Duelist is a dead class

The problem I found with Duelist is that : the starting nodes are too weak, or not interesting enough.

If I want evasion, I rather roll as ranger, and get the evasion route.

If I would starting on the left damage nodes, I had rather roll as Ranger or Marauder since both of them has better life nodes for the early game, it's better in the long run to spend 5-6 first nodes in life.


The only good thing about starting as Duelist is : I could have faster access to the path through great Mana Flow / Master of Arena / Bravery clusters, then hook down for either Dual Wielding or Shield nodes much early in the game.

But since those nodes is on the middle highway, easily accessible from both Ranger, Marauder, and Templar via the left highway, the profit of starting as a Duelist is not so visible. Duelist got even more of bigger hit from the block nerf, which made his roll kind of... unstable / unclear ? I dont even know how to answer the question "What build suit Duelist?" or "What roll he would be fun playing as?"

The thing is, even if you go melee, you can always choose Marauder, Ranger, Shadow or even Scion. Not because they would be better, which might or might not be the case, but just so that you dont have to bear with that enormously annoying voiceover.

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DorenAlexander wrote:

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Arialia wrote:

my second a duelist because needed of melee splash for my shadow but try a molten strike and love it , i made 3 for race and i had better result than before with ranger. Witch was good also don't know with this new skill tree.

The begin of duelist's nodes is perfect for physical skills melee like molten strike ( convert physical in fire )

I'm also rolling a molten strike Duelist.

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgQAAdwFLQd1CpsLYRQgGbQaPiFVLOkyCTWSNug64UGHSn1KyE3jUEdYr14TXzlfP2BLYSFnoGxGbmluqnJsdO14DXjreWh67311hNmE74Zgh2qHdorwkAqQbJstplepJ6luqZSwq7Xytz6-ir6nwKbBBMqQytPTftX42L3cPd0N3ePjn-RR5wrpRu8O73ryL_JF9Ob56PzF_gr-j_66

Next level when I get Iron Grip, I'll drop the gem and probably put in Fire Pen.

Well prefer my version :)
https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgQAFewvzEd-TUZi7GVNhNmK8JkruR29Nr2BvqfBgsSCxLjKkOlGBS1673TthO9gS14TMk6PmQSHwL9AoOHvqfqI7RpVYSHlxfVGHHgUTQHnNuhko7yf_EsYkacwns3vDhQgXz_kUVBH9kg9_IzPxthYYyftGS7Uj2eb_lQNzStQHM49D8T2Mft_43k56dUaPn7iKS58uAY5JIv7qvMGUWBo8q9sxYp8u6IA8B8Esxo4kFUnL-w4OtgYXTzvrK8M96mV7npboKdVfA5DyE8E

life + damage with sword + shield ( tried dual wield in race fun also )

a more tanky version by Nataniel :
https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgQAuR0V7IrwxILpRoTZ1fjEuG5pZU2-p702R37Bgi_MYuxNRgUteu907YTvYEtOKrZBQzEbyCmlsKtKfeOfh3ZnoPzF3Q1br1bo4JWy3AhJMglybGxGqW54Db6KAdzYvTWStfL-CjGepldN4_6PU6UMXxynxq63Pv5UDc0rUBzOPQ_E9jwtBjkki_uqUWDzBny7aPKvbMWKogDwHwSzGF0875BVJy_sODrYGjhfP8EEeWgLYe8OFCBQRzH7f-M9_IzP9khYY8bYFKne5VYt
find here in french forum : http://www.path-of-exile.fr/forum/poe-duelist/3461-build-d%C3%A9butant-tanky-molten-strike

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Darth_Silegy wrote:

The thing is, even if you go melee, you can always choose Marauder, Ranger, Shadow or even Scion. Not because they would be better, which might or might not be the case, but just so that you dont have to bear with that enormously annoying voiceover.

Me i can't play with marauder ... too barbarian for me ( if he was skin of Thor why not ;) )


but love voice of shadow :)

Well and with skill riposte / vengeance /reckoning i think melee had gain something .

I don't think duelist is rip but players hears too much people who told/tell in tchat than 'melee is dead' ... that because i made one , always make different choice than many :D

I love Duelist, he's probably my favourite character. I like his personality and look. I don't think he's exactly less playable than Marauder, it's just that most builds that could start as either class will have an easier time starting as Marauder.

duelist nodes are fine and are in line with other builds ,

his one problem , his only problem in fact is that his gem rewards are terrible

he gets melee damage on full life like 3 times when he needs it zero times
he only gets reduced mana and melee physical once and they are on the same gem reward
and he gets faster attacks 3 times when at most he needs it twice.


the mara on the other hand gets a much much much better set of gem rewards with the only difference being that he gets life armor where as duelist gets life melee physical.


i tried playing duelist for the new league and the lack of good gem rewards ( i think 4 quests worth WASTED) caused me to stop playing torment.

I started a duelist two hand swords spectral throw guy and he seemed to have the best starting point for that to me

Here my passive tree if you want to flame me

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgQBmy1fOd3j9Oawq76ndcvqYs2YjX63trZBTioppVuv4JWy3AhJVuifgkMxv9VTuzgbG8iE73Tteu8FLWBLJ9VeEyFV3D0HdcCmLPuKIicgYSGpJ5Bsh2p4eqmUGlUcePVG5cWI7an64e_uevoYZKM26IZgMn46Ug48FHEbqn6aAwCBOvJawQfXfmMXEPDdDfzFeOsKm-cKVvp313SgWHUGIBfcBqJ_KzB81FLL9TGw3L3nDwMnRNKj5wIR73rTfsSiAeenMJ_LlwYtgxmK-wn22hqPGNt08YUyJJ1iWt-YlcibtVM1D6sWvyaVYeIDHh9B