Bow and Spear PvE Build for New World

The Bow has great single-target damage output, and impactful AoE cooldowns. The Spear will support it by offering AoE crowd-control and debuffs.

• 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.

• Sweep — This provides an AoE crowd-control ability that knocks a enemies down, allowing them to be clumped together and killed quickly.
• Perforate — This is a major source of damage that aplies the highest amount of Rend. It is important to use this on cooldown.
• Skewer — This is a high damage ability that also applies a bleed to increase critical hit chance and apply extra damage pressure.

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.

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
Spear	Vicious Keenly Empowered Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)*	Cut Pristine Diamond	-	Dexterity	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)	Cut Pristine Opal	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Divine Protection Perk (Mutator Specific)*	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring***	Thrust Damage Keen Awareness 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, Refreshing Penetrating Shot, and Enfeebling Skewer.

***: 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 Spear guide for tips on how it can be used most effectively.

• Use Perforate and then Skewer. Maintain these debuffs on the target.
• 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 Sweep when targets are stacked together.
• Dodge and use Rain of Arrows on clumps of enemies.
• Follow-up with Penetrating Shot. If this resets, use it again.
• Use available Spear abilities and theb continue alternating between priority weapon abilities.

When using the Bow or Spear 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 Spear page.

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