Molten Strike
Juggernaut Build

Updated for Patch 3.21

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Molten Strike Builds has recently experienced a surge in popularity due to the new possibilities for Juggernaut Class on the Passive Skill Tree, Masteries being one of the most influential changes. As Juggernaut, you have access to one of the best defensive Keystones in the game, your maximum Life, Armour, and Life Regeneration are extraordinarily high, you're permanently Fortified, and with your Shield with Life on Block, and high Block Chance there's a little to no way you can be killed. Undeniable covers your Missing Accuracy Rating and grants bonus Attack Speed for your Attacks, while Unbreakable provides you with Armour and Life Regen. This build uses Grelwood Shank as a weapon, other Unique items such as Xoph's Blood are optional. It's also a possibility to use a regular Rare Claw with added Physical Damage. While Stationary your character grows much stronger as the Sword grants you a lot of Armour, and with Natural Affinity your defences and damage are increased.

Some of the most important Masteries are Fortify on Melee Hits and additional targets for Strike Skills with Tribal Fury. Additionally, there are some game-changing Keystones you should consider taking such as Iron Grip, Elemental Overload, and Point Blank. Compared to a regular Skill, your Molten Strike creates much more Projectiles that deal increased damage, it targets more enemies, while you can attack around ten times per second. Being Stationary is usually a big downside since avoiding attacks is important in most cases, but with such a sturdy build you can brush off most of the Hits. You will be able to use Kaom's Heart as your Body Armour given that your Elder-influenced Helmet is supported by Immolate and Concentrated Effect.

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

It's a Melee Strike build which makes it a bit clunky compared to other builds with better range and AoE, but the extra targeting and the spread of the Magma Balls make it possible to deal with a whole pack of enemies with just a single strike and then move to the next one. Use Spells such as Blood Rage for higher DPS, and Flammability Curse that should be applied on Hit. With your Cast when Damage Taken Gem you should use Immortal Call and Wave of Conviction to trigger them automatically as you take damage. Leap Slam or Shield Slam are good mobility options. Anger, Blood and Sand, and Tempest Shield are recommended Mana-Reserving Spells. For Boss fights use your Ancestral Totems with Culling Strike and try to stand still for as long as you can.

Full gameplay video:

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

You can start with Molten Strike supported by Ancestral Call, but any Attack that deals primarily Fire Damage is good at the start. Smite and Glacial Hamer are not recommended since it's easier to get more Fire Damage than any other Elemental Damage at first. When your Strike Skill is supported by Ancestral Call the levelling process is smooth and fast with a gradual transition into the endgame build.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Totem setup
	Molten Strike - a Strike Skill you can use since level 1 that deals Fire Damage and Converts the majority of your Physical Damage to Fire
	Ruthless Support - makes every third Melee Attack more powerful
	Ancestral Call Support - Strike Skills targes additional enemies greatly increasing clear speed
	Added Fire Damage Support - adds Fire Damage based on your Physical Damage

Auras setup
	Anger - adds flat Fire Damage to your Attacks and Spells
	Clarity - Clarity is used for better Mana Regeneration
	Herald of Ash - more Fire Damage based on your Physical Damage, Buring Damage, and increases your clear speed by burning enemies near the ones that are killed

Curses and Leap Slam setup
	Leap Slam - one of the best mobility Skills you can use while wielding a Sword
	Faster Attacks Support - you can use Leap Slam more frequently
	Flammability - a curse that lowers Fire Resistance of your Opponents

Bandits:

Kill all three bandits and be rewarded with two additional Skill Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

35 Points Passive Tree
Get the Maximum Life from Heart of the Warrior and Discipline and Training, go for Art of the Gladiator, and allocate nearby nodes that increase your damage
 

66 Points Passive Tree
Get more Life from Constitution, Bloodless, Devotion, and Life Masteries. For Damage take Iron Grip Keystone, Tribal Fury, Lava Lash, and Blade of Cunning. After heavily investing in Fire Damage specifically, be sure to have a Fire Mastery to convert the remaining Physical Damage to Fire.

Recommended leveling items:

Le Heup of All - more Damage with Attacks, Attributes, and Elemental Resistances

Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks +(10-30) to all Attributes (10-30)% increased Damage (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found +(10-30)% to all Elemental Resistances

Goldrim - a Helmet to give you a lot of Elemental Resistances

+(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)

Tabula Rasa - allows you to six-link a setup from the start

Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden) Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)

Meginord's Girdle - Adds Strength and Physical Damage, later converted. You can use it very early in the game

+(25-35) to Strength +25 to Strength Adds 10 to 20 Physical Damage to Attacks 10% increased maximum Life +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 25% increased Flask Life Recovery rate

The Ignomon - chap and commonly available Amulet for levelling Attack / Fire Damage builds

(12-20)% increased Rarity of Items found 20% increased Light Radius Adds (18-24) to (32-40) Fire Damage to Attacks +(100-150) to Accuracy Rating +(100-150) to Evasion Rating +20% to Fire Resistance Nearby Enemies are Blinded

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

95 Points Final Passive Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels nor Thread of Hope)
115 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Undeniable
2. Unbreakable
3. Unstoppable
4. Unflinching

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of The Brine King: 1% You cannot be Stunned if you've been Stunned or Blocked a Stunning Hit in the past 2 seconds

Minor God: Soul of Abberath: 60% less Duration of Ignite on You

5. Final Gems links

[UTILITY] Molten Strike Helmet setup
	Molten Strike - It's the main damage source of the build, one that after the initial Hit releases a number of Magam Orbs that explode, these count as Projectiles. It deals Converted to Fire Physical Damage.
	Multistrike Support - you repeat the Attack with greatly increased Attack Speed but reduced damage
	Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - your Attacks deal more Elemental Damage
	Combustion Support - increases your Fire Damage, and reduces Fire Resistance of your Opponents of you Ignite them
provided by Elder-influenced Helmet
	Concentrated Effect Support  - you have a reduced Area of Effect but your damage is increased
	Immolate Support - adds flat Fire Damage to your Skills against Burning Enemies

[UTILITY] Ancestral Totems setup
	Ancestral Protector - Totem that grants you a Buff increasing your Attacks Speed
	Ancestral Warchief - Totem that grants you a Buff increasing your Melee Damage
	Multiple Totems Support - you're able to summon three Totems at once, one of each kind for both buffs
	Culling Strike Support - Totems execute enemies below 10% of their Maximum Life

[UTILITY] Mobility setup
	Blood Rage - You gain Frenzy Charges on Kill, and your Attacks Speed and Life Leech are increased at the price of taking DoT
	Leap Slam - a Movement Attack that allows you to move faster and jump over obstacles
	Faster Attacks Support - you can use Leap Slam more frequently resulting in increased mobility
	Enhance - increases the Quality of linked Gems which is especially beneficial for Blood Rage and Phantasmal Leap Slam

[UTILITY] Mana-reserving setup
	Anger - adds flat Fire Damage to your Attacks
	Tempest Shield - adds much-needed Spell Block Chance, that with other on-block effects and Glancing Blows becomes highly valuable
	Blood and Sand - you can increase your Area Damage at the cost of Area of Effect and vice versa, depending on Stance

[UTILITY] Ensnaring Arrow setup
	Immortal Call - immortal call makes you take much less damage for a short time, keep it at level 3
	Wave of Conviction - it can stay at level 1, you need it only to apply exposure on Hit
	Cast when Damage Taken - linked Spells should be activated after you take damage, let it stay at level 1

6. Gear Setup

It's a Melee Sword build that deals Fire Damage converted From Physical Damage, look for added Fire or Physical Damage, especially to Attacks, Attacks Speed, Accuracy Rating, increased Physical, Fire, or Elemental Damage, and Fire or Elemental Penetration. For better clear speed seek an increased number of Projectiles, increased Area of Effect, and especially the ability for Strike Skills to target an additional enemy. You don't need to look for Critical Strike Chance and Multiplier or Damage over Time. For defences look for Block Chance and try to cap it at 75% along with Elemental Resistances. Maximum Life is your primary and the most important layer of defence so prioritize it. Armour and Evasion Rating are great to have, especially on Body Armour. Look for additional Dexterity for Blood Rage - at least 155 in total.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances at 75%
2. Provide you with enough DPS and Life to start mapping

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - It's probably the most important part of the build, if you manage to score 2 specific mods on it you can no longer rely on Body Armour for a six-link setup, allowing you to wear Kaom's Heart.

Min. requirements: Socketed Gems are Supported by Immolate (Elder Suffix) Socketed Gems are Supported by Concentrated Effect (Elder Prefix) Optional affixes: Nearby Enemies have -9% to Fire Resistance Maximum Life Accuracy Rating Elemental Resistances

Helmet enchantments: Molten Strike enchantment mods

(Weapon) Grelwood Shank - It's a perfect fit for this build, it grants all the necessary mods such as Accuracy Rating, Attack Speed, has high Damage, and what's the most important - Armour while Stationary and two more Projectiles for your Molten Strike after being hit

+475 to Accuracy Rating (185-215)% increased Physical Damage (15-20)% increased Attack Speed 80% increased Armour while stationary Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles if you've been Hit Recently Point Blank Iron Reflexes while stationary

(Weapon) The Surrender - The Surrender is optional, but it's a really good Shield since it provides you with a lot of Life, Armour, Chance to Block, 250 Life on Block, and Reckoning Skill at level 30

+(30-40) to maximum Life Grants Level 30 Reckoning Skill (130-170)% increased Armour +(65-80) to maximum Life Recover 250 Life when you Block +6% Chance to Block +1500 Armour if you've Blocked Recently

(Weapon) Rare Shield - Heat-attuned Tower Shield is one of the best bases - it Scorches enemies on Block. It can provide you with Elemental Resistances and other utility mods, which The Surrender won't.

Min. requirements: +100 to maximum Life +50 Life gained when you Block +5% Chance to Block Optional affixes: Recover 5% of Life when you Block Elemental Resistances Armour You take reduced Damage from Critical Strikes

(Body Armour) Kaom's Heart - A massive boost to your Maximum Life, it outmatches any other Body Armour in that field. To be able to use it you will need a good Helmet first.

Has no Sockets (20-40)% increased Fire Damage +500 to maximum Life

(Boots) The Brass Dome - It's the opposite of Kaom's Heart - your Life is being actually reduced. The upside of it is the enormous Armour when combined with Unbreakable Keystone, and up to 5% to all maximum Elemental Resistances. It's an option worth considering.

(350-400)% increased Armour +(1-5)% to all maximum Elemental Resistances Strength provides no bonus to Maximum Life Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes

(Boots) Rare Body Armour - It can't give you as much Armour as The Brass Dome, nor the same amount of Maximum Life as Kaom's Heart, but the versatile nature of Rare Items allows you to shape it according to your needs.

Min. requirements: +100 to maximum Life 2000 Armour +50% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: increased Armour increased Maximum Life You can apply an additional Curse

(Boots) Rare Boots - Maximum Life, increased Movement Speed, and Elemental Resistances are the only mods worth looking for

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life 25% increased Movement Speed +50% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: increased Armour

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - being able to target more enemies with your Strike Skills is by far the best mod here, and a rare one to find too - it can only be found on Hunter-influenced Gloves

Min. requirements: Strike Skills target 1 additional nearby Enemies +40% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: increased Attack Speed Maximum Life Accuracy Rating

(Belt) Rare Belt - a Belt granting maximum Life, Elemental Damage with Attacks, and Elemental Resistances would be great for this build

Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life 40% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills +70% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Strength increased Damage increased Maximum Life

(Amulet) Xoph's Blood - It is by far the best Amulet, the amount of Fire Damage it grants is unmatched

+(20-30) to Strength 10% increased maximum Life +(20-40)% to Fire Resistance 10% increased Strength Damage Penetrates 10% Fire Resistance Cover Enemies in Ash when they Hit you Avatar of Fire

Recommended Anointments: Heart of Flame Tenacity Cleansed Thoughts

(Ring) Rare Ring - you will need one Ring that causes enemies to be cursed with Flammability on Hit, other than that prioritize Life and Resistances. Dexterity, Accuracy Rating, Attack Speed, and Elemental Damage are commonly found in this slot too.

Min. requirements: Curse Enemies with Flammability on Hit +80% to Elemental Resistances +60 to Maximum Life Optional affixes: Dexterity increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Accuracy Rating Attack Speed

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - increasing Maximum Life should be your Priority, after that try to get some offensive mods, Damage with Swords and One-Handed Weapons are the best ones

Recommended affixes: 7% increased maximum Life Dexterity Elemental Resistances increased Projectile Damage increased Damage with Swords increased Fire Damage increased Damage with One-Handed Weapons

(Jewel) Thread of Hope - you can use one with a Large Ring and socket it next to Savagery so that you can get Deflection, Panopticon, Rampart, Master of the Arena, and Art of the Gladiator

Only affects Passives in Large Ring Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree -(20-10)% to all Elemental Resistances

(Jewel) Natural Affinity - Nature's Patience grants you the chance to deal Double Damage, and decreases the Damage you take while stationary, this buff grows over time

Adds Nature's Patience

(Jewel) Replica Reckless Defence - If you're lacking in Block Chance use this Jewel, it's important to get this stat as high as you can

+(2-4)% Chance to Block Spell Damage +(2-4)% Chance to Block Attack Damage +10% chance to be Frozen, Shocked and Ignited

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - as you only use Anger, try to find one with Fire Penetration, increased Fire Damage, or extra Fire Damage from Physical Damage

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewels - a general-use Attack Jewel with Feed the Fury for Life Leech and Fuel the Fight for Mana Leech is good enough since both of these stats should be present in your build

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Feed the Fury 1 Added Passive Skill is Fuel the Fight 1 Added Passive Skill is Martial Prowess 1 Added Passive Skill is Martial Smite the Weak

(Jewel) Medium Cluster Jewels - Eye to Eye and Repeater works miracles for any build that uses Projectiles, be sure to have two copies of such a Jewel

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Eye to Eye 1 Added Passive Skill is Repeater

(Flask) Bottled Faith - it's an optional choice for a Sulphur Flask, one that can't grant you any Ailment Removal, but it increases your damage substantially

40% increased Damage Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (30-15)% reduced Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies (100-150)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Flask effect

(Flask) Dying Sun - mandatory Flask, you fire more Projectiles, have increased AoE, you even take less damage

+50% to Fire Resistance 20% less Fire Damage taken (125-150)% increased Charges per use (40-60)% reduced Duration (10-20)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect

(Flask) The Wise Oak - If your Fire Resistance is the highest, which is easy to achieve, your Fire Damage penetrates up to 8% of additional Elemental Resistances

+35% to all Elemental Resistances During Flask Effect, 6% reduced Damage taken of each Element for which your Uncapped Elemental Resistance is lowest During Flask Effect, Damage Penetrates (5-8)% Resistance of each Element for which your Uncapped Elemental Resistance is highest

(Flask) Cinderswallow Urn - your build Ignites enemies constantly, so it's an obvious choice for a Silver Flask, "Regenerate 3% of Life per second during Flask Effect" is the mod to look for

+90 to Maximum Charges Recharges 5 Charges when you Consume an Ignited corpse (175-200)% increased Charges per use Enemies Ignited by you during Flask Effect take (7-10)% increased Damage Veiled Suffix <One of the three modifiers>

Suggested Flasks: Quicksilver Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal Life Flask with random ailment removal

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.