Ngamahu's Flame Cyclone
Chieftain Build

Updated for Patch 3.21

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Ngamahu's Flame Axe has a unique built-in skill that has a 20% chance to Trigger on Melee Hit. It's Molten Burst - a Firey Projectile Attack very similar to Molten Strike. This is an excellent opportunity to create Trigger build with a high attack speed. The best Skill to trigger Molten Burst with is Cyclone due to its high attack rate and ability to move while attacking. By hitting a single enemy around 20 times a second, which is expected, it becomes a reliable source of damage. Molten Burst can be supported by six support gems, and the axe doesn't even need to have its sockets linked, so the build is also easy to assemble. To further increase damage you can anoint your Amulet with Vengeant Cascade to make your Projectiles bounce as they try to return to you. Don't forget about Poin Blank Support for up to 30% more Damage.

Chieftain is one of the viable Ascendancies. Ngamahu Keystone, as the name suggests, pairs extremely well with this Weapon. It fully converts your Molten Burst Damage to Fire and periodically improves your DPS. Ramako grants Fire Penetration, Valako - Endurance Charges, Damage, and Life Regeneration. Arohongui is excellent for Melee builds, it grants more damage and reduces damage taken if you place a Totem. Here we've used Ancestral Protector for more Attack Speed. It's a conversion build so you may benefit from increases to both - Physical and Fire Damage, but also "Physical Damage Gained as extra Fire" modifiers. For survivability, the build relies mostly on Maximum Life, Evasion, and Armour. It additionally mitigates a lot of Physical Damage via Endurance Charges and has decent Life Regeneration.

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

Trigger-type builds are pleasant to run. Use Cyclone to trigger Molten Burst - it's important to have high Attack and Movement Speed. Other active Skills are Ancestral Protector for more Attack Speed, Blood Rage, Berserk, and Dash. For Auras use Herald of Ash, Blood and Sand, Anger, and Defiance Banner. Have an automatically cast Guard Spell, like Immortal Call, Infernal Cry for a Warcry, and Flammability for Curse.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

To level up efficiently, use our Marauder Leveling Guide. It presents a very efficient way to level up using 2-had Axes with Melee Attacks.

Bandits:

Kill all three bandits and be rewarded with two additional Skill Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

28 Points Passive Tree
Head for Resolute Technique as shown. If you're using a Fire Skill pick the nearby Fire Damage passives
 

63 Points Passive Tree
Allocate Maximum Life, Axe Cluster, Two-hand, and Fire Damage nodes

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

104 Points Final Passive Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels)
122 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Ngamahu
2. Ramako
3. Arohongui
4. Valako

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Solaris: 6% additional Physical Damage Reduction while there is only one nearby Enemy; 20% chance to take 50% less Area Damage from Hits

Minor God: Soul of Ryslatha: Life Flasks gain 3 Charges every 3 seconds if you haven't used a Life Flask Recently; 60% increased Life Recovery from Flasks used when on Low Life

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Molten Burst setup Socketed in Ngamahu's Flame
	Molten Burst - Has a 20% chance to release three Projectiles each time you Hit an enemy. These will deal Fire Damage.
	Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - Use it to deal more Fire Damage with Attacks.
	Fire Penetration Support - Damage Penetrates Fire Resistance. The Awakened Version also applies Exposure which is quite important.
	Concentrated Effect Support - Lowers Area of Effect but grants more Damage.
	Combustion Support - This applies Combustion which lowers Fire Resistance, and grants more Fire Damage.
	Vicious Projectiles Support - Grants much more Physical Damage with no drawback.
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - Use it to fire additional Projectiles with each Hit. It lowers your Damage.

[UTILITY] Cyclone setup
	Cyclone - Use it to rapidly Attack all the enemies around your character.
	Faster Attacks Support - You're attacking even faster, activating Molten Burst more often.
	Fortify Support - Fortify your character, reducing damage taken from Hits.
	Infused Channeling Support - Channeling Skill deals more Damage. The character receives slightly less damage.
	Life Gain on Hit Support - Life Gained on Hit is extremely good as you're attacking multiple enemies 10 to 20 times a second.
	Blind Support - Grants a chance to Blind Enemies, and increases Blind Duration.

[UTILITY] Auras setup
	Defiance Banner - Increases Armour and Evasion. Reduces Crit Chance for all nearby enemies.
	Herald of Ash - Grants more Fire Damage and Fire Damage gained from Physical Damage. It enhances your clear speed as well.
	Anger - Adds extra Fire Damage to Attacks and Spells.
	Blood and Sand - Use the Anomalous version. It grants more Area of Effect at the cost of Area Damage, or vice versa.

[UTILITY] Blood Rage
	Blood Rage - Blood Rage grants more Attack Speed, Life Leech, and Frenzy Charges on kill, but drains your Life.

[UTILITY] Berserk
	Berserk - If you've accumulated Rage, which comes naturally for builds using Axes, you can spend it on Berserk for more Movement, Attack Speed, Damage, and less Damage Taken.

[UTILITY] Ancestral Protector
	Ancestral Protector - Use it for more Attack Speed, and place it near your target to benefit from Arohongui Keystone.

[UTILITY] Infernal Cry
	Infernal Cry - Covers enemies in Ash making them take increased Fire Damage, these enemies explode on death.

[UTILITY] Dash
	Dash - Dash is a low-cooldown mobility skill to move faster and dodge hits. Alternatively, you can use  Frostblink if you have enough Intelligence as it won't interrupt your Cyclone.

[UTILITY] Immortal Call setup
	Immortal Call - Immortal Call reduces Physical and Elemental Damage taken for a short duration.
	Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call is activated after taking a certain amount of damage.
	Increased Duration Support - Increases the duration of linked Gems. If you can't afford it, use  Lifetap instead.

[UTILITY] Curse
	Flammability - The best Curse that lowers Fire Resistance. You can link it with Hextouch and some Skill, or as an on-hit Ring affix. Elemental Weakness on Hit can be found as an Implicit on Corrupted Gloves, but it's worse.

6. Gear Setup

It's an Attack build with a very cheap unique weapon, which is great, as more than often it is the most expensive part of such builds. Here it is the only required uqniue. Due to it being a build that benefits immensely from Herald of Ash, we recommend using Circle of Anguish Ring. Look for Rage-related items too. Rage is extremely good for most Attack Build but for this one even more so. On your gear pieces look for Attack Speed, Added Physical, or Fire Damage. Keep in mind you're dealing most of the damage via Projectiles, not the Melee Attacks. For defences get the simple Resistances, Maximum Life, Spell Suppression, Armour, and Evasion. We've also used two Large Cluster Jewels. You won't need Accuracy or Critical Strike stats with Resolute Technique, but you may lack some of the Attributes other than Strength.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances at 75%
2. Provide you with enough DPS and Life to start mapping

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - Here you can get Maximum Life Suppression, Armour, Evasion, and Resistances. Warlord's Helmet can get you a great modifier or two.

Min. requirements: 80 Maximum Life +60% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Nearby Enemies take #% increased Fire Damage Chaos Resistance increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills Spell Suppression Chance Attributes

(Helmet) Devoto's Devotion - Due to the huge bonus to Movement and Attack Speed, it's one of the best Helmets. It grants no Life which may be problematic.

+(50-65) to Dexterity 10% reduced Global Physical Damage 16% increased Attack Speed (150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed Mercury Footprints

Helmet enchantments: Splitting Steel deals 40% increased Damage

(Weapon) Ngamahu's Flame - The weapon this build is based around. Try to get one with high rolls, Corrupted Implicits, or a good Crucible Tree as it's extremely cheap.

20% chance to Trigger Level 16 Molten Burst on Melee Hit (170-190)% increased Physical Damage (8-12)% increased Attack Speed 60% of Physical Damage Converted to Fire Damage Damage Penetrates 20% Fire Resistance

(Body Armour) The Brass Dome - Adds a lot of Armour and Maximum Elemental Resistances to mitigate most of the damage present in the game.

(350-400)% increased Armour +(1-5)% to all maximum Elemental Resistances Strength provides no bonus to Maximum Life Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - Get as much Maximum Life, Elemental Resistances, and Spell Suppression Chance as you can afford. The basic Armour and Evasion may be great too.

Min. requirements: 100 maximum Life Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances You can apply an additional Curse increased Maximum Life Spell Suppression Chance Socketed Attacks have -# to Total Mana Cost

(Boots) Rare Boots - A pair of boots with Maximum Life, 35% increased Movement Speed, Resistances, and Spell Suppression would be great. Extra Action Speed can be crafted as an Eldritch Implicit.

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life +50% Total Elemental Resistances 30% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Spell Suppression Chance chance to gain Elusive on Critical Strike You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently

(Boots) Dawnstrider - As you're benefiting only from one Ancestral Totem, these boots are quite a good option. Use them for increased Attack Speed.

+(80-100) to maximum Life 30% increased Movement Speed 100% increased Effect of Buffs your Ancestor Totems grant while Active Buffs from Active Ancestor Totems Linger for 4 seconds Maximum 1 Buff from an Active Ancestor Totem at a time

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Maximum Life, Resistances, and Attack Speed should be present on your Gloves. Remember to craft the Eldritch Implicit that grants Rage on Hit.

Min. requirements: +50 to Maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: Spell Suppression Chance Chaos Resistance Attributes

(Gloves) Kaom's Spirit - These Gloves will generate a lot of Rage with the Valako Keystone. You can still Leech life and gain it on Hit with Cyclone so it's not too debilitating.

+(50-70) to maximum Life +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance (0.3-0.5)% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life Life Recovery from Regeneration is not applied Regenerate 1 Rage per second for every 100 Life Recovery per second from Regeneration

(Belt) Rare Belt - The Belt should provide you with Maximum Life, Resistances, and increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills. Stygian Vise is the best option.

Min. requirements: +70 to maximum Life 30% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills +60% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Strength increased Damage increased Maximum Life

(Belt) Bear's Girdle - Increases your Maximum Rage by 20, that's a significant amount. It adds Life, Physical Damage, and Damage per Rage. Definitely consider it if you already have all the necessary Resistances.

+(25-40) to maximum Life Adds (5-7) to (11-12) Physical Damage to Attacks (20-30)% increased Stun Duration on Enemies Nearby Enemies are Crushed while you have at least 25 Rage (4-6)% increased Physical Damage per 10 Rage +20 to Maximum Rage

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - Added Physical or Fire Damage with Attributes are common and useful modifiers to seek, right after Maximum Life and Resistances. You can implement Shaper's Prefix for Movement Speed, or Elder's Suffix for Attack Speed.

Min. requirements: +70 to Maximum Life Optional affixes: Adds Physical Damage to Attacks Elemental Resistances Attributes increased Attack Speed increased Movement Speed

Recommended Anointments: Vengeant Cascade

(Ring) Rare Ring - Flammability Curse on Hit would be great to have. Attack Speed or Added Damage are offensive mods. Get Maximum Life and various Resistances for survivability.

Min. requirements: 50 Maximum Life +70% Total Elemental Resistances AddedAdds Physical Damage to Attacks Optional affixes: Chaos Resistance increased Attack Speed Attributes Curse Enemies with Flammability on Hit

(Ring) Circle of Anguish - Circle of Anguish adds Fire Damage and Fire Resistance. Look for modifiers like increased Buff Effect or increased Fire Damage.

<One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers> +(20-30) to Strength Adds (20-25) to (26-35) Fire Damage +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance <Two Random Herald of Ash modifier>

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - We recommend a Jewel with Maximum Life, Elemental Resistances, Attack Speed, and Mana Reservation Efficiency.

Recommended affixes: Maximum Life Elemental Resistances Mana Reservation Efficiency increased Attack Speed Attributes

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - Large Cluster Jewels are great for Attack Builds. Get a Fire Damage or Physical Damage base with some of the listed notables on them.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Cremator 1 Added Passive Skill is Smoking Remains 1 Added Passive Skill is Widespread Destruction 1 Added Passive Skill is Calamitous 1 Added Passive Skill is Fuel the Fight 1 Added Passive Skill is Martial Prowess

(Jewel) Thread of Hope - Large Ring Thread of Hope near Vigour and Savagery allows you to allocate great notables like Art of the Gladiator, Rampart, Hatchet Master, or Panopticon.

Only affects Passives in Large Ring Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree -(20-10)% to all Elemental Resistances

(Jewel) Forbidden Flame & Flesh - As a Marauder you have access to very good Keystones. Rite of Ruin, Crave the Slaughter, Aspect of Carnage, Undeniable (without Resolute Technique), Unstoppable, and Indomitable Resolve are the best ones.

Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flesh Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flame

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - Anger is your only Aura but it has two desirable modifiers it is associated with. Fire Damage Penetration and Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage.

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

Suggested Flasks: Life Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal Granite Flask with increased Armour Silver Flask with increased Attack Speed Jade Flask with increased Evasion Quicksilver Flask with increased Movement Speed

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.