PoE: Ark's New Standard Build: Duelist, 2H Sword Crit Cyclone

NOTE: The original build idea for this came from Hegemony. I only fleshed it out. You can find him at http://www.twitch.tv/hegemonytv/



After a disaster trying to roll GGBBR on a 5L Belly of the Beast, I got stuck at GGBRR. Thus, I decided to go with it. I'll be playing a 2H Crit Cyclone. Here's the gist of the build.


Class:

Duelist

This is a melee build, and the Duelist is the best choice for it. The Duelist's start is nonpareil for a Crit Cyclone build, with notables like Master of the Arena and Mana Flows. Additionally, his central position allows us access to powerful damage circles on both the left and right sides of the tree, as well as Endurance Charges.


Offensive Strategy:
Cyclone (linked to Melee Physical, Added Fire, Faster Attacks, Increased Critical Damage)

Defensive Strategy:
7x Endurance Charges / Immortal Call / Vaal Immortal Call

Sustain Strategy:
Permanent Mana Leech on Rings, supplemented by Revelry's mana on hit. Lust for Carnage supplemented by Life Leech on Rings helps us keep our life up.


Tree:
http://poeurl.com/y1NWCTQ

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgQAmSubLb2BR34UUmVNhNluaamUxLi-p5Bs1fiHamEhhO8S4XTteu9gSwUtQKAhYO9OdPFhUhjbhmAbquSxW686UojtQ-fA890N4JUOPG1KOd189ZAK_MWfghRxgTqKIlb6Z6BW6KcwwKZ314d2ns0UIHSgSn3SIVBHBqJYdVcNGJEX3AYgkc7ZYalzGS45DiftNrr8S6yq8pxsFlnzM4fyWm6XhxnAGh2-r6L3vhb5kFUD7hDwiDinhBK8nYoaOOw4Otgt0g==

Damage on tree is pretty heavy, but life is pretty low (Belly of the Beast helps here). This means that Ele Spike damage is unfortunately a pretty big concern.

Optional tree alterations include Heartseeker circle or Templar Life nodes, giving up some damage for either. I would give up damage for life if I were to do this in Hardcore. As it stands, this is a Softcore tree that will make you RIP in Hardcore.


Bandits:
Oak/Oak/Oak

This is self-explanatory.


Auras:
Hatred/Herald of Ash

We don't need to run Grace because we're going to be relying on Permacall. Additionally, our mana reservation % is sorta low, which allows us a buffer in case our Duelist misses.


Gearing:
I'm going to start out with pretty weak gear, which includes only a 380 pDPS sword. Once I get around 4 exa together, I'll be able to get a 470+ or 500+ pDPS sword (provided the sellers show up lol. But one of them should).

Abyssus is mandatory for this build. It doesn't have to be rolled well though, I bought a shitty rolled one for 5c.

Try to get a 5-link on your chest, but you don't really need a 6L.


Curse:
Assassin's Mark, Temporal Chains, or Enfeeble are all great choices. Warlord's Mark can be useful as a crutch if your leech is not up to par.


Variations:
You can run this build as a Scion if you want to get the Exceptional Performance circle as well as increased AoE nodes. However, your damage will suffer and you likely will not be able to get all the Endurance Charges.