation may take some practice.
2. How expensive is this build?
The build is budget-friendly, starting at around 60 Exalted Orbs for low-tier maps and scaling up to 6 Divine Orbs for endgame content.
3. Can this build handle endgame content?
Absolutely! With proper gear and optimization, this build can easily tackle high-tier maps and bosses.
4. What makes the Three Dragons helmet so important?
The Three Dragons helmet enables your Explosive Shot to shock enemies and your Shockburst Rounds to freeze them, which is crucial for maximizing damage.
5. How do I improve survivability?
Focus on maximizing evasion and elemental resistances. While the build lacks armor, proper positioning and gameplay can mitigate most risks.
Final Verdict
The Explosive Shot Witch Hunter with the Mercenary class is a powerful, fun, and visually stunning build that excels in both map clearing and boss fights. With its budget-friendly start and high scalability, it’s a great choice for players looking to dominate Path of Exile’s endgame content.
What do you think about this build? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave a thumbs up if this guide helped you. Happy building, and may your maps be full of loot!
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