With the Patch from 21-09-2023, Flame Strike recieved a nerf (Bug Fix actually).
The Burn Chance from Heated Up was a Base Value, instead of a %-Value.
Flame Strike might lost some of it's glory, but it is still a strong Ability.
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Become a Meme! Become a Living Bomb!
Stop fearing the endless Hordes, show them what fear truly means!
Turn the tide, become the Lord yourself!
A master of fire, that burns his foes to tasty crisps...
Lets get it on!

This build is a perfect for unlocking all Class Master III Quests.

For those who seek a challange and a simpler way:
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3034680077

Flame Strike is unlocked via quest -
Ember Survivor I - Survive the Ember Grounds until there are only 22 minutes left.

In order that Traits of a certain Tier can appear, you have to meet a minimum Hero Level requirement:

To fully understand how this build works, you have to know how to use Potions properly.
X + X = Potion of Memories (MP)
x2 = Reverberant Tinkture (RT)
You should have unlocked all Potions beforehand: MP (8) - RT (3)
Don't forget to bring your Strong Wine (10) and your Potions of Oblivion (8).

Here is an example:
III - Flow x2 + Overpowered (+ Deadly OPTIONAL)
What does this mean? Step by Step:
- You reached Hero Lvl 24 >
- III Overpowered shows up > lock it with a MP >
- reroll OR pick another Trait and wait till the next level up >
- III Deadly shows up > lock it with a MP >
- reroll OR pick another Trait and wait till the next level up >
- III Flow shows up > pick it with a RT >
- pick III Overpowered on next level up >
- pick III Deadly on next level up

Now you have 4 Traits of the same Tier at once. This technique works with all Traits, that have multiple branches.

There are multiple ways to achieve the quests, so this is just an example. Although, I can highly recommend to do it with the Shield Maiden, since her Synergetic Traits are great for Flame Strike to deal raw damage.

Since Flame Strike is a Melee Ability and Shield Maiden has a short range, we are always in close combat, so proper movement is requiered. Using Scars of Toil is risky, but yields the best damage output and speeds up the whole process.
You are free to use your Main Weapon, but don't take other abilites, or they might steal damage and kills from Flame Strike.

You can do this on every Stage you like, no matter if Normal or Agony.

Headgear

• Hood - in combination with Scars of Toil
  
• War Horns - 20% dircet damage boost
  
• Wind Crown - for boosting attack speed, usefull on high enemy densety maps

Necklace

• Scars of Toil - in combination with maximum health boosts to buff damage output
  
• Jade Amulet - slight level boost in the early minutes and levels
  
• Collar of Confidence - great damage boost, since you are always in close combat

Rings

• Echoing Band - helps killing with the Mace in the beginning
  
• Guiding Star - helps when you have to run away and increases attack speed while standing
  
• Iron Ring - doesn't sound like much, but the low vlaue will get multiplicated high

Body Armor

• Defiant Plate - great defense boost, use it with Scars of Toil
  
• Hunter's Garb - in combination with Guiding Star

Boots

• Berserker Boots - not in combination with Guiding Star and Hunters Garb
  
• Runner Shoes - if you don't have the Berserker Boots or use GS and HG
  
• Pace Setter - if you don't have the Berserker Boots and use GS and HG

Gloves

• Quickhand Gloves - we want to boost Flame Strike as much as possible, so nothing else fits

Class Marks
No recommandation here, except Mark of the Shield. You want to level up Flame Strike as fast as possible and your Trait Pool should be as empty as possible. Other Class traits aren't worth the hassle.
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3031410508
Friendly Reminder:
X + X = Potion of Memories (MP)
x2 = Reverberant Tinkture (RT)

Since we only use Flame Strike alone, we will have more than enough level ups to boost all possible Traits. But we want to narrow the pool a bit down, to increase the chance of Ability Traits to show up on their respective Hero Levels.
So what can we Banish without fear:
Channeling, Fire Affinity
Everything else is completly up to the player and depends on playstyle and loadout.
What should we prioritize:
Quick Hands > Strength > everything you need to stay alive > whatever you want
Since Flame Strike can only crit if charged and we always stay close to enemies, Cunning Technique and Ruthlessness should have a lower priority.

Weapon Proficiency - Mace I-IV + Shield IV x2
Proficiant Stance - Guarding I-IV
Dedication - Stalwart I-IV + Striding I-IV

Why those you may ask?
We want Survivability, the other Traits are boosting Melee, one of Flame Strike's tags.

Flame Strike
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3031410587
Why like this you may ask?
Since our goal is to deal 2mil damage with Flame Strike, we want to boost this thing as much as possible. We dont have the stronger Traits at hand, so we use Flame Strike as a permant source of damage, in close combat with fast hitting high damage hits.

Don't pick another Ability Scroll before reaching the 2mil damage.
We don't want Blazing Emberfall, our currently only Upgrade for Flame Strike, and we don't want other Abilities before reaching our goal.
If you have your 2mil in the bank, you can do whatever you want. Leave to camp or try to finish the run.

Just kill stuff and survive until you made 2mil with Flame Strike. If you play on Agony and you die, fear not, since Agony is not mandatory for the 2mil damage. If you wonder, you can unlock two Revives via Shrine of Blessings. For this, you have to achieve the Milestone Surivor I - Kill a total of 1 Lord.

Any Character, any Stage, any Difficulty.

• Ruby Circlet - increases Burn Damage
  
• Gatherer's Charm - higher movement speed
  
• Ring of Fire - more Burn
  
• Guiding Star - higher movement speed
  
• Blazing Shell - probably the best option
  
• Firewalker Boots - higher movement speed with additional burn trails
  
• Sparking Tips - increase in Burn Chance

This equipment loadout increases Burn Chance + Damage and is optimal for running away,
to give Flame Strike more time to charge.

Using Mark of Incineration is adviced, to unlock Exterminator's Character Traits,
that focus on increasing Burn Chance and Burn Damage.

• Weapon Proficiency - Hellfire I-IV
  
• Proficient Stance - Conflagration I-IV

It is adviced to use Banish Potions as soon as possible, to clear out the Pool and make Flame Strike's Traits appearance much more liklely.
So what to Banish:

• Flame Strike Traits - Fury + Mighty
  
• Weapon Proficiency - any branch, that is not Hellfire
  
• Proficient Stance - any branch, that is not Conflagration
  
• Dedication - picking the branch with highest movement speed is adviced

With every Character except Exterminator, you will have 4 branches for Weapon Proficiency, Proficient Stance and Dedication. Since you want to use Hellfire and Conflagration and you have to use 2 Banish Potions fore Flame Strike, you can banish 6 unwanted branches.
My recommandation is 2 of each, Weapon Proficiency, Proficient Stance and Dedication.
You will always have at least one Trait you want to pick out of those.

What should we prioritize:
Hellfire / Conflagration > Fire Affinity > Swift Feet > Vanguard / Collateral Damage

Flame Strike
Friendly Reminder:
X + X = Potion of Memories (MP)
x2 = Reverberant Tinkture (RT)
Banish the Traits "Fury" and "Mighty" as soon as they show up.
Deadly is only usefull for high charged hits, to oneshot Elites and Bosses.
It also helps speeding up killing Lords.

Survive until Hero Level 24. With a bit of luck you will be offered Flame Strike Traits, especially if you narrowed down your trait pool with Potions of Oblivion. With the Tier III Traits picked and Blazing Emberfall, you will already start to explode when enemies get to close. Flame Strike will deal significant amount of damage already.

After picking Tier VI Traits on Hero Level 48, Flame Strike should charge fast enough to deal tons of damage in a large blast radius, if you can give it time to charge by moving away from targets..

At Hero Level 82 you should be completly done with Flame Strike, if you are lucky. After picking all 3 Tier X Traits you can set the entire screen ablaze in one large explosion. Try to keep your distance to enemies, until Flame Strike is charged again to let loose.

IMPORTANT
If you pick more Abilites after maxing out Flame Strike, always make sure to detonate via contact when Flame Strike is fully charged.

Congratulations! Now go out and play like a good bomb and extinguish the entire planet!
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3031410859

Blazing Emberfall - Flame wave that sets all enemies in vicinity ablaze. Influenced by range, area and burn chance. Deals no direct damage. Range & burn chance increases for every second the attack was not triggered.

So what we know:

• The radius of the Wave is influenced by Range and Area.
  
• The effectivity for Burn is influenced by Burn Chance.
  
• Both effects are increased, the longer Flame Strike charges via Charge Multiplier.

Since the Charge Time is heavily reduced by 60% (6x Flow) and
we have 60% Charge Power (3x Overpowered) on top,
all above stats get heavily buffed

Feel free to discuss and comment.
Spread the word, how to annihilate everything.

If you have any suggestions, feedback or questions, don't hestitate to post here.

Cheers!

If you liked what you have seen:
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3034282250

https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3038035307