Laser　powder　bed　fusion　(LPBF)　of　duplex　stainless　steel　is　a　promising　route　to　fabricate　intricate　parts　with　excellent　mechanical　properties.　However,　further　understanding　of　build　mechanisms　is　required　to　improve　the　process.　This　paper　aims　to　better　understand　the　influence　of　hatch　distance　on　the　densification　behavior　and　figure　out　the　correlation　with　microstructure　and　mechanical　properties　in　LPBF　of　2205　stainless　steel.　With　the　optimized　laser　power　and　scanning　speed,　the　significant　influence　of　hatch　distance　on　the　build　quality　is　revealed.　A　hatch　distance　of　0.07　mm　is　selected　for　an　even　surface　and　dense　part　with　a　relative　density　of　up　to　99.13　%.　The　hatch　distance　has　a　crucial　impact　on　the　heat　and　mass　transfer　between　tracks;　hence,　poor　surface　morphologies　such　as　inter-track　voids　or　swelling　surfaces　occur　if　an　improper　hatch　distance　is　adopted.　The　optimal　mechanical　properties　are　also　achieved.　Specifically,　the　yield　strength　(0.2　YS),　ultimate　tensile　strength　(UTS),　and　elongation　(EL)　values　are　896.8　MPa,　1035.13　MPa,　and　15.34　%,　respectively.　The　improvement　in　mechanical　properties　can　be　ascribed　to　the　coordination　between　high　dislocation　density,　fine　grain　size,　high　CSL　boundaries　and　LAGBs,　and　high　relative　density　with　few　pores.　This　work　can　help　improve　the　build　quality　and　expand　the　application　horizon　of　duplex　stainless　steel　for　manufacturing　intricate　components.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd