Greatsword Bruiser PvE Build for New World

In PvE combat a Bruiser will play in light armor to maximize damage. The Greatsword has the highest damage potential in the game, but can be very squishy. With this build, the Great Axe is primarily used for AoE output and its ability to group enemies together. The Greatsword will be for primary damage.

• Relentless Rush — This will deal AoE damage primarily, but it is also important to use on cooldown to get its empower effect.
• Crosscut — This is a high damage ability that can be used for single-target or AoE once enemies are grouped together.
• Skyward Slash — This is your primary Rend tool. It also has great single-target and AoE damage.

• Reap — This can be used to pull enemies into Gravity Well, or be used to start off a CC combo so that enemies are closer together.
• Maelstrom — This ability offers single-target and AoE burst. It then deflects all incoming projectiles, and it pulls enemies within its range. It will also apply a weaken with its perk.
• Gravity Well — This is the best crowd-control ability in New World. It is mostly used on trash packs so that your group can quickly kill enemies with AoE abilities.

This is the best pairing with a high damage weapon like the Greatsword or Hatchet. It is used for trash packs, and non-boss enemies. It is fantastic for AoE damage and great crowd-control to group up enemies.

In PvE you want to play with as little Constitution as possible. As such, it is best to play around 100-150 Constitution.

The Greatsword will be your primary damage weapon, so be sure to also scale some points into Dexterity for maximum damage.

The Greatsword is a very squishy weapon due to it receiving more damage when in Onslaught stance, so be careful!

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Great Axe	Refreshing Move Thwarting Strikes Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)*	Cut Pristine Diamond	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Greatsword	Trenchant Strikes Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)* Keenly Empowered	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	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Medium	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Divine Protection Perk (Mutator Specific)*	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring***	Slash Damage Keen Awareness Leeching	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	-	Strength	Named Drop***
Earring	Refreshing Toast Purifying Toast or Regenerating Refreshing	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	-	Strength 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 only ability perk that is needed is Insatiable Gravity Well. The optional perks depend on your preferences are, Enfeebling Maelstrom to reduce enemy damage or 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.

Overall with gearing, this is the ideal loadout of perks for a best in slot build. With that being said, be sure to refer to the Great Axe Perks guide or War Hammer Perks guide to have a better understanding of other flexible perk options to fit into your build. You can decide what you are most comfortable with.

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. In PvE it is crucial to play with all Cut Pristine Opal so that you can play with lower Constitution.

Use Brutal Heartrune of Detonate in PvE for maximum damage output.

Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines and Stalwart Heartrune of Stoneform are secondary utility options.

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 Relentless Rush for its empower.
• Use Skyward Slash to apply rend.
• Use Crosscut for its damage.
• Dodge to receive an empower for 3 hits.
• Heavy attack 3 times.
• Dodge for empower.
• Repeat

• Use Gravity Well on clumps of enemies.
• Use Reap to pull enemies together before Gravity Well or to pull ranged ones into it.
• Use Maelstrom when targets are fully stacked together for AoE burst.
• Light attack until abilities are active again.
• Repeat

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!