Possible Clues:

• Solver's beginning to face setter's linguistic tricks in a duel?
• Use of weapons in second part of clue?
• Fencing skill
• Small joy of the cryptic crossword, a dangerous game?
• Battling with foremost of setters and their art
• Special tricks in writing -- and what they outperform?
• Fencer's skill
• Maintaining power, lord's way disrupted fencing
• Fencing moves
• First of silly puns, perhaps wounding ripostes?