Sword and Shield Backline Assassin PvP Build for New World

This build focuses on being able to quickly initiate a fight on a single player, put them into a crowd-control combination that opens up huge damage opportunity for the Hatchet. It has amazing survivability and can outrun just about any enemy.

• Leaping Strike — This will be used to initiate a CC combo, or to just get yourself into combat. It will deal a large amount of damage if you hit an enemy from behind, and add a slowing effect. This can also be used for a quick escape.
• Shield Bash — This is needed for any chain CC combos. It is powerful ability for locking down a priority target, or interrupting abilities due to its quick casting speed.
• Shield Rush — This will provide a stagger that initiates a CC chain and quick damage. It also will add an AoE slowing effect. So when used on a clump, it can result in great utlity to secure several kills.

• Reverse Stab — This will do a large burst of damage, stagger the target, and reset cooldowns. It should always be used after your two other abilities are on cooldown. It is best to try and use it on a target who is stunned or affected by CC.

This build can result in higher burst damage and ability cooldown reduction, but it can be difficult to land Reverse Stab unless the target is stunned or CC'd.

• Feral Rush — This ability is perfect for targets who are trying to escape, or quick bursts of mobility. You will leap and hit a target in the back for a large burst of damage, root them, and slow them if you have its perk. This can also be used to escape abilities like Gravity Well.
• Berserk — In PvP, this can be used to get out of crowd-control, even stuns. This will also provide movement speed and free healing in addition to its damage increase.
• Social Distancing — This is mobility that can be used to escape roots or other crowd-control. But it can also be used to root players who are attempting to escape.

This split maximizes damage output because of mixed primary and secondary attribute scaling. It also adds more mobility by having the 150 Dexterity passive. This will allow you to freely dive in and out of backlines while adding the most benefit to damage through raw scaling and beneficial passives.

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Sword	Attunement Perk Keenly Empowered Empowering Leaping Strike	Runeglass of Ignited Opal**	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Shield	Keen Vicious Keenly Jagged	-	Round Shield	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Hatchet	Vicious Keenly Empowered Attunement Perk or Chain Damage Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal**	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Refreshing or Freedom*** Resilient Shirking Energy	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Stamina Recovery Slash Protection	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring	Mortal Empowerment 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 Empowering Leaping Strike and Crippling Feral Rush. You can use Fortifying Shield Rush for more defensiveness if you wish. If you do not use a perk, fill that slot with a viable defensive passive.

**: Your Opal Runeglass on your weapons can be any variation of elemental damage, the same goes for your Attunement and Chain Damage perks. It is best practice to match your Attunement or Chain with the type of DoT damage your Opal does.

***: Freedom, Elemental Aversion, and Refreshing, are all viable options. When using Freedom you should stack 3 or 5 times. Any combination of these perks is viable.

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, 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

When you are 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.

If you are wanting to push through choke points, doorways, or want a more defensive option, Stalwart Heartrune of Stoneform is great to have some independent burst healing if you do not have a healer. 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 Sword guide or Hatchet guide for tips on how it can be used most effectively.

• Open on a target with Leaping Strike and attempt to hit them in the back.
• Use Shield Rush to do damage, slow, and stagger the target.
• Use Shield Bash to do damage and stun the target.
• Swap to Hatchet and animation cancel Berserk into Feral Rush from behind the target if possible.
• Light attack with Hatchet or Sword and Shield.
• If the target escapes, attempt to use Social Distancing to root them and catch up.
• Use Leaping Strike or Shield Rush if they are available to escape or close gaps.
• Swap to Hatchet if you are about to die to use Defy Death. Also swap and use Berserk to escape CC.

When using the Sword 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 Sword page or Hatchet page.

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