New World Flail and Shield Build 2024 - PvE & PvP
Oct. 14, 2024TheFlailalso has wide horizontal sweeps that can hit many targets simultaneously, which is great forAoEingenemies when questing, inDungeons, or whenPvPingin medium to larger battles. And since it doesStrike damage, it can be effective against enemies theSwordis not. This makesSword and ShieldandFlail and Shielda dynamic pairing, swapping when another damage type is needed.
Flail and ShieldBuilds in New World Aeternum can also setImpairment, which is aStatus Effectthat not only causes damage over time, but also reduces the damage of the target by inflictingWeaken. As far as I know, it’s the only weapon that can set this status, which is one of the best, if not the best, out there.
The other thing of note is thatFlail and Shieldhas no attacks that use theShield, unlikeSword and Shield, so the damage of yourShieldwon’t factor much inFlail and Shieldgameplay. However,Equip Loadand the type ofShieldyou are using do impact some of yourFlail and Shield Skills, so you should still keep this in mind when determining whichShieldtype to use.
There are 3 different types ofShieldsinNew World: Aeternum, and they operate similarly with some slight differences:
Round Shieldsare the lightest, with the lowestBlock Stabilitybut highest damage.Block Stabilitydetermines how muchStaminais consumed when you block an attack. Use thisShieldtype if you plan to maximize your damage by keeping yourEquip Load Light, which is ideal for questing or1v1 PvP, but not so great for tankingExpeditionsor larger scalePvPwhere you might need to block a lot.
Kite Shieldsare twice as heavy asRound Shields, have 10% moreBlock Stability, and deal about 20% less damage. They are a solid middle ground between tankiness and damage and are best used by those that plan to play a mix of offensively and defensively when playingFlail and Shield.
Tower Shieldsare twice as heavy asKite Shields, which is a lot, and have 10% moreBlock StabilitythanKite Shields, but do roughly 10% less damage. They are the ideal choice for would-be tanks in largerPvPbattles and inExpeditionswhere they will be absorbing a large number of attacks.
New World Aeternum Flail & Shield Pros:
New World Aeternum Flail & Shield Cons:
Now, let’s dive into theFlail and Shieldskill trees, starting with theClerictree. This one emphasizesarcane damageandhealing allies, making it perfect if you’re looking to provide some off-heals in a group or even if you’re the only healer around.
The first ability in theClerictree isArcane Smite, which delivers solidarcane damage. It’s an overhead smash that creates a debuffed area on the ground, reducing the damage enemies deal and inflictingdamage over timeto those standing in it. It’s especially useful when you want to debuff grouped enemies. Upgrading this skill reduces its cooldown based on the number of enemies hit, gives bonuses depending on the shield type you’re using, and can even buff allies in the area with things likelifesteal. This upgrade scales withfocus, so pairing it with aLife StafforVoid Gauntletcan make it even more effective.
Next isArcane Vortex, a multi-hit spinning attack that dealsarcane damageand buffs allies within range. As you upgrade it, this ability roots enemies, grantshasteto allies, and even provideshealingto them. It’s a solid pick for group play since it not only damages enemies but also supports your team with buffs and heals.
Lastly, there’sArcane Eruption, a quickwhip-like attackthat dealsarcaneandstrike damage, while also applying two stacks ofimpairmentto the target, reducing their damage output and causingdamage over time. Upgrades to this skill can slow targets, extendstatus debuffs, and heal both yourself and allies based on the damage dealt. While these abilities heal you, they’re even more effective when used in a group setting.
Thecapstonefor this tree isBetter Together, which provides periodic healing to you and any nearby allies. However, this only triggers when you have at least one ally nearby, so it’s not ideal for solo play. But in group content, it’s incredibly powerful and one of the bestcapstonesin the game for supporting your party with consistent healing.
The first ability here isBarrage, which functions as agap-closer. You leap forward and slam your weapon down forstrike damage. It doesn’t deal massive damage, but if you have ataunt gemslotted in your weapon, this can taunt enemies, making it ideal for grabbing aggro in dungeons or PvE. It’s also useful in PvP when you need to close the distance on a fleeing player or engage an enemy quickly. Upgrading this skill grantsFortify, boosting your armor. Depending on the shield type, you’ll also gain automatic blocking during the leap, increased damage on the final hit, and aFortifybuff for allies, which boosts their protection as well.
Next isTrip, a short-range melee attack with low damage, but it knocks down the target. It’s perfect for interrupting attacks, whether you’re questing, in dungeons, or facing opponents in PvP. When upgraded,Tripdebuffs the target, allowing you and your allies tocleanse damage over timeeffects with repeated strikes. It also appliesRendif the target is already weakened, reducing their armor, making it especially good to follow up after usingArcane SmiteorArcane Eruption. The final upgrade offers a follow-up attack that delivers significant damage, which is highly recommended if you plan to make use of this skill.
The last active skill in this tree isWarding Bludgeon, which leaps you into the air and slams your flail down, providing a major armor buff for you and nearby allies. This is great for defensive support, especially in group play. The upgrades for this skill reducestamina costsfor blocking while the buff is active and applyimpairmentstacks to enemies attacking you, causing them to takedamage over time. Additionally, it can randomlyempowerboth you and a party member, boosting your damage absorption.
Finally, thecapstoneability isHuman Shield, which links you to an ally within six meters whenever you use aFlail and Shieldability. This causes your ally to take50% less damagewhile you take increased damage. It’s fantastic for tanking, PvP, or when playing alongside a duo partner, but it’s not very useful if you’re playing solo, as it relies on that link to another player.
Weapons that pair well with theFlailare theGreat Axe,War Hammer, Greatsword or even theLife Staffin certain situations or Sword and Shield. Pairing withSword and Shieldallows you to maintain a similar playstyle with similar damage, as long as you prioritizeStrength. TheSwordalso deals bothSlashandThrust damagereliably, while theFlaildealsStrikeandArcane. This allows you to cover all 3Physical Damagetypes easily.
Great Axe,War Hammer, andGreatswordare also all greatStrength-scaling weapons, making easy pairings depending on what you want to do.Great Axeis great forAoEinggroups of enemies,War Hammeris great forCrowd Control, andGreatswordcan be both an excellent offensive and defensive weapon. The downside of these weapons is they are heavy, making it harder to stayLightorMedium weightwhen using them compared to theSword.
The reason I mention theLife Staffis that it scales withFocus, although much better than theFlail, so you could use it as a backup weapon for extra healing or survivability. This can make questing easier, along with somePvPas well depending on what you are facing. YourFlailwould do less damage if you pumpFocus, but you would be much harder to kill in general.
ForArmor, I suggest going withHeavy Armorif you want the addedBlock Stabilitybonus of 10%, as well as extra damage mitigation from theMitigated Protection passive. This will be useful for going onExpeditionswhere you will most likely be filling the tank role. If you’re just going tosmall-scale PvPor solo quest, I suggest usingMedium ArmororLight Armor.Mediumis a good middle ground between protection and damage, whileLightwill give you the most damage possible but little protection. Because you can heal easily with theFlail, wearingLight Armoris not as bad as it would be with some melee weapon types.
TheFlail and Shieldis a solid melee weapon overall, though it leans more to the tank/support side than many other melee weapons. It’s incredibly hard to die when using this weapon, however, which is sometimes more important than the damage you deal. Additionally, thelight attackshave wide, horizontal sweeps that easily hit multiple enemies, which is a big advantage in both PvE and PvP.
Unlike the Sword and Shield, it’s probably better suited forPvPthanPvEbecause of the healing it can do to allies, which can help keep them alive while you attack. In large-scale fights, it’s not always about dealing damage. Sometimes, your role is to draw fire and survive while your teammates handle the heavy damage. So, depending on what you’re aiming to do, theFlail and Shieldcan still be a great option inPvE, especially when tanking Expeditions.
Keep an eye out for more weapon guides likeSword & Shield,Greatsword,War HammerandGreat Axe, and if you have any questions, don’t forget to check out theNew World Wikifor more info. What weapons are you planning to use at launch? What’s your setup looking like? Feel free to share in the comments!
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
Log in to leave a Comment
