Duel wield vs defense builds

[Larry Daley]

Hello there, I already have a ritualist and a brigand and I quite like them. I also have a pyromancer, but as far as melee builds are concerned, I find there to be too much diversity for me to make a simple choice, so is there anyone who can care to give me feedback on melee builds and their favourite ones?

Thanks

[MedeaFleecestealer]

Probably depends on how offensive v defensive you want to be. The classic tank is the Conqueror (Warfare/Defense), but a Templar (Dream/Defense) is also good on the defensive side of things. Spellbinder (Spirit/Defense) and spear using Warden (Hunting/Defense) can be pretty good as well.

Offensive-wise, Harbinger (Warfare/Dream) and Spellbreaker (Warfare/Spirit) can be good as can a spear using Slayer (Hunting/Warfare).

[Ze]

I have a corsair (rogue + defense) and a warden (hunting + defense). They are both very good to play, but I wouldn't advise the corsair as it is a little bit complicated to establish a good build (and it can become quickly a "piano" build). Usually when people look for a melee class with defense mastery, they go for the conqueror (warfare + defense): you cannot go wrong with that one, builds are fairly straightforward, and they are efficient in legendary. But I prefer the warden instead; spear + shield, you do very good piercing damage, you have a very nice piercing debuff to increase your damages, hunting can be very defensive too. With defense, of course you get a tanky character, but you also get very offensive skills which use the shield as a weapon.

Another melee class that I enjoy: spell breaker (warfare + spirit). You can specialise in dual wield, and the spirit mastery brings an oustanding defensive aura, as well as other very defensive skills. It also has got a spell to inflict more damage to undead foes (the most common foe).

[chris.ferrantegerard]

Duel wield is granted by Warfare or Rune. For melee, Warfare is the better option because it has the superior Dual Wield tree. For throwing, Rune is much better through as Warfare's Dual Wield only work for melee and Rune has Menhir Wall for CC and Thunder Strike for 10x projectile shotgun in addition to its Dual Wield skill.

Dual wield is generally a 'glass cannon' type build, you give up block from shield for extra offence. It's also heavily skill dependent. You need points spent in the base skill to trigger it and points spent in the synergy skills for AOE. Until you can put heavy points into the Dual Wield tree it's usually best to stick with shield in off-hand; the advantages of the shield in the beginning. For sustain, you can get some 'attack damage converted to health', this will help keep you alive (except when fighting enemies like undead obvisously)

As for builds, it's not too difficult to build. Warfare + mastery of your choice. Warfare is solid all around, I completed a solo mastery clear with it. Strength for melee damage and heavy armour, Dex for OA/DA and weapons, maybe a bit of health if you feel a little too fragile.

Ex:
Assassin (Warfare + Rogue) = Dual wield trapper, standard gives traps big boost
Harbringer (Warfare + Dream) = Dual Wielder with lots of good passives


Defence has a lot of shield oriented abilities so it favours using shield heavily. Generally you'll want shield attack skills, Shield Charge to intercept enemies, maybe Batter for AOE depending on what you're other mastery is, etc. Pick up skills for survivability (blocking, health restoration and the like)

Fairly simple to build as well usually, generally you'll be getting the same stats as a Dual Wielder (Str, Dex, maybe some health) unless you're playing a hybrid build (I ran a Paladin caster that used Ice Shards as main attack, didn't touch any shield attack skills and was designed around equiping heavy armour to tank damage).

For builds, Conqueror (Warfare + Defence) comes to a mind as the stereotypical tank, good mix of offence and defence. Templar (Defence + Dream) makes for a good tank as well, lots of DA, good passives from Dream. Haven't done a clear with one but Warden should be a good option for spear builds, should have lots of DA and tanky but I think it lacks a good spammable attack option.

[Larry Daley]

Thanks for the input guys, I've decided I want to play offensively with duel wield. Anyone got recommendations for a spellbreaker build, or should I try something else?

[Gorilianul]

Originally posted by Ze:

I have a corsair (rogue + defense) and a warden (hunting + defense). They are both very good to play, but I wouldn't advise the corsair as it is a little bit complicated to establish a good build (and it can become quickly a "piano" build). Usually when people look for a melee class with defense mastery, they go for the conqueror (warfare + defense): you cannot go wrong with that one, builds are fairly straightforward, and they are efficient in legendary. But I prefer the warden instead; spear + shield, you do very good piercing damage, you have a very nice piercing debuff to increase your damages, hunting can be very defensive too. With defense, of course you get a tanky character, but you also get very offensive skills which use the shield as a weapon.

Another melee class that I enjoy: spell breaker (warfare + spirit). You can specialise in dual wield, and the spirit mastery brings an oustanding defensive aura, as well as other very defensive skills. It also has got a spell to inflict more damage to undead foes (the most common foe).

I have an assassin and and the skill slots are all full and I have to change the skill slot set to tier two even so I could use the other skills. Sometimes I get killed while trying to use all the skill LOL. There is this annoying time where you have to wait so that the skill actually activates, like 1 or two seconds. If you bypass it it won't trigger. Really annoying...
I feel like I have to play a piano.

[Ze]

Originally posted by Nicias Ancient Athens:

Thanks for the input guys, I've decided I want to play offensively with duel wield. Anyone got recommendations for a spellbreaker build, or should I try something else?

Start with the warfare mastery at level 2, quickly put 4 points in the mastery, and at least 1 point in dual wield so that you can equip two weapons at the same time. Then I would say your priorities would be to focus on the dual wield skill tree, the weapon training passive (more OA and attack speed) as well as Onslaught skill tree for your left mouse button. Dodge attack is a must have for defense, war horn can be very useful, and battle standard gives very nice bonuses.

In spirit mastery, assign points to the deathchill aura skill tree. Then you should decide if you want to invest points in the liche king tree (most powerful pet of the game) or not. Keep in mind it costs a lot of points to invest. Otherwise, if you decide to not take the liche king, spirit ward tree, vision of death, Unearthy power Summon outsider are excellent skills.

[Ze]

Originally posted by Gorilianul:

I have an assassin and and the skill slots are all full and I have to change the skill slot set to tier two even so I could use the other skills. Sometimes I get killed while trying to use all the skill LOL. There is this annoying time where you have to wait so that the skill actually activates, like 1 or two seconds. If you bypass it it won't trigger. Really annoying...
I feel like I have to play a piano.

I feel you, same for me haha. My secondary bar is for my 3 auras I have to activate, then the main bar is filled with active skills and potions.
And yeah I have to wait that my character stops fighting to launch a skill. In the meantime I am bashing the skill I want him to use so that I can be sure it activates lol