Path Of Exile: Best Marauder Build Guide
With the release of the Settlers of Kalguur league, melee builds in Path of Exile have received significant buffs, offering a variety of new options for the Marauder class. Among these, the Molten Strike of the Zenith build stands out as a powerful and tanky choice, capable of tackling all game content. While it's not the most budget-friendly option, it can be incredibly rewarding once you farm the necessary POE currency and uniqueness.
What Is the Best Marauder Build?
This build centers around the Molten Strike of the Zenith, a newly added Transfigured gem that has seen substantial improvements in this league. At Level 20, it scales up to 239% increased damage, with every fifth attack delivering a staggering 800% more damage. This build can be played across various classes, but we highly recommend the Juggernaut for its incredible benefits.
Why Choose Juggernaut?
The Juggernaut ascendancy offers access to the Undeniable node, which significantly boosts attack speed—an essential factor for making Molten Strike feel smooth and responsive. While it is possible to obtain similar bonuses using Forbidden Flesh and Forbidden Flame, these options tend to be quite costly in trade leagues.
In addition to being tanky with 90 all-resistances, capped chaos resistance, around 40k armor, over 10k HP, and 150k effective HP (eHP), the build can handle tough content such as Simulacrums, Tier 17 maps, Uber bosses, Deep Delve, and Delirium. However, due to its vulnerability to one-shot mechanics, it is not recommended for hardcore play.
Mandatory Uniques
As you progress with this build, certain uniques become essential. Here's a breakdown of the required PoE items based on your progression:
League Start (Affordable Uniques)
These uniques are relatively inexpensive (around 10 Chaos or less) and will help you kickstart your journey with Molten Strike of the Zenith:
Oro's Sacrifice - Boosts your damage and life recovery.
Carnage Heart - Provides a mix of attributes and chaos damage.
Perseverance - Grants additional defenses and mobility.
Alpha's Howl - Offers valuable resistances and skill bonuses.
Thief's Torment - Helps with mana regeneration and defensive stats.
You can find the skill tree to follow for this setup in the Leaguestart Path of Building.
Transition to Strength-Stacker
When you're ready to transition to a strength-stacking setup, consider these uniques:
Rakiata's Dance - An excellent two-handed sword that enhances elemental damage, attack speed, and monster resistance.
Crown of Eyes - Increases attack damage based on your strength.
The Iron Fortress - Works synergistically with strength builds, offering significant defensive stats.
Astramentis - Provides a substantial boost to attributes.
Cyclopean Coil - Helps increase your maximum health and other stats.
These items will provide essential bonuses, particularly as you start focusing on strength.
Chaos Transition (Endgame Setup)
For those who want to push the build to its limits, consider adding the following uniques for an ultra-endgame setup:
Replica Alberon's Warpath - Grants flat chaos damage based on strength.
Original Sin - Enhances your overall damage output.
Mageblood - Provides incredible quality-of-life improvements (optional).
Crafted Two-Handed Sword - For high attack speed and damage.
Various Cluster Jewels - Such as Emperor's Mastery and Split Personality to boost attributes and damage.
This setup maximizes the potential of the build but is best suited for experienced players.
How To Best Level A Marauder Build
During the leveling process, consider eliminating all Bandit Leaders unless you require specific bonuses, such as movement speed or elemental resistances. For optimal leveling, you can refer to our Leveling Path of Building.
Ascendancy Order
For the Juggernaut ascendancy, focus on acquiring these nodes in the following order:
Unstoppable - Provides a solid foundation for defense and movement.
Undeniable - Boosts attack speed, enhancing your damage output.
Unflinching - Increases the effectiveness of your defenses.
Unbreakable - Further augments your survivability.
Conclusion
The Molten Strike of the Zenith build for Marauders in the Settlers of Kalguur league is a robust choice that allows players to clear all game content efficiently. While it may require some investment, the potential for power and survivability makes it well worth it. Follow the guidelines provided, and you'll be well on your way to mastering this exciting build in Path of Exile. Happy hunting!