Spear Dive 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.

• Javelin — This is a ranged ability that does a significant amount of damage. It scales its damage based on the distance it is thrown, but it is a powerful close range CC tool that will knock a player down and enable a plethora of combos.
• Skewer — This is a high damage ability that also applies a bleed. It has some subtle mobility that will lunge to the targets, making it easy to chase.
• Vault Kick — This stun will be paramount in crowd-control combinations. It provides you withn enough time to reposition behind a target to quickly burst them down, or enable a follow-up CC ability.

• Sweep — This provides an AoE crowd-control ability that knocks a player down and can be followed up with a downward stab that counts as a heavy attack. This is a strong from of CC that does not count toward diminishing returns since it knocks the target on the ground. Use this if you are not confident in using Javelin.

This split maximizes damage output because of mixed primary and secondary attribute scaling. It also adds more mobility by having the 150 Dexterity passive. While it is not necessarily the highest sheet damage on the spear, it optimizes the passives by taking 200 Strength. This gives you a flat 10% damage increase to targets who are effected by crowd-control.

If you would prefer, you can take 200 Dexterity instead for increased backstab damage.

Another option is to play 250 Dexterity to get critical hit damage increases on targets who are affected by crowd-control, but this is a less consistent option.

You can always lower your Constitution to try and get more out of your Dexterity passives too.

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
Spear	Vicious Keenly Empowered Attunement Perk or Chain Damage Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal**	-	Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Refreshing or Freedom*** Resilient Shirking Energy	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ability Perk* or Refreshing*** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion***	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Stamina Recovery Slash Protection	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring	Mortal Empowerment Thrust Damage Hearty	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Earring	Refreshing Toast Purifying Toast Refreshing***	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution	Crafted/BoE

*: The ability perks you need to make sure are in your build are Empowering Leaping Strike, Enfeebling Skewer, and Vault Kick. Depending on your build choices, you may also need Sundering Javelin or Bleeding Sweep, and Contagious Reverse Stab. 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.

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 Spear 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 Spear, dodge, and use Javelin.
• Dodge again and use Vault Kick.
• Dodge again and get behind the target, then use Skewer.
• Continue using whatever crowd-control options are available. If you are close use the Spear, if the target is escaping or Spear cooldowns are unavailable, use the Sword.

• Open on a target with Leaping Strike and attempt to hit them in the back.
• Use Shield Bash to do damage and stun the target.
• Use Reverse Stab to do damage and stagger the target.
• Swap to Spear, dodge, and quickly use Javelin.
• Dodge again and use Vault Kick.
• Dodge again and get behind the target, then use Skewer.
• Continue using whatever crowd-control options are available. If you are close use the Spear, if the target is escaping or Spear cooldowns are unavailable, use the Sword.

When using the Sword 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 Sword page or Spear page.

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