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Trinity Molten Strike Champion Build

Trinity Molten Strike Champion Build

Armour and Evasion-stacking Molten Strike Build for Champion that uses Perseverance Unique Belt for massive DPS boost

Trinity Molten Strike
Champion Build

Updated for Patch 3.21

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Guide notes
February 10, 2022
-Build created
May 07, 2023
-Updated for Patch 3.21
Build overview
Tags: [MELEE] [ELEMENTAL] [LIFE]

Budget: 

Defenses: 

Boss DPS:

AoE:

 

Molten Strike is a Strike Attack that after a successful Hit creates a number of Projectiles, these explode immediately after being created dealing AoE Fire Damage. The Strike Damage is itself converted to deal Fire damage at 60%. With this build, however, things are more complicated as you will deal both - Fire and Lightning Damage, linked with Trinity Support to create Resonance stacks for an insane DPS boost. There is no need to focus entirely just on one type of Elemental Damage because that's not how you scale up the damage in this build, what you will have a lot of is the generic Attack Damage. The damage is multiplied by the Perseverance Unique Belt and Dreamfeather Unique Sword. The Belt increases your Attack Damage by 1% per 200 Armour or Evasion, whichever is lower and the weapon boosts your Attack Damage by 1% per 450 Evasion (or Armour if using Replica version, but Evasion is slightly better in this build because of Armour and Evasion Mastery). In this build, you are going to use both Determination and Grace Auras, with Defiance Banner, to give you easily over 70k of both Armour and Evasion. Not only those stats will make you very tanky, but they will grant approximately 700% increased Melee Attack Damage. This bonus will be applied to your regular weapon damage, but also the extra added damage you are going to gain from Wrath and Smite Auras, resulting in some insane DPS numbers at a very reasonable budget. 

Why Champion and not any other Ascendancy? Is a great defensive-oriented pick for any Attack Build. It grants you permanent 20 stacks of Fortify, a lot of Armour, Adrenaline, and free Banner with increased effect of Skill Auras. It's not a Crit build, but you will need more Accuracy than Maximum Life as you have to allocate the new Keystone - Precise Technique, which grants you 40% more Attack Damage. The defences are obviously very high as your Chance to Evade is 90%, the same as your Physical Damage mitigation with additional Fortify, Adrenaline, and some Block and Spell Suppression Chance. Your Life oscillates around 4k-5k which should be more than enough given your stats - if you pay attention to ground/dot effects, that is.

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1. Gameplay

Despite it being a Melee Strike build it's not that bad at clearing maps as you focus more on the Projectile Damage rather than a Strike itself. With additional targeting for Strike Skills and an increased Strike Range, it works quite well. Use Smite - after using it grants you an Aura Buff for increased Attack Speed and added Lightning Damage. To grant yourself more Buffs use Ancestral Cry - it provides you Armour and increased Strike Range - both immensely useful. There is also a Buff from Ancestral Protector Totem for more Attack Speed you can take advantage of. For other Passive Buffs, you should get a Defiance Banner for increased Aura and Evasion, Grace, Determination, Blood and Sand, Wrath, Precision, and Molten Shell as the Guard Spell. During boss fights use Wave of Conviction, Flame Wall, and Sniper's Mark - all linked to Arcanist Brand. You should have some space left for your mobility skill - Leap Slam is the recommended one thanks to your very high Attack Speed. 

 

This video was recorded on level 93 Champion with approximately 105k Armour and Evasion each when fully buffed in Patch 3.19 - the updated video should follow up soon


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2. Build's PROS & CONS

PROS
  • one of the tankiest builds you can get
  • has very high damage against Bosses and decent clear speed
  • doesn't require expensive items - the Uniques are cheap
  • in terms of speed nearly on par with Raider with frequently triggered Adrenaline thanks to a moderately low Life pool
CONS
  • vulnerable to elemental Reflect Maps, ground effects and Damage over Time

 

3. Leveling tips

You can safely start with Molten Strike with a focus on Fire Damage, pick the two Fire Clusters, and pick up the Point Blank and Call to Arms Keystones. Equip Perseverance at level 78 - it is one of the highest level restrictions, but until then you should still play the build relatively in the same fashion. Dreamfeather will boost your damage at the final stretch before you're able to put the belt on, the weapon requires level 66. Molten Strike Damage can be increased by Melee, Attack, Elemental, Fire, and Projectile Damage so it will be easy to find some of the more relevant mods on rare items.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Totem setup
Molten Strike Molten Strike - a Strike Skill you can use since level 1, it's good to level with if it's linked to an Ancestral Call Support
Ruthless Support Ruthless Support - makes every third Melee Attack more powerful
Ancestral Call Support Ancestral Call Support - Strike Skills targes additional enemies
Added Fire Damage Support Added Fire Damage Support - adds Fire Damage based on your Physical Damage
Auras setup
Anger Anger - adds flat Fire Damage to your Attacks and Spells increasing your damage
Herald of Ash Herald of Ash - great for Physical to Fire conversion builds, it increases your damage and the speed at which you kill enemies
Curses and Leap Slam setup
Leap Slam Leap Slam - it's a good mobility Skill
Faster Attacks Support Faster Attacks Support - you can use Leap Slam more often
Flammability Flammability - a Curse to lowers Fire Resistance

Bandits:

Kill all three bandits for two additional Skill Points

 

Leveling Skill Trees:

27 Points Passive Tree
Go get the Fire Mastery to convert the remaining 40% of Physical Damage to Fire, Tribal Fury, and Golem's Blood
 

68 Points Passive Tree
Allocate Point Blank and Graceful Assault, Call to Arms and some Maximum Life, you have access to Precise Technique, but allocate it only when you meet its condition of having more Accuracy than Life

 

Recommended leveling items:

Le Heup of AllLe Heup of All - use this ring for 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
GoldrimGoldrim - a Helmet used mainly for its 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 RasaTabula 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 GirdleMeginord's Girdle - useful for levelling most attack builds
+(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 IgnomonThe Ignomon - cheap 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
RedbeakRedbeak - one of the best low-level Swords
40% increased Global Accuracy Rating
100% increased Damage when on Low Life
50% increased Physical Damage
Adds 2 to 6 Physical Damage
10% increased Attack Speed
+(20-30) to maximum Life
+2 Life gained for each Enemy hit by Attacks


4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

123 Points Final Passive Tree (doesn't include Unique Jewels)
123 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

  1. Unstoppable Hero
  2. Fortitude
  3. Inspirational
  4. First to Strike, Last to Fall

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of The Brine King: 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 setup
Molten Strike Molten Strike - the main and only damaging ability, it should deal mixed damage to activate Trinity's Resonance mechanics. By increasing the number of targets you Strike, you multiply the number of your Molten Balls for better clear speed and Boss DPS
Multistrike Support Multistrike Support - allows you to repeat an attack with increased Attack Speed for more DPS
Elemental Damage with Attacks Support Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - use it for increased Elemental Damage with Attacks
Trinity Support Trinity Support - Resonances grant you increased Elemental Damage and Elemental Damage Penetration as long as your highest type of damage is not of the same Element for an extended period of time
Slower Projectiles Slower Projectiles Support  - projectiles deal more Damage but are slower. They also "fall" closer to your target, which is a massive DPS buff against Bosses
Greater Multiple Projectiles Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - increases the number of Projectiles
[UTILITY] Ancestral Totem setup
Ancestral Protector Ancestral Protector - Totem that grants you more Attack Speed
Culling Strike Support Culling Strike Support - enemies below 10% of their Maximum Life are killed when Hit by the linked Attack
[MOBILITY] Leap Slam setup
Leap Slam Leap Slam - one of the best movement Skills which allows you to jump and move faster
Faster Attacks Support Faster Attacks Support - increases the Attack Speed of Leap Slam
[UTILITY] Aura setup
(Socketed in Helmet with Increased Reservation Efficiency)
Wrath Wrath - adds Lightning Damage to your Attacks so that you can create Resonance Stacks with ease
Precision Precision - increases your Accuracy Rating and Critical Strike Chance. Another mandatory Aura if you want to benefit from Precise Technique Passive
Determination Determination - use for increased and additional Armour. A mandatory Aura for this build
Grace Grace - use for increased and additional Evasion Rating. Just like Determination, it's mandatory to have it activated at all times
[UTILITY] Arcanist Brand setup
Arcanist Brand Arcanist Brand - Arcanist Brand will trigger all the linked Spells while being attached to an enemy
Wave of Conviction Wave of Conviction - applies Exposure reducing the Elemental Resistance of your targets
Flame Wall Flame Wall - enhances your Projectiles to deal additional Fire Damage as these pass through the Flame Wall
Sniper's Mark Sniper's Mark - Cursed enemies take increased Projectile Damage, Life and Mana Flask Charges on Kill, and it gives you the ability to Split Projectiles on Hit
[UTILITY] Smite and Warcry setup
Smite Smite - Smite grants you an Aura on Hit, it increases your Attack Speed, Chance to Shock, and adds Lightning Damage to Attacks
Ancestral Cry Ancestral Cry - Grants you increased Armour, Melee Strike Range, and Exerts your Attack. Your next 8 Strikes will target two additional enemies.
Increased Duration Support Increased Duration Support - the Effect Duration of all linked Skill is increased
[UTILITY] Molten Shell
Molten Shell Molten Shell - it's a Guard Spell that is more effective the more Armour you have. If you can afford the Anomalous version, it can absorb as much as 15k of incoming damage (!!)
[UTILITY] Defiance Banner
Defiance Banner Defiance Banner - increases your Evasion and Armour while reducing enemies' chance to Critically Strike. A must-have skill in this build
[UTILITY] Blood and Sand
Blood and Sand Blood and Sand - you have more AoE and less Area Damage in Sand Stance, and more Area Damage with less AoE in Blood Stance


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6. Gear Setup

Your primary focus is Armour and Evasion Rating - none of these should be too low in comparison to the other. Your Auras are the main source of these stats, but you can still get more from the gear. There are a few Uniques that are mandatory, you Rings, Amulet, and Gloves should provide the Resistances and other necessary stats and Attributes. Flat Added Elemental damage to Attacks is good to have because of the massive damage multiplier this build offers, other than that look for extra Accuracy Rating, and Maximum Life.

Our recommended items will:

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

Stat priorities on items:

  1. Elemental Resistances
  2. Maximum Life
  3. Accuracy Rating (to have it more than Maximum Life)
  4. increased or added Damage with Attacks
  5. Armour and Evasion Rating
  6. Attack Speed
  7. Mana Reservation Efficiency
Alpha's Howl(Helmet) Alpha's Howl - Undeniably the best Unique Helmet to socket your Auras in. It increases the Aura Level, grants Evasion Rating, Mana Reservation Efficiency, and Freeze immunity.
+2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems
(80-100)% increased Evasion Rating
+(20-30)% to Cold Resistance
25% chance to Avoid being Chilled
Cannot be Frozen
16% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills
Helmet enchantments:
Molten Strike fires # additional Projectiles
Dreamfeather(Weapon) Dreamfeather - one of the Core items, all the stats here are great, especially the increased Attack Damage per Evasion Rating
+475 to Accuracy Rating
Adds (30-50) to (65-80) Physical Damage
(20-25)% increased Attack Speed
+(180-200) to Evasion Rating
3% increased Movement Speed
+(280-300) to Accuracy Rating
1% increased Attack Damage per 450 Evasion Rating
Paradoxica(Weapon) Paradoxica - the second Sword you will dual-wield, you should seek the mods for Elemental Penetration, Attack Speed and Accuracy Rating
+25% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
Attacks with this Weapon deal Double Damage
Veiled Prefix
Veiled Suffix
Daresso's Defiance(Body Armour) Daresso's Defiance - it's an optional Body Armour you can use for its Life Leech, Endurance Charges, and Onslaught Effect. It also has very decent base Evasion and Armour Rating, making it a perfect fit here
(180-220)% increased Armour and Evasion
+(60-90) to maximum Life
2% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life
You lose all Endurance Charges when Hit
You gain an Endurance Charge on Kill
You gain Onslaught for 5 seconds per Endurance Charge when Hit
100% increased Onslaught Effect
Rare Body Armour(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - If you have a copy with Life, Resistances, and increased effect of Non-Curse Auras such as Grace and Determination, it should be better than Daresso's Defiance (but also, considerably more expensive)
Min. requirements:
+100 to maximum Life
+50% to Elemental Resistances
16% increased effect of Non-Curse Auras from your Skills
Optional affixes:
increased Armour
increased Evasion Rating
increased Maximum Life
You can apply an additional Curse
Atziri's Step(Boots) Atziri's Step - Atziri's Step are great - they give you a lot of Evasion Rating, Spell Suppression Chance, and are very cheap
180% increased Evasion Rating
+(55-75) to maximum Life
30% increased Movement Speed
+(20-26)% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
Rare Gloves(Gloves) Rare Gloves - being able to target more enemies with your Strike Skills is the best mod here, but the regular defences and Accuray will do
Min. requirements:
Strike Skills target 1 additional nearby Enemies
+40% to Elemental Resistances
+ 300 Accuracy Rating
Optional affixes:
increased Attack Speed
Maximum Life
Perseverance(Belt) Perseverance - it's a core element of the build, it grants you a lot of Attack Damage and a permanent Onslaught
+(260-320) to Armour and Evasion Rating
(4-8)% increased maximum Life
+(20-40)% to Cold Resistance
1% increased Attack Damage per 200 of the lowest of Armour and Evasion Rating
Melee Hits which Stun Fortify
You have Onslaught while Fortified
amulet(Amulet) Rare Amulet - Maximum Life, Elemental Resistances, and some other stats such as Accuracy Rating and increased Elemental Damage are what you should look for
Min. requirements:
+80% to Elemental Resistances
+60 to Maximum Life
Optional affixes:
increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills
Attributes
Accuracy Rating
Attack Speed
Recommended Anointments:
Panopticon
Juggernaut
Reflexes
Rare Ring(Ring) Rare Ring - It's a similar case to the amulet, there are no specific mods to seek, just the regular defensive stats and some both the offensive ones
Min. requirements:
+80% to Elemental Resistances
+60 to Maximum Life
Added Fire or Lightning Damage to Attacks
Optional affixes:
increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills
Accuracy Rating
Attack Speed
Cobalt Jewel(Jewel) Rare Jewels - get the missing stats and attributes, and increased Maximum Life

Recommended affixes:
increased maximum Life
Attack Speed
Elemental Resistances
increased Projectile Damage
increased Damage with Swords
increased Damage with One-Handed Weapons

Watcher's Eye(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - Lightning Damage Penetration and increased Attack Damage from Precision are good, but you can also get the additional Armour from Determination
(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield
(4-6)% increased maximum Life
(4-6)% increased maximum Mana
<Two or Three random aura modifiers>

Suggested Flasks:

  1. Quicksilver Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal
  2. Life Flask with random ailment removal
  3. Granite Flask of the Pangolin for Armour
  4. Jade Flask of the Antelope for Evasion Rating
  5. Basalt Flask with random ailment removal and Armour
Granite FlaskJade FlaskQuickilver FlaskLife FlaskBasalt Flask


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