DW or 2H?

Started Duelist and I realised, I do not know what weapons they use.

Do you duel-wield say, two swords or do/can you pick a 2H sword?

Thanks.

You can do whatever you want.

I think most people do dual wield or 1h+shield

Dual wield = faster attacks
1h + shield = more armor or evasion
2h = higher damage

You don't have to use just swords. There are other things like axes, maces, claws, bows, staves, and even wands. Whatever weapon you choose will determine what passives to aim for (increase dmg with swords vs increase damage with maces). And what skills you choose.. some skills can be used with dual wield and some can only be used with 2h, etc.

Edit- modified top section per below.

death you get the same amount of gem slots with either set-up

1h 3 sockets
offhand 3 sockets
2h 6 sockets

edit: and barely more survival from using a shield over DW as it has inherent block and can be boosted to cap also.

I would say the choice boils down to what skills you want to use keeping in mind your AoE options.

"

DarkNRG wrote:

death you get the same amount of gem slots with either set-up

1h 3 sockets
offhand 3 sockets
2h 6 sockets

edit: and barely more survival from using a shield over DW as it has inherent block and can be boosted to cap also.

I would say the choice boils down to what skills you want to use keeping in mind your AoE options.

I could have sworn it was 4 for 1h/shield. My mistake.

Shields do provide evasion/armor which dual wield won't.

"

blackdeath101 wrote:

"

DarkNRG wrote:

death you get the same amount of gem slots with either set-up

1h 3 sockets
offhand 3 sockets
2h 6 sockets

edit: and barely more survival from using a shield over DW as it has inherent block and can be boosted to cap also.

I would say the choice boils down to what skills you want to use keeping in mind your AoE options.

I could have sworn it was 4 for 1h/shield. My mistake.

Shields do provide evasion/armor which dual wield won't.

Hence me saying barely (though to be fair gains from a shield and the right build is more than barely), but again it boils down mostly to skill preference in my opinion.