Molten Shell

Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Guard
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (8-12) Mana
Cooldown Time: 4.00 sec
Can Store 1 Use(s)
Cast Time: Instant
AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 16Applies a buff that adds to your armour, and can take some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. When the buff expires or is depleted, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken from the buff. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 3.00 seconds
This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect
Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour
75% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield
Buff can take Damage equal to 10% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 5000
Reflects (100-3000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage when Buff expires or is depleted

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
(1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.

Acquisition
Drop level: 16Metadata
Item class: Skill Gem
Metadata ID: Metadata/Items/Gems/SkillGemMoltenShell

Molten Shell is a guard spell that buffs the user with a shell that grants bonus armour and absorbs incoming hits. When the shell expires or absorbs enough damage, it explodes to deal fire damage around it, based on how much damage it absorbed. The amount of damage the shell can absorb increases with your armour value.

Base duration is 3 seconds at all gem levels, followed by a 4 second cooldown.

Skill functions and interactions

• Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff: In the order of mitigation, the Molten Shell buff takes damage after mitigation and aegises, but before the player's main resources like ward and life.

• Buff Effect: Modifiers to Molten Shell's buff effect (currently limited to IchimonjiIchimonji
  Corsair SwordOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: (45-58.5) to (167.4-195)
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Attacks per Second: (1.86-1.94)
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 58, 81 Str, 117 Dex40% increased Global Accuracy Rating(80-95)% increased Physical Damage
  Adds (5-10) to (13-20) Physical Damage
  (20-25)% increased Attack Speed
  10% increased Effect of Buffs on you
  10% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills
  Allies' Aura Buffs do not affect you
  Your Aura Buffs do not affect alliesMaster yourself before you seek to master others.) will only affect the armour granted by the skill, not the damage, duration, or absorbed damage required.

• Buff can take Damage equal to #% of your Armour: The damage limit is calculated after the armour bonus is applied.

• Reflected damage: Because Molten Shell deals reflected damage, it is unaffected by damage modifiers, cannot crit, penetrate resistances, or apply ailments or other on-hit effects. Its damage cannot be reflected again.

• Guard: Molten Shell shares a cooldown with other Guard skills (e.g. SteelskinSteelskinSpell, Duration, Guard
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (4-16) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 3.00 sec
  Can Store 1 Use(s)
  Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 4Applies a buff which can take some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 1.50 seconds
  This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect
  Buff grants Immunity to Bleeding
  70% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before Life or Energy Shield
  Buff can take (54-2209) Damage
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., Immortal CallImmortal CallSpell, Duration, Guard
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (21-36) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 3.00 sec
  Can Store 1 Use(s)
  Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 34Take less Physical and Elemental Damage for a short time. Consumes up to 5 Endurance Charges to lengthen the buff and further lessen Physical Damage taken. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 1.00 seconds
  20% increased Buff Duration per Endurance Charge removed
  This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect
  (25-34)% less Elemental Damage taken
  (25-35)% less Physical Damage taken
  15% less Physical Damage taken per Endurance Charge removed
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (1-20)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.).
  • Vaal Molten Shell: Molten Shell and Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard
    Level: (1-20)
    Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec
    Can Store 1 Use(s)
    Souls Per Use: 50
    Can Store 1 Use(s)
    Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec
    Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds
    Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention
    Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour
    (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield
    Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000
    Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second,
    or when Buff expires or is depleted
    
    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. do not share a cooldown. Using one while the other is active replaces the older buff.

All Guard skills

Below are the 5 skill gems with the Guard gem tag:

Gem
Arcane CloakArcane CloakSpell, Duration, Guard, Lightning, Arcane Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 4.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Spends a portion of your mana to grant a buff that takes some of the damage from hits for you until depleted. The buff grants added lightning damage based on the amount of mana spent by this skill. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 3.00 seconds Spends (45-64)% of current Mana 75% of Damage from Hits is taken from Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to Mana Spent by this Skill's effect Buff grants Added Lightning Damage equal to (10-14)% of Mana Spent by this Skill's effect This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Buff EffectPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16
Immortal CallImmortal CallSpell, Duration, Guard Level: (1-20) Cost: (21-36) Mana Cooldown Time: 3.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 34Take less Physical and Elemental Damage for a short time. Consumes up to 5 Endurance Charges to lengthen the buff and further lessen Physical Damage taken. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 1.00 seconds 20% increased Buff Duration per Endurance Charge removed This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect (25-34)% less Elemental Damage taken (25-35)% less Physical Damage taken 15% less Physical Damage taken per Endurance Charge removed Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	34
Molten ShellMolten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Guard Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-12) Mana Cooldown Time: 4.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 16Applies a buff that adds to your armour, and can take some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. When the buff expires or is depleted, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken from the buff. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 3.00 seconds This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour 75% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 10% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 5000 Reflects (100-3000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16
SteelskinSteelskinSpell, Duration, Guard Level: (1-20) Cost: (4-16) Mana Cooldown Time: 3.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 4Applies a buff which can take some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 1.50 seconds This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect Buff grants Immunity to Bleeding 70% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before Life or Energy Shield Buff can take (54-2209) Damage Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (0.5-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	4
Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Souls Per Use: 50 Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000 Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second, or when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16

Gem level progression

Level			Mana Cost	Armour	Damage Reflection	Exp.	Total Exp.
1	16	41	8	115	100%	0	0
2	20	50	8	141	130%	49725	49725
3	24	58	8	171	180%	95714	145439
4	28	67	8	204	250%	169595	315034
5	31	73	9	232	330%	199345	514379
6	34	79	9	261	420%	285815	800194
7	37	85	9	293	530%	401344	1201538
8	40	92	9	328	650%	554379	1755917
9	43	98	10	365	780%	755049	2510966
10	46	104	10	405	920%	1016533	3527499
11	49	111	10	448	1080%	1898602	5426101
12	52	117	10	495	1250%	1964019	7390120
13	55	123	11	545	1430%	2573731	9963851
14	58	130	11	599	1620%	4676439	14640290
15	60	134	11	637	1820%	3017327	17657617
16	62	138	11	677	2040%	7823001	25480618
17	64	142	12	719	2260%	15264208	40744826
18	66	146	12	763	2500%	26272845	67017671
19	68	151	12	809	2740%	62872274	129889945
20	70	155	12	858	3000%	212023122	341913067
21	72	159	13	909	3270%	—	—
22	74	—	13	962	3550%	—	—
23	76	—	13	1018	3830%	—	—
24	78	—	13	1076	4130%	—	—
25	80	—	14	1137	4440%	—	—
26	82	—	14	1201	4760%	—	—
27	84	—	14	1268	5090%	—	—
28	86	—	14	1338	5430%	—	—
29	88	—	15	1412	5770%	—	—
30	90	—	15	1488	6130%	—	—
31	91	—	15	1528	6500%	—	—
32	92	—	15	1569	6880%	—	—
33	93	—	16	1610	7260%	—	—
34	94	—	16	1653	7660%	—	—
35	95	—	16	1696	8060%	—	—
36	96	—	16	1741	8480%	—	—
37	97	—	17	1786	8900%	—	—
38	98	—	17	1833	9340%	—	—
39	99	—	17	1880	9780%	—	—
40	100	—	17	1929	10230%	—	—

Item acquisition

Molten Shell can drop anywhere.

Recipes

Molten Shell can be created from the following recipes:

Amount	Part	Description	Meta
13	The CataclysmThe Cataclysm13Level 21 Spell Gem CorruptedThe mighty warriors traded in blows, the nimble archers in arrows, yet it was the brazen thaumaturgists who would bring catastrophe to all.	Random corrupted level 21 Spell gem	A
6	The FoxThe Fox6Level 20 Gem"Masters of wit, strength and cunning. To survive the harsh winters, you must be like the fox." - Ezomyte Proverb	Random level 20 gem	A
3	Gemcutter's PromiseGemcutter's Promise3Gem Quality: +20%"I swore to use my position to help the people. What good is power when it just accumulates on the already-powerful?" - Erasmus, Imperial Gemcutter	Random gem with 20% quality	A
1	Gemcutter's IncubatorGemcutter's IncubatorStack Size: 10Adds an incubated Quality Gem item to an equippable item Item drops after killing # monstersRight click this item then left click an item to apply it. The Incubated item drops after killing a specific number of monsters.	Random gem with 1–20% quality	A
1	The VoidThe Void1Reach into the Void and claim your prize.	Random divination card set exchange	A

Quest reward

This item is given as a quest reward for the following quests:

Class →	Witch	Shadow	Ranger	Duelist	Marauder	Templar	Scion
Quest ↓
Intruders in Black Act 2

Vendor reward

This item can be bought at the listed NPC vendors, after completing the following quests:

Class →	Witch	Shadow	Ranger	Duelist	Marauder	Templar	Scion
Quest ↓
Intruders in Black Act 2 Yeena
A Fixture of Fate Act 3 Siosa
Fallen from Grace Act 6 Lilly Roth

Related helmet enchantments

The following helmet enchantments affect Molten Shell.

Note that helmet enchantments are no longer obtainable since version 3.23.0 and can only be obtained in permanent leagues as already enchanted items from before this patch.

Name		Labyrinth	Stats	Spawn Weighting
Enchantment Molten Shell Armour 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	100% increased Molten Shell Buff Effect	helmet 0
Enchantment Molten Shell Armour 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	150% increased Molten Shell Buff Effect	helmet 0
Enchantment Molten Shell Duration 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	Molten Shell has 25% increased Skill Effect Duration	helmet 100
Enchantment Molten Shell Duration 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	Molten Shell has 40% increased Skill Effect Duration	helmet 100

Alternate skill effects

Molten Shell has the following alternate skill effects:

Item	Description
Divine Molten Shell EffectDivine Molten Shell EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Molten Shell becomes a Divine Effect.	Your Molten Shell becomes a Divine Effect.
Encasing Molten Shell EffectFile:Encasing Molten Shell Effect inventory icon.pngEncasing Molten Shell EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Molten Shell becomes an Encasing Effect.File:Encasing Molten Shell Effect inventory icon.png	Your Molten Shell becomes an Encasing Effect.
Invisible Buff EffectInvisible Buff EffectSkill Gem EffectRemoves the visual effects on the player from arctic armour, tempest shield, blood rage, molten shell, plague bearer, phase run, petrified blood, withering step, any aura, any blasphemied curse, or any herald gem.	Removes the visual effects on the player from arctic armour, tempest shield, blood rage, molten shell, plague bearer, phase run, petrified blood, withering step, any aura, any blasphemied curse, or any herald gem.
Magmatic Molten Shell EffectMagmatic Molten Shell EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Molten Shell becomes a Magmatic Effect.	Your Molten Shell becomes a Magmatic Effect.
Stygian Molten Shell EffectStygian Molten Shell EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Molten Shell becomes a Stygian Effect.	Your Molten Shell becomes a Stygian Effect.
Viper Molten Shell EffectViper Molten Shell EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Molten Shell becomes a Viper Effect.	Your Molten Shell becomes a Viper Effect.

Monster versions

Monsters may use Molten Shell (with alternative skill effects) if the monster has the mod of the Barrier, or the legacy archnemesis modifier Magma Barrier which grants the monster multiple skills and effects. Goatman Shaman also uses Molten Shell and different skill visuals to the player version. Other example is General Gravicius and his map boss variants.

Gallery

• 

  Player can steal the monster Molten Shell mod by using a HeadhunterHeadhunter
  Leather BeltRequires Level 40+(25-40) to maximum Life+(40-55) to Strength
  +(40-55) to Dexterity
  +(50-60) to maximum Life
  (20-30)% increased Damage with Hits against Rare monsters
  When you Kill a Rare monster, you gain its Modifiers for 60 seconds"A man's soul rules from a cavern of bone, learns and
  judges through flesh-born windows. The heart is meat.
  The head is where the Man is."
  - Lavianga, Advisor to Kaom

• 

  Goatman Shaman and its Molten Shell

• 

  General Gravicius and his Molten Shell

Version history

Version	Changes
3.25.0	Now has a level requirement of 16 (previously 4), and a Strength requirement of 41 (previously 16) at gem level 1, and is unchanged at gem level 20. As a result of this level requirement change, the Buff now grants +115 to Armour at gem level 1 (previously +50), and is unchanged at gem level 20. Molten Shell is now offered to the Marauder for completing Intruders in Black, and can be purchased from Yeena by the Duelist, Templar, and Scion.
3.21.0	Molten Shell now has "Buff can take Damage equal to 10% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 5000" at all gem levels (previously 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000). Vaal Molten Shell now has "Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000" at all gem levels (previously 30% of your Armour, up to 30000).
3.19.0	The Labyrinth Helmet Enchantments that grant increased Molten Shell Buff Effect can no longer be obtained, though existing versions are unaffected.
3.15.3	Fixed a bug where the Reflected Damage from Divergent Molten Shell was not penetrating Enemy Fire Resistance.
3.11.0	Fixed a bug where Molten Shell's effect would linger indefinitely if the skill gem were replaced by a Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Souls Per Use: 50 Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000 Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second, or when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. gem during the original gem's duration.
3.7.0	Now has a base duration of 3 seconds at all gem levels (from 10). Now grants 50 additional armour at gem level 1 (from 17), up to 858 at gem level 20 (from 943) Now creates a buff that can take damage equal to 20% of your armour. Now causes 75% of damage from hits to be taken from the buff before your life or energy shield. Updated: Now reflects 100% of damage taken from the buff as fire damage when the buff expires or is depleted at gem level 1, up to 3000% at gem level 20 (previously stated 1050% at gem level 20). Now has a 4 second cooldown (from 1). No longer has an added damage effectiveness multiplier or critical strike chance, as reflected damage cannot benefit from added damage, nor can it critically strike. Shares its cooldown with other guard skills (Steelskin and Immortal Call).
3.6.0	Mana Cost at gem level 1 is now 7 (was 12). Mana Cost at gem level 20 is now 26 (was 28).
3.4.0	Mana cost increased to 12 at gem level 1 (up from 8) up to 28 at gem level 20 (same as previously) Now instant by default and can therefore be used while moving. All instant skills now have cooldown 1 second or less. Instant skills cannot be supported by Spell Echo and will not be cast a second time by similar effects (such as from the Echoing Shrine).
2.6.0	Changed the explosion effect. The new one has better performance.
2.3.2	When switching between regular and Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Souls Per Use: 50 Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000 Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second, or when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., the shield will now visually destroy and recreate itself. Fixed a bug where Molten Shell buff effect bonuses did not apply to Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Souls Per Use: 50 Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention Buff grants +(115-858) to Armour (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000 Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second, or when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket..
2.2.0	Cast time reduced from 1 sec to 500 ms.
2.1.0	Fixed a bug where Molten Shell could be applied multiple times via Spell Echo.
2.0.0	Greatly reduced the mana cost. Now grants 1% chance to ignite per 1% quality (was 1.5% per 1% quality).
1.2.0	Fixed a bug with Molten Shell and mitigated physical damage reflection.
1.0.3c	Fixed a bug where Molten Shell sometimes did no damage.
1.0.3	Fixed an instance crash with Molten Shell when linked with Cast when Damage Taken.
0.11.0	Armour and threshold values have been adjusted for new monster damage scaling. Fixed a bug where Spell Totems casting Molten Shell would keep recasting the skill.
0.10.0	Now provides more armour and has had its detonation thresholds changed. The Molten Shell used by Goatmen has been given new art.
0.9.11	Reduced the damage required to set it off in the first four levels.
0.9.7c	Fixed a bug with level 19 and 20 had the wrong values.
0.9.6	Molten Shell has been added to the game.