Great Axe and Greatsword PvP Build for New World

This build will use a Great Axe as a means of crowd-control and AoE damage, but also for a quick mobility option. It is unlike the typical Great Axe PvP builds because it will be using the Greatsword as its primary source of damage. These two weapons paired together result in incredibly high burst damage potential. It lacks hard crowd-control, such as a stun, but it makes up for that with its plethora of pulls, roots, and incredibly high damage. This is a very mobile build that can completely decimate a backline, or destroy a clump. This build is primarily a light armor PvP dive build, but it could be modified to play in medium.

• Relentless Rush — This will deal AoE damage primarily, but it is also important to use on cooldown to get its empower effect. Additionally, in PvP this can be used while in Onslaught stance to root a target or it can be used to get out of CC because of its perk effect.
• Skyward Slash — This is your primary Rend tool. It also has great single-target and AoE damage.
• Steadfast Strike — This is your pull and lockdown tool. It will lunge a far distance, hit the target, stagger them, and pull them back with the second hit. This is great for securing kills and survivability. It will heal you, and provide cooldown reduction. and heal you.

When it comes to Great Axe builds there are several variations. For the purposes of a Greatsword setup, it is best to use the Blood Lust version with Reap to chase down targets and keep them close.

• Charge — This is an extremely fast option for mobility to escape a fight or chase down a target. It does have collision, even with allies, so it has to be used with no obstacles in your way. This can also be a way to provide a quick burst of damage if used at close range immediately after finishing a light or heavy attack.
• Reap — This will pull your target from a very far distance away. It is great for enemies who are escaping or to keep several targets in a clump and keep them close. It also offers some quick healing potential through its own passive in combinattion with the various other healing passives. Its perk will also add a slowing effect that makes it difficult to get away after being pulled in.
• Gravity Well — This is the best crowd-control ability in New World. Much of the PvP META revolves around gathering up targets with this ability and pairing up crowd-control combos. This will pull targets, do great damage, and heal you with its perk. Avoid using it on a single target unless they are prioritized and the cooldown would otherwise be unused for a significant duration.

Please note: If you prefer a build with higher burst damage, you can consider replacing Gravity Well with Maelstrom. This allows you to deal quick damage to an enemy to not only potentially finsih them off, but also weaken them.

Traditional Strength builds playing on points with medium armor will use a split of at least 300 Strength and 300 Constitution. If you have all 725 gearscore items, you can pull off more Constitution to gain further survivability. If you are running this as a more assassin, burst-damange build, then you will want to run this in light armor, and add more Strength than Constitution. Although light builds could be fun with the enhanced dodge, it is not recommended if you plan on using this build in wars.

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Great Axe	Refreshing Move Thwarting Strikes Attunement Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal**	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Greatsword	Trenchant Strikes Plagued Strikes Attunement Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal**	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Enchanted Ward Freedom	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Enchanted Ward Freedom	Cut Pristine Onyx	Medium	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Enchanted Ward Freedom	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Enchanted Ward Freedom	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Enchanted Ward Freedom	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Stamina Recovery Slash Protection	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring	Empowered Cleave Slash Damage Hearty	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Earring	Refreshing Toast Purifying Toast Refreshing**	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE

*: The ability perks you need to make sure are in your build are Insatiable Gravity Well and Relentless Freedom. Crippling Reap is an optional one, but is not needed.

**: Your Opal Runeglass on your weapons can be any variation of elemental damage, the same goes for your Attunement perks. It is best practice to match your Attunement with the type of DoT damage your Opal does. Try not to use Fire or Ice damage, as typically players have the most amount of resistance for those elements.

***: Health, Slash Conditioning and Refreshing are all viable options for your third perk on armor pieces.

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

This will increase physical damage dealt by a flat percent, but it has an internal cooldown attached to it. This means that if you swing two light attacks with a Great Axe, only every other swing will have the damage increase. This drastically reduces its effectiveness over time, whereas you could just take normal defensive gems to increase survivability. It can be worth it to put 1-3 of this Runeglass in your gear, but never use a complete set of 5 Punishing Runeglass

Bruisers looking to have higher damage output and burst down multiple targets within a clump should use Brutal Heartrune of Detonate. You just need to play safely after activating it.

For a safer alternative that can make you more effective in combat, Stalwart Heartrune of Stoneform is great to have some independent burst healing. Otherwise, for max defensiveness, Cunning Heartrune of Stoneform is the better option.

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

• Use Skyward Slash to Rend and get into Onslaught stance.
• Use Relentless Rush to root the target and receive an empower.
• Heavy attack with Greatsword until the target tries to run away.
• Use Steadfast Strike to pull enemies back, or to use it as a stagger to interrupt targets. This can also be used for a quick heal or potential cooldown reset.

• Use Gravity Well on clumps of enemies, or on a priority target.
• Use Skyward Slash for Rend, AoE damage, and anti-healing.
• Use Relentless Rush while in onslaught to root targets.
• Use Steadfast Strike to keep enemies close and prevent escapes.
• Use Reap to pull enemies toward you and prevent escapes.
• Use Charge to escape or to secure a kill and chase targets.

When using the Great Axe or Greatsword 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 Great Axe page or Greatsword page.

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