Melee builds in Path of Exile 2 have a variety of POE2 Currency attack skills to choose from, ranging from powerful area-of-effect slams to high-speed single-target strikes. Among these, Molten Strike stands out as one of the most versatile and visually impressive skills, combining melee attacks with fiery projectile explosions.

Molten Strike is a hybrid melee and projectile skill that works exceptionally well in attack-speed-focused builds. It scales heavily with physical and fire damage, making it a solid choice for Warriors, Marauders, and Duelists looking for consistent single-target and AoE damage.

If you’re looking for a scalable, high-damage skill that combines melee combat with ranged AoE explosions, Molten Strike is an excellent choice. This guide will break down how the skill works, the best ways to scale its damage, and optimal synergies to make the most out of Molten Strike in Path of Exile 2.

How Molten Strike Works
Molten Strike is a hybrid melee and projectile skill, meaning it has two main components:Melee Hit: When you activate the skill, your character performs a melee attack that deals physical and fire damage to nearby enemies.Molten Projectiles: Each hit also releases magma balls that land on the ground and explode, dealing area damage in a small radius.

Why Molten Strike is Powerful:Hybrid Damage Scaling: Can scale with both physical and fire damage.Attack Speed Benefits: More attack speed = more magma projectiles = higher damage output.Excellent Single-Target Damage: Projectiles can overlap on a single target, making it deadly against bosses.Great for AoE Clearing: Explosions hit multiple enemies, making it a strong hybrid melee-ranged skill.

The key to maximizing Molten Strike’s potential is understanding how to scale both its melee attack and projectile explosions.

How to Scale Molten Strike’s Damage
Since Molten Strike has both melee and projectile components, it benefits from a mix of attack damage, fire damage, and projectile modifiers. Here’s how to scale it effectively:

1. Attack Speed – More Attacks = More Projectiles
Since each melee hit releases multiple magma projectiles, increasing attack speed means more projectiles per second. Faster attack speed also improves damage output and leech efficiency.

Faster Attacks Support – Boosts attack speed significantly.Multistrike Support – Repeats attacks rapidly, multiplying projectile output.Berserker Ascendancy – Grants high attack speed at the cost of taking more damage.

2. Physical and Fire Damage Scaling
Molten Strike converts 60% of its physical damage into fire damage, meaning both physical and elemental fire scaling work well.

Added Fire Damage Support – Increases fire conversion scaling.Elemental Damage with Attacks – Boosts fire explosion damage.Anger Aura – Adds flat fire damage to attacks.

3. Projectile Modifiers – Increasing Explosive Impact
While the melee hit starts the attack, the exploding magma balls deal the bulk of the damage. Because of this, projectile damage modifiers are very strong.

Greater Multiple Projectiles Support (GMP) – Increases magma balls per attack.Pierce or Chain Support – Helps projectiles hit more enemies, increasing AoE.Point Blank Keystone – Boosts projectile damage when hitting enemies at close range.

4. Area of Effect (AoE) for Bigger Explosions
Increasing the AoE radius helps projectiles cover more ground and overlap better on bosses.Increased Area of Effect Support – Expands explosion radius.  Pulverise Support – Boosts AoE and melee damag  e.Mace and Axe Nodes – Many of these passive nodes increase AoE size.By combining attack speed, physical-to-fire conversion, projectile damage, and AoE scaling, Molten Strike becomes one of the most powerful melee-ranged hybrid skills in PoE2.

Best Weapons for Molten Strike
Since Molten Strike benefits from high attack speed and physical damage, the best weapons are one-handed or two-handed weapons with fast attack rates.

Top Weapon Choices:
Claws – Provide life leech and high attack speed, making them excellent for sustain.Daggers & Swords – They offer balanced speed and damage scaling.Two-Handed Axes & Maces – They give high base damage and AoE scaling but attack slower.

Recommended Unique Weapons:Ngamahu’s Flame (Two-Handed Axe) – Converts physical to fire damage and creates extra fire projectiles.Frostbreath (One-Handed Mace) Doubles damage against chilled enemies, great for Elemental builds.The Annihilating Light – Triples elemental damage at the cost of elemental resistance, perfect for fire-heavy builds.

Best Support Gems for Molten Strike
Multistrike Support – Ensures more attacks and projectile releases per second.
Greater Multiple Projectiles (GMP) Support – Increases explosion spread and POE2 Currency for sale boss overlap damage.Melee Physical Damage Support – Boosts melee hit damage.Elemental Focus Support – Maximizes .