INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Mvdin's Hatchet & Great Sword PvE/ PvP ultimate guide!
I've been enjoying this build for a while on the fresh start server and I found it to be really strong in many scenarios.
While it is true that they lack CC compared to Spear, War Hammer, Great Axe, and other weapons, we have a lot of staggers and we compensate in the damage department, our mobility and chase are decent and we have great survivability.
PvP
Light Armor:
When it comes to PvP, we fulfill the role of an Assassin/ DPS so our targets are in general other light armor players(Healers, Mages, Archers, Musketeers, etc.).
With this build, we output a lot of damage while having really good survivability.
Great Sword as our off-hand provides us a really good opener and the potential to one-combo squishy players. Close the gap with a double roll to get our Opal Gem and Empower Buffs -> Relentless Rush -> Heavy Attack -> Steadfast Strike -> Weapon swap animation cancel -> Hatchet Light Attack.
If our target isn't dead yet we have our Hatchet ready to finish them or chase them.
We use Berserk and Relentless Rush with the Relentless Freedom Perk to remove roots and slows.
Calamity Counter is basically used like Rapier Riposte to block CC and Burst Combos. When out of stamina etc.
You have to learn how to roll behind a player, and how to animation cancel Berserk. (Check the Video Guide)
Medium Armor:
With Medium Armor, we transform from "Assassin" to "Bruiser" and can trade damage with other Medium Builds more reliably, we have more dodges and overall more survivability while we maintain a high amount of damage.
Great Sword is still our secondary weapon and we use it mainly for the abilities, Skyward Nullifcation can even remove Defy Death.
Gearing
Optimal Weights Table
HELMET | CHEST | GLOVES | PANTS | BOOTS | WEIGHT |
HEAVY | HEAVY | MEDIUM | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM |
MEDIUM | HEAVY | HEAVY | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM |
MEDIUM | HEAVY | MEDIUM | LIGHT | HEAVY | MEDIUM |
LIGHT | MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT | LIGHT | LIGHT |
MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT | MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT |
LIGHT | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT |
LIGHT | LIGHT | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM | LIGHT |
STATS: 150-200 CON, 150 DEX, 150-200+ STR
Light Build: https://new-world.guide/char-build/hatchet-gs-assasin-build
Medium Build: https://new-world.guide/char-build/hatchet-great-sword-medium-build
Armor
Our priority is always Resilient and Shirking Fortification, Relentless Freedom, Skyward Nullification ( Medium Weight), Critical Retribution, and Refreshing as our 3rd perk.
Weapons
Weapon Perks:
Light Hatchet: Rogue, Arboreal/ Abyssal Attunement, Keenly Empowered
Medium Hatchet: Vicious, Arboreal/ Abyssal Attunement, Keenly Empowered
Great Sword: Trenchant Strikes, Arboreal/ Abyssal Attunement, Keenly Empowered/Keenly Jagged
Weapon Gems: Runeglass of Abyssal Opal or Runeglass of Arboreal Opal
Jewelry
Light Amulet: Champion's Amulet
Medium Amulet: Instrumentality's Amulet Having one with Thrust/Slash/Fire Protection for different situations is the best choice.
Ring: Heart of Maahebgal
Earring: Doom's Chance
Gameplay:
PvE
In PvE, we mainly use the Hatchet for mob clumps taking advantage of Against All Odds (Increase base damage by 10% for every enemy within 5m. (Max 5 targets.)), our Berserk and its Uninterruptible Berserk (While Berserk is active, your attacks are uninterruptible and you can't be staggered) also having Defy Death can save you from getting killed.
Great Sword is mainly used for the bosses, if u get in sticky situations take out your Hatchet.
It is a bit more challenging to use the Great Sword cause u get animation locked for longer and take extra damage while in the Onslaught Stance but if used right, it has the Highest DPS in New World right now.
Extra! You can also pair Hatchet with Great Axe which is great for grouping up the mobs and swap back for Boss Fights.
There are multiple Skill Tree builds for different situations:
HATCHET
DPS
DPS + Throwing
DPS + Anti Heal
Great Sword
DPS
DPS + Utility
Extra! Great Axe
Gearing
I prefer light armor weight for the extra mobility and damage.
Optimal Weights Table
HELMET | CHEST | GLOVES | PANTS | BOOTS | WEIGHT |
HEAVY | HEAVY | MEDIUM | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM |
MEDIUM | HEAVY | HEAVY | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM |
MEDIUM | HEAVY | MEDIUM | LIGHT | HEAVY | MEDIUM |
HEAVY | HEAVY | HEAVY | HEAVY | HEAVY | HEAVY |
LIGHT | MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT | LIGHT | LIGHT |
MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT | MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT |
LIGHT | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM | LIGHT | LIGHT |
LIGHT | LIGHT | LIGHT | MEDIUM | MEDIUM | LIGHT |
STATS: 5-200, CON 150-210 DEX, 200+ STR.
STR scales better with Hatchet so if u go for more CON prioritize 200 STR over 200 DEX bonuses.
In the open world, you might need more than 5 CON if you have no healer and tank.
In Expeditions as long as you have 5x Ward you should be fine with 5-100 CON otherwise go for more.
Armor
For Open World (chest runs/ elite farming etc. ) and even regular Expeditions you can get a luck set and slot Pearls or Onyxes( Most PvE damage outside Mutated Expeditions is Physical)
For Mutated Expeditions the ideal 3 perk combo is Ward+ Skill Perk + Refreshing.
Your armor should have at least Ward on all pieces.
Based on the Mutation Element you want to use elemental gems in your armor and jewelry, the recommended setup is running 58.1% mutation-specific resistance, attainable with 8x mutation-specific gems.
– Void (Eternal): Cut Pristine Amethyst
– Fire (Hellfire): Cut Pristine Ruby
– Eternal (Nature): Cut Pristine Amber
– Icebound (Ice): Cut Pristine Aquamarine
You can get "Punishing" rune gems for extra DPS. (Ex: Runeglass of Punishing Amethyst)
Great Sword Skill Perks: Leeching Crosscut (Can also be on the weapon)
Extra! Great Axe Skill Perks: Insatiable Gravity Well, Enfeebling Maelstrom
Notable Named Armor
Ancient
Light - Sun Lord’s Set - Ancient Ward + Refreshing Evasion + Shirking Fortification
Medium - Simple Skirt - Ancient Ward + Refreshing Evasion + Shirking Energy
Angry Earth
Medium - Siren’s Set - Angry Earth Ward + Refreshing + Elemental Aversion (CON)
Medium - Harbinger’s Set - Angry Earth Ward + Refreshing + Elemental Aversion (DEX)
Corrupted
Lost
Light - Admiral’s Set - Lost Ward + Refreshing + Physical Aversion
Jewelry
Slot | Perk 1 | Perk 2 | Perk 3 | Named Items |
Amulet | Health | Elemental Protection | Refreshing | Blessing of Forefathers, Scorpion Stone |
Ring ( >150 DEX) | Slash Damage | Keen Awareness | Leeching | Legate's Ring/ Heart of Heka, Featherweight Ring |
Ring ( < 150 DEX) | Hearty | Keen Awareness | Leeching | Smooth Bone Ring, Heart of Maheebgal |
Earring | Refreshing Toast | Refreshing | Purifying Toast, Beloved, Evasive, Regenerating | Doom's Chance Earring, Warrior's Energy, Reflected Mayhem |
Notable Named Jewelry
Amulet: Blessing of Forefathers, Scorpion Stone , Myrkgard's Amulet, Glass Oculus, Eyes in the Abyss
Ring: Legate's Ring, Heart of Heka, Featherweight Ring, Smooth Bone Ring, Heart of Maheebgal, Beginning, Gash, Heart of Anhurawak
Earring: Doom's Chance Earring, Warrior's Energy, Reflected Mayhem, Hardened Tear of Avarice, Champion's Earring
Weapons
The best setup is subjective but I recommend
Hatchet: Bane + Vicious/ Rogue + Refreshing Torrent
Great Sword: Bane + Thwarting Strikes/ Trenchant Strikes/ Vicious/ Rogue+ Keenly Empowered/ Chain/ Attunement
Weapon Gems
Notable Named Weapons
Greatsword
Blade of the 19th - Corrupted Bane + Trenchant Strikes + Mortal Power
Beast Hunter’s Blade - Beast Bane + Trenchant Strikes + Keenly Jagged
Tempestuous Greatsword - Corrupted Bane + Trenchant Strikes + Chain Lightning
Stonehewer - Ancient Bane + Trenchant Strikes + Mortal Refreshment
Firewood - Angry Earth Bane + Vicious + Chain
Craftsman’s Passion - Angry Earth Bane + Vicious + Keenly Empowered
Afterthought - Lost Bane + Vicious + Chain
Voidsword - Ancient Bane + Vicious + Chain
Liveliness - Corrupted Bane + Vicious + Chain
Hatchet
Bonechopper - Angry Earth Bane + Rogue + Keenly Fortified
Beyond Reason - Ancient Bane + Chain Void + Refreshing Torrent
The Settler's Friend - Ancient Bane + Keen + Vicious
Consumables
Offensive
Coatings
Recipes: Ancients, Angry Earth, Corrupted, Lost, Beast
Honing Stones
Recipes: Common, Strong, Powerful
Trophies
3x Minor | 3x Basic | 3x Majors | |
% DMG | 9% | 12% | 15% |
Defensive
Gemstone Dust & Oakflesh Balm
Ward Potions
Recipes: Ancients, Angry Earth, Corrupted, Lost, Beast
Others
Powerful Incense | Blight Tinctures | Corruption Tinctures
Food
STR Roasted Gnufish 40 STR
DEX Fried Albenaja 40 DEX
CON Roasted Rabbit with Seasoned Vegetables 40 CON
You can also use split stats food if it is cheaper:
STR CON Carrot Cake 24 STR 16 CON