Hatchet Perks for New World
Welcome to our Perks page for Hatchet. Here, we give you an overview of how strong each perk is in each setting. Then, we present Jewelry perks and explain how strong and why each of them is.
Perk Tierlists
All the perks below are usable in any Hatchet build. While there are many other perks in the game, these are the perks that are within the scope of having value when using a Hatchet and properly gearing your build.
Hatchet Perks
The perks within this section include general weapon perks and Hatchet specific perks that are in the current META.
S-Tier
- Vicious — Since most hits will be from behind, this will increase damage for those and for critical hits.
- Keenly Empowered — Fantastic option for increasing damage in PvP and PvE. This will proc when hitting a target in the back.
- Attunement Perks — Consistent and free damage increase.
- Refreshing Torrent (On Gear in PvE) — Great source of cooldown reduction to increase Berserk uptime.
A-Tier
- Keen Berserk — This can be a slight damage increase in PvP and PvE, but you will not commonly be below 50% health, as such, it is a minimal gain and not often taken.
- Crippling Feral Rush — Great for PvP when chasing down enemies who are attempting to escape.
- Thwarting Strikes — Fantastic option in PvE where you are always affected by Grit. This is better than Enchanted.
B-Tier
- Enchanted — This has PvE viability, but is not better than Thwarting Strikes.
- Keen — Not needed, but can be a free damage increase at times.
- Chain Damage Perks
C-Tier
- Empowering Rending Throw — This has minimal value since most builds do not use throwing Hatchets for primary damage in PvE.
- Exhausting Infected Throw — This ability is not used commonly in PvP, or other environments, resulting in almost no benefits.
- Refreshing Distancing Throw — This throw is typically used on targets who are 6 meters or farther away so they can be rooted. While it may help with survivability, it is often a wasted perk.
- Refreshing Move — This is often a wasted perk when you can use a damage option and Refreshing Torrent instead.
- Keenly Jagged
- Shirking Damage Perks
PvP Perks
The perks within this section include general armor perks for builds that are viable in the current PvP META.
S-Tier
- Freedom — Fantastic survivability option when stacked four times on armor pieces. Allows for you to get out of stuns, slows, and roots more quickly to save your life.
- Elemental Aversion — Defensive option that can provide value when being hit by ranged attacks.
A-Tier
- Refreshing — Top-tier cooldown reduction option so that maximum cooldowns are shorter and abilities come online faster. Used in non-bruiser builds.
B-Tier
- Shirking Fortification — Provides a small amount of defensiveness.
- Shirking Heals
C-Tier
These options are somewhat filler perks that can be used on a three perk item so you have more value than a simple two perk item. They are low value perks in this aspect of gameplay and would not be the pick for a Best in Slot item.
PvE Perks
S-Tier
- Refreshing — Free cooldown reduction in PvE. This is generally a top pick due to the lackof needing PvP survivability perks.
- Elemental Aversion — High value defensive option because of the rotating elemental types in mutated expeditions.
A-Tier
- Shirking Fortification — Provides great defensiveness when threat is focused on you and you are forced to dodge enemies.
- Physical Aversion — Has less value than Elemental Aversion due to the high amount of magical damage in all expeditions. It can be a viable third perk option.
B-Tier
- Freedom — Can be beneficial to reduce CC effects from some enemy types.
C-Tier
These options are somewhat filler perks that can be used on a three perk item so you have more value than a simple two perk item. They are low value perks in this aspect of gameplay and would not be the pick for a Best in Slot item.
Jewelry Perks
The perks listed below are combined between amulet, ring, and earring. These are the best options for jewelry as a whole. Keep in mind that some of these perks are only able to go on a specific jewelry slot, for example Keen Awareness can only go on a ring.
S-Tier
- Hearty — Consider this a required ring perk for all Hatchet builds.
- Health — This is just free health. This is crucial on any amulet for increased survivability.
- Stamina Recovery — Great survivability option in any kit. When you are being dove on by enemies this has the potential to save your life.
- Slash Damage — This should be paired with either Invigorated Punishment or Mortal Empowerment in PvP. This should always be used in PvE. These statements only apply to melee weapons.
- Keen Awareness — This can be used instead of Slash Damage in PvP if you prefer. In PvE, use this with Slash Damage on Legate's Ring.
- Refreshing Toast — Incredible perk to increase self healing and Infused Regeneration Potion usage to remove debuffs. This is a "must-have" on earring.
- Purifying Toast — Necessary for most frontline players in PvP to help with defensiveness and one's ability to play in the frontline. Removing a debuff such as a root, or a DoT, and can save your life.
A-Tier
- Slash Protection — Can be a great third perk option on amulet to help provide defensiveness against enemies using melee weapons who are trying to dive onto you.
- Refreshing — Can be placed as a third perk on an earring or used as a functional perk on other jewelry pieces.
- Hearty — Do not use this in a medium loadout build. It is not necessary unless playing in a light armor loadout. If you are playing in light this must be on your ring and it would be S-Tier. It is not needed in PvE.
- Leeching — This a great option to pair with Slash Damage and Keen Awareness when playing in a PvE build with Legate's Ring.
- Invigorated Punishment — This is a consistent damage increase and should often be used if playing as a melee since it is likely that you will die in PvP.
B-Tier
- Thrust Protection — Slash Protection should be prioritized, but this can be used if you are struggling against damage from Bows, Muskets, and Blunderbusses.
- Divine — Can be a decent third perk option. Increasing healing received could save your life, but often times this amount is not enough and more defensive options have more value. This is a great PvE option instead of something like Stamina Recovery.
- Regenerating — Free additional healing over time. This can be a decent third perk option.
C-Tier
These options are somewhat filler perks that can be used on a three perk item so you have more value than a simple two perk item. They are low value perks in this aspect of gameplay and would not be the pick for a Best in Slot item.
Changelog
- 11 Oct. 2024: Guide updated for expansion.
- 22 Oct. 2023: Guide updated for expansion.
- 29 Mar. 2023: Updated perk tiers for Season One.
- 16 Feb. 2023: Guide added.
More Weapon Guides
Savvvo is a New World Aeternum content creator with over 5,000 hours of gameplay. He specializes in developing leveling and gold-making guides, PvP builds, and discovering fun, new ways to enhance your New World experience. If you can not find him in Aeternum, he is probably somewhere on YouTube.
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