Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5: Forbidden Rites Mercenary Grenadier League Starter Guide

Forbidden Rites starts on September 4 at 1:00 p.m. PDT with a fresh economy and Ritual encounters throughout the campaign. Since Patch 0.5.5 does not include a class balance pass, Mercenary Grenadier can enter the event league without major build changes.

Here’s what to prioritize for gems, Gemling Legionnaire, Spirit, gear, and Ritual boss waves.

Why Grenadier Mercenary Fits Forbidden Rites

Forbidden Rites adds Ritual encounters and boss-focused waves to the campaign, making reliable pack clear and single-target damage valuable. Grenadier Mercenary handles both from range while remaining practical on a fresh economy without requiring expensive uniques.

The build also pairs well with Gemling Legionnaire, giving gem investment a clear role in its progression. You can level with another Mercenary skill first, then switch to grenades once your Spirit and gem slots can support the core setup.

Build Pros & Cons

Mercenary Grenade Gem Setup

Build around Cluster Grenade as your main clear skill once it becomes available. Pair it with Short Fuse or another suitable support, then keep a separate single-target skill for tougher enemies and Ritual bosses.

Core priority:

1. Cluster Grenade — primary clear
2. Short Fuse or suitable fuse support — faster detonations
3. Projectile or damage support — add when Spirit allows
4. Single-target skill — for bosses and tougher targets

Prioritize the main grenade setup before investing heavily in secondary skills.

Gemling Legionnaire Ascendancy

Gemling Legionnaire is the intended ascendancy for this Grenadier setup.

Its interaction with gem investment makes Advanced Thaumaturgy particularly relevant to a build that wants to improve its core skills without depending on expensive uniques.

Prioritize ascendancy choices that improve the consistency and efficiency of your main setup before chasing smaller damage gains. For a league starter, smoother progression is generally more valuable than maximizing theoretical peak damage.

Spirit and Early Stat Priorities

Spirit is one of the main resources to manage when transitioning into grenades. Keep your active skills within your available Spirit pool instead of trying to activate everything at once.

A practical campaign priority is:

Spirit → Life and Resistances → Core Offensive Mods → Luxury Damage

Also watch your Strength and Dexterity requirements as support gems are upgraded. For defensive gear, prioritize life and elemental resistances while replacing weak campaign pieces.

Early Gear Milestones

Your gear only needs to support the build's core damage and survivability during the campaign.

Acts 1–2: Use a suitable rare crossbow or other weapon with useful offensive stats. Life, attributes, and Spirit are valuable when available, but do not delay progression while searching for a perfect weapon.

Acts 3–4: Focus more on your main grenade gems while fixing resistance gaps and replacing outdated defensive gear. The goal is a stable grenade rotation rather than several temporary setups.

Early Maps: Replace your weakest campaign pieces with stronger rares and prioritize weapon damage, gem quality, Spirit, survivability, and required attributes. Expensive uniques are optional rather than mandatory.

How to Handle Forbidden Rites Rituals

Ritual encounters become more dangerous when tougher boss-focused waves appear. Grenadier Mercenary can use its ranged advantage to clear normal enemies safely, then switch to a single-target skill for bosses.

Keep moving as waves overlap and give your grenades enough space to detonate. If a Ritual starts to outpace your damage, improve your core setup before forcing harder encounters.

Do Not Build Around Ritual Uniques

Ritual rewards can provide valuable items, including uniques, but they should remain optional upgrades rather than requirements for the starter.

The Grenadier setup is designed to function through skills, supports, gem quality, and accessible rare gear. If a useful Ritual item drops, use it when it improves the character rather than redesigning the entire build around it.

Transitioning Into Maps

There is no need for an immediate build swap when you reach maps.

Continue using grenades as your primary clear tool and keep a strong single-target option for tougher enemies and bosses. Replace temporary campaign gear with stronger rares and prioritize upgrades that improve clear consistency and survivability.

If you enjoy the playstyle, the same Grenadier setup can continue into early Atlas progression without requiring a major rebuild.

When Should You Pivot?

Stay with Grenadier if you enjoy its ranged playstyle and it continues to handle early Atlas content with your current gear.

Consider a pivot later if you want a more specialized endgame setup or prefer another Mercenary archetype. There is no need to switch during the campaign—get the core setup working first and reassess once your endgame goals become clearer.

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Forbidden Rites Grenadier Starter Checklist

Level normally → transition into grenades when Spirit allows → complete the Cluster Grenade setup → improve gem quality → keep a single-target skill for Ritual bosses → replace weak rares as you enter maps.

The result is a straightforward starter that does not depend on a specific unique item or a major early respec.

Start Forbidden Rites With a Stable Grenadier Setup

Grenadier Mercenary keeps the opening progression simple: establish your grenade clear, manage Spirit carefully, and maintain enough single-target damage for Ritual bosses.

With Gemling Legionnaire supporting a quality-focused progression and rare gear covering the early gearing requirements, the build can move from the campaign into early maps without requiring a major rebuild.