Whether you're looking to dominate in PvP or handle tough PvE content, New World offers a variety of weapon combinations and strategies. Below, we'll discuss the top five builds that shine in both PvP and PvE settings, exploring their gear, attributes, skills, and playstyle.
1. Bow & Musket Build – Range DPS Dominance
Playstyle
The Bow and Musket build is one of the most versatile ranged DPS setups in New World. In PvE, it allows for efficient AoE (Area of Effect) damage with the Bow, and precise single-target damage with the Musket. In PvP, this build is designed to keep enemies at a distance, overwhelming them with ranged pressure while dodging any incoming attacks.
Gear Choice
Armor: Light armor for maximum damage and mobility. This build prioritizes staying at range and evading attacks rather than tanking damage.
Attributes
Strength: 25
Dexterity: 350
Intelligence: 150–200
Constitution: 100 (can be reduced to 0 for pure DPS, but survivability drops).
Skill Trees
Bow: Focus on damage over time and AoE crowd control. Skills like Poison Shot and Rain of Arrows provide area pressure, while Penetrating Shot offers heavy single-target damage.
Musket: Prioritize boosting single-target DPS. Key skills like Shooter's Stance and Powder Burn maximize the impact of your musket shots.
Gear Perks
Look for perks that boost ranged damage, reduce cooldowns, and increase your overall mobility. Using an Abyssal gem in your gear will increase your damage output.
2. Fire Staff & Rapier Build – High Mobility Melee/Ranged Hybrid
Playstyle
This build excels in close-quarters combat and mobility. The Rapier offers fast strikes, mobility, and defense, while the Fire Staff provides solid ranged support with high burst potential and critical damage. This hybrid build allows for high damage output and solid survivability, making it ideal for both PvP and PvE.
Gear Choice
Armor: Medium armor for a balance of survivability and mobility.
Attributes
Strength: 25
Dexterity: 300–350
Intelligence: 300–350
Focus: 25 (to reduce cooldowns)
Skill Trees
Fire Staff: Focus on skills that increase burning damage and AoE. Fireball and Meteor Shower provide high burst damage, while Fire Ward offers defensive utility.
Rapier: Specialize in quick, evasive attacks. Skills like Fleeting Strikes and Tondo give you high mobility while dealing damage over time.
Gear Perks
Perks: Boost fire damage, cooldown reduction, and add survivability with perks that increase healing or stamina regeneration.
3. Greatsword & Greataxe Build – Bruiser and Crowd Control
Playstyle
The Greatsword and Greataxe build is designed to wreak havoc in melee combat. The Greatsword delivers devastating burst damage, while the Greataxe excels at locking down enemies and controlling the battlefield. This build can handle multiple targets at once and excels in both PvE content (like expeditions) and large-scale PvP fights.
Gear Choice
Armor: Medium armor for a mix of high damage and decent survivability.
Attributes
Strength: 250–300
Dexterity: 350
Constitution: 25–50
Skill Trees
Greatsword: Focus on maximizing damage with abilities like Sweeping Strike and Tempest. These skills allow for large AoE and burst damage.
Greataxe: Skills like Reap and Gravity Well offer crowd control and target lockdown, giving you the ability to trap enemies and prevent their escape.
Gear Perks
Look for perks that increase damage, AoE radius, and defensive cooldown reduction. You will also want to focus on perks that offer crowd control resistance for PvP.
4. Life Staff & Void Gauntlet Build – The Best Healer and DPS Hybrid
Playstyle
The Life Staff and Void Gauntlet build is one of the most effective hybrid builds for PvE and PvP healing. With the Life Staff, you can provide powerful AoE healing, while the Void Gauntlet offers excellent debuffing and damage output. This build works well in group PvE scenarios and PvP, offering support and high survivability.
Gear Choice
Armor: Medium armor for survivability and healing output.
Attributes
Strength: 25
Dexterity: 25
Intelligence: 150
Focus: 350
Constitution: 100
Skill Trees
Life Staff: Focus on maximizing healing with abilities like Beacon, Sacred Ground, and Divinity for both healing and defensive boosts.
Void Gauntlet: Focus on dealing damage while debuffing enemies. Abilities like Oblivion and Essence Rupture are key for applying pressure on enemies while healing allies.
Gear Perks
Perks that increase healing potency, reduce cooldowns, and enhance AoE healing effects are ideal. Make sure your gear complements your healing build while also offering damage-dealing perks through Void Gauntlet.
5. Bow & Rapier Build – High Mobility with Strong Burst Damage
Playstyle
The Bow and Rapier build is a highly mobile setup designed for burst damage and escape potential. The key here is to use the Bow for ranged AoE and damage-over-time attacks, while the Rapier excels at fast melee strikes, dodging, and quick escapes.
Gear Choice
Armor: Light armor for the highest mobility and damage potential.
Attributes
Strength: 25
Dexterity: 350–400
Intelligence: 150
Constitution: 100
Skill Trees
Bow: Focus on damage over time and AoE. Skills like Poison Shot and Rain of Arrows offer pressure, while Penetrating Shot delivers strong single-target hits.
Rapier: Specialize in quick strikes, mobility, and defense. Abilities like Evade and Riposte make the Rapier a great weapon for both offense and defense.
Gear Perks
Perks that boost your ranged damage and mobility are essential for this build. Look for items with perks that increase your stamina or cooldown reduction for optimal performance.
Gear and Consumables for All Builds
Regardless of the build you choose, certain gear and consumables will maximize your performance across the board:
Gear
Armor: Always aim for the best gear score available (275+). Depending on your build, use light or medium armor. For armor gems, Abyssal gems are crucial for increasing your damage output, and the best perks include refreshing, keen, and conditioned.
Weapons
For the Bow and Musket, use Opal or Augment gems that match your highest attribute. This ensures your damage scaling is maximized.
Consumables
Healing Potions and Mana Potions are essential for keeping yourself and your group in the fight.
Food that boosts your main attribute should be used for 30-minute buffs, enhancing your overall damage or survivability.
Honing Stones will increase your damage by up to 10% and should be reapplied frequently to maintain the bonus.
Conclusion
In New World, choosing the right build depends on your playstyle, whether you prefer ranged combat, melee dominance, healing support, or burst damage. Each of these top five builds offers strong potential for both PvP and PvE. Remember to focus on optimal attribute allocation, gear perks, and consumables to maximize your efficiency in both types of content. Whether you're looking to deal massive damage, heal your team, or control the battlefield, there's a build for every type of player in New World Aeternum.
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MMOexp New World Team