Bit confused about Molten Strike's Projectiles:

Pneuma i don't believe iron grip effects this skill, since the strenght would already be apply's to the base attack damage of which the projectiles scales. At least that's how i think lightning strikes functions, iron grip does not work because the str bonus is already apply'd pre-projectile (in form of base melee damage resulting in your projectile "base" damage)

And i think the projectiles on this skill and lightning strike function the same way?

Allowing iron grip to function would make these skills double dip in the strenght bonus?

I see a lot of confusion in this thread and not just the OP. xD

Let me try to clear a few things up.

First, you need to understand how Molten Strike works.

It is a two stage Attack. First there is a Melee Physical Attack which has 60% fire conversion, then there is a Projectile Physical Attack which has a 60% fire conversion and a 40% LESS Projectile Damage multiplier.

Both stages make use of the 120% Damage Effectiveness property of the gem.

There is also a scaling by gem level Increased Physical Damage at gem level 1: 0. I cannot say what it is at gem level 20, I can tell you at gem level 13 it is 48%. This is as far as I have leveled the gem at this time. xD

There is also a .5% Fire Damage per 1% gem quality. (you must have 2% to gain any increased Fire Damage)

As Pneuma indicated this skill works just like Lightning Strike, it is two attacks in one, meaning they are both calculated at the same time and each stage is separate from the other, the damage the fist hit does, the Melee Attack, does not influence the damage the Projectile Attack does.

Like many AoE property skills in the game, the tooltip will not show the AoE damage, in this case the molten ball projectile damage. Only the DPS of the first stage, the Melee Physical Attack is shown.

Support gems that only influence Melee Attacks will only increase the damage of the first stage.

Melee Physical damage nodes on the passive tree will only affect the first stage.

Weapon Physical damage nodes WILL affect both stages.

Iron Grip will affect the second stage, the Projectile Attack.

Point Blank will affect the second stage.

Any Fire damage and Elemental damage increases on items and the passive tree will affect both stages.

Projectile Damage nodes from the passive tree will affect the second stage.

It is worth noting that the Multistrike Support gem will affect the damage of both stages with its 36% LESS Attack damage. Consider that when selecting which support gems you use with Molten Strike.

I hope this has helped any confusion. If something is still unclear please let me know.

Goodluck!

If I was running a 5-link I'd use Conc Effect, Mulistrike, Weapon Elemental Damage, and Point Blank. Just my personal opinion, so may not be the best choices but in my head it sounds great.