Master the ultimate Amon Crucible build in Borderlands 4. Our complete guide covers skills, weapons, gear, and strategies for dominating with your Forgedrone army.
TL;DR
Build Focus: Cybernetics tree specializing in Forgedrone summoning and elemental damage Playstyle: Mid-range support with constant ability spam and drone companions Best For: Players who love minion-based gameplay and crowd control Key Strategy: Spam Forgeskill, Action Skill, and Ordnance to maintain permanent Forgedrone army
Looking for an Amon build that turns you into a one-person army? The Crucible build transforms Amon into a Forgedrone commander who never fights alone. Instead of getting up close and personal with melee combat, this build focuses on overwhelming enemies with your floating weapon companions while you provide ranged support.
After extensively testing this build across different difficulty levels, I can confidently say it’s one of the most satisfying playstyles in Borderlands 4. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching your axe and sword drones tear through enemies while you coordinate the assault from a safe distance.
Why Choose the Crucible Build?
Unlike Amon’s melee-focused builds, Crucible offers:
- Constant Companionship: Never fight alone with up to 4+ active Forgedrones
- Excellent Survivability: Shield-focused defensive strategy
- Crowd Control Mastery: Perfect for handling multiple enemies
- Ability Spam Gameplay: Low cooldowns mean constant action
- Beginner-Friendly: Forgedrones provide margin for error
Reality Check: This isn’t a high-DPS speedrun build. It’s about tactical control and survivability, making it perfect for newer players or those who prefer strategic gameplay.
Complete Skill Priority Guide (49 Points)
I’ve organized these skills in exact leveling order – follow this progression for optimal build development:
Early Game Foundation (Levels 1-15)
Cast Iron (5/5) – Priority #1
- +25% Forgeskill Cooldown Rate
- Improved Gun Handling
Why First: This is your build’s foundation. Faster Forgeskill cooldowns mean more Forgedrone uptime from the start.
Destruction Engine (5/5) – Priority #2
- Increased Forgeskill & Detonation Damage
- Essential damage scaling
Endless War (Augment) – Priority #3
- Primed enemies take increased Gun Damage per Prime stack
- Detonating Primed enemies spawns seeking Forge Axes
Pro Tip: This augment transforms your Action Skill into a crowd-clearing machine. Always prime multiple enemies before detonating.
Mid Game Forgedrone Army (Levels 16-30)
Tempered Pyre (1/5) – Your First Forgedrone
- Spawns Incendiary Axe Forgedrone for 20 seconds
- Refreshing Forgeskill extends all Forgedrone durations
Twin Tempers (1/1) – Double the Axes
- Adds Cryo Axe Forgedrone alongside Incendiary
- Slight duration reduction but worth the extra firepower
Bellows (3/5) – Damage Amplification
- +21% Gun Damage for 8 seconds after Forgeskill use
- Perfect synergy with frequent ability casting
Defensive Foundation (Levels 31-40)
Impetus (3/3) – Survivability Core
- Kill Skill: Increased Shield Regeneration & Movement Speed
- Essential for staying mobile and healthy
Heavy Plate (2/5) – Shield Foundation
- Increased Maximum Shield & Overshield Capacity
- Sets up later defensive synergies
Cacophony (5/5) – Ordnance Enhancement
- Increased Ordnance Damage & Detonation Radius
- More explosive power for area control
Advanced Forgedrone Mastery (Levels 41-50)
Tempered Ice (3/5) – Hammer Time
- Spawns Hammer Forgedrone when using Ordnance
- Another companion for your growing army
Masterwork (5/5) – Forgedrone Powerhouse
- Massive damage and duration buffs for ALL Forgedrones
- Game-changing upgrade for your minion army
Snowmaul (Capstone) – The Ultimate Forgeskill
- Replaces Double-Edge with Twinned Forgehammer
- Cryo damage with ricochet mechanics
- Additional ricochets per Detonation
Endgame Dominance
Tempered Lightning (5/5) – Sword Squadron
- Spawns Shock Sword Forgedrone on Action Skill use
- Action Skills extend all Forgedrone durations
Armor of Contempt (5/5) – Overshield Generation
- Gain Overshield when dealing Action Skill damage
- Constant protection with frequent ability use
Raging Inferno (5/5) – Critical Enhancement
- Action Skill damage can critically hit
- Critical hits apply Burn status
Reactive Armor (3/5) – Self-Sustaining
- Detonations restore Shield and reduce Ordnance cooldown
- Perfect synergy with explosive playstyle
Ordained Hammer (1/1) – Finale
- Hammer Forgedrones deal Ordnance damage
- Chance to cause Detonations on enemy damage
Optimal Weapons & Gear Setup
Primary Weapons
Rainbow Vomit Shotgun (Wildcard Mission: A Lot to Process)
- Tri-elemental damage output
- Perfect for close-range Forgedrone support
- Complements elemental build focus
Ohm I Got SMG (Bramblesong, Bittervein – Stoneblood Forest)
- +50% Shock damage at Shield energy cost
- Excellent synergy with shield-focused build
- High fire rate for consistent damage
Essential Gear
Weatherproof Sparky Shield (Shadowpelt, Whistler’s Maw)
- Solid regeneration rate
- Shocks nearby enemies when not at full capacity
- Perfect defensive tool for mid-range combat
Rocket Launcher Ordnance
- Fast-firing, hard-hitting area damage
- Shorter cooldown than alternatives
- Triggers Hammer Forgedrone spawning
Class Mod Priorities
Look for mods that enhance:
- Damage Reduction
- Skill Damage bonuses
- Shield Regeneration Rate
- Maximum Shield Capacity
- Green skill tree bonuses
Specialization Strategy
Primary Focus: Survivor
- Increases Health and Shield capacity
- Bullets Are Scared Of Me: Damage reduction
- The Best Defense: Damage increase
- Perfect synergy with shield-focused build
Secondary: Brute
- Riddle You This: +50% damage for simply shooting
- Gun damage scaling for weapon effectiveness
Optional Branches:
- Runner: Bullet Train for hipfire while sprinting
- Gadgeteer: Enhanced Ordnance utility
Firmware Optimization
Recommended Setup:
Baker (3 pieces):
- +10% Shield Capacity
- +15% faster Repkit Cooldown
- +25% Maximum Health
Gadget Ahoy (1 piece):
- +15% faster Ordnance Cooldown
GOOJFC (1 piece):
- +10% Action Skill Cooldown Rate
This combination ensures maximum survivability while maintaining constant ability uptime.
Combat Strategy & Tips
The Forgedrone Rotation
- Start Fights: Forgeskill → Immediate Axe Forgedrones
- Escalate: Action Skill → Prime enemies + Sword Forgedrone
- Area Control: Ordnance → Hammer Forgedrone + explosions
- Maintain: Refresh abilities before Forgedrones expire
Advanced Tactics
Crowd Control: Let Forgedrones handle weak enemies while you focus fire on elites Boss Encounters: Stack all Forgedrones then focus on priming and detonating Emergency Situations: Detonations restore shields – use them defensively
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t let Forgedrones expire – refresh early
- Avoid pure melee range – you’re not a melee build
- Don’t neglect gun damage – Forgedrones supplement, not replace shooting
- Remember to prime before detonating for maximum effect
Build Progression Timeline
Early Game (1-20): Focus on Forgeskill frequency and basic Forgedrones Mid Game (21-35): Add defensive layers and weapon synergies
Late Game (36-50): Complete Forgedrone mastery and specialized tactics
Endgame Viability
This build excels in:
- Mob Clearing: Forgedrones handle crowds effortlessly
- Boss Farming: Sustained damage with defensive options
- Group Play: Excellent support role with crowd control
- Solo Survival: Never truly alone with your drone army
Final Thoughts
The Crucible build transforms Amon from a berserker into a tactical commander. While it may not have the raw DPS of pure damage builds, the combination of survivability, crowd control, and constant companionship makes it incredibly satisfying to play.
The learning curve is gentle, making it perfect for players new to Amon or those transitioning from other Vault Hunters. Once you master the rhythm of ability rotation, you’ll find yourself effortlessly controlling entire battlefields.
Want to explore other Amon builds? Check out our guides for different playstyles, or dive into our complete character breakdown to discover all your options.
Ready to start building your Forgedrone army? Get Borderlands 4 on Steam, PlayStation, or check out the official Borderlands 4 website for the latest updates and news.
Ready to command your own Forgedrone army? This build proves that sometimes the best offense is a really good defense – backed by floating weapon companions!
