Bow and Hatchet PvE Build for New World

The Bow has great single-target damage output, and impactful AoE cooldowns. It can be paired with a Hatchet for more survivabililty or as an alternative source of damage. Either weapon can be your primary single-target weapon depending on the encounter you are in.

• Rain of Arrows — This will decimate AoE clumps when used with empower effects and it being a guaranteed critical strike after rolling. Use this on cooldown to clear trash between boss fights.
• Rapid Shot — High damage cooldown that launches three quick shots and staggers targets which opens up a vulernability window to secure kills or interrupt casts.
• Penetrating Shot — High damage ability that can be weaved into another heavy shot. This will go through multiple targets. Try to finish off kills with this ability.

• Berserk — This is your main DPS cooldown. Try to activate this before large burst damage windows. It will also provide movement speed and self-healing.
• Raging Torrent — This will be your only real active weapon ability. It has great single target damage when used with maximum empower stacks, and does have AoE damage potential as it can hit multiple enemies.
• Rending Throw — This is your main source of Rend. It is only able to hit one target at a time, but it results in increased damage and is great for boss fights.

It is commonly debated as to whether or not you should take Sweep or Vault Kick. Having the AoE crowd-control for trash packs with a Sweep is typically better than single-target stuns.

In PvE it is advantageous to lower your Constitution as low as possible and this will be compensated for by having Ward perks. It is recommended to play around 100, but you can go to 50 or lower. The decision is up to you!

The rest of your points should be put into Dexterity.

If you are wanting to mainly use your Hatchet, start putting points into Strength once you hit 300 Dexterity.

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Bow	Enchanted or Vicious Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)* Keenly Jagged or Keenly Empowered	Cut Pristine Diamond	-	Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Hatchet	Vicious Keenly Empowered or Refreshing Move Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)*	Cut Pristine Diamond	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Medium	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Divine Protection Perk (Mutator Specific)*	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring***	Slash Damage or Thrust Damage Keen Awareness Leeching or Blood Letting	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength	Named Drop***
Earring	Refreshing Toast Purifying Toast or Regenerating Refreshing Evasion or Refreshing	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE

*: The type of Bane and Ward that you slot into your gear will be dependent on the expedition you are in and the type of enemy that you are facing. For example, if you are fighting Angry Earth enemies in Genesis you will want Angry Earth Bane and Angry Earth Ward. Your amulet protection perk will be similar. Depending on the elemental type of the Mutator you are in, you can wear an elemental protection amulet for more defensiveness instead of completely switching your gems.

**: The ability perks you need to make sure are in your build are Penetrating Rapid Shot and Refreshing Penetrating Shot. Leeching Crosscut can be used for self-healing.

***: Legate's Ring is a best in slot drop from Grave Offerings in Brimstone Sands. You can pick this up during a chest run, or focus specific locations. It is best because Slash Damage and Keen Awareness cannot normally be on an item together. Since you do not need Hearty, this is best. Heart of Anhurawak is a Thrust Damage drop that also has Keen Awareness, this perk combination cannot be rolled, so this is very strong.

For more specific information on optimizing your gems in PvP and PvE please refer to our dedicated guides.

In PvE you can use Brutal Heartrune of Detonate for burst damage, or you can use Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines to help CC and apply Rend to trash packs.

Your Heartrune will be used similarly in PvP and PvE scenarios. As such, please refer to our Bow guide or Hatchet guide for tips on how it can be used most effectively.

• Use Rending Throw.
• Dodge and hit a target with a heavy shot into a Penetrating Shot immediately while aiming at the head.
• Use Rapid Shot for quick damage.
• Continue using heavy shots and maintain your dodge empower buff.
• Use Rapid Shot as soon as it is off cooldown.
• Do not use Rain of Arrows unless there are additional targets.
• Use Berserk as a DPS cooldown or for AoE situations.
• If you are about to die, swap to your Hatchet for Defy Death.

• Use Berserk.
• Use Rending Throw to increase damage output.
• Light attack until Berserk falls off and goes on cooldown.
• Use Raging Torrent to reduce cooldowns.
• Light attack with Hatchet.
• Swap to Bow to use its abilities if necessary.
• If you are about to die, swap to your Hatchet for Defy Death.

• Use Berserk and use as many Raging Torrent casts as you can reset.
• Dodge and use Rain of Arrows on clumps of enemies.
• Follow-up with Penetrating Shot. If this resets, use it again.
• Swap back to Hatchet and light attack or use abilities.

When using the Bow or Hatchet in PvP and PvE there are many similar aspects that go into gameplay decisions and rotations. To learn more about how you can improve your gameplay, use certain secondary weapons, or additional information on specific abilities, please refer to the Gameplay section of the Bow page or Hatchet page.

For more information on the most frequently asked Bow or Hatchet questions please refer to the FAQ section of the Bow, or Hatchet, for answers on PvP and PvE topics!