Description[]
Minimap overview of Duel
Duel is an official Carbon map that is currently in the 1v1 and 2v2 matchmaking map pools. You may also select and play Duel in custom lobbies.
"The swampy, labyrinthine nature of this water crossing forms natural barriers against assault from either side, making assault perilous for attackers but expansion difficulty for defenders."
Each side starts with a fortress that has 4 sockets. The closest outpost is a neutral powerstation that is occupied by 4 Soldiers. The next outpost afterwards is occupied by 2 Brutes and 2 SAMs, it is also defended by 2 T45 on sockets. The next closest outpost is a neutral factory that is occupied by 2 Brutes and 2 SAMs, it is defended by a Seeker and a Stinger on a socket. The center powerstation is occupied by 4 Brutes and is defended by 4 Longhorns, 2 Seekers, and 2 Rachets in total. On each side, there are 3 Goliaths guard both side paths.
Every 2 minutes a special Lockbox spawns from elevators on both sides of the mid on Duel. This Lockbox can be recycled for 6,000 credits plus however much interest generated from inactivity. It is a nice boost to have earlier in the game as a couple extra tanks will offer a slight edge in battle. Alternatively, it can be killed by a mech, which grants XP that totals to almost 2 AirMech kills.
At the 4 minute mark, both Elevators will also spawn Longhorn and 2 Seekers. These Elevators will not spawn any more units afterwards.
Strategy[]
Both sides should be able to capture 3 outposts in about a minute. The powerstation can be handled with just a mech, which gives enough time to build 2-4 tanks in order to use them to help capture the factory, a pair of tanks may be placed to kill a T45 and clear the infantry inside the outpost. At the next factory, tanks can be placed in the corner to kill a Brute and then the rest of the infantry, the AA units will be no issue for them. The opposing side may choose to cheese the powerstation on the other side of the map with a group of infantry at this time.
When both sides control 3 outposts, a standard midfight is done for control of the center outpost. Players may be approach from 2 angles. Starting tanks can be used to outrange the neutral Goliaths on the side or a pair of tanks may be placed to pick off the Longhorn on the center path. Often backline outposts are targets for harassment and cheesing in this state of the game. Rarely players choose push their army straight out of mid and towards the enemy fortress, the opponent may choose to counter push and start a base race in this scenario. Just as uncommon, players may choose to push down a side path, though its length and visibility make it necessary to distract or use faster units in order to use the paths effectively.
Trivia[]
- Duel contains seven outposts, one of which is guarded heavily by Neutrals.
- Duel was in the past the map with the highest amount of starting outposts (three), before all beginning outposts were converted to neutral.
- It used to be identical to Nesthorn until it was given a rework.
- Duel once had a desert terrain.
- It is one of two official PvP maps in rotation that features Elevators as a feature of the map, the other being Salt.
- In the past, Gorgon would spawn from the Elevators on the sides of mid before they were introduced as a buildable Unit.
Gallery[]
Duel's Infobox