What's the best way to learn how to duel?
- Thread starter NinjaSoD
- Start date
You can always practice the tricks in private, but you can never learn actual dueling without dueling. Countless duels, meaning several hundreds, thousands even, is what makes you a better duelist.
Even thinking that you can learn "dueling" without actually dueling is quite ... odd, isn't it? How the heck could you know what a real duel is if you've never been in one? And with that, all your practice is just theory-crafting about how a duel could go, not how it will go, making it 98% useless.
Even thinking that you can learn "dueling" without actually dueling is quite ... odd, isn't it? How the heck could you know what a real duel is if you've never been in one? And with that, all your practice is just theory-crafting about how a duel could go, not how it will go, making it 98% useless.
jesterlolz
Diabloii.Net Member
The best method of learning is usually through first hand experience.
I'd say just join public duels, if you find somebody you do horribly, atrociously bad against, ask them if you can try dueling them in a priv game for practice. Some of the nicer people will oblige.
I'd say just join public duels, if you find somebody you do horribly, atrociously bad against, ask them if you can try dueling them in a priv game for practice. Some of the nicer people will oblige.
CaptnSparrow
Diabloii.Net Member
First know what you should learn. If you're a BvC, you need to learn Leap -> Tele -> Whirl, Unsummon namelocks, triwhirls, etc. So do some reading on your build to learn what you need to do well.
After that it's pretty much going to public games and practicing. For triwhirls, some people set potions on the ground and try whirlwinding around them without clicking on the pot, but like Olba said a lot of it is impossible to really get better at unless you have an opponent to face.
So educate yourself and then start gaining experience. A lot of namelocking is reflex, and some people are naturally better in that area, but in the end you need to repeat things over and over again to improve.
After that it's pretty much going to public games and practicing. For triwhirls, some people set potions on the ground and try whirlwinding around them without clicking on the pot, but like Olba said a lot of it is impossible to really get better at unless you have an opponent to face.
So educate yourself and then start gaining experience. A lot of namelocking is reflex, and some people are naturally better in that area, but in the end you need to repeat things over and over again to improve.
Uncle_Mike
D2 PvP Moderator
or a pvm player, or a semi-skilled pvp player... being nice does not hurt AFAIK...
We have quite a few vids here: http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=543344
Smithenator
Diabloii.Net Member
I agree with captainSparrow's approach, when you make a character you should take the time to research how it duels. Watching videos is ok, but reading up on strategy is really the best. After you know what you need to learn and what you need to practice, THEN join pubs.
Queen Mebd
Diabloii.Net Member
All good advice thus far. The guides really help, but don't just read the ones on your class - read the other classes' as well, especially the dueling strategies sections on your particular class - it's always funny knowing necro strategies such as ibs spamming or teleing into spirit clouds better than that nec you're dueling in a pub game. The videos are also worth checking out if a particular strategy doesn't quite make sense on paper.
I've also made quite a leap in terms of pvp play as well just recently (going from my fc druid to a ghost). I can say from my experience just getting out there and dueling can teach you a lot. You also have to be willing to work through that period of loss after loss, as you'll eventually get the hang of it. I've been getting tossed around by most everything, even some wind druids (which ought to be sacrilege for a wwsin). Yet I'm getting the hang of traplocking little by little, and those few times I have locked up a sorc or druid and kicked daylights out of them has been so much fun.
Lastly, taking a friend along whilst pubbing can be a huge help, be they for giving you a little better bo, distracting that nk-ing smiter while you make a dash for your body, or even listening to how you'll never get used to all these hotkeys. It can certainly make the experience a little less overwhelming.
mephiztophelez
Diabloii.Net Member
my $0.02:
the best way to learn how to duel, is to duel. preferably against people better than you &/or who have a class-advantage over you. you don't learn better technique by playing against a noob while holding a huge class-advantage over them. seek out duels that are hard for you to win (challenge that BvC with your Ghost'sin for example)
read the guides for your class, note down which duels are considered hard-matchups, learn & practice the little tricks essential to each class' success.
primarily though, to become a better dueller, your going to spend a lot of time retrieving your corpse, especially in the early days.
the best way to learn how to duel, is to duel. preferably against people better than you &/or who have a class-advantage over you. you don't learn better technique by playing against a noob while holding a huge class-advantage over them. seek out duels that are hard for you to win (challenge that BvC with your Ghost'sin for example)
read the guides for your class, note down which duels are considered hard-matchups, learn & practice the little tricks essential to each class' success.
primarily though, to become a better dueller, your going to spend a lot of time retrieving your corpse, especially in the early days.
Grape
Diabloii.Net Member
You are starting with hammerdin.
same character as i started my "pvp career" with
if you really want to do something before entering pub game or even dueling with your friend, you could search some videos to know what/how hammerdins are doing things in duels. Try to understand what means desynching/namelocking/ etc. then you could go and try them. To learn them, and use them wisely, you must just DUEL and DUEL some more =)
ps. namelocking is easiest with your aura (as you are using it passively on right click all the time^^
also, if you have problems with hotkeys, here's an example;
left click-right click
a-s: charge/vigor
z-x: hammer/concentrate
c: tele
you need to use shift(to charge and to lay an hammer), as you see or whatever key that's "standstill" in your key-settings.
same character as i started my "pvp career" with
if you really want to do something before entering pub game or even dueling with your friend, you could search some videos to know what/how hammerdins are doing things in duels. Try to understand what means desynching/namelocking/ etc. then you could go and try them. To learn them, and use them wisely, you must just DUEL and DUEL some more =)
ps. namelocking is easiest with your aura (as you are using it passively on right click all the time^^
also, if you have problems with hotkeys, here's an example;
left click-right click
a-s: charge/vigor
z-x: hammer/concentrate
c: tele
you need to use shift(to charge and to lay an hammer), as you see or whatever key that's "standstill" in your key-settings.
TheJezus
Banned
There is only 1 way.
1) train in pubs over and over
2) have some talent or u will never get good
3) when you've gained some skill and experience you can combine pubs with tvts and evetually cw's
Queen Mebd
Diabloii.Net Member
You may also want to check the dueler registries in the pvp stickies or post in the player matchup section of the community forum if you're looking for a specific matchup or other duelers of about the same experience level of yourself. :thumbsup:
The Jesus
Diabloii.Net Member
Wrong. The problem of ppl today is the crap style of the majority of players who currently are active. When i was new in d2 i always played 1on1 duels vs the best, always. If you train with ppl of same lvl you will never progress. Duel with the best is the only way to become better/best. Today ppl leave games after 1 sec when i nk them. Back in the old days i died and died but kept going until i was at the top myself within aprox 1 month. This is something you should apply on any game where ure goal is to become gosu as a player. Never train vs trash players and ppl w same skill = it's a disaster.
Uncle_Mike
D2 PvP Moderator
agreed - play vs. better players whenever you can :thumbsup:
soul killer
Banned
Well Im not a fantastic dueler, not even a great dueler but I can pwn 7/10 pubs.
I learnt how to duel viewing vids and reading guides (a lot of reading).
After youve got some knowledge and understanding, you can jump into the PvP world by entering a pub.
Pubs are great ways to familiarise yourself with your char and the average pub duelist.
Always remember, Skill > Items.
I learnt how to duel viewing vids and reading guides (a lot of reading).
After youve got some knowledge and understanding, you can jump into the PvP world by entering a pub.
Pubs are great ways to familiarise yourself with your char and the average pub duelist.
Always remember, Skill > Items.
