Duelist



"Quick to anger, even quicker to strike, the Duelist is a man of haughty character and deadly skill. He is brash and confident. Some might call him arrogant, but he backs up his taunts with a keen blade and a callous heart. The Duelist is a thrill-seeker, always sniffing out conflict and picking fights. This habit has gotten him in trouble countless times, but he's always survived with skill and guile. The Duelist is a master of close-quarters combat, dealing lethal damage with a wide array of weapons while escaping most harm. Women swoon at the sight of him, men tremble at the thought of him, and few that face him in battle live to tell the tale."

The Duelist is Path of Exile's strength/dexterity hybrid class, making him unmatched at dealing and avoiding damage. He can effectively use a shield, but is equally comfortable slashing away with a powerful two-hander or fighting with weapons in both hands. His powerful arms can draw the strings of the heaviest and most lethal longbows. His highly honed reflexes give him a cat-like ability to dodge and parry incoming attacks, be they arrows or axe swings. The Duelist is a daunting foe, and his reputation as a ruthless killer is well deserved.

The equipment associated with the Duelist's strength and dexterity are Helmets, Scale/Bridagines/Doublets/Lamellar, Scale Gauntlets, Scale Boots, and Round Shields.

Base stats
as of 2.1.1d
 * Same for all classes

Ascendancy classes
Duelists can specialise into one of these three Ascendancy classes:

Text and Speech
The Duelist was voiced by New Zealand actor, Regan Sharp. The Duelist's voice has been completely redone in The Awakening expansion by Kieran Foster.

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.

I care naught for riches, little for friendship. The duel is all I need. I may be an exile, but I will carve a road back to Oriath, one foe, one victory at a time. Ill fortune may have banished me to Wraeclast, but I will live to hear them scream my name in the great arenas again."

Character Dialogue
Upon Washing Up on Twilight Strand: "Even the dead rise to challenge me here."

Achieving Level 2: “It's nice not to be dead yet.”

Achieving Level 3: “It seems this new arena suits me!”

Achieving Level 5: "Couldn't ask for a better training ground than Wraeclast!"

Achieving Level 10: "My fans in Oriath would barely recognize me!"

Achieving Level 15: "I'm starting to think there's more to life than prize or perish."

Achieving Level 20: "I believe I can give the great Daresso a run for his money now!"

Having killed Brutus: "Skill beats size every time."

Having killed Merveil: "We stand at Death's door. Ladies first, fair Merveil."

Having killed Kraityn: "Looks like your mind was not as swift as your blades, Bridge rat."

Having killed Alira: "It's hard to cast a spell with a blade in your throat, eh? Witch?"

Having killed Oak: "Well fought Oak... A shame we only had the trees as audience."

Having killed Vaal Oversoul: "A duel like no other. I think I am starting to like this 'Wraeclast'."

Having killed General Gravicius: "Dying in battle...That is the only honourable thing you have done Gravicius!"

Having killed Piety: "Sorry beautiful, but someone had to put a stop to all this ugliness."

Having killed Dominus: "An unjust death driven by an unjust exile! I think we're even, High Templar."

On the Terraces: "Not the most pleasant of arenas, but it will have to do. For now."

On the Prison: "It's to be a cage fight then. I can live with that."

On the Ship Graveyard: "I almost feel sorry for these doomed sea dogs."

On the Chamber of Sins: "A place of soiled dreams; I'll have to train carefully here."

On the Crematorium: "I am in favour of a fair fight. I doubt I will get that in this place."

On Solaris: "It seems there's still glory in the old Empire yet!"

On Lunaris: "Piety's home away from home... Let's see if this sick witch is in."

On Aqueduct: "A stroll along a picturesque canal. Some time in the mountains. What could be more relaxing?"

On the Dried Lake: "Now this is... grim."

Having killed Voll: "It seems to me, Voll, that I just did you a favour."

On The Mines Level 1: "There's nothing like making a ground-shaking entrance."

On The Mines Level 2: "Actually, I'm not really sure I like the sound of that."

On freeing Deshret's spirit: "Always happy to help a damsel in distress."

On The Crystal Veins: "Buried under tons of rock? Not a very good way to end this tale of mine."

On Kaom's Dream: "I once heard a Karui mention their 'island of the dead'. Perhaps this is it."

Having killed Kaom: "Just be happy that you got a warrior's death, Kaom."

Having killed Daresso: "Your glory will be remembered in song forever, Daresso. I promise you that."

On Belly of the Beast: "I'm inside it... the Beast itself!"

Piety, the Abomination, in the Belly of the Beast: "Oh Duelist, you're so cute when you're bewildered."

Piety, the Abomination, after being defeated: "My beautiful champion, I knew I could rely on you."

Piety, after being restored:

"That's twice now that I've experienced a 'little death' with you, Duelist. This time it was just the rude awakening I needed.

When we shared our 'moment' back in the Lunaris, part of me wishes I'd died at your feet as intended. The little girl within me that shies from darkness, from greatness."

On The Harvest: "This thing gets more twisted with every step I take."

Having killed Doedre: "I didn't catch a word of what you said, Doedre. That's probably a good thing."

Having killed Maligaro: "Take comfort, Maligaro. An artist's work is always worth more when he's dead."

Having killed Shavronne: "Flattery will get you nowhere with me, m'lady."

Malachai's introduction: "What a pleasure to finally meet you, Duelist. You and I will create the most beautiful of Nightmares together. Let us bathe in blood, Duelist. So that this world might be bathed in glory!"

Piety's last words: "This is what I get for trying to be a bloody hero. An honest death... the only redemption I was ever likely to get. You know, it's a question that's always haunted me... whose face will be the last I see. I like the answer. Go, my pretty champion. I want that fine arse of yours to be the last thing I see."

Replying to Piety: "Oh, well, far be it from me to deny a lady's final wish."

Having killed Malachai: "It's a strange feeling, when the fighting is done. I've won. The nightmare has ended."

Full inventory: "I believe in traveling light."

Using skills in town: "There'll be time for that soon enough."

Attempted to destroy a quest item: "I think that will come in handy at some point."

Out of mana: "My spirit is spent."

Not enough Intelligence: "Can't quite get my head around this one."

Not enough Dexterity: "Need to be a little more deft to use this."

Not enough Strength: "I'll need to build up some muscle for this one."

Unique NPC Dialogue
Nessa's Introduction:"Now there's a face I never expected to see exiled. The maidens of Oriath must lie wailing in their beds now that their mighty duelist has left them. Or is that why you're here? Did you disappoint your adoring fans somehow? I'm Nessa, and I suppose I should thank you for ridding us of Hillock, that putrid giant you felled out there. Back in Oriath, I disdained your kind.  In Wraeclast, I don't have that luxury."

Bestel's Introduction: "A dashing duelist, drenched and deserted on the dreary strand. That's the first line in a poem I'm writing about you, exile. Easy, lad. You could lacerate a bloke with a look like that. The name's Bestel, captain of the good ship 'Merry Gull'. Alas, my Merry Gull is gone. My crew is gone. But my wits remain... after a fashion."

Hargan's Introduction: "Now you're a familiar face! A face that cost me a good deal of coin at arenas in Theopolis. Took you with a privileged boy with a death wish. I bet all I had against you. Turned out you were dandy with a blade as you were with your wardrobe. Well maybe you can help us, Duelist"

Piety in The Prison: I recognise that pretty face. Grand arena, Theopolis. I've a future in mind that I think would suit you, Duelist.

Piety closing the Thaumuturgic Seal: You're a fine blade in need of forging, Duelist!

Kira after Malachai's death:

"The Beast is dead, and Wraeclast owes you its life. Is this the grand ending you were hoping for, Duelist?

Yes, you must be very proud of yourself."

"Petarus and Vanja after Malachai's death:

Petarus: There's no arena, no trophy, no acolade, no title...

Vanja: ... no end to what Petarus could spout in your honor.

Petarus: In this case, I think it's all right to do so for a bit, don't you?We're standing in the presence of the greatest Duelist that ever lived.

Vanja: For once, I actually agree with him.

Petarus: You've done more than attain glory, Duelist. you've saved the whole bloody world!

Vanja: We needed a hero and you rose to the occasion. Thank you."

Tasuni after Malachai's death:

"You are an unusual creature indeed, Duelist. Your very being screams self-interest, self-aggrandizement, self-fulfillment... yet, you have committed the greatest and most selfless of acts.

Was it an act of the heart or merely an act? Only you can answer that one, and feel free to keep it to yourself. To the rest of us, it doesn't matter why you did it, only that you did it!

Now you have the privilege to stride off into the sunset in search of glory or perhaps even peace. That's the story you were told as a child, isn't it?

Go, enjoy your story, Duelist. May the ending be what you hope it to be."

Lady Dialla after Malachai's death:

I've met just one other man like you upon this long and twisted thread that is my life. Chitus. A man who understood what it took to give himself absolutely to Glory. Yet you and he are different in one tiny, little way. Chitus died gloriously. You did not.

And now it is my Malachai who is dead. I knew it, felt it, understood it the moment you struck the final blow. I am, I was... The Gemling Queen, and now my King is dead."

Version history

 * Introduced to the game.
 * }

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