New World Great Axe Build 2024 - PvE & PvP
Oct. 14, 2024As for attacks,light attacksdeal 100% damage,heavy attacksdeal 120%, andcharged heavy attacksreach 160%, making them a powerful option. TheGreat Axedeals exclusivelyslashing damage, so it’s effective against enemies weak to that type. Early on, you won’t encounter many enemies with a weakness toslashing damage, but luckily, very few will resist it either. This makes theGreat Axea solid choice for general use, especially when you’re not sure what type of enemies you’ll face.
The New World Great Axe Builds excel inAoE(area of effect) damage and also performs well in single-target situations, making it a versatile weapon, particularly for questing. It allows you to pull in groups of enemies and mow them down quickly. Even itslight attackscan hit multiple enemies if they connect through them, thanks to its wide, horizontal slashes. This naturalAoEability, even with basic attacks, makes theGreat Axean excellent melee weapon for handling crowds.
New World Aeternum Great Axe Pros:
New World Aeternum Great Axe Cons:
Chargeallows you to rush at an enemy over a distance of 15m then dealing damage when you reach the target, making it great for closing gaps quickly. You can cancel the charge and trigger the attack by pressing your basic attack. This ability also grants yougritwhich prevents you from staggering while executing this skill. I often use theChargeability inPvPbecause it’s effective for catching enemies that are nearby and for covering long distances quickly. Each time it’s off cooldown, you can use it to make up ground against someone without mobility skills or to escape if you’re under attack. Progressing this skill line allows you to increase the damage withCharge, as well as allowing you to trigger a different attack by pressing the block button while charging.
Reapis a pulling ability that lets you grab enemies to you and bring them closer. It also damages them and staggers them. This skill is taunt gem compatible, allowing you to taunt enemies hit with the ability. I typically don’t useReapmuch since it has a shorter range thanCharge. If an enemy is more than 10, 20, or 30 meters away, it’s not very useful for closing the gap. While it can prevent an enemy from escaping, it won’t help you catch up. Progressing this skill line increasesReap’srange,healsyou for 30% of the damageReap deals,and adding another follow-up attack after pulling enemies in.
Executeis a solidPvEability for dealing high damage. It deals significant damage to a target with low health but it has a long windup, making it less effective inPvP.Executedoes 200% damage and an added 50% damage if the target is below 50% health—ideally when you want to use it. The last passive of this ability guarantees a critical hit if you strike an enemy below 30% health, making it potentially very powerful when upgraded. Most abilities in this tree focus on increasing damage against low-health targets or providing some form of healing.
Thecapstoneof this skill tree is one you’ll want to aim for, especially if you prefer 1v1PvP.Blood Lustis particularly effective because it increases your movement speed by 20% and deals 15% more damage to enemies within 14 meters. It’s very useful againstkitingenemies because this ability helps you catch up, leading to kills that might otherwise slip away and the 15% increase to damage still applies when fighting enemies in PvE.
Whirlwindlets you spin around four times, striking enemies repeatedly, making it effective inAoEscenarios. However, it’s not widely used, likely due to its relatively low damage output. You’ll primarily find it useful inPvE, particularly when enemies are clustered around a tank, but it requires significant upgrades to be truly effective. Progressing this skill line allows you 7 spins, an increase in movement speed while spinning, and a 15% increase in damage for each nearby target if surrounded by 3 or more enemies.
Maelstromis a versatile ability that allows you to pull enemies while dealing damage, excelling in bothPvEandPvP. It has a fast cast time compared toWhirlwind, enabling quick damage output. It is also taunt gem compatible, taunting enemies that are successfully hit. When upgraded, its range increases while protecting you from projectiles, allowing you to secure numerous kills effortlessly in either mode, making it a highly recommended choice.
Gravity Wellis primarily aPvPability; it allows you to create avortexthat pulls in enemies in the area and roots them for 1s. Enemies caught in the vortex will also beslowedby 60% while inside the affected area. This makes it useful for pinning down enemies or preventing them from escaping when you charge in. While it does deal some damage, it’s not substantial, making it less effective forPvE. I sometimes use it inPvEjust for its crowd control benefits and minor damage, but it’s not the ideal choice for that environment. Progressing this skill line allows you to increase its damage as well as grantfortifiedto allies inside the area.
The capstone of this skill tree,Mauler’s Fury, boosts your damage by 3% for eachGreat Axeattack, stacking up to 10 times for 3 seconds.WhirlwindandMaelstrom, particularly in large enemy groups, can quickly build upMauler’s Fury, significantly increasing your overall damage output. It’s great for both PvE and large-scale PvP making it a more viable option if you prefer to boost your damage over your speed.
When I use theGreat Axe, I like to pair it with theWar Hammer. Both weapons scale entirely withstrength, allowing me to charge in, spin to win, and useGravity Wellbefore switching to my hammer for moreAoEattacks that can stun or stagger enemies. This combination is effective in bothPvPandPvE. Staggering enemies inPvEprevents them from attacking you or your teammates, making things easier for your healer. TheWar Hammeralso dealsStrike damage, giving you two different damage types to counter enemy resistances.
If the hammer isn’t your preference, I recommend theHatchet. It scales with bothstrengthanddexterity, but primarily benefits fromstrength. The hatchet can be used for melee combat or thrown as a ranged option. Many players favor theBerserkability, which boosts your damage and grants a movement speed buff, making it useful for quickly traversing the landscape or escaping from or closing in on enemies. TheDefy Deathcapstone ofBerserkeris another excellent feature, granting you temporary immortality once every 60 seconds for 0.5 seconds, which can be a lifesaver in fights.
For armor, I recommend at leastMedium Armorfor combat, if notHeavy Armor. There might be rare exceptions inPvEwhere you could opt forlight armorfor extra damage, especially with a strong healer in your party, but that’s uncommon. InPvP, you’ll take a beating when you charge into a group of enemies to unleash yourspin-to-winattacks. If you die before executing your abilities, you won’t get the chance to deal that damage. Therefore, prioritizingheavy armoris advisable to withstand the hits, thoughmedium armoris also a solid choice.
Keep an eye out for more weapon guides likeSword & Shield,Greatsword,Flail and ShieldandWar Hammer. If you have any questions about the game, be sure to visit theNew World Wiki. What are your thoughts on the Great Axe guide? Got any lingering questions? Drop them in the comments below!
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
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