Cyclone for Invasion. Help me Decide!

Allright so a few things are for certain: I'm going Cyclone with no shield so "Oh shield is soo much better" comments can go on another thread.

Here's the dilemma. I really want to give DW a try but a few mechanics issues are kicking me in the face.

So Cycloning while dual-wielding will swing a single weapon per spin. So even with two good one-handers you only gain 10% atk speed and block. On top of this two-handers tend to have a bigger reach. (wiki says 2h axe=7 and 1h sword=6 so not a huge difference there)

There are some really sweet DW and sword nodes moving toward the ranger area with plenty of block and life/dmg nodes.

I'm going Blood Magic so auras are pretty much out of reach and some block really seems calling to me.

Here's some drafts of builds.




2h option seems simpler but DW offers near 40% block + more with BoR
Also I'd like opinions on how useful it is to head to the templar area if I go DW. Some life and aoe dmg/radius but would it be better to stay in duelist/mara area and just pick up more life and dmg nodes?

What do you think?

"

Soosi wrote:

So even with two good one-handers you only gain 10% atk speed and block.

"oh shields so much better"
You're even saying it yourself. ;)

"

Also I'd like opinions on how useful it is to head to the templar area if I go DW. Some life and aoe dmg/radius but would it be better to stay in duelist/mara area and just pick up more life and dmg nodes?

What do you think?

You gain from templar:
*1 Endurance charge (weird choice as you skipped the other ones)
*Armor/ES (do you need the ES? If only armor is required, there's plenty of other sources)
*+50% life
*Amplify
This costs you 18 skillpoints.

What would you get for 18 skillpoints in the duelist/marauder zone?

33 skillpoints left: +24% life, +30% armor (little nodes)

30 points left: Rerouted to get 2% life leech, Marauder Endurance Charge. Lost a little bit of damage here.

25 points left, grabbed "Gallantry" and "Fencing" for some serious 58% damage, 7% attackspeed.

Life nodes are hard to find now, compared to templar we are still missing 26%.
On the way to scion you can find 4 nodes at 8%, costs us 6 skillpoints:
19 points left, +32% life
Or, for 5 skillpoints, there's 26% life +20 Strength near Ranger:
20points left, that's what I would go for.

I'll not compare it in full detail, use poebuilder.com for that, but what I did, is basically:

*same life
*same Endurance Charge, but with added regen effect (Marauder)
*way more damage (gained round +50%)
*about the same %armor, but no %ES.
*2% life leech
*saved 1 skillpoint (could iE be used for +30% fire damage, or the potion point to get to the +10% resist, +1% max resist node in Marauder)
*no "Amplify"
*for sure some stat shift (less strength? Don't know, didn't count it).

Edit:
I ALWAYS forget the 2 sword/life nodes:
Another 24% damage, 12% life for just 2 points!
18 points left
Those have to be taken, of course!

Touché on the shield note.
But this is a matter of principle!

Thanks for a good anwser but the BIG question I have is DW vs 2H. Is the block worth it and how would the dmg compare?

Block increases your effective HP against physical by a lot!

Your tree nets you ~35% block, which means: 4000 life are actually 5000+ life.
This is an insane survivability boost.

Twohanded would do more damage, and as the skill Cyclone doesnt benefit from dualwielding, it would be a more obvious choice.

So: More Damage vs 35% block?

I'd take Block any day.
But... I'd take a shield. ;)

Awesomesauce. I my thoughts exactly. I'll go with DW then.

Case closed