Duelist Skills
Every node in the Duelist's three skill trees, with the engine values at rank 1 and rank 20.
On this page
The Duelist has three skill trees of its own — Bladedancer, Rogue, Fencer — and only this class can see them. Your class is picked at character creation, so the trees below are what you sign up for.
- Passive: +20% damage with Fast weapons · −20% damage with Slow weapons
- Resource: Rage — see Class Resources.
- Home hands: two one-handed weapons — the configuration the trees are built around.
- Starting kit: Training Dagger ×2.
How the trees work. Every tree is a 3 × 5 grid; rows unlock at hero level 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 30. A node needs rank 1 in the node straight above it (its prerequisite). The centre column holds the tree’s main skills — pick one as your attack; every rank in the tree’s other main skills adds its synergy to it. Actives cost 20 Rage (capstone buffs 40) and switch on with their default rule when learned; passives are always on. One skill point per hero level (plus the region rewards), per-skill cap rank 20, and on top of it maximum rank = hero level − node level + 1. “+x to Duelist Skills” on an amulet and the “+x to All Skills” of some uniques push the effective rank past the cap.
Hand requirements are a soft lock: nothing stops you learning or wearing what you like, but a gated main skill falls back to the plain swing (Strike), and a gated active or passive simply does nothing until you hold the right hands.
Each card below shows the node at rank 1 and at rank 20, rendered with the game’s own tooltip code. Other classes: Berserker · Sentinel · Monk.
Bladedancer
| Level | Node | Type | Prerequisite | Hands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flurry | Main skill | — | — |
| 1 | Precision | Passive | — | — |
| 5 | Quickfooted | Active | — | — |
| 5 | Finesse | Passive | Precision | — |
| 10 | Zeal | Main skill | Flurry | — |
| 20 | Blade Storm | Active | Quickfooted | — |
| 20 | Overwhelm | Passive | Finesse | — |
| 30 | Dance of Blades | Active | Blade Storm | — |
| 30 | Ambidexterity | Passive | Zeal | Two weapons |
Flurry
Rank 1
Fast strikes; every hit adds attack speed for a few seconds, stacking.
Weapon damage60%
Max stacks1
Attack speed+20%
Attack speed per hit+1.5%
Stacks last4 s
Synergy
Zeal+2.5% per rank
Flurry
Rank 20
Fast strikes; every hit adds attack speed for a few seconds, stacking.
Weapon damage140%
Max stacks20
Attack speed+20%
Attack speed per hit+1.5%
Stacks last4 s
Synergy
Zeal+2.5% per rank
Level 1 · Main skill
Precision
Rank 1
More Attack Rating and hit chance.
Attack Rating+25
Hit chance+0.25%
Precision
Rank 20
More Attack Rating and hit chance.
Attack Rating+450
Hit chance+5%
Level 1 · Passive
Quickfooted
Rank 1
Raises your attack speed for a while.
Attack speed+0.5%
Duration30 s
Cost20
Quickfooted
Rank 20
Raises your attack speed for a while.
Attack speed+15%
Duration30 s
Cost20
Level 5 · Active
Finesse
Rank 1
More weapon damage for every point of Dexterity above the baseline, gear included.
Damage per 10 Dexterity+0.15%
Finesse
Rank 20
More weapon damage for every point of Dexterity above the baseline, gear included.
Damage per 10 Dexterity+2.5%
Level 5 · Passive
Zeal
Rank 1
Three quick strikes per swing, each dealing part of your weapon damage.
Weapon damage3 × 20%
Synergy
Flurry+1.5% per rank
Zeal
Rank 20
Three quick strikes per swing, each dealing part of your weapon damage.
Weapon damage3 × 55%
Synergy
Flurry+1.5% per rank
Level 10 · Main skill
Blade Storm
Rank 1
Six quick hits in a blink.
Damage6 × 30%
Cost20
Blade Storm
Rank 20
Six quick hits in a blink.
Damage6 × 45%
Cost20
Level 20 · Active
Overwhelm
Rank 1
You deal more damage the faster you attack. Always on.
Damage per 10% attack speed+0.15%
Overwhelm
Rank 20
You deal more damage the faster you attack. Always on.
Damage per 10% attack speed+1.5%
Level 20 · Passive
Dance of Blades
Rank 1
For a while, more attack speed, damage and Attack Rating.
Attack Rating+0.25%
Physical damage+0.25%
Attack speed+0.25%
Duration30 s
Cost40
Dance of Blades
Rank 20
For a while, more attack speed, damage and Attack Rating.
Attack Rating+7.5%
Physical damage+7.5%
Attack speed+7.5%
Duration30 s
Cost40
Level 30 · Active
Ambidexterity
Rank 1
Both hands hit harder while you dual wield. Always on.
Dual-wield damage+0.35%
Weapondual wield
Ambidexterity
Rank 20
Both hands hit harder while you dual wield. Always on.
Dual-wield damage+7.5%
Weapondual wield
Level 30 · Passive · Needs two weapons
Rogue
| Level | Node | Type | Prerequisite | Hands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venom Strike | Main skill | — | — |
| 1 | Toxins | Passive | — | — |
| 5 | Envenom | Active | — | — |
| 5 | Opportunist | Passive | Toxins | — |
| 10 | Expose | Active | Envenom | — |
| 10 | Thousand Cuts | Main skill | Venom Strike | Two weapons |
| 20 | Lacerate | Active | Expose | — |
| 30 | Virulence | Passive | Thousand Cuts | — |
Venom Strike
Rank 1
Tainted strikes that poison the enemy for a share of your weapon damage.
Poison damage280%
Weapon damage50%
Synergy
Thousand Cuts+5.5% per rank
Venom Strike
Rank 20
Tainted strikes that poison the enemy for a share of your weapon damage.
Poison damage650%
Weapon damage50%
Synergy
Thousand Cuts+5.5% per rank
Level 1 · Main skill
Toxins
Rank 1
Your poisons and bleeds deal more damage.
Poison and bleed damage+1.5%
Toxins
Rank 20
Your poisons and bleeds deal more damage.
Poison and bleed damage+40%
Level 1 · Passive
Envenom
Rank 1
For 30 s, every hit you land also poisons the enemy.
Poison per hit0.95% of hit
Duration30 s
Poison lasts6 s
Cost20
Envenom
Rank 20
For 30 s, every hit you land also poisons the enemy.
Poison per hit25% of hit
Duration30 s
Poison lasts6 s
Cost20
Level 5 · Active
Opportunist
Rank 1
Your hits deal more damage for each poison or bleed on the enemy, up to a cap.
Damage per poison or bleed+0.15%
Counts up to10 stacks
Opportunist
Rank 20
Your hits deal more damage for each poison or bleed on the enemy, up to a cap.
Damage per poison or bleed+2.5%
Counts up to10 stacks
Level 5 · Passive
Expose
Rank 1
A hit that makes the enemy take more physical damage until it dies.
Enemy damage taken+0.5%
Durationpermanent
Physical damage50%
Cost20
Expose
Rank 20
A hit that makes the enemy take more physical damage until it dies.
Enemy damage taken+15%
Durationpermanent
Physical damage50%
Cost20
Level 10 · Active
Thousand Cuts
Rank 1
Four quick cuts per swing, each leaving a bleed. Needs two weapons.
Weapon damage4 × 25%
Bleed0.75% of hit
Weapondual wield
Synergy
Venom Strike+0.95% per rank
Thousand Cuts
Rank 20
Four quick cuts per swing, each leaving a bleed. Needs two weapons.
Weapon damage4 × 50%
Bleed20% of hit
Weapondual wield
Synergy
Venom Strike+0.95% per rank
Level 10 · Main skill · Needs two weapons
Lacerate
Rank 1
Four fast cuts, each leaving a bleed.
Bleed2.5% of hit
Damage4 × 40%
Cost20
Lacerate
Rank 20
Four fast cuts, each leaving a bleed.
Bleed75% of hit
Damage4 × 40%
Cost20
Level 20 · Active
Virulence
Rank 1
Your poisons and bleeds deal their damage faster.
Poison and bleed speed+1.5%
Virulence
Rank 20
Your poisons and bleeds deal their damage faster.
Poison and bleed speed+50%
Level 30 · Passive
Fencer
| Level | Node | Type | Prerequisite | Hands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamstring | Main skill | — | — |
| 1 | Evasion | Passive | — | — |
| 5 | Feint | Active | — | — |
| 5 | Second Wind | Passive | Evasion | — |
| 10 | Blinding Hit | Active | Feint | — |
| 10 | Reaver | Main skill | Hamstring | — |
| 10 | Counterstrike | Passive | Second Wind | — |
| 20 | Rush | Passive | Counterstrike | — |
| 30 | Momentum | Passive | Reaver | — |
Hamstring
Rank 1
Each hit slows the enemy's attacks a little more, up to a cap. Hits harder with a shield in the other hand.
Weapon damage200%
Slow cap−2.5%
Enemy speed per hit−3.5%
With a shield+15% damage
Synergy
Reaver+3.5% per rank
Hamstring
Rank 20
Each hit slows the enemy's attacks a little more, up to a cap. Hits harder with a shield in the other hand.
Weapon damage320%
Slow cap−40%
Enemy speed per hit−3.5%
With a shield+15% damage
Synergy
Reaver+3.5% per rank
Level 1 · Main skill
Evasion
Rank 1
More Defense Rating, so enemies miss you more often.
Defense Rating+0.75%
Evasion
Rank 20
More Defense Rating, so enemies miss you more often.
Defense Rating+20%
Level 1 · Passive
Feint
Rank 1
Raises your Defense Rating for a while.
Defense Rating+1.5%
Duration30 s
Cost20
Feint
Rank 20
Raises your Defense Rating for a while.
Defense Rating+30%
Duration30 s
Cost20
Level 5 · Active
Second Wind
Rank 1
Every kill heals a share of your maximum life.
Heal per kill0.5% max HP
Second Wind
Rank 20
Every kill heals a share of your maximum life.
Heal per kill15% max HP
Level 5 · Passive
Blinding Hit
Rank 1
A hit that lowers the enemy's Attack Rating until it dies.
Enemy Attack Rating−1.5%
Durationpermanent
Physical damage50%
Cost20
Blinding Hit
Rank 20
A hit that lowers the enemy's Attack Rating until it dies.
Enemy Attack Rating−30%
Durationpermanent
Physical damage50%
Cost20
Level 10 · Active
Reaver
Rank 1
Draining strikes that heal you for part of their damage. Hits harder with a shield in the other hand.
Weapon damage140%
Life leech+0.25%
With a shield+15% damage
Synergy
Hamstring+5% per rank
Reaver
Rank 20
Draining strikes that heal you for part of their damage. Hits harder with a shield in the other hand.
Weapon damage320%
Life leech+4.5%
With a shield+15% damage
Synergy
Hamstring+5% per rank
Level 10 · Main skill
Counterstrike
Rank 1
Every attack you dodge answers with a quick strike.
Counter on dodge25%
Counterstrike
Rank 20
Every attack you dodge answers with a quick strike.
Counter on dodge80%
Level 10 · Passive
Rush
Rank 1
A chance on every kill to reach the next enemy sooner.
Chance per kill2.5%
Engages after1 s
Rush
Rank 20
A chance on every kill to reach the next enemy sooner.
Chance per kill25%
Engages after1 s
Level 20 · Passive
Momentum
Rank 1
Each dodge raises your damage for 10 s, stacking up to 5 times; every new stack refreshes all of them.
Damage per stack+0.25%
Momentum
Rank 20
Each dodge raises your damage for 10 s, stacking up to 5 times; every new stack refreshes all of them.
Damage per stack+6.5%
Level 30 · Passive