Duelist - How to make a viable build

Welcome! Thanks for joining me here today, I'll be your instructor, Rabbit. Please hold your questions until the end of the presentation, thank you.

Now, let's get started. Why are we here today? That's simple, we want to create a passive tree build with a Duelist!

First off, there are several things to keep in mind:

• You get 1 passive skill point every time you level.
  
  • Currently, game content spans levels 1-60.
    
    • The recently announced end-game includes content up to level 70.
  • This means you can reasonably expect to reach level 70, but you need to be end-game ready by level 60.
• You get 1 passive skill point for 2 different quests during each difficulty, you also have an option during one quest to get Life, Mana, Resistance, or an additional passive skill point.
• This means that your character should be end-game ready by the time they have 71 skill points (59 level ups, and 12 quest points)
• You will never reach level 100, so creating a build utilizing all 111 points that the online tool allows you is inappropriate.

The current end-game of Path of Exile is hard. There are many monsters that will hit you at least once. Thus, it is your best interest to design a character that is capable of surviving one or more hits!

Another thing to keep in mind is the method that the game calculates your damage. Without getting too much into the details, if an item, passive, or ability has the keyword "Increases" consider it adding to your damage multiplier. If the keyword is "More" consider it to multiply your existing damage.

Everyone loves bullet points!
DO:

• +Do increase your offense and defense!
• +Do spread out your offensive points between physical damage, elemental damage, and attack speed!
• +Do pick up accuracy so that you can actually hit things! (Spells have 100% chance to hit! No need for accuracy there!)
• +Do make a balanced build utilizing only 60-70 points!
• +Do look for synergies between skills!
• +Do post your build using [code][/code] tags! An unclickable build is a bad build :(

DON'T:
[list][li]-Don't go purely into offense or defense![/li]
[li]-Don't stack purely into one statistic![/li]
[li]-Don't post a build using all 111 points![/li]
[li]-Don't forget that skills cost mana, have a plan![/li]
[/list]

Now, let's get into the specifics, shall we?

The duelist is an excellent starting point for players that want a quick character with a lot of versatility. He starts out with a great number of offensive and defensive options near him, including 1h and shield, 2h weapons, and dual wielding.

Generally a duelist would do best wearing the combination strength/dexterity armour, or going for the Iron Reflexes keystone ability. Duelists have several shield nodes nearby if they wish to pursue that as a defensive option.

Here are some example Duelist builds:
1H + Shield 76 point build
Dual Wield 74 point build

You'll notice that both of those builds utilize both offensive and defense nodes, they pick up weapon damage passives, and attack speed passives, and they don't neglect their mana. They are not perfect, but they are excellent starts, and the type of thing a new user would be expected to post.

I'll now open up the floor to questions...


Yes, you, back there, go ahead....

I wanted to make a guy that was a bit more dodgey. So I made this guy following your tips.

How does he look?

Dodgey

I dont have quite as many hp nodes but I picked up some more defensive skills. Does it even out?

What i think is that kind of stuff is not like a cake recipe, every combination is valid, you must check your purpose..
Btw nice ideas

"

Shevek wrote:

I wanted to make a guy that was a bit more dodgey. So I made this guy following your tips.

How does he look?

Dodgey

I dont have quite as many hp nodes but I picked up some more defensive skills. Does it even out?

You don't pick up anywhere near enough defense. You have 32% increased Armour, and 18% evasion. You can't rely totally on your shield to keep you alive.

Also, because you've split yourself between evasion and armour, you won't be getting the full benefit of both on anything like you would with Iron Reflexes. I would say take those 3 points you have in armour out, and put them into one of the evasion areas (Like the one right next to arrow dodging).

I can't tell you at what exact point in the game this build will fail, but I can tell you that it will be before you get to end-game.

It's a good start, just work a bit more on your defensiveness.

http://tinyurl.com/2-Handed-Swords

Thoughts?

120 % Physical Damage.
48% Accuracy
105% Life
50% armor
5% Life regen/sec
14% fire resist
15% all resist
36 % fire damage

232 str
92dex
14 intel

Trying to shoot for a 2 handed sword build

tought without catalyze or the shadows 3+20% w.e.d., you will not do enough dps in this current metagame, so or

or

Can you explain one moment - one-handed pasive works, when you use two swords?

"

xSETTx wrote:

Can you explain one moment - one-handed pasive works, when you use two swords?

???where

Clarify - if you take the passive skill on the "+ attack speed one-handed sword," but to use the weapon in two hands (sword + sword), this skill will work or been deemed to be that you are armed with dual-wield and it needs skill "+ attack speed dual-wield" ?
I apologize for my English...

"

xSETTx wrote:

Clarify - if you take the passive skill on the "+ attack speed one-handed sword," but to use the weapon in two hands (sword + sword), this skill will work or been deemed to be that you are armed with dual-wield and it needs skill "+ attack speed dual-wield" ?
I apologize for my English...

yes, you dual-wield a one-handed weapon, so you take bonus from both dual wield and one handed weapon passive nodes