Duelist (Origins)

For the specialization in Dragon Age II, see Duelist (Dragon Age II).

Duelist
type	Rogue
effects	+2 dexterity +1 damage
description	Duelists are deadly combatants who prefer to fight in light armour and strike with light, but precise attacks. Experienced duelists have preternatural reflexes that allow them to evade their opponents' clumsy blows, as well as strike with remarkable precision.

Duelist is one of the specializations available for the rogue class in Dragon Age: Origins, providing minor attribute bonuses and four potential talents.

Talents

Dueling

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 30 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 5s

The duelist focuses on proper form, gaining a bonus to attack while the mode is active. Keen Defense adds a bonus to defense while in this mode.

Upset Balance

Activated Range: Personal Activation: 25 Cooldown: 15s Requires: Level 12

The duelist executes a quick move that throws the opponent off balance, imposing penalties to movement speed and defense unless the target passes a physical resistance check.

Keen Defense

Passive Requires: Level 14

The duelist has an uncanny knack for simply not being there when the enemy attacks, receiving a bonus to defense.

Pinpoint Strike

Activated Range: Personal Activation: 60 Cooldown: 180s Requires: Level 16

The duelist has learned to strike the vitals of an enemy with pinpoint accuracy and from any angle. For a moderate duration, all successful attacks generate automatic critical hits.

Unlocking

Duelist can be unlocked by talking to Isabela in The Pearl, a brothel in Denerim. She must be persuaded, seduced or beat in a card game to get her to teach the specialization. If you are trying to beat her in a card game, keep trying even if you lose. Eventually, Leliana or Zevran will offer to help you and then you will beat her. Beating her yourself requires at least 22 dexterity. Seducing her requires 75 cunning or 3 points in the coercion skill.

Notes

• Characters with a high enough stealing skill can steal winning cards from the deck or even Isabella's hand to win the game.
• It is easier to catch Isabella cheating during the second round of the game, owing to her "running out of ale."
• If you "take a break" from the game and return only to fail at beating her a second time, she will no longer be willing to teach the specialization.

Notable duelists

• Bann Vaughan
• Isabela
• Riordan
• Jerrik Dace

References

• Dragon Age: Origins - PRIMA Official Strategy Guide
• The Missing Manual

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