Duplex　stainless　steel　(DSS)　is　recently　considered　as　a　promising　candidate　to　replace　traditional　bronze-based　alloys　in　medium　to　large　sized　ship　propellers,　due　to　its　combination　of　advantages　including　excellent　specific　strength　and　corrosion　resistance.　Directed　energy　deposition-arc　(DED-arc)　is　chosen　as　the　preferred　method　to　make　ship　propellers　because　of　its　flexibility　and　high　efficiency.　However,　excessive　austenite　is　formed　in　the　DSS　deposits　due　to　severe　heat　accumulation　caused　by　DED-arc　process,　which　greatly　limits　the　mechanical　properties　of　DSS.　Therefore,　arc　process　with　lower　thermal　accumulation　effects　is　crucial　for　achieving　a　more　ideal　phase　ratio　of　DSS　deposits.　In　this　study,　a　variable　polarity　cold　metal　transfer　(VP-CMT)　mode　with　more　lower　heat　input　is　applied　to　the　DED-arc　process　to　further　reduce　the　heat　accumulation　and　austenite.　Obtained　characterization　results　have　confirmed　the　effectiveness　of　VP-CMT　mode　in　decreasing　austenite　volume　fraction　in　both　as-deposited　and　reheated　zones,　therefore　under　the　same　wire　feed　and　travel　speeds,　VP-CMT　produces　higher　strength　DSS　components　than　normal　CMT.　Also,　the　lower　line　energy　input　of　VP-CMT　leads　to　smaller　reheated　zone　in　DSS　buildup　walls,　such　morphology　difference　further　induces　larger　tensile　property　anisotropy　than　normal　CMT　sample.　VP-CMT　shows　more　potential　in　controlling　the　ferrite/austenite　ratio　to　equilibrium　than　normal　CMT.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.