Updated for Patch 3.5
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Estimated budget: medium
Guide notes |
June 8, 2018 -Build created December 16, 2018 -Updated for Patch 3.5 |
Molten Strike is one of the best and the most powerful Melee attacks in Path of Exile. On top of regular damage, multiple projectiles are launched with each attack, which deals additional damage in a small radius around your target. This makes up for one of the highest single-target melee DPS skills in Path of Exile. On the other hand, Dreadsurge and Chieftain class provide 100% Fire Damage conversion, 100% Fire Resistance penetration, very high Life and Life Leech, high Strength attribute (which increases Molten Strike's projectiles damage with Iron Grip Passive).
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This is a very powerful Melee build, and its' insane DPS is based on 100% Fire Damage conversion, 100% Fire Resistance penetration, and self-ignite caused by the Eye of Innocence amulet. While Ignited you gain 70% increased Damage, 20% Attack Speed, and the Fire Res. penetration. On top of that this build provides insane Life Regeneration and Life Leech, which combined with high Life, Endurance Charges, damage mitigation nearby your Totems, make you extremely durable.
0:06 Tier 11 Coves |
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PROS |
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CONS |
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Molten Strike is one of the first attack skill available in Path of Exile. That is a natural choice to level up with it. You can use a wide variety of one-handed weapons or even the Oni-Goroshi unique sword for smooth leveling. Your early levels Skill Tree will consist mainly of Life and defensive nodes, which makes it quite important to upgrade your weapon frequently. Other than that, you should have no problems completing the campaign with this character.
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Molten Strike setup | |
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Molten Strike - your primary attack skill. You can use it during leveling phase too |
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Added Fire Damage Support - adds additional Fire Damage to your attacks |
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Faster Attacks Support - greatly increases the Attack Speed of supported Gems |
Leap Slam setup | |
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Leap Slam - your main mobility skill |
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Faster Attacks Support |
Utility Gems | |
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Herald of Ash - adds additional Fire Damage to your attacks and spells |
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Stone Golem - this golem will increase your Life Regeneration per second |
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Flammability - recommended Curse for this build during the leveling phase |
Bandits:
We recommend killing all the bandits for two additional Passive Points
Leveling Skill Trees:
36 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Born to Fight 2) Juggernaut 3) Barbarism 4) Catalyse 5) Elementalist
58 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Amplify 2) Resolute Technique 3) Bloodless 4) Iron Grip 5) Lava Lash 6) Golem's Blood
Recommended leveling items:
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40% increased Accuracy Rating Uses both hand slots (70-90)% increased Critical Strike Chance Adds 2 to 3 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level Gain Her Embrace for 3 seconds when you Ignite an Enemy While in Her Embrace, take 0.5% of your total Maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second per Level Item has 6 Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden) |
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+(30-50) to Evasion Rating 10% increased Rarity of Items found +(30-40)% to all Elemental Resistances Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers Level Requirement reduced by 100 (Hidden) |
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(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +100 to maximum Mana (16-24)% increased maximum Mana (80-100)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate Items and Gems have 25% reduced Attribute Requirements |
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+(20-30)% to Fire Resistance (15-25)% increased Fire Damage +(25-40)% to Cold Resistance (5-10)% chance to Ignite 20% increased Attack Speed while Ignited 20% increased Cast Speed while Ignited +25% chance to be Ignited |
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Adds (3-6) to (10-12) Physical Damage to Attacks +(30-40) to Strength (80-100)% increased Armour Iron Grip |
Final Skill Tree:
115 Points Final Skill Tree
115 Points Path of Building(PoB) link
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in that order:
Pantheon:
Major God: Soul of Lunaris 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%; 1% increased Movement Speed for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%
Minor God: Soul of Tukohama While stationary, gain 2% additional Physical Damage Reduction each second, up to a maximum of 8%
[DPS] Molten Strike setup | |
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Molten Strike - your primary Attack Skill |
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Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Support - increases Elemental Damage dealt by your Molten Strike. Mandatory since its 100% Elemental Conversion build |
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Concentrated Effect Support - greatly increases Area Damage |
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Multistrike Support - causes your Molten Strike to repeat itself twice with greatly increased Attack Speed. Multistrike is extremely important since it also fires additional projectiles |
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Immolate Support - adds Fire damage to attacks against burning enemies |
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Ancestral Call Support - provides an insane bonus to AoE |
[CURSE] Enfeeble | |
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Cast when Damage Taken - will auto-cast the supported Curse. Keep it at level 5 |
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Enfeeble - this is the recommended Curse for this build. It greatly reduces the damage and accuracy rating of nearby enemies |
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Increased Area of Effect Support - increases the radius of your Curse |
[MOBILITY] Shield Charge setup | |
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Shield Charge - your primary movement skill |
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Faster Attacks Support |
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Fortify Support - melee hits with Shield Charge will grant you the Fortify buff |
[AURAS] Anger and Herald of Ash | |
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Anger - adds Fire Damage to your spells and attacks |
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Vitality - increases Life Regenerated per second |
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Enlighten Support - reduces Mana Reserved by supported Auras. Preferably buy this Gem level 3 or above |
[UTILITY] Molten Shell, Golem, Blood Rage | |
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Molten Shell - grants a protective shield which absorbs damage, deals Fire AoE Damage around you, and increases your Armour Rating while active. This spell is auto-cast by CwDT Support Gem |
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Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts supported Spells |
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Blood Rage - grants increased Attack Speed and generates Frenzy Charges |
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Summon Stone Golem - grants increased Life regen. |
[UTILITY] Ancestral Warchief | |
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Ancestral Protector - spawns a Totem which increases your Attack Speed |
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Melee Splash Support - grants your Totem extra splash |
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Combustion Support - grants increased Fire Damage and chance to Ignite enemies. Quite useful if you are using Immolate Support on your Molten Strike setup |
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Culling Strike Support - makes your Totem instantly kill enemies below 10% Life |
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Below you will find all the required and recommended gear for this build. Below each rare item, you can find specific stats requirements. As usual, we also include optional gear options.
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Our recommended items will:
Stat priorities on items:
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10% reduced Global Physical Damage +(50-65) to Dexterity 16% increased Attack Speed (150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed Mercury Footprints |
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Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 25% Fire Resistance 25% Cold Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Strength |
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Helmet enchantment: Molten Strike fires 2 additional Projectiles |
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Adds (5-15) to (20-25) Physical Damage Adds (223-250) to (264-280) Fire Damage 5% increased Movement Speed (7-10)% increased Attack Speed +(15-25)% to Fire Resistance Hits ignore Enemy Monster Fire Resistance while you are Ignited |
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Min. requirements: 1200 Armour Rating 100 maximum Life 40% Cold Resistance 45% Lightning Resistance |
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5% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) 30% reduced Chance to Block Attacks and Spells (600-650)% increased Armour 10% reduced Movement Speed 50% increased Shock Duration on you Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes |
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3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (150-200)% increased Armour (30-40)% increased maximum Life +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances 50% increased Flask Life Recovery rate Extra gore |
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Min. requirements: 1400 Armour Rating 80 maximum Life 25% Fire Resistance 25% Cold Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance |
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Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 20% increased Movement Speed 25% Fire Resistance 25% Cold Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Strength |
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+(20-40) to Strength 200% increased Armour and Energy Shield +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances 25% increased Movement Speed +1 to Maximum Endurance Charges 50% increased Elemental Ailment Duration on you Bleeding cannot be inflicted on you |
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Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently Adds 45 to 68 Fire Damage if you've Killed Recently |
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Min. requirements: 90 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance 30% Cold Resistance 30% Lightning Resistance 25% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Optional affixes: +1 to maximum Endurance Charges |
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(8-13)% increased Attack Speed (120-180)% increased Armour (3-5)% increased Movement Speed 50% increased Stun Duration on you 4% increased Melee Damage per Endurance Charge You cannot be Shocked while at maximum Endurance Charges |
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+(20-30)% to Fire Resistance (15-25)% increased Fire Damage +(25-40)% to Cold Resistance (5-10)% chance to Ignite 20% increased Attack Speed while Ignited 20% increased Cast Speed while Ignited +25% chance to be Ignited |
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+(20-30) to maximum Life +(10-20) to Strength 0.4% of maximum Life Regenerated per second per Endurance Charge +(2-4) Life gained for each Enemy hit by your Attacks +1 to Maximum Endurance Charges |
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+(16-24) to Strength and Dexterity 10% chance to Ignite (50-70)% increased Damage while Ignited Take 100 Fire Damage when you Ignite an Enemy 2% of Fire Damage Leeched as Life while Ignited |
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(10-15)% increased Fire Damage With at least 40 Strength in Radius, Molten Strike fires 2 additional Projectiles With at least 40 Strength in Radius, Molten Strike has 25% increased Area of Effect |
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Recommended affixes: maximum Life added Fire Damage to Attacks/Axe Attacks Optional affixes: added Physical Damage to Attacks/Axe Attacks |
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Recommended affixes: % increased maximum Life % increased Generic/Melee/Fire Damage Optional affixes: % increased Attack Speed |
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+50% to Fire Resistance +6% to maximum Fire Resistance (-10-10)% increased Charges used (15-25)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect |
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Other suggested Flasks:
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If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below.
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