Not all players have the budget to fund high-end, mirror-tier builds in Path of Exile 3.26. Fortunately, some mercenary archetypes deliver great performance at a fraction of the cost, allowing players to push deep into endgame on limited currency.

One of the most cost-efficient choices is the Blazing Alchemist, a fire-based caster with wide AoE and ignite-focused scaling. Most of the gear for this archetype can be found for just a few chaos orbs and still clears T14+ maps reliably.

Another excellent budget option is the Savage Reaver, a two-handed melee build that thrives on flat physical damage and leech. While it PoE 1 Currency lacks the finesse of high-end crit builds, it offers durability and damage without needing expensive uniques.

Budget gearing focuses on high-life rare items with added elemental or physical damage. Instead of chasing six-links, players can make great use of four-linked gear with smart gem combinations and bench crafts.

Effective support gems for budget builds include “Combustion,” “Added Fire Damage,” and “Faster Attacks.” These amplify base skill effects without relying on expensive alternate-quality versions or awakened gems.

The passive tree for budget builds should avoid jewel-heavy setups and prioritize easily accessible damage clusters. Additionally, avoid cluster jewels altogether until sufficient currency is available.

Playstyle adjustments also support the budget approach—players should avoid delirium or beyond mods and focus on clean, linear maps with manageable monster density.

Flasks can also be kept Poe 1 Divine Orb simple. A life flask, a quicksilver flask, and one or two utility flasks with basic mods are enough to enhance survivability and movement speed.

For players who want to stretch their currency and still participate in high-tier content, these budget mercenaries are an ideal starting point.