Top 5 New World Builds.ThisNew WorldBuild Guidefocuses on identifying the BestBuildsinNew Worldafter the most recent update and Patch 1.1. We’ll focus on showing you the Melee DPS, Mage, and Healer Builds, to name a few. If you’re looking for a comprehensive Guide that explains the primary and secondaryWeaponsto take,Weapon Skillsto prioritize, andCoreAttributesto invest in, then this Guide is for you! Make sure to check out ourBest Endgame Weapons List,Crafting Tips, andGold Farming Guideas well!
Top 5 New World Builds (December 2021)
New World has several activities that you’ll want to consider when coming up with your builds. For some, choosing the pure PvE route when leveling up is the best option, however, encounters, especially involvingExpeditionsandCorrupted Breachesat higher levels, can be demanding. Oftentimes, you’ll need the help of your team to wipe out bosses and powerful groups of enemies. The best builds that I’ll be discussing can be used in both PvE and PvP. Whether you’re new or you’ve been playing since the game’s launch, you’ll definitely want to check out the Top 5 Builds in New World!
Best Melee DPS Build
If you want to employ crowd control techniques in addition to dealing huge AoE and single-target damage up close, then the Melee DPS Build is for you. The best Weapons for the job are theGreat AxeandWar Hammersince they inflict one of the deadliest damage combinations in New World. However, you should remember that their speed animations are fairly slow so you’ll need to adjust your playstyle accordingly to effectively hit targets.
What’s good about the Great Axe is it allows you to chase enemies down because of its reach. For this Weapon’s Skills, you’ll want to obtainCharge,Gravity Well, andReaporMaelstrom. Charge allows you to rush towards targets who are farther away from you while dealing damage and protecting you from getting staggered due to incoming attacks. It’s very useful in instances where you’ve been knocked back by enemies since you can easily get back on your feet to retaliate against them.

Next is Gravity Well, which is an exceptional crowd control skill for PvP and PvE because you’re able to create a vortex as a means of clumping enemies together and harming them in the process. Alternatively, you’re able to opt for Reap since you’re able to extend your reach in order to pull them towards you. Coupled with theHunger Passive, you have the ability to heal yourself as well.
Now if you’re having trouble aiming, the Maelstrom would be a decent skill for you. Not only would you deal great damage, but you’ll also further extend your pull range, allowing you to make an AoE that’s about twice as large.

For the War Hammer, which is another excellent Weapon for crowd control so you’re able to knock down and stagger enemies, you’ll want to takeClear Out,Shockwave, andPath of Destiny. Clear Out knocks back your targets while dealing damage. It’s a good skill to use if you intend to single out stronger or weaker enemies in order for your teammates to eliminate them quite easily. WithClean and RefreshedandSwing Away Passives, Clear Out’s cooldown is reduced while your movement speed is boosted, respectively, letting you use it over and over again in shorter intervals.
Shockwave is a great multi-functional Skill because it not only deals damage to affected enemies, but it also stuns them, giving you space to breathe or to finish them off. What makes it more powerful is Frailty since their damage will be less effective for 10 seconds.

Last but not the least is Path of Destiny that lets you deal damage against those who are out of reach thanks to its wave of energy. Since you have limited range, you’ll want to obtain this Skill to weaken targets right before reaching them.
For Attributes, it’s best to focus onStrengthfirst to deal the most amount of damage possible, followed byConstitutionto survive in combat because you’ll be susceptible to a lot of damage in the melee range. As a benchmark, you’ll want to adapt the 2:1 Strength-Constitution ratio to balance your damage and survivability rates.

In terms ofEquipment, it’s important to search for Great Axe and War Hammer perks that enhance Strength and grants additional critical stats together with Light and Heavy Attack damage. If you have a gem slot, then consider applying theCut Pristine Emeraldso you can quickly eliminate enemies with low HP. ForArmor, Heavy Armor is your best bet because it provides you with decent protection especially since you’re susceptible to taking damage up close.
Best Ranged DPS Build
If you’re the type of player who thrives in dealing damage from afar while punishing those who close the distance between the two of you, then you may want to consider a Ranged DPS Build. For this, the Weapons you ought to master are theBowandSpear. The Bow is faster to use and it inflicts good AoE and single-target damage at range but the drawback is you need to loot or craft arrows. On the other hand, the Spear is excellent at crowd control but its hitboxes are not as optimal, especially in PvP, thereby requiring practice.
For Bow Skills,Rain of Arrows,Poison Shot, andPenetrating Shotare the ones you ought to prioritize. Rain of Arrows is ideal as an opener to deal AoE Damage. Coupled withBarbed ArrowsandHooked Arrows, you’ll inflict bleeding and slow to weaken enemies.

Next is Poison Shot, which creates a cloud of poison and is best suited for choke points to trap targets in while poisoning them in the process. This is paired well with Barbed Arrows to stack up on Damage over Time (DoT).
Lastly, Penetrating Shot is a rapid ability in that it’s best suited to be fired right after using Rain of Arrows or Poison Shot in order to deal massive burst damage against numerous enemies who are lined up. If you intend to keep using this at farther distances, then you should also getDeep Strikeso you can inflict more damage.
For the Spear, you’ll want to takeSweep,JavelinandVault Kickto provide you with decent crowd control. As you’re gearing up to deal damage in the melee range, you want to prepare to use Sweep to not only inflict AoE damage but to also knock them down. Thanks to the new patch, theCoup de Grace Passivehas been buffed such that you deal 150% damage while triggering other heavy attack-related skills. As such, you can use it withRefreshing Reachto reduce all of the Spears’ ability cooldowns as well asDeadly Consistencyto further boost and stack the damage you deal with heavy attacks.
Next is Javelin so you’re able to hit enemies from a distance. Although you’ll need to stay in place momentarily to do so, this is an effective way to stagger them first. You can then choose between Vault Kick orCyclonedepending on the activities you wish to participate in, that is, if it’s more geared towards PvP or PvE, respectively. With Vault Kick, you’re able to thrust forward to stun your opponent. However, with Cyclone, you can take out multiple enemies at once while inflicting slow.
Unlike the Melee DPS Build, you’ll want to invest inDexterityand Strength since the Bow scales off of Dexterity while the Spear utilizes both, followed by Constitution to increase your health and to survive most encounters.
When it comes to equipment, you’ll similarly want perks that allow you to take advantage of frequent critical hits while boosting Dexterity, together with a bit of Strength and Constitution to increase your health. If you have a gem socket, then consider adding theCut Pristine Malachiteto deal extra damage against enemies under the influence of status effects.
For Armor, you’ll want to aim for the medium weight category as it provides you with a balance between inflicting damage and receiving adequate protection. Due to the range with which you perform a lot of your abilities as well as having a lot of crowd control techniques at your disposal, you won’t get hit as often compared to your melee build counterpart. However, if you wish to dodge more frequently, then consider switching to Light Armor pieces instead.
Best Mage DPS Build
If you want to become an effective mage where you not only inflict massive damage with a staff, but you’re also to efficiently manage your mana then the Mage DPS Build is for you. Its best Weapons are theFire StaffandIce Gauntlet, even if both of them have received a few nerfs here and there. The Fire Staff continues to be a potent Weapon at dealing AoE damage with good range while the Ice Gauntlet has a ton of crowd control and mana regeneration options.
For the Fire Staff, the Skills you should invest in arePillar of Fire,Fireball, andBurn Out. Pillar of Fire is a ranged AoE ability that inflicts burst damage. But if you also acquireFirst Strike, you’re able to deal extra damage to those who still have full health so you ought to definitely lead with Pillar of Fire first. Furthermore, you’ll want to takeArson’s Advantage, which capitalizes on restoring a portion of your mana depending on the number of enemies you hit.
Meanwhile, Fireball lets you deal DoT due to the fire trail that it leaves behind. You can then combine this with a heavy attack for additional burst damage, allowing you to kill your target. WithScorched Earth, you’re able to extend Fireball’s burning field.
Burn Out lets you dash through enemies to once again deal burst damage and DoT due to the burn status effect you leave behind. It’s ideal to use in situations where you need to create space between you and your enemies to recuperate. By default, you won’t be able to control the direction you’re headed in unless you unlockHeat it Up!You should also getAll Inin order to reduce your Fire Staff’s cooldown rates.
For the Ice Gauntlet,Ice Storm,Ice Shower, andEntombedare still pretty good skills to obtain. Ice Storm lets you conjure a frosted area to damage enemies while slowing them down. Although the damage intervals have been increased from 0.25 to 0.33s as per the last patch, it continues to effectively inflict enough ranged AoE damage. WithHeavy Freeze, you hold targets in place while they’re affected by Ice Storm, making them vulnerable to added damage.
Ice Shower is a great crowd control skill that also roots enemies in place while greatly slowing their movement by 50%. As such, you should use this in cases when they’re attempting to flee from or to dash towards you.Enduring Showerlengthens Ice Shower’s duration so you should definitely invest in it.
Last but not the least is Entombed, which is a great way to quickly regain mana while making you invulnerable from attacks while you’re isolated from the crowd. But remember to cast this when you’re not in the middle of combat since the ice that encapsulates you can be destroyed.
The main Attributes you should invest in for this Mage DPS Build areIntelligenceto raise your damage and Constitution, especially if you engage in PvP activities, to improve your defenses.
In terms of equipment, you ought to search for Fire Staff and Ice Gauntlet perks that enhance Intelligence, Light and Heavy Attack damage, and healing. If you have a spare gem socket, then theCut Pristine Onyxworks well with the Fire Staff because you’re able to deal extra damage when you’re leading with Pillar of Fire. Since the Ice Gauntlet also has crowd control skills like the Spear, you’ll want to apply the Cut Pristine Malachite to further harm affected enemies. For Armor, you should aim to wear Light Armor since you’ll be moving around quite often. Not only does it improve mobility, but it also grants more damage.
Best Tank Build
If you want to fill in the role of a traditional tank, which lets you absorb a ton of damage while being able to inflict a decent amount yourself, then you ought to check out this Tank Build. The best Weapon combo you ought to master is theSword and Shieldand War Hammer. The Sword and Shield grants powerful defensive options but it’s not as effective in terms of dealing great damage. This is better paired with the War Hammer as it provides you with abilities to utilize crowd control techniques.
For the Sword and Shield, it’s good to takeShield Rush,Shield Bash, andDefiant Stance. Shield Rush allows you to charge towards enemies with the intention of knocking them back and inflicting enough damage. It’s an effective gap closer considering that this Tank Build is also melee-based.
Next is Shield Bash to primarily stuns enemies. What makes this skill truly shine is it rewards you for adding aCarnelian Gemfor taunting purposes that’s essential for tanks so you can redirect the targets’ attention from your allies to you. With theIntimidating Bash Passive, you’re able to significantly boost the damage you deal.
Defiant Stance is an incredible way to reduce the amount of damage you take to stay in the battlefield for longer periods of time. You ought to also gain access toRestorationto regenerate a good portion of your health once Defiant Stance’s duration ends.
For the War Hammer, you’ll be using similar skills to the Melee DPS Build like Shockwave and Path of Destiny, together withArmor Breaker. Shockwave is another ability that lets you taunt enemies while stunning them. In order to affect as many of them as possible, you should unlockMeteoric Craterto effectively widen the range of this AoE skill.
Path of Destiny allows you to inflict damage and aggro those whom you can’t reach as long as they’re positioned in front of you. WithSeismic Wave, you’re able to stagger them as well.
For this Tank Build, you’ll need Armor Breaker to quickly pierce a portion of your target’s Armor to deal massive damage. It even has a lower cooldown rate compared to the two skills we’ve talked about so you can use this more often. With theEpitome Of Bonk! Passive, you’re able to enhance armor penetration.
The Attributes you should consider for this Tank Build are Strength since both of your Weapons scale off of it, as well as Constitution. Don’t be afraid to improve Constitution as much as possible because it will depend on how confident or well-adjusted you are in tanking.
For the Weapons, you’ll want to search for perks that improve Strength and Constitution together with Block Stability in order to block attacks as often as possible. For the gem socket, it’s good to apply the Cut Pristine Malachite to take advantage of enemies who have active status effects. In terms of Armor, you should wear Heavy Armor since you’ll need to boost your defenses for greater survivability. You ought to also wear Jewelry to grant additional Stamina for blocking purposes.
Best Healer Build
If you intend to support your party by healing them and removing debuffs, then this Healer Build should be for you. For Weapons,Life Staffcontinues to grant the best heals out there while the newly releasedVoid Gauntletrestores health and offers decent offensive options.
For the Life Staff,Sacred Ground,Light’s Embrace, andBeaconought to be your top skills. Despite heal, stamina and mana recovery nerfs, Sacred Ground is still a potent AoE skill. You further enhance it by takingHoly Groundto quickly regenerate stamina and mana andBlessedto boost healing.
Light’s Embrace is effective targeted healing and is made better thanks toInspireandConnection. Inspire allows you to replenish your ally’s stamina while Connection lets you gain back a portion of your mana, which is essential since you won’t be using Ice Gauntlets in this build.
And finally, you have Beacon, which is a versatile AoE skill that deals damage while simultaneously healing nearby allies over time. It works well against mobs of enemies especially in dungeons. To make the corresponding AoE larger, you ought to gain access toInfused Light.
For the Void Gauntlet, you’ll want to acquireOblivion,Orb of Decay, andEssence Rupture. Oblivion deals DoT while empowering allies by increasing their damage ratings. This becomes more effective when you obtainWithering Oblivionso you can weaken enemies on top ofInvigorating Oblivionto boost stamina regeneration.
Next is Orb of Decay that passes through enemies to deal burst damage and DoT with Disintegrate and travels back to you and your allies for healing. This is best coupled withDraining OrbandDetonating Orb. Draining Orb restores a portion of your mana based on the targets you hit while Detonating Orb turns it into a bomb to either deals additional damage or heals the party.
Lastly, you have Essence Rupture, which is another decent way to support the party by providing extra healing capabilities although it does require good aim.
For the Healer’s Attributes, you should invest inFocusto improve healing together with some Intelligence to decently deal damage with your Void Gauntlets. You can also put a couple of points into Constitution for better durability.
For Life Staff and Void Gauntlet, you ought to look for perks that improve Focus and Intelligence, as well as damage. If you have an available gem socket, it’s good to add theAmber Gemso you can convert the Void Gauntlet’s damage into Nature damage, which is less resisted and can scale off of Focus.
When it comes to Armor, you can wear either Light or Medium Armor depending on your playstyle. If you wish to improve healing, then Light Armor is better, but if you value additional protection, then going with Medium Armor should be your priority.
Be sure to check out theNew World Wikifor more information about the game! What other guides would you like to see next? WhatBuildsare you enjoying the most? Let us know in the comments section below.