[3.7] MOLTEN / LIGHTNING STRIKE CI / Hybrid Scion Build (All UBERS done!)

Hello everyone!

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VIDEO BUILD GUIDE (Beta):https://youtu.be/WLejeGaXOLU
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http://www.angryroleplayer.com/path-of-exile-builds/molten-lightning-strike-howa-ci-hybrid-scion-path-of-exile-build/
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Molten Strike is without a doubt one of the strongest single target skills for melee characters. Going Scion allows you to be flexible on the tree as well as go for maximum damage with both Inquisitor and Elementalist Ascendancies.
Lightning Strike, at the same time, is a fantastic skill on it's own with great map clear capabilities. Single target is not crazy, but respectable and can even kill Uber Elder if you are stubborn and well-skilled. If you played Frost Blades, then you will be pretty familiar with the playstyle of Lightning Strike.

What's the simple difference between Molten Strike and Lightning Strike? Molten Strike is an AOE gem so it works with Area of Affect modifiers and procs AREA DAMAGE, while Lightning Strike is not an AOE gem. Molten Strike fires 2 projectiles while Lightning Strike fires 7. So Molten Strike needs "help" to add more, via a helm enchant and Dying Sun and other + projectile modifiers.
Molten Strike delivers much more single target damage because of AREA DAMAGE, while Lightning Strike has better coverage and very fast projectiles that fly across the whole screen and easily reach everything. You don't need to be nearby to deal damage, so it's much SAFER in general as you can offscreen if you wish.
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DPS-wise i would rate HOWAs as follows:
I would personally rate them from top dps to bottom.
1) HoWA Ascendant Dual Claws
2) Brutul Lead Sprinkler Ascendant
3) 1 Claw+Shield Ascendant / Jugg
4) Poison Stacking Assassin / Ngamahu Chieftain
5) Grelwood Shank / Nebuloch builds (Jugg / Occultist / Anything)
This is based on my personal research and of cause you can agree or disagree with it, but the CI HoWA version of the build is without a doubt the biggest dps you can get out of Molten Strike so far! Of cause it's also the most expensive one!

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How does it all work, in general?
You stack insane amount of intelligence (over 1600 potentially) and get crazy amount of added Lightning Damage to your attacks by using



and good amount of attack speed from Dexterity.
Going CI makes you immune to Chaos Damage.
You get leech from tree and apply it to Energy Shield instead of life by using Ghost Reaver passive. Additionally you get Energy Shield Per Hit from a Discipline Watcher's Eye (optional)
Stacking Strength also gives you Energy Shield, because of Shaper's Touch gloves.
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1) PROS
Spoiler

+decent AOE with Ancestral Call (INSANE Aoe with Lightning Strike)
+crazy single target damage with Molten Strike.
+can run ANY Reflect
+huge ES/Life on Hit / Leech without Vaal Pact or any attack damage leech. Can tank most bosses

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2) CONS
Spoiler

-Can become super expensive to get INT on every gear slot (not required, just more and more damage).
-Hard to level as Scion
-Squishy without GG gear or going Occultist /Juggernaut. No endurance charges, high evasion or dodge. Most defense is through flask management and ENERGY SHIELD LEECH (can tank Minotaur).
-have to level as life or hybrid till about 68-70.

3) Skill Tree Progression / Path of Building / Ascendancy / Bandits
For the levelling tree please watch the video guide!
Spoiler
Path of building: CI: https://pastebin.com/UGwbKPNW
Hybrid: https://pastebin.com/xQvBVWa4 (gear is mostly trashy here, just to give you idea what tree looks like)
For Ascendancy: Inquisitor first, Elementalist next.
Bandits: Kill All

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4) Early Levelling Gear / Skills
Spoiler

Start with Molten Strike + Ancestral Call
3L: Molten Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.Damage WithAttacks.
4L: Molten Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.Damage WithAttacks-Elemental Focus
Lightning Strike can be acquired at level 12 after Siren's Cadence quest from Nessas as well.
Start using Wrath + Herald of Purity as soon as they are available.
You can also use Herald of Thunder for early game. Drop Herald later when you get Discipline and some ES gear. You can use Herald again once you get enough reduced reservation and Enlighten.
At level 22 get:
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Hand_of_Thought_and_Motion
When available, grab 1 https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Wildfire from quest and buy another one. Put them in corresponding jewel sockets next to 40 or more strength (watch the tree in PoB)

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5) My Actual Gear / End-Game Skills
Spoiler




(Cyclopean Coil is GG for the build, it's very hard and expensive to craft a Crystal Belt that can surpass it)
Helm Enchant:
Molten Strike +2 Projectile
Lightning Strike 40% Damage or Lightning Strike Pierces 3 Additional Targets.
Molten Strike:
5L for CI / ES chest: Molten Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.DamageWithAttacks-Elemental Focus-Damage.on.Full.Life
6L for CI / ES chest: Molten Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.DamageWithAttacks-Elemental Focus-Damage.on.Full.Life-Concentrated.Effect
6L for Hybrid (life/hybrid chest): Molten Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.Damage WithAttacks-Elemental Focus-Lightning.Penetration-Concentrated.Effect
Lightning Strike:
5L for CI / ES chest: Lightning Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.DamageWithAttacks-Elemental Focus-Damage.on.Full.Life
6L for CI / ES chest: Lightning Strike-Ancestral Call-Ele.DamageWithAttacks-Elemental Focus-Damage.on.Full.Life-Energy.Leech
Important cheap items for HYBRID:
. This way you will recover both LIFE and ENERGY SHIELD.

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6) Flasks
Spoiler

Molten Strike:

Topaz for the Oak to Work (or Basalt if your lightning res is HIGHEST without it)


Lightning Strike:



Bottled Faith is fantastic, but VERY expensive for both builds:
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Bottled_Faith

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7) Pantheon Gods
Spoiler

Major: Brine King (mapping) / Arakaali (bossing)
Minor: Gruthkul (mapping) / Ryslatha (for Hybrid) / Yugul (Uber Elder) / Tukohama (great with Zealoth's Oath)

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8) Hardcore Viable or not?
Spoiler

Scion CAN be tanky, but it takes a while to get to decent amount of ES, and still it is squishy with no Endurance Charges, high Evasion, block or Dodge. For HC you need Jugg ascendancy or go full jugg. With really insane ES gear you can just go full Occultist as well. He would be pretty tanky but slow as hell too.

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9) FOR THE RICH GUYS
Spoiler

High ES gear with +INT on every slot, 2x 3x mod Watcher's Eye.

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MORE VIDEOS:
Spoiler

Molten Strike:
Shaper:https://youtu.be/Hck8wkNJIpQ

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FAQ
Spoiler

TBA

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https://www.twitch.tv/angry_roleplayer
All builds: http://www.angryroleplayer.com/path-of-exile-builds/
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2143469
Last edited by Angry_Roleplayer on Jul 27, 2019, 2:12:46 PM
Last bumped on Oct 20, 2018, 5:09:02 PM
Hello Mate. Great build and awesome explanation. Any ETA on Hybrid Tree?
Cheers.
"
saif3r wrote:
Hello Mate. Great build and awesome explanation. Any ETA on Hybrid Tree?
Cheers.

Hi there!
It's already there, just was busy with a little older build. But i will update this build really soon!
https://www.twitch.tv/angry_roleplayer
All builds: http://www.angryroleplayer.com/path-of-exile-builds/
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2143469

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