In the latest season of Dark and Darker, a wave of fire and fury has swept through the dungeons, introducing the fearsome Infernal Crucible and the legendary weapon known as the Ember Maul. This guide will walk you through how to acquire the Ember Maul, the best class builds for wielding it, and how to clear the Infernal Crucible—a fiery gauntlet that tests your skill, timing, and Dank and Darker Gold survival instincts.

What Is the Ember Maul?

The Ember Maul is a two-handed legendary-grade weapon with high base damage, heavy knockback, and a unique Burning Crush passive: any charged strike has a 25% chance to ignite enemies, causing fire DoT (Damage over Time) for 6 seconds. It’s particularly potent against armored foes and bosses with elemental weaknesses.

Base Damage: 55–70

Swing Speed: Slow

Special Perk: Burning Crush – 25% ignite chance on heavy strikes

Durability: Medium

Class Restrictions: Best used by Barbarian and Fighter

How to Obtain the Ember Maul

The Ember Maul is not a common drop—you’ll need to complete a specific sequence in the Infernal Crucible dungeon and defeat its guardian boss. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

Step 1: Reach the Infernal Crucible

Required Level: 15+ recommended

Location: Accessible via Inferno Rift Portals, which now spawn randomly in mid-tier dungeon runs (starting floor 3+).

Portal Color: Glowing red-orange with volcanic crackling sound

Step 2: Activate the Crucible

Once inside the Infernal Crucible, locate and light three Ember Braziers spread across the level. Each brazier is guarded by elite Flameborn mobs, so bring a group or strong solo build.

Brazier 1 – Chamber of Cinders: Watch out for explosive urn traps.

Brazier 2 – Molten Spire: Climb carefully and dodge lava jets.

Brazier 3 – Furnace Hollow: Stealth enemies hide in the dark.

Lighting all three opens the Molten Gate at the dungeon’s center, which leads to the boss arena.

Boss Fight: The Ashen Warden

To earn the Ember Maul, you must defeat The Ashen Warden, a towering fire golem wielding his own version of the Ember Maul. His attacks are slow but devastating, and the arena is riddled with magma pits and flame traps.

Ashen Warden Mechanics

Molten Slam: A vertical AOE maul strike that ignites the ground

Ember Eruption: Shoots fire geysers in a cone; avoid by strafing

Smoldering Roar: Debuff that lowers fire resistance by 30% for 10 seconds

Enrage (Below 30% HP): Gains attack speed and triggers flame waves on impact

Strategy Tips

Kite and Strike: Use corners and terrain to break line-of-sight and bait his heavy slam.

Fire Resist Potions: Crucial for surviving the DoT effects and the environmental damage.

Bring a Cleric or Bard: For healing, buffs, and removing fire-based debuffs.

Interrupt Window: Right after the Ember Eruption, the Warden is vulnerable for 3 seconds—unload your burst damage here.

Once defeated, the Warden has a 50% chance to drop the Ember Maul. In party play, loot is random among surviving members, so be ready to negotiate or roll.

Best Class Builds for the Ember Maul

Barbarian – Infernal Crusher Build

Perks: Smash, Morale Boost, Carnage

Skills: Rage, Savage Roar

Gear Priorities: +Strength, +Weapon Damage, Fire Resistance

Playstyle: Focus on trading blows and AoE cleave while absorbing hits with high HP. Use Rage for burst and Savage Roar to weaken mobs.

Fighter – Ember Knight Build

Perks: Counterattack, Swift, Combo Attack

Skills: Sprint, Second Wind

Gear Priorities: Balanced armor, +All Attributes, Fire Resist Potion

Playstyle: Use Sprint to close gaps, deliver charged strikes, and disengage quickly. More defensive than Barbarian but with better utility.

Navigating the Infernal Crucible

The Crucible is one of the deadliest zones in Dark and Darker, filled with flame traps, unstable platforms, and buy Dank and Darker Gold lava chasms. Keep these tips in mind:

Watch the Floor: Tiles may heat up and explode after a delay—listen for crackling audio cues.

Torch Up: Visibility is low due to smoke. Torches or Night Vision gear is essential.

Avoid Grouped Movement: Some fire traps trigger AOE blasts—don’t bunch up.

Use Cold-Based Attacks: Ice spells and frost weapons can slow flame enemies and reduce their damage output.

Final Thoughts

The Ember Maul is not just a weapon—it’s a symbol of mastery over flame and chaos. Conquering the Infernal Crucible and defeating the Ashen Warden is no easy feat, but the rewards are immense. With the Ember Maul in hand, you’ll become a fearsome force capable of shattering armor, igniting foes, and burning your name into the annals of Dark and Darker legend.

Prepare wisely, strike hard, and let the shadows tremble before your flame.