Dmillz's 1H Molten Strike Volcano Build (Invasion easy) - 1.1.3

Hi there,
first thanks for making this awesome build !
I'd doing it in the 2W race and it works pretty fine for me at the moment (lev 62, going for Vaal soon).
I'm kinda doing a feedback and have some questions if i may.
I must i haven't been reading the pages before so it might have been answered already. Just say so then ^^

So about feedback. Molten Strike works pretty fine since the very beginning. Only thing annoying in a new race is to get a Multistrike fast because it is mandatory (i think) with that skill.
I used a 2H until i started Merciless coz i had enough tankiness and needed more dmg.
I had a trouble with the mana when i got muy hands on a 4L. Really too hard to sustain (was using MT + added fire + WED + LGOH).
I used BM io LGOH and went for a Vitality. Easy to sustain that way and Vitality was good for the group.
I haven't switched back to LGOH. I'm looking for a 2% mana leech like you said in your guide.
I also had to take a +30 int node so level up WED & Hatred. Don't know if you took it too.
I'm trying to get my hand on a The Three Dragons Golden Mask atm since it seems to be a core item and take the dps pretty hight :)
Feel free to ask any questions about any feedback : MeltYourPcMarmott

Ty again for your build !

I'm no Dmillz but here are my two cents. :)

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todin wrote:

So about feedback. Molten Strike works pretty fine since the very beginning. Only thing annoying in a new race is to get a Multistrike fast because it is mandatory (i think) with that skill.

Answered on a previous page. Molten Strike is tough to use for AoE at low levels. Ways to deal with this are attack speed or using a different AoE skill for a while such as Groundslam. I've been doing this in the charity league and it's been working well. I've still been using Molten Strike as my single-target attack and I got enough attack speed (nodes + a very fast weapon), around level 26 as a Duelist, where it's not too painful to use MS for AoE anymore. Adding a faster attacks gem until you get Multistrike would help a lot too.

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todin wrote:

I used a 2H until i started Merciless coz i had enough tankiness and needed more dmg.

Probably true for Ambush. I'm not sure I'd want to go too far into cruel at most with a 2-hander in Invasion but I'm also paranoid, so your mileage may vary.

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todin wrote:

I had a trouble with the mana when i got muy hands on a 4L. Really too hard to sustain (was using MT + added fire + WED + LGOH).
I used BM io LGOH and went for a Vitality. Easy to sustain that way and Vitality was good for the group.
I haven't switched back to LGOH. I'm looking for a 2% mana leech like you said in your guide.

Mana issues at 4-5 link is expected, but 2% mana leech will help tremendously. You could also consider temporarily taking the two nodes for Mana Flows under the Duelist starting area if your build goes through there, but you'll probably want to drop them eventually.

Regarding Vitality, I think it's a decent idea if your group already has Determination and Hatred. You could also consider Clarity until you get your mana issues ironed out, or maybe Tempest Shield.

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todin wrote:

I also had to take a +30 int node so level up WED & Hatred. Don't know if you took it too.

Nothing wrong with this. Better to cover it with gear once you can, but it's easier to pick up 1 node than concentrate heavily on Int on gear while levelling.

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todin wrote:

I'm trying to get my hand on a The Three Dragons Golden Mask atm since it seems to be a core item and take the dps pretty hight :)

I doubt I'll be able to get it in the race, but this would be very high on my priority list for a permanent league build. :)

I was wondering what do you guys do with :
- the invasion bosses : run? fight?
- vaal area : enter? kill the trash and leave the boss alone?
- sronghold : open them? check the mods and see what to do?

Fyi I got my ass ripped at lvl 9 (yeah I know I didn't go realy far) by this boss : Bladeback Guardian. Its "incinerate nova" is deadly.

@tanis: You're a baller bro, appreciate the good responses to his questions.

I would like to add that I am extremely surprised you felt the need to use a Blood Magic gem in a 4L Todin, are you not running up-to-date mana flasks? I was able to sustain a 5L with 2 mana flasks without too many problems. It was a bit tight but definitely manageable.

Up to you. I'm playing with a group of 2-3 friends and we kill every boss we run into, and clear every corrupted area we pass (MANMODE). I have played a lot of Invasion league so I am very comfortable with almost all of the bosses. This build can definitely handle the majority but it really comes down to the player. Certain bosses require certain tactics to be safe.

Areas are all up to you, if you are comfortable fighting buffed Invasion bosses then they can give you a bit extra loot.

Strongboxes are goddamn amazing for loot, ALWAYS identify before opening. You should be transmuting any white ones as well. There is no reason to not open them unless you don't have a Removes Freeze flask, or are super squishy.

Thanks Dmillz for your input.

I am kinda newby to the invasion and playing hardcore in general is not my "thing", but this 2 week charity race is just too good to be ignored.

I gathered that! Since you are playing a melee build in this race be very careful! It is definitely riskier than a ranged build of some sort. The biggest thing is just knowing what the Invaders can do: http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Invasion_Boss

That is a wiki page that lists their main abilities, I suggest checking it when running into a new Invader.

Thanks a lot for answering tanis0 & Dmillz

I noted what all what you suggested.

I've tried to use 2mana pots (long ones)and i still can't sustain it. I have no mana regen nowhere ...
I'll keep going on BM till i can get some (i'll try again when my clarity guy is back Online) or i might go to Mana Flow.

Managed to buy a The Three Dragon. Hurray !!! But i need a 4-5L armor chest now. Please GGG god, be with me.

Thanks again. You guys rock !

@todin & Dmillz: Any time guys.

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Scarbito wrote:

I was wondering what do you guys do with :
- the invasion bosses : run? fight?
- vaal area : enter? kill the trash and leave the boss alone?
- sronghold : open them? check the mods and see what to do?

Fyi I got my ass ripped at lvl 9 (yeah I know I didn't go realy far) by this boss : Bladeback Guardian. Its "incinerate nova" is deadly.

I've been fighting all of the bosses and several Vaal areas, but it's probably smarter not to. I'm solo and I've had a couple of extremely close calls. Like so close I couldn't see any health left in the orb.

That Bladeback guy killed my first serious attempt at Invasion when testing this build (I'm normally not a hardcore player) -- he's a beast. I took him down with fire trap at low levels in the race. ;) He's easy if you trigger his AoE fire and then attack from range while he rages in place, but you have to know that and it's a tricky proposition to learn that mid-race.

For Vaal areas, I think it makes sense to do them if they have favorable mods like more magic monsters or chilled / shocking ground (just don't stand on it while fighting and be aware you can't retreat at full speed with chilled), but probably not if they have mods like extra damage. Whether or not to fight the bosses depends on if you'd fight them otherwise, but you do get a Vaal gem and decent loot.

I'm with Dmillz regarding the benefits of opening strongboxes. Also, I use alts to roll the mods I want on certain strongboxes -- for example, I rolled a Chemist with +19% quality and +~50% quantity, which adds up to very strong flasks for a few levels and several glassblowers baubles in the long term from the vendor recipe. +chest levels and +quantity on an Arcanist also netted me a chaos and a regal in one shot around level 20.

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Scarbito wrote:

I was wondering what do you guys do with :
- the invasion bosses : run? fight?
- vaal area : enter? kill the trash and leave the boss alone?
- sronghold : open them? check the mods and see what to do?

Fyi I got my ass ripped at lvl 9 (yeah I know I didn't go realy far) by this boss : Bladeback Guardian. Its "incinerate nova" is deadly.

Fight the bosses you know how to handle in invasion. Stay away from those that you do not have a strategy for. Ambush league is a fantastic way to learn about corrupted bosses and rouge exiles. It is also good for learning about the mods on maps and corrupted zones and what the harsh pairings are. Knowing this means you can easily focus more on learning invasion bosses.

Thoughts on added fire vs fire pen as choices in links?