Why play a duelist?

Hello, I just started playing in the OB with a duelist character and have encountered a problem. I'm trying to decide on a passive tree build, but no option really seems appealing due to the same idea being better applied with a different character (If I want to build into tankyness and strength I'd be better off as a marauder, If I want dps I would be better off a ranger). So I am left a bit confused as to what exactly I should do with this class. Should I just branch a little into both sides or would this be a waste of efficiency?

tldr:

What can the duelist spec into that other classes cannot spec into as effectively?

i would like to know as well. As far as I can tell Duelist has some bad starting off passives but just has quicker access to things like Unwavering stance and IR. Other than that I can't really see why I would start as a duelist.

General consensus is that the Duelist has the weakest starting point. Some benefits however:

Closest to Iron Reflexes
Large number of sword passives
Skill Effect duration cluster is unique
Twin Terrors is huge dual wield crit cluster
Two large dual wield block passives
Life regen by the start is actually better than marauder
Berserking is a great passive

I hear they will be getting some love no worries.

to my understanding, all hybrids are kind of "screwed". hybridism doesnt quite work out with the way the trees are, i dont think. i know as a templar i feel like i either build like a witch, or a marauder theres no real in between that seems to be optimal.

this topic makes me sad, because after i get out of classes tonight i was planning to starting a duelist or shadow, but it just seems like the hybrids kind of get the short end of the stick compared to the pure classes.

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FryChikN wrote:

to my understanding, all hybrids are kind of "screwed". hybridism doesnt quite work out with the way the trees are, i dont think. i know as a templar i feel like i either build like a witch, or a marauder theres no real in between that seems to be optimal.

this topic makes me sad, because after i get out of classes tonight i was planning to starting a duelist or shadow, but it just seems like the hybrids kind of get the short end of the stick compared to the pure classes.

Hybrids are fine, but require more planning, patience and loot to excel. Duelist is, as stated in the OB patch notes, "under-performing" and will get some love in the future. That said, Duelist is playable now, just not as immediately interesting as some other classes.

After playing only Shadow through OB, I've rolled a Duelist. With a bit of planning and a few false starts, I'm now thoroughly enjoying it. Also, Duelist gets Sweep at start. Having melee AOE early makes leveling a lot easier.

Shadow is very strong and I highly recommended it for people who like fast melee play.

They are closed to some amazing key stones.
They make better rangers than rangers do(In my opinion)
Just because they arn't your cup a tea doesn't make them bad.

Hello,

I'd first like to say that the Duelist viability majorly varies depending on if you are in Default or Hardcore leagues.

The main issue is that in Hardcore league, since a single mistake or desync can lead to your death, you want to make extra sure that your build scales well in survivability across all level ranges. The problem is that other classes can achieve nearly the same endgame builds as the Duelist in HC, except with a more efficient and a better scaling route.

This is one of the reasons why the developers of PoE themselves have said that the Duelist tree is the weakest and that they will focus on buffing it very soon.

There are "viable" duelist builds in HC, but it is very difficult to make the argument that they scale better than alternative builds accomplishing the same thing.

A second problem is that it is rather difficult to efficiently travel across "highways" in the duelist starting area as opposed to some of the other starting areas.

Finally, I'll say that if you're rolling a character in Default league, you should not be as concerned here. The biggest advantage to the Duelist tree, in my opinion, is relative proximity to lots of Critical damage nodes, while also having access to HP, regen, armor, evasion, Iron reflexes, and BM. Many classes can stack some of these well, but the duelist is unique in its hybrid ability to go for both crits and survivability. (Again, the problem is efficiency and being spread too thin.)

Some questions to consider when making a duelist build regarding synergy:

1) Because you will be having a lot of Dex nodes in your build, you will be guaranteed some evasion rating. However, a low evasion rating will not really noticeably help you in most difficult fights. To make these nodes most efficient, ask yourself -- Do I want to stack evasion rating? Do I want to stack armor and evasion rating and go for Iron Reflexes?

2) The Blood Magic keystone is conveniently nearby. Mana buffs are harder to come by. Do I want to stack health and go for BM? How much do I want to commit to mana passives, and where will I get them? Remember that mana puts a limit on DPS. Even if you throw a ton of points into weapon DPS, somebody who has efficient mana use and a 5/6L armor piece may meet and even out-DPS you. Also remember that IAS requires more mana.

can someone please explain the leather and steel nodes and iron reflexes. people say the LS does not convert into IR. how does IR get calculated? i think i understand the purpose of IR is to lose all evasion but basically sicne all the evasion covnerts into armor then the character simply takes alot less dmg, right? but LS does not convert to IR? do the small 8% nodes by LS convert to IR or are they worthless for IR?

I got some confirmation from a GM earlier today.


All the passives that increase armor (like the 8% here and there and the +30% on that one node) do in fact calculate into Iron Reflexes. How they calculate I have no idea.


I rushed straight to iron reflexes as a sword and board duelist in HC.

Just hit act 2 town, I have 910ish armor using evasion armor, evasion shield, and hybrid other parts (armor and evasion).

My DPS may not be the highest, but I can take a ton of damage.

Just food for thought. I didnt think that Duelists were underpreforming but apparently they are getting a little love soon, which excites me.