Duelist Leveling Build Guide

Settlers of Kalguur 3.25

Last Updated:March 23, 2025|Changelog|FAQ

This Sunder Duelist Leveling Build Guide teaches you the most efficient way to complete the Path of Exile Campaign; with All Skill Points and All Labs. Sunder Duelist is a classic and proven League Start Leveling Build; making it a great choice for leveling a new character, or when completing a fresh start speedrun.

All Ascendancy Viable

This Leveling Guide has been tested and verified without Ascending. Thus in practice, your in-game power level will exceed that of the showcased video.

Pros

SSF Fresh Start Leaguestart Viable
Sub 3H Campaign
Top Leveling Build

Cons

Socket Intensive

Class Leveling Guides

Ascendancy Overview

PoE 3.25

Duelist Leveling Build

This leveling guide is Class agnostic, however, Ascendancies offer a crucial early-game power spike. Use the tabs below for more information on which Ascendancy nodes to specialize in for a smoother leveling experience. Note that if you plan on respeccing in endgame you need a bunch of Gold or 5 Orbs of Regret per node.

Slayer

Gladiator

Champion

Aristocrat

Gambler

Paladin

Duelist Leveling Build Slayer Ascendancy

Duelist Leveling Build Gladiator Ascendancy

Duelist Leveling Build Champion Ascendancy

Duelist Leveling Build Aristocrat Ascendancy

Duelist Leveling Build Gambler Ascendancy

Duelist Leveling Build Paladin Ascendancy

Passive Tree Progression

PoE 3.25

Duelist Leveling Build

Duelist Leveling Build Passive Tree Progression

Precise Technique Rush:
- Rushes Precise Technique for Early Game Damage.
- Utilises 2 Refund Points at Level 21 for Attack Speed, Onslaught & Rage via Hatchet Master.
- Allocates Weathered Hunter to equip Haste at Level 24.
- Next acquires Burning Brutality for 12% Increased Attack Speed & 100% Increased Damage with Hits against Ignited Enemies. This requires Herald of Ash and you cannot use Brutality Support.
- Afterwards, 12% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills is acquired via Spirit of War. Allowing you to enable all recommended Auras & additionally solving Mana sustain.
- The Passive Tree concludes with relevant Life, Damage & Attack Speed nodes.
Considerations & Adjustments:
- Consider allocating the 10 Intelligence on the way to Precise Technique if you did not acquire a Lapis Amulet to equip Frostblink.
- This Passive Tree acquires Graceful Assault in the later acts. Consider allocating Graceful Assault after Precise Technique & Hatchet Master for more early game speed.
- Consider acquiring Melee Hits Fortify via Rampart earlier, for additional early game survivability.
- Consider acquiring Warcries cannot Exert Travel Skills via Measured Fury earlier, if your Weapon is lacking & Extra Damage is required for clear.
- Consider re-allocating Destroyer at any point in the run for additional damage.

Leveling Progression

PoE 3.25

Duelist Leveling Build

Gem Swaps

Use the Skill Embed on the right for Step-by-Step Skill Gem Progression.

For a more in-depth Step-by-Step explanation of when each gem is acquired and socketed refer to the leveling progression section below.

Playstyle

Sunder is both your primary clear and single target ability.

Haste or Determination is used during zone progression and is swapped to Pride on bosses. For even more single target damage, Intimidating Cry is cast before attacking, & enemies are debuffed with Vulnerability.

Duelist Leveling Build Skill Gem Progression

Regex

A regex is a code that can be copied to a vendor's search bar in Path of Exile to filter the results. It highlights specific bases with links, and colours appropriate to this build: Make sure to use it at the vendors whenever you are in town.

-[rgb]-.-|r-r-|-r-r|r-.-r|r-r|g-r|r-g|nne|g-g-r

Duelist Leveling Build Act Progression

Act 1

Level 2: After Hillock
- Purchase Spectral Throw
- Purchase a Corroded Blade (Optional)
- Spectral Throw - Chance to Bleed
Level 4: After Hailrake
- Spectral Throw - Chance to Bleed - Volley or Momentum
- Dash
- Blood and Sand (Do Not Enable)
- Check the Vendor for Iron Rings & a Rustic Sash if necessary
- Check the Vendor for a GR or GGR Linked Item for Leap Slam if necessary
Level 8: After Lower Prison & Completing Dweller
- Purchase a Lapis Amulet (Not Guaranteed)
- Purchase Frostblink -- Remove Dash
Level 10: After Brutus
- Add Leap Slam - Faster Attacks - Momentum to the above setup
Level 12: After Reaching Cavern of Wrath and Completing Fairgraves
- Purchase Ruthless, War Banner
- Purchase Precision, Intimidating Cry
- Purchase Sunder
- Optional: Purchase a Heavy Belt to equip Axes in Act 2 and beyond
Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
- Sunder - Chance to Bleed - Ruthless or Momentum depending on Links
- Frostblink
- Blood and Sand, War Banner, Precision
- Intimidating Cry
- Leap Slam - Faster Attacks - Momentum

Act 2

Level 16: After Fidelitas
- Add Herald of Ash
- Purchase Blood Rage
- Purchase Poacher's Mark (Optional)
Level 18: After Weaver
- Free Melee Physical Damage or Close Combat -- Purchase the Other One
- Optimal Links: Sunder - Melee Physical Damage - Close Combat (Use Ruthless if 3R instead of 2R1G)
Bandits: Help Alira
After The Way Forward - Travel back to Act 1

Act 3

Level 24: After Tolman
- Purchase Vulnerability -- Remove Poacher's Mark
- Purchase Haste -- Use Haste when traveling between zones
- Free Pride -- Aura Swap to Pride on Bosses
- Optional: Purchase Determination and use Determination when traveling between zones, aura swap to Pride on Bosses
- Note: To equip Haste at Level 24:
  - Disable Blood and Sand (Temporarily until allocating a Mana Reservation Mastery)
  - Remove Precision
  - Allocate Weathered Hunter
  - Verify your Accuracy Rating is higher than your Maximum Life for Precise Technique
Solaris 2
- Rare Lapis Amulet
Sewers
- Important: After opening the Undying Blockage acquire the Physical Damage craft in the passage to The Ebony Barracks.
Level 28: After Lunaris Piety
- Craft a Gilded Axe if necessary
Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
- Sunder - Melee Physical Damage - Close Combat or Ruthless depending on Links
- Frostblink
- War Banner, Herald of Ash, Haste or Pride
- Intimidating Cry
- Leap Slam - Faster Attacks - Momentum
- Blood Rage
- Vulnerability

Act 4

Level 38: After Malachai
- Optional: Free Fist of War from Dialla --> Add to Sunder 4Link
- Optional: Free Golem of your choosing from Oyun
- Optional: Purchase Cast when Damage Taken (1 Alchemy) --> To link with Immortal Call

Act 5

After completing The Key to Freedom
- Free Granite Flask
After completing Death to Purity
- Free Rare Viridian Jewel
- Note: Viridian Jewels can roll % of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana; which improves mana sustain during combat.
Ossuary
- Important: After acquiring the Sign of Purity, click the Lever above to access and acquire the next Physical Damage craft

Act 6

After Lily Roth
- Optional: Purchase Urgent Orders to link with Intimidating Cry
- Optional: Purchase Lifetap
- Optional: Purchase Immortal Call
Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
- Sunder - Melee Physical Damage - Close Combat - Ruthless
- Leap Slam - Faster Attacks - Momentum - Rage
- Blood and Sand, War Banner, Herald of Ash, Blood Rage
- Haste or Determination or Pride | Vulnerability
- Frostblink - Intimidating Cry - Urgent Orders - Lifetap
- Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call
Major Pantheon: Brine King
Minor Pantheon: Ryslatha

Act 7

After completing The Silver Locket
- Granite Flask

Act 8

Use a Hallowed Life Flask with Freeze Immunity in zones with Cold Damage
- Alternatively: Roll Freeze Immunity on your Item Level 4 Quicksilver Flask from Hailrake in Act 1

Act 9

Quarry
- Important: Acquire the Physical Damage craft near the Waypoint.

Act 10

After completing Safe Passage
- Silver Flask or Quartz Flask
After completing Death and Rebirth
- Free Rare Gladiator Plate or Rare General's Brigandine

Important Leveling Tips

PoE 3.25

Duelist Leveling Build

With experience, the Leveling Progression outlined above is all you need. However, if you're looking for additional guidance, then review the Important Leveling Tips listed below.

General Progression Tips

Weapon Progression

Level 2 Rusted Sword
- This is your starting weapon!
- In most scenarios, it's not worth crafting whatsoever.

Level 2+ Corroded Blade or Stone Axe or Driftwood Maul
- Quickly replace your Rusted Swords with a 2H Weapon for a large damage upgrade

Level 8+ Longsword or Tribal Maul or Jade Chopper
- Keep an eye out for the next tier of 2H Weapons for another large damage upgrade
- Consider checking the vendor to potentially purchase a base for 1 Transmute
- Consider using any Alchemy & Essence for more damage

End of Act 1 High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele Mace or Axe
- Any Normal, Magic or Rare Mallet or Woodsplitter
- Important: Sunder cannot be used with Swords & is ideally used with a 2H Mace or 2H Axe. That said, if you find a High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele 2H Staff, 1H Sceptre, 1H Mace or 1H Axe, consider using it if it increases your damage.

Act 2 High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Poleaxe
- Important: The Passive Tree acquires Axe Specific Nodes during progression, ensure you equip an Axe.
- Important: You may require a Heavy Belt or Strength on gear to equip Axes in Act 2 and beyond.

Act 3 High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Double Axe or Gilded Axe

Act 4 to Act 5+ High Phys Dmg Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Shadow Axe, Dagger Axe, Timber Axe, Headsman Axe

Act 6 to Act 8+ High Phys Dmg Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Labrys, Noble Axe, Abyssal Axe, Karui Chopper

Act 9 to Act 10+ High Phys Dmg Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Sundering Axe, Ezomyte Axe, Vaal Axe, Despot Axe

Listed above are the ideal 2H Weapon breakpoints. That said, the general rule of thumb is to equip the 2H Weapon with the Highest amount of Increased Physical Damage. Meaning in some scenarios, a Weapon from a previous Act with tons of Increased Physical Damage might be better than a Weapon from the current Act, that lacks good rolls.

It's worth noting that in Act 2 & beyond, 2H Axes are prioritised due to their higher base damage & to make use of Axe specific passive tree nodes.

Woodsplitter In A 1 430 X 506 — A Flat Ele Woodsplitter in Act 1

There are two main methods for acquiring Axe bases: Checking Vendors & Monster Drops. However, a special mention needs to be made for the Rogue Exiles in the Broken Bridge. Rogue Exiles drop a full set of gear, ranging from Normal to Magic to Rare; making them a consistent method for acquiring bases, gear upgrades, or items to vendor.

Broken Bridge Exiles 556 X 506 — The Broken Bridge Exiles

Broken Bridge Exiles Location — Search the Ruins beside the Waypoint

The Increased Physical Damage Vendor Recipe

In Path of Exile you can create a Magic Weapon with Increased Physical Damage using the Vendor Recipe tabled below.

Input	Output
Any Weapon Magic Rustic Sash Blacksmith's Whetstone	(40 - 49%) Increased Physical Damage Weapon
Any Weapon Rare Rustic Sash Blacksmith's Whetstone	(50 - 64%) Increased Physical Damage Weapon
Any Weapon Unique Rustic Sash Blacksmith's Whetstone	(65 - 84%) Increased Physical Damage Weapon

Note how the Rarity of the Rustic Sash impacts the Increased Physical Damage Roll. Typically, most weapons are crafted with a Magic Rustic Sash in Acts 2/3, and with a Rare Rustic Sash in Acts 4 & onward.

Furthermore, at Weapon & Armour Vendors, 3 Armourer's Scrap can be exchanged for 1 Blacksmith's Whetstone.

Physical Damage Crafts

During progression you may find a Rare Axe with:

An Increased Physical Damage or Flat Physical Damage to Attacks roll
& an Open Prefix Slot.

In such situations, consider crafting the other Physical Damage modifier to create a strong leveling weapon. Tabled below are the craft locations.

Zone	Modifier Tier	Cost	Notes
Act 3: Sewers	% IPD T1	4 Alterations	Found in the passage to the Ebony Barracks
Act 3: Sewers	Flat Phys T1	4 Transmutes	Found in the passage to the Ebony Barracks
Act 5: Ossuary	% IPD T2	8 Alterations	Accessed by Clicking the Lever above the Sign of Purity
Act 5: Ossuary	Flat Phys T2	2 Alchemy	Accessed by Clicking the Lever above the Sign of Purity
Act 9: Quarry	% IPD T3	4 Chaos Orbs	Found near the Waypoint
Act 9: Quarry	Flat Phys T3	4 Chaos Orbs	Found near the Waypoint

Shadow Axe With IPD Crafted Flat Phys 342 X 506 — A Shadow Axe with IPD & Crafted Flat Phys

Intimidating Cry & Exerted Attacks

Intimidating Cry Exerts your next 2 Attacks (3 with Measured Fury) to deal Double Damage. Maximise your DPS by attacking with Sunder until you consume all of the Exert charges. This is important to emphasise, because until you acquire the Warcries cannot Exert Travel Skills Mastery, other skills, such as Leap Slam can consume your Exert Charges.