Recently I started playing HC SSF Ruthless. I'm A9 and playing a Ranger Warden, but I'm really struggling. I'm running Blood Aqueducts over and over just hoping to see something useful so I can progress. Also, every support gem that drops for me isn't even for my character.
From what I know, the Merciless Lab is a good place to get support gems, but I haven't gone yet because I don't feel ready.
That's my situation any tips for progressing in Ruthless HC SSF would really help.
SSF requires a huge amount of slow grinding to get your gems. If you like ruthless but don't love that part there is trade league. If you don't mind spending many many many hours just grinding to get your gems then SSF is pretty cool after you get that unlocked. You can get a support gem box on cruel lab. So grinding support gems on cruel lab is a thing. If you can get to Act 10, Ossuary isn't a bad spot to grind and get occasional gems, just hit all the objects like boxes/graves etc. each run and you'll get a support gem around every 5-7 runs you do. Ultimately there is no magic trick for SSF some ways are slower than others, but all routes involve a huge amount of grinding.