Duelist

Quick Summary: The Duelist is Path of Exile's Strength/Dexterity hybrid class, specializing in melee combat with exceptional offensive capabilities and evasion-based defense. He excels with swords, axes, two-handed weapons, dual-wielding, and bows.

Overview

• Mechanic Type: Core Mechanic (Character Class)
• Introduced: Path of Exile Release (2013)
• Accessibility: Available from character creation

Current Status:

• Core: Yes - fundamental character class
• Voided: No
• Modified: Voice actor rerecorded in The Awakening expansion

What Is It?

Description

The Duelist is one of Path of Exile's seven core character classes, representing the perfect fusion of brute strength and graceful precision. Positioned between the Marauder (pure Strength) and Ranger (pure Dexterity) on the passive skill tree, the Duelist offers unmatched versatility in dealing and avoiding damage.

The class excels at physical combat, whether wielding massive two-handed weapons, fighting with a weapon in each hand, or using a shield for additional defense. His high Dexterity also makes him capable with bows, though he's primarily known for melee prowess. The Duelist's combat style emphasizes high damage output combined with evasion-based defense and dodge mechanics.

In the lore, the Duelist was exiled for killing a high-born lord in a duel after suffering insults - he defended his honor with six inches of steel and shows no regret. His background as an arena fighter shapes his ruthless, glory-seeking personality and his philosophy that the duel is all he needs in life.

Visual Identification

How to Recognize:

• Character model wears hybrid Armour/Evasion equipment
• Starting location on passive tree: bottom-right, between Marauder and Ranger
• Signature armor types: Scale Mail, Lamellar, Bridagine (red-tinted hybrid gear)
• Distinctive voice lines emphasizing honor, combat, and arena fighting

How It Works

Character Selection

The Duelist is selectable during character creation. Once chosen, you start on the Twilight Strand with your base statistics and position on the passive skill tree. The class defines your starting point but doesn't lock you into specific builds - the passive tree and gear choices determine your final build.

Progression System

Leveling (1-68):

• Gain passive skill points from quests and levels
• Unlock skill gems through quest rewards and vendors
• Progress through the campaign (10 Acts)

Ascendancy (After Act 3):

• Complete Labyrinth trials to unlock Labyrinth access
• Complete Normal, Cruel, Merciless, and Eternal Labyrinth
• Choose one of three Ascendancy classes
• Gain 8 Ascendancy passive points total (2 per Labyrinth)

Endgame (68+):

• Progress through Atlas of Worlds
• Optimize build with endgame gear
• Tackle pinnacle bosses and endgame content

Base Stats

Starting Statistics (Level 1)

Stat	Value	Notes
Strength	23	Tied highest with Marauder
Dexterity	23	Tied highest with Ranger
Intelligence	14	Lowest Int class
Life	62	Standard starting life
Mana	47	Standard starting mana
Evasion Rating	15	Base evasion

Combat Statistics

Stat	Value	Notes
Damage per second	4.3	Physical damage
Chance to hit	89%	Starting accuracy
Attacks per second	1.2	Base attack speed
Main hand damage	2-6	Physical damage range
Main hand accuracy	46	Starting accuracy rating
Critical strike multiplier	150%	Standard for all classes
Chance to evade	32%	Starting evasion chance

Note: All charge-related stats (Endurance/Frenzy/Power) and resistance stats are identical across all classes.

Ascendancy Classes

The Duelist can specialize into one of three Ascendancy classes, each offering distinct playstyles:

Slayer

Focus: Overwhelming offense and life leech

Signature Mechanics:

• Massive damage bonuses against rare and unique enemies
• Cannot be stunned while leeching
• Overleech - life leech effects don't expire at full life
• Increased area of effect and cull threshold
• Life and mana leech effects are not removed at Full Life

Best For: High-damage melee builds, leech-based sustain, boss killing

Playstyle: Aggressive offense with excellent sustain through leech, excels at taking down tough enemies

Gladiator

Focus: Block, bleed, and explosions

Signature Mechanics:

• Dual-wield or shield block mechanics
• Bleed proliferation and bleed damage scaling
• Enemy explosions on kill
• Challenger charges for speed and damage
• Can reach maximum block chance

Best For: Block-based defense, bleed builds, map clearing with explosions

Playstyle: Defensive block specialist or bleed-focused damage dealer with satisfying chain explosions

Champion

Focus: Fortify, defense, and support

Signature Mechanics:

• Permanent Fortify with enhanced effect
• Impale damage scaling
• Adrenaline buff on low life
• Taunt mechanics that increase damage taken by enemies
• Intimidate and aura effect bonuses

Best For: Tanky builds, Impale-based damage, party support

Playstyle: Extremely durable melee fighter that can support allies while dealing consistent damage

Equipment Affinities

Preferred Armor Types

The Duelist naturally gravitates toward Armour/Evasion hybrid gear (Strength/Dexterity requirements):

• Helmets: Hybrid Str/Dex helmets
• Body Armour: Scale Mail, Brigandine, Doublet, Lamellar
• Gloves: Scale Gauntlets
• Boots: Scale Greaves
• Shields: Round Shields (Str/Dex hybrid)

Weapon Proficiency

Excellent With:

• Swords - One-handed and two-handed
• Axes - All types
• Dual-Wielding - Two one-handed weapons simultaneously
• Two-Handed Weapons - Massive damage weapons
• Bows - Longbows and other Dex-based bows

Viable With:

• Claws - For attack/life gain builds
• Maces - Less common but functional
• Staves - Possible but not optimal

Passive Tree Position

Location: Bottom-right quadrant of the passive skill tree

Starting Area Benefits:

• Easy access to melee physical damage nodes
• Close to life and armour nodes
• Adjacent to evasion and accuracy clusters
• Near leech and attack speed nodes
• Quick path to dual-wield and two-handed weapon specialization
• Access to sword and axe specific nodes

Notable Keystones Nearby:

• Acrobatics - Increased dodge chance (Dexterity side)
• Resolute Technique - Never miss but can't crit (Strength side)
• Blood Magic - Use life instead of mana (Strength side)
• Iron Reflexes - Convert evasion to armour (center)
• Point Blank - Projectile damage scaling (Dexterity side)

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

✅ Versatile Offense

• Excellent melee damage scaling from both Str and Dex
• Multiple weapon style options (2H, dual-wield, shield, bow)
• Strong physical damage bonuses from passive tree location

✅ Balanced Defenses

• Access to both armour and evasion
• Can build hybrid defense layers effectively
• Good life pool from nearby Strength nodes

✅ Diverse Build Options

• Three very different Ascendancies enable varied playstyles
• Works with attack-based skills of all types
• Can pivot between offensive and defensive focus easily

✅ Strong Leveling

• High starting Strength and Dexterity
• Good damage from early levels
• Flexible weapon choices while leveling

Weaknesses

❌ Low Intelligence

• Struggles to meet intelligence requirements for gems and gear
• May need to invest in +Int nodes or use gear with intelligence
• Limits spell-based build options

❌ Limited Spell Casting

• Poor access to spell damage nodes
• Low mana pool limits spell usage
• Not suitable for pure caster builds

❌ Melee Limitations

• Shares standard melee challenges (positioning, range)
• Requires close-range combat which can be dangerous
• Less effective against highly mobile enemies

❌ Attribute Balancing

• Hybrid attribute requirements can be demanding
• May struggle with triple-attribute requirements
• Requires careful gear selection for attribute balancing

Recommended Build Archetypes

Excellent Fit (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Physical Melee Attackers

• Sword builds (Lacerate, Blade Flurry, Reave)
• Axe builds (Cyclone, Ground Slam)
• Strike skills (Double Strike, Dual Strike)

Dual-Wield Specialists

• Maximum attack speed builds
• Bleed/bleed explosion builds (Gladiator)
• High DPS glass cannon builds (Slayer)

Block-Based Builds

• Max block Gladiator with shields
• Counterattack builds (Riposte, Reckoning, Vengeance)

Good Fit (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Two-Handed Melee

• Heavy strike builds
• Slam skills (Earthquake, Sunder)
• Reach weapons for safer range

Bow Attackers

• Physical bow builds
• Bleed bow builds (Gladiator)
• Attack-based bow skills

Impale Builds

• Champion Impale stacking
• Any physical attack build with Impale support

Viable (⭐⭐⭐)

Hybrid Attack/Defense

• Fortify-focused Champion tanks
• Leech-based sustain builds
• Life gain on hit builds with fast attacks

Poor Fit (⭐⭐)

Spell Builds

• Limited access to spell nodes
• Low intelligence restricts gem options
• Better classes available for spells

Elemental Attack Builds

• Can work but less optimal than pure physical
• Requires more investment to scale
• Other classes better suited (Ranger, Templar)

Lore & Character

Background Story

The Duelist was once a celebrated arena fighter in Oriath, famous for his skill with blades and his ruthless efficiency in combat. He was exiled after killing a high-born lord in a duel - the noble had insulted him, and the Duelist responded by defending his honor with lethal force.

He shows no remorse for his actions, believing he did the right thing regardless of the victim's social status. The Duelist sees exile to Wraeclast not as punishment but as a new arena where he can prove his worth through endless combat.

Personality

Core Traits:

• Honor-bound - Defends his honor at any cost
• Glory-seeking - Driven by recognition and fame
• Combat-focused - Views life through the lens of dueling
• Confident - Unshakeable belief in his abilities
• Pragmatic - Cares little for riches, only combat prowess

Memorable Quotes

Intro Speech:

"He had it coming. Was I supposed to bear such insults with inaction, simply because of his high birth? That lord sang a different tune with six inches of steel in his guts. Now they call me a criminal for defending my honour. I'd do the same again to anyone who crossed me."

Level Progression:

• Level 3: "It seems this new arena suits me!"
• Level 10: "My fans in Oriath would barely recognize me!"
• Level 20: "I believe I can give the great Daresso a run for his money now!"

Notable Combat Lines:

• Killing Brutus: "Skill beats size every time."
• Killing Daresso: "Your glory will be remembered in song forever, Daresso. I promise you that."
• Killing Malachai: "It's a strange feeling, when the fighting is done. I've won. The nightmare has ended."

Voice Actor

Originally voiced by Regan Sharp, the Duelist was completely rerecorded by Kieran Foster in The Awakening expansion.

Tips for New Players

Starting as Duelist

1. Choose Your Path Early

   • Decide between 2H weapons, dual-wield, or shield early
   • Plan your Ascendancy choice based on desired playstyle
   • Path toward weapon-specific nodes first

2. Manage Intelligence Requirements

   • Keep intelligence gear pieces handy
   • Take +30 Int nodes if struggling with gem requirements
   • Consider intelligence on jewelry

3. Balance Offense and Defense

   • Don't neglect life nodes - aim for 150%+ increased life
   • Layer defenses (armour + evasion, or block + dodge)
   • Invest in leech for sustain

4. Weapon Choice Matters

   • Two-handed = highest single-hit damage, slower
   • Dual-wield = fastest attack speed, more complex gearing
   • Sword + Shield = balanced offense/defense

Common Mistakes

❌ Neglecting Intelligence

• Problem: Can't use important gems or wear hybrid gear
• Solution: Keep +Int items, take nodes when needed

❌ Ignoring Accuracy

• Problem: Missing attacks severely reduces DPS
• Solution: Take accuracy nodes, use Precision aura, or get accuracy on gear

❌ Pure Evasion Defense

• Problem: Strength-side positioning makes evasion stacking inefficient
• Solution: Hybrid armour/evasion or convert evasion to armour with Iron Reflexes

❌ Spreading Too Thin

• Problem: Trying to scale too many damage types
• Solution: Focus on one primary damage source (physical, bleed, or elemental)

Comparison to Similar Classes

vs. Marauder (Pure Strength)

Similarities:

• Both excel at melee combat
• High life pool potential
• Access to two-handed weapons

Differences:

• Duelist has evasion/dodge options, Marauder is pure armour/life
• Duelist has better attack speed, Marauder has higher raw damage
• Marauder better for pure tanking, Duelist better for dodge-based defense

Which to Choose:

• Choose Duelist if: You want faster attacks, evasion, or block builds
• Choose Marauder if: You want maximum tankiness and pure life builds

vs. Ranger (Pure Dexterity)

Similarities:

• Both have high evasion potential
• Both good with bows
• Fast attack speed

Differences:

• Duelist stronger in melee, Ranger stronger at range
• Duelist has more life, Ranger has better dodge/spell dodge access
• Ranger better for projectile skills, Duelist better for strikes

Which to Choose:

• Choose Duelist if: You want melee focus or hybrid armour/evasion
• Choose Ranger if: You prefer bow builds or need maximum evasion

vs. Shadow (Dex/Int Hybrid)

Similarities:

• Both hybrid attribute classes
• Both good with fast weapons (claws, daggers)
• Both can do crit-based builds

Differences:

• Shadow has spell casting options, Duelist doesn't
• Shadow uses energy shield, Duelist uses armour/evasion
• Shadow better for poison/chaos, Duelist better for physical/bleed

Which to Choose:

• Choose Duelist if: You want pure attack builds with no spells
• Choose Shadow if: You want spell options or energy shield builds

Version History

Major Changes

The Awakening (2015)

• Voice actor changed to Kieran Foster
• Complete dialogue rerecording
• Impact: Improved voice quality and character consistency

Ascendancy (2016)

• Added three Ascendancy classes: Slayer, Gladiator, Champion
• Impact: Massively expanded build diversity and specialization options

Various Patches

• Multiple Ascendancy node reworks and rebalances
• Passive tree shifts affecting starting area
• Impact: Ongoing meta shifts for different Duelist builds

Related Content

Related Build Guides

Once build guides are created, they will be linked here:

• Bleed Gladiator builds
• Slayer leech builds
• Champion Impale builds
• Dual-wield specialist builds

Related Mechanics

• Fortify - Key defensive mechanic for Champion
• Impale - Scaling mechanic for Champion
• Bleed - Primary damage type for Gladiator
• Leech - Sustain mechanic for Slayer
• Block - Defense mechanic for Gladiator

Useful Resources

• Path of Exile Wiki - Duelist: https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Duelist
• Path of Exile Wiki - Slayer: https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Slayer
• Path of Exile Wiki - Gladiator: https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Gladiator
• Path of Exile Wiki - Champion: https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Champion

Changelog

Version	Date	Changes
1.0.0	2025-11-04	Initial documentation

Path of Exile Wiki: https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/DuelistLast Updated: 2025-11-04 for Patch 3.25.1