Frenzy / Cleave DW Duelist Build

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Wallach wrote:

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hydd wrote:

Will this build have enough accuracy for the endgame? I don't see a lot of accuracy nodes picked up and am curious if there is enough from gear or do mobs have low evasion in the endgame?

I think there's +24% Accuracy from nodes, plus gear and Dex it isn't too bad. It's build for Swords this way so running slashing swords will give you another +18% per hand which should be plenty. If you run it with Axes instead you'll pick up 16% from the Hatchet Master island for 32% but without the slashing swords' inherent bonus. Still should be easy to cover with gear, or an Accuracy support gem if necessary.

Thanks for the response, Wallach. I had a similar build but I had dipped into Resolute Technique and dropped the sword passives in favor of mace variety. Not 100% what way I'll go as of now, but that's the beauty of PoE!

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hydd wrote:

Thanks for the response, Wallach. I had a similar build but I had dipped into Resolute Technique and dropped the sword passives in favor of mace variety. Not 100% what way I'll go as of now, but that's the beauty of PoE!

There's definitely merit in running Resolute Technique and I have a build somewhere that goes that route. Only reason I don't prefer it is because it's not quite fast enough for me attack speed wise, and it feels harder to get acceptable life levels. But you can focus on Endurance charges rather than Frenzy, and the +5% max resist and -30% crit damage taken nodes are ones any melee build loves to have.

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Wallach wrote:

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hydd wrote:

Thanks for the response, Wallach. I had a similar build but I had dipped into Resolute Technique and dropped the sword passives in favor of mace variety. Not 100% what way I'll go as of now, but that's the beauty of PoE!

There's definitely merit in running Resolute Technique and I have a build somewhere that goes that route. Only reason I don't prefer it is because it's not quite fast enough for me attack speed wise, and it feels harder to get acceptable life levels. But you can focus on Endurance charges rather than Frenzy, and the +5% max resist and -30% crit damage taken nodes are ones any melee build loves to have.

Wallach, I actually modified my build a bit to remove the mace passives and add more life nodes. If you get the chance, take a peek and let me know what you think.

Resolute Technique Variant

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hydd wrote:

Wallach, I actually modified my build a bit to remove the mace passives and add more life nodes. If you get the chance, take a peek and let me know what you think.

Resolute Technique Variant

Yeah that looks about how I'd plan it with Resolute Technique. I don't favor this way because it seems too tight for points, and has a defensive slant without being able to eat up as much Life as I'd want for a more defensive build.

My only advice would be to drop the 2 0.4% regen nodes, because they are very inefficient. You also may not really need the 10/10/30 Armor island; consider taking those 5 points and picking up either a little more damage (Berserking & Lava Lash would probably be good single point investments) or using them to reach farther right to the 5 Life nodes northeast of Ambidexterity.

Edit - while leveling, the 10/10/30 should probably be taken until you get up to the Marauder start and are connected to the 12/10/18 line, then respec and move them.

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Wallach wrote:

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hydd wrote:

Wallach, I actually modified my build a bit to remove the mace passives and add more life nodes. If you get the chance, take a peek and let me know what you think.

Resolute Technique Variant

Yeah that looks about how I'd plan it with Resolute Technique. I don't favor this way because it seems too tight for points, and has a defensive slant without being able to eat up as much Life as I'd want for a more defensive build.

My only advice would be to drop the 2 0.4% regen nodes, because they are very inefficient. You also may not really need the 10/10/30 Armor island; consider taking those 5 points and picking up either a little more damage (Berserking & Lava Lash would probably be good single point investments) or using them to reach farther right to the 5 Life nodes northeast of Ambidexterity.

Edit - while leveling, the 10/10/30 should probably be taken until you get up to the Marauder start and are connected to the 12/10/18 line, then respec and move them.

Thanks Wallach. Very excited to see how this character will pan out.

Luck to you!

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hydd wrote:

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Wallach wrote:

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hydd wrote:

Wallach, I actually modified my build a bit to remove the mace passives and add more life nodes. If you get the chance, take a peek and let me know what you think.

Resolute Technique Variant

Yeah that looks about how I'd plan it with Resolute Technique. I don't favor this way because it seems too tight for points, and has a defensive slant without being able to eat up as much Life as I'd want for a more defensive build.

My only advice would be to drop the 2 0.4% regen nodes, because they are very inefficient. You also may not really need the 10/10/30 Armor island; consider taking those 5 points and picking up either a little more damage (Berserking & Lava Lash would probably be good single point investments) or using them to reach farther right to the 5 Life nodes northeast of Ambidexterity.

Edit - while leveling, the 10/10/30 should probably be taken until you get up to the Marauder start and are connected to the 12/10/18 line, then respec and move them.

Thanks Wallach. Very excited to see how this character will pan out.

Luck to you!

Should work out great. I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to start Marauder with it, to be honest.

Which Passive Skill Points and which Skill Gems should I preferably get during the early/mid levels?

My variant of your build. Not using Unawering Stance and Iron Reflexes, also using alot less passive points.

At the beggining I would go almost directly to the Marauder side of tree ( picking up almost every health nodes I can ) , defense which I get there is crucial for smooth leveling. After that I would go on Resolute Technique, offense and on Blood Magic.

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Marineux wrote:

Which Passive Skill Points and which Skill Gems should I preferably get during the early/mid levels?

Here's what my tree looks like in Open Beta currently @ 47: Link

To start, I recommend going immediately for the life/regen/life arc just below the starting area, going down through Water Dancing, down to the life/life/life/regen island, then right along the bottom to Diamond Skin. From there you have a lot of choices as to which direction to go next; I think I decided to go over to Berserking, then picked up Iron Reflexes and the following level paired it with Unwavering Stance.

For skill gems, obviously we start with Cleave so that's taken care of until you want to upgrade to a Quality version. I'd also run Hatred from quest reward until you can find Anger, and Dual Strike since you absolutely cannot support Frenzy until you have Blood Magic and the ability to sustain its higher cost. Warlord's Mark is another one I would get early on and level it, even if you don't have the mana to use it much until you hit Blood Magic.

I'm uploading a video of what it's looking like in Cruel A2 right now, just to give people an idea of the pace and effectiveness of the build at this point in the game. You really pick up a ton of steam when you can support Frenzy and Warlord's Mark via Blood Magic, and the speed of the build is really fun.

Hm, I see, I see. Sounds like this'll be a build for me. Not too overly complex yet not too simplified! Cheers mate!