In Path of Exile (PoE), a carry mercenary (merc) plays a pivotal role in supporting the player by dealing significant damage and providing utility. To maximize their effectiveness, it is crucial to equip them with appropriate skills that balance offense, survivability, and control PoE 1 Currency. The choice of skills depends greatly on the merc's class and build, but some core principles apply universally for a carry merc.

Firstly, damage-dealing skills are the backbone of any carry merc's skill set. Skills that scale well with the merc's attributes, such as melee or spell-based attacks, are preferred. For example, skill gems like "Bane," "Greater Soulrend," or "Conductivity" leverage the merc's intelligence or strength attributes while enhancing sustained or burst damage. It is essential to consider skills that not only deliver high damage output but also have good area coverage or single-target focus to efficiently handle different combat scenarios.

Secondly, support skills and auras that boost damage or reduce enemy effectiveness are vital for a carry merc. Skills like "Malevolence," "Enfeeble," or "Blasphemy" curses can amplify the merc's damage or weaken foes, creating a safer environment for your character. Buffs such as "Zealotry" or "Hatred" can be attached to their offensive gems to significantly increase their elemental or chaos damage. Synergizing these support skills ensures the merc remains a reliable damage dealer throughout the game.

Thirdly, survivability skills are necessary for the merc to sustain their role as a frontline or midline damage dealer. Defensive auras like "Discipline" for energy shield, or "Vitality" for life regeneration, can greatly increase their durability. Movement skills such as "Flame Dash," "Frostblink," or "Lightning Warp" enhance repositioning during battles, enabling the merc to avoid danger zones, thereby increasing their longevity on the battlefield. Choosing the right mix of defensive and mobility skills ensures the merc's survival without compromising damage output.

Fourthly, the choice of weapon and armor synergizes with the merc's skill set. Since mercenaries' skills often depend on their attributes and weapon types, it is advisable to keep their initially equipped weapon type for compatibility. For instance, if the merc specializes in wand or staff skills, equipping gear that enhances spell damage or cast speed is optimal. Similarly, life and resistances on gear improve survivability, which is key when using aggressive carry merc builds.

Fifthly, utility skills such as debuffs or summon abilities add versatility to a carry merc's role. Summoning minions or totems that inflict damage or crowd control can supplement the merc's offensive capabilities. For example, skills like "Raise Zombie," "Summon Raging Spirit," or "Wither Totem" provide additional layers of offense and control, giving the player more breathing room and strategic options in challenging encounters.

In summary, a carry merc in PoE should be equipped with a well-rounded skill set that prioritizes strong damage abilities, damage-boosting auras or curses, survivability enhancements, appropriate weapon synergy, and some utility for versatility. Balancing these factors allows the mercenary to effectively complement the player's build and serve as a powerful ally throughout the game's progression PoE Currency.