Top Smite Merc Gear in PoE 3.26 – Boost DPS Fast with U4GM Tips

[Fernando4567]

Smite builds are excelling in PoE 3.26, leveraging robust scaling and potent buffs. However, are you fully realizing your potential? A commonly neglected element of optimizing any build in Path of Exile is the proper gearing of your mercenary. A well-equipped mercenary can greatly enhance your damage output, and for Smite, the correct selections can literally TRIPLE your damage! This guide will delve into the optimal mercenary gear for Smite builds in PoE 3.26, assisting you in annihilating foes and farming effectively, while also reminding you to consider utilizing trustworthy sources if you need to buy PoE Currency or manage your current PoE Currency.

Why Mercenary Gear is Important for Smite

Smite gains immense benefits from aura stacking, particularly Wrath and Hatred. These auras provide substantial flat elemental damage and increased damage effectiveness that synergizes flawlessly with Smite's mechanics. Your mercenary is essential for accessing these vital auras without hindering your own build.

The Optimal Mercenary for Smite: The Act II (Nightmare) Holy Freeze Aura Mercenary

While some players try out different mercenaries, the Act II Nightmare Holy Freeze mercenary continues to be the top choice. Holy Freeze offers a chilling effect, slowing down enemies and enhancing your overall survivability. Nevertheless, the main reason is to gain access to…

The Core Gear Setup: Aura Stacking for Maximum Smite Power!

This setup focuses on maximizing the impact of Wrath and Hatred auras, significantly boosting your Smite damage. If you ever find yourself short on the PoE Currency needed to acquire these essential pieces, remember that you can always find reputable sites to buy PoE Currency.

Weapon: Pride's Victory (Crusader Sword) - Pride's Victory is crucial as it grants the Wrath aura. The added lightning damage further enhances Smite's inherent damage.
Armour: Fortune's Path (Armour with Hatred Aura) - This crafted armor should be able to provide the Hatred aura, adding significant physical damage as cold. Ensure the armour has the correct sockets and links for your preferred support gems.
Helmet: Crown of the Tyrant (Armour Helmet) - Although less important, this helmet is usually the best due to its potential for resistance or life.
Gloves, Boots, Jewellery: These slots can be filled based on your mercenary's needs for resistances, life, PoE Currency and survivability. Consider items with increased damage or attack speed to further boost the effectiveness of the auras.
Support Gems for Maximum Aura Effectiveness

The gems you socket into your mercenary's gear are just as important as the gear itself. Here's a suggested setup:

For Wrath (Pride's Victory): Increased Duration, Empower
For Hatred (Fortune's Path): Increased Area of Effect, Blood Magic
Increased Duration extends the uptime of the Wrath aura, while Empower levels it up, amplifying its benefits. Increased Area of Effect allows Hatred to affect a wider area, ensuring more enemies are affected by its damage boost. Blood Magic is crucial for allowing the mercenary to cast Hatred even with low mana, preventing interruptions in aura uptime.

Optimizing Your Mercenary's Survivability

While damage is paramount, your mercenary needs to survive long enough to provide those crucial auras. Consider these defensive stats on your mercenary's gear:

Life: Maximize your mercenary's life pool for increased survivability.
Resistances: Cap all resistances to avoid debilitating elemental damage.
Life Leech: Provides sustain, allowing your mercenary to recover health while attacking.