Mastering the Blade Dance: Unveiling the Best Class for Dual Wielding in Path of Exile
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So, you want to become a whirling dervish of death, a blur of blades leaving nothing but corpses in your wake? Excellent choice! Dual wielding in Path of Exile (PoE) is a satisfying playstyle that can deliver incredible damage. But which class is the absolute best for this aggressive, in-your-face combat style?
The crown arguably belongs to the Duelist, specifically the Champion ascendancy. While other classes certainly can dual wield effectively, the Champion’s ascendancy skills offer a synergistic blend of damage, survivability, and utility that perfectly complements the dual-wielding playstyle. Let’s delve into why.
Why Champion Reigns Supreme for Dual Wield
The Champion ascendancy provides several key advantages for dual wielders:
- Fortify and Adrenaline: The “Inspirational” node grants permanent Fortify and the ability to reliably gain Adrenaline. Fortify significantly reduces incoming damage, crucial for a melee build often in the thick of combat. Adrenaline grants a substantial boost to damage and attack speed, further amplifying your offensive capabilities.
- Impale Mastery: The “Master of Metal” node makes your attacks apply Impale, a powerful physical damage over time effect. Dual wielding attacks apply Impale more frequently, maximizing the benefits of this mechanic. It provides a significant, and often overlooked, source of damage.
- Damage and Accuracy: “Worthy Foe” ensures you always hit enemies and provides a hefty damage bonus against taunted enemies. Accuracy is paramount, and having it guaranteed frees up gear slots for other stats. The damage bonus is just icing on the cake.
- Versatility: While the Champion excels with physical damage, the ascendancy also supports elemental conversions and other damage types. This versatility allows for diverse build options and adaptability to different content.
Honorable Mentions: Other Strong Dual Wielding Classes
While Champion takes the top spot, other classes can certainly make dual wielding work well:
- Ranger (Raider, Deadeye): Rangers excel at speed and evasion. Raider’s Frenzy Charge sustain and onslaught provide excellent attack speed and movement speed, while Deadeye’s projectile enhancements can be adapted to dual wielding builds using skills like Spectral Throw or Blade Flurry. However, Rangers often lack the inherent tankiness of the Champion.
- Shadow (Assassin): The Assassin is a crit-focused class, and dual wielding can be used to maximize crit chance and frequency. However, the Assassin requires more investment in gear and is generally squishier than the Champion, making it more challenging to play.
- Marauder (Berserker): The Berserker offers raw damage and life leech, making it a viable option for aggressive dual wielders. However, the Berserker’s “rage” mechanic can be difficult to manage, and its survivability can be inconsistent.
- Scion (Slayer/Champion): The Scion allows you to combine the Slayer’s leech and cull with the Champion’s Fortify and Adrenaline. This offers a solid balance of damage and survivability, but Scion builds can be more expensive to gear.
Building Your Dual Wielding Champion
When building a dual-wielding Champion, focus on:
- Weapon Choice: Choose weapons with high physical damage and attack speed. Swords, axes, and claws are all viable options. Consider the weapon’s implicit modifiers as well.
- Skill Selection: Popular skills include Blade Flurry, Dual Strike, Lacerate, and Cyclone. Choose a skill that synergizes well with your weapon type and ascendancy.
- Defensive Layers: Fortify is a great start, but you’ll also need other defensive layers, such as life, armour, evasion, block (the dual wield block chance is beneficial here), and elemental resistances.
- Impale Stacking: Maximize your chance to Impale and increase the Impale effect to amplify your damage output.
- Consider Unique Items: Certain unique items, like The Saviour, can significantly enhance your dual wielding capabilities, mimicking your attacks to increase damage and clear speed.
The Importance of Gameplay and Playstyle
Ultimately, the “best” class depends on your personal playstyle and preferences. The Champion offers a well-rounded and forgiving experience, while other classes may offer higher potential damage or more unique playstyles. Experiment and find what works best for you. Understanding the core mechanics of PoE is paramount, as highlighted by the work of the GamesLearningSociety.org, demonstrating how game design principles can enhance learning and engagement. Don’t be afraid to respec your character and try different builds!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dual Wielding in PoE
1. What are the benefits of dual wielding in PoE?
Dual wielding grants a 15% chance to block attack damage and 10% more attack speed. It allows you to deal more damage by using two weapons simultaneously but often sacrifices the defensive benefits of a shield.
2. Can any class dual wield in PoE?
Yes, any class can dual wield, provided they equip two one-handed weapons. However, certain classes and ascendancies synergize better with the playstyle.
3. Does dual wielding work with spells?
No, dual wielding only affects attack skills. Spellcasters typically use a wand, scepter, or dagger in one hand and a shield or off-hand item in the other.
4. Is dual wielding good for beginners?
It can be, but it requires a good understanding of defensive mechanics. Champion is an easier starting point than some other dual wield classes.
5. What are some good unique items for dual wielding?
Some notable unique items include:
- The Saviour: Creates mirrored illusions that mimic your attacks.
- Paradoxica: Provides a massive damage boost due to its “cannot roll attack modifiers” property.
- Touch of Anguish/Touch of Anguish: Cold conversion and proliferation for elemental builds.
6. How does dual wielding interact with the “More” modifier?
The “+10% More Attack Speed While Dual Wielding” modifier is extremely powerful, as it multiplies your overall attack speed rather than adding to it.
7. What is “attack speed”?
Attack speed determines how quickly you perform attacks. Higher attack speed translates to more damage output per second.
8. What is the best weapon type for dual wielding?
There is no single “best” weapon type. Swords, axes, and claws are all viable options, depending on your build and preferences. Consider their attack speed, damage type, and implicit modifiers.
9. How do I improve my survivability as a dual wielder?
Focus on defensive layers like:
- Life: High life pool for survivability.
- Armour: Reduces physical damage taken.
- Evasion: Chance to avoid attacks.
- Block: The dual wield block chance is beneficial.
- Elemental Resistances: Reduces elemental damage taken.
- Fortify: Reduces damage taken from hits.
10. What are the disadvantages of dual wielding?
The main disadvantage is the loss of a shield, which provides significant defensive benefits. Dual wielders need to compensate with other defensive layers.
11. What is the difference between “chance to hit” and “accuracy”?
Accuracy determines your chance to hit enemies. If your accuracy is too low, you will miss attacks, significantly reducing your damage output. Chance to hit is derived from your accuracy rating compared to the enemy’s evasion rating.
12. How does Impale work?
Impale is a physical damage-over-time effect applied to enemies. Each hit applies an Impale stack, and the damage from each stack is dealt over a short duration. Stacking multiple Impales significantly increases your damage output.
13. What are some good support gems for dual wielding builds?
Common support gems include:
- Melee Physical Damage: Increases physical damage.
- Ruthless: Grants a powerful but infrequent hit.
- Brutality: Increases physical damage but prevents dealing elemental damage.
- Impale Support: Increases Impale chance and effect.
- Fortify Support: Provides Fortify when hitting enemies.
14. How important is attack speed for dual wielding?
Attack speed is crucial for dual wielding, as it directly impacts your damage output. The 10% More Attack Speed bonus from dual wielding makes it even more valuable.
15. Can I effectively dual wield without a dedicated build?
It’s generally not recommended. Dual wielding is most effective when you build your character and skills around it. Simply equipping two weapons without considering the synergies will likely result in a weaker build.