Dual wielding

Dual Wielding is intended to be a option halfway between the damage output of two-handed weapons and the defensiveness of a shield and weapon combo.

Mechanics

Dual Wielding automatically grants 10% More Attack Speed, 20% More Attack Physical damage and 15% Block Chance (based on the idea of parrying attacks) whenever you equip two One-Handed weapons of any type. The attack speed bonus is applied multiplicatively with other attack speed modifiers. These two bonuses to Dual Wielding can be increased via passives. Weapons do not have to be of the same type to receive Dual Wielding bonuses.

There are no penalties of any kind to attacks with your off-hand weapon. The large majority of attack skills in Path of Exile will alternate between equipped weapons for attacks, swinging first with the main hand and then with the off-hand weapon. The attack time is the average of the two weapons' attack times, so the total time for a pair of attacks is as if each weapon attacked once.

Single-weapon attacks

The following attacks use only your main hand weapon :

If you have two different weapons and the skill you attempt to use only works with one of them, only the valid weapon will be used for attacks made with that skill. Skills that fall under this category (apart from the above) include:

• : Axe, Sword
• : Mace
• : Axe, Mace, Sword
• Infernal Blow: Axe, Mace, Sword
• : Claw, Dagger, Sword
• : Claw, Dagger, Sword
• Viper Strike: Claw, Dagger, Sword
• : Claw, Dagger, Sword

If only one weapon is used, the dual wielding bonuses will still apply; however, the attack rate will be based only on the weapon that is actually used. The tooltip appears to be wrong.

Simultaneous attacks

Cleave and Dual Strike will attack with both weapons at the same time.

Dual Wielding Passives

Physical Damage while Dual Wielding

These passives increase physical damage rating by a percentage while dual wielding.

Chance to Block while Dual Wielding

These passives increase the chance to block by a percentage while dual wielding.

Attack Speed while Dual Wielding

These passives increase attack speed rating by a percentage while dual wielding.

Accuracy Rating while Dual Wielding

These passives increase accuracy rating by a percentage while dual wielding.

Critical Strike Chance while Dual Wielding

These passives increase critical strike chance by a percentage while dual wielding.

Strategy

Blocking

Passives

As of 1.2 there are the following passive clusters that provide block chance while Dual Wielding:

• The Scion starting area: 6%
• The Bravado cluster below Scion: 8%
• The Dervish cluster in front of Duelist: 10%
• The Blade Barrier branch in the bottom-right: 11%
• Weapon Artistry in front of Ranger: 4%
• Slashing Comeback in the right-bottom: 4%
• The Swagger cluster in the right: 4%
• The Gemini cluster in the right-top: 8%

The Bravado-Dervish area in particular is all but mandatory with 21% additional block chance in a small area. All of the dual wield block nodes are located in or near the Dexterity sector of the passive tree, making a critical build a natural choice. This is enhanced by the Twin Terrors cluster with its 125% critical strike chance and prime location between Bravado and Dervish.

There is a total of 55% additional block chance on the passive tree for a total of 70% possible block chance without items, or 66% if we discount Slashing Comeback which is gated behind five sword nodes and is thus prohibitively expensive for non-sword builds.

Items

Corrupting an item with a Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 20Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again. and crafting with Vagan, Weaponmaster can provide some additional block chance. Failing this, or if more flexibility in passives is desired, one or more of the following unique items may work:

• Wings of EntropyWings of Entropy
  Ezomyte AxeTwo Handed Axe
  Physical Damage: (139.2-156.6) to (209.6-235.8)
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.70%
  Attacks per Second: 1.35
  Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 62, 140 Str, 86 Dex(7-10)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  +(8-12)% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
  (60-80)% increased Physical Damage
  Adds (75-100) to (165-200) Fire Damage in Main Hand
  Adds (75-100) to (165-200) Chaos Damage in Off Hand
  Counts as Dual WieldingFire and Anarchy are the most reliable agents of change. (10%): A popular choice due to allowing for 100% block chance applied to spells when combined with Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not. and RainbowstrideRainbowstride
  Conjurer BootsEnergy Shield: (36-42)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  +(40-60) to maximum Mana
  +20% to all Elemental Resistances
  20% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
  Some men have a longer stride than others."
  - Gaius Sentari.
• The Bringer of RainThe Bringer of Rain
  Nightmare BascinetArmour: (486-748)
  Evasion: (699-1072)Requires Level 67, 62 Str, 85 DexSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Melee Physical Damage
  Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Faster Attacks
  Socketed Gems are supported by Level 30 Blind
  6% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Adds 20 to 30 Physical Damage to Attacks
  (200-300)% increased Armour and Evasion
  +(200-300) to maximum Life
  20% chance to gain an Endurance Charge when you Block
  Can't use Chest armour
  Extra gore"What lies beneath your feet?!"
  "Sacred ground, watered with tears of blood!" (15%): Helpful for reaching the block cap with Wings of Entropy, leading to the famous "Bringer of WoE" build.
• The AnvilThe Anvil
  Amber AmuletRequires Level 45+(20-30) to Strength(10-15)% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  10% reduced Attack Speed
  10% reduced Cast Speed
  +(400-500) to Armour
  (34-48) Life gained when you Block
  (18-24) Mana gained when you Block
  +3% to maximum Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Reflects 240 to 300 Physical Damage to Attackers on BlockForge your Perseverance on the Anvil of Faith. (10%, +3% maximum): Precludes Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not., severely limiting its effectiveness.
• Ungil's GaucheUngil's Gauche
  Boot KnifeRune Dagger
  Physical Damage: (14.4-16) to (61.2-68)
  Elemental Damage: 3-30
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.30%
  Attacks per Second: 1.59
  Weapon Range: 1.0 metresRequires Level 20, 31 Dex, 45 Int30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance+12% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
  +(10-20) to Dexterity
  (80-100)% increased Physical Damage
  Adds 3 to 30 Lightning Damage
  10% increased Attack Speed
  50% increased Global Critical Strike ChanceUnwieldy and garish became graceful
  and deadly in Ungil's nimble hands. (20%): At an astounding 20% additional chance to block when dual-wielding, a single Ungil's Gauche provides more block chance than most shields, as well as a strong 90% increased global critical strike chance. However, its direct attack characteristics are not endgame viable, and are subpar even for builds, delivering 10.47% base critical hits per second whereas rare daggers can exceed 18% with top rolls.
• Prismatic EclipsePrismatic Eclipse
  Twilight BladeOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: (90-100) to (157-166)
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.30
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 53, 91 Str, 91 Dex40% increased Global Accuracy Rating+8% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
  Adds (60-70) to (71-80) Physical Damage
  25% increased Global Physical Damage with Weapons per Red Socket
  12% increased Global Attack Speed per Green Socket
  0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana per Blue Socket
  +0.2 metres to Melee Strike Range per White Socket"A raging Solaris seared and contorted the orb's surface.
  A despairing Lunaris filled the scars with her tears.
  Yet Viridi remained, trapped within, forever more."
  - Azmerian Creation Myth (10%): In addition to the block chance, Prismatic Eclipse can provide interesting socket bonuses, particularly 36% attack rate for a GGG version. However, its critical hit capability is even worse endgame than those of Ungil's Gauche.
• Essentia SanguisEssentia Sanguis
  Vaal ClawClaw
  Physical Damage: 29-76
  Elemental Damage: 1 to (600-700)
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.50%
  Attacks per Second: (1.56-1.69)
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 66, 95 Dex, 131 Int2% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life+8% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding Claws
  Adds 1 to (600-700) Lightning Damage
  (20-30)% increased Attack Speed
  +(30-40) to maximum Energy Shield
  Energy Shield Leech Effects from Attacks are not removed at Full Energy Shield
  Ghost ReaverThe darkest clouds clashed and coupled,
  giving birth to four lightning children of hate. (10% with claws): Without improved critical strike chance, Essentia Sanguis is lacking in direct attack capability lategame.
• Mark of the Doubting KnightMark of the Doubting Knight
  Platinum KrisRune Dagger
  Physical Damage: (84-88.8) to (332.5-351.5)
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.50%
  Attacks per Second: 1.08
  Weapon Range: 1.0 metresRequires Level 64, 76 Dex, 149 Int50% increased Global Critical Strike Chance+5% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
  (250-270)% increased Physical Damage
  10% reduced Attack Speed
  +(6-10)% to all Elemental Resistances
  50% chance to Cause Bleeding on Critical Strike
  50% chance to Cause Poison on Critical StrikeNothing is pure.
  Slice open the Innocent
  And spill a thousand Sins. (5%): Without improved critical strike chance, Mark of the Doubting Knight is lacking in direct attack capability lategame.

The one-handed uniques above are all lacking in direct attack capability in the lategame. Users should wield them in the offhand and arrange to attack with the main hand only.

Spell block

There is no spell block on the passive tree for dual wielding, so any spell block will have to come from items. Apart from corrupted items, the only way to get capped spell block is to use Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
(15-20)% increased Cast Speed
+(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
I am not., RainbowstrideRainbowstride
Conjurer BootsEnergy Shield: (36-42)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
+(40-60) to maximum Mana
+20% to all Elemental Resistances
20% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
Some men have a longer stride than others."
- Gaius Sentari, and Wings of EntropyWings of Entropy
Ezomyte AxeTwo Handed Axe
Physical Damage: (139.2-156.6) to (209.6-235.8)
Critical Strike Chance: 5.70%
Attacks per Second: 1.35
Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 62, 140 Str, 86 Dex(7-10)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
+(8-12)% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
(60-80)% increased Physical Damage
Adds (75-100) to (165-200) Fire Damage in Main Hand
Adds (75-100) to (165-200) Chaos Damage in Off Hand
Counts as Dual WieldingFire and Anarchy are the most reliable agents of change.. Not using the last can still yield a respectable but not capped amount of spell block.