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Currently, Hatchet and Great Axe builds are the most popular for PvP in New World. Easy to build and to play, this particular build offers a mobile and close-ranged playstyle that can quickly whittle down an enemy’s health while also keeping them in place. Thanks to its insane DPS, most players are also using this build for PvE and dungeon boss raids as well. Here’s how to craft one of the best New World Hatchet and Great Axe builds.
Attributes to Aim for Hatchet and Great Axe Build
- Strength. The main Attribute for Hatchet and the only one you need for Great Axe. It buffs up your damage output and unlocks Strength-based Perks to crank up light and heavy attack damage and uninterruptible attacks as well.
- Constitution. Get at least 50 points in this Attribute to improve your Maximum Health and unlock healing Perks that increase the effectiveness of Potions.
- Dexterity. Although it’s not a priority, getting additional Dexterity would improve Hatchet melee damage. Try to slot in bonus Dexterity on weapons or armor if you can.
New World Hatchet and Great Axe Build – Abilities and Skills
Hatchet Skill Tree
Fully upgrade these Active Abilities as soon as you can:
- Feral Rush: A sprinting melee attack that causes the player to leap forward, hitting twice. The first hit deals 115.0% and the 2nd deals 130.0% weapon damage. Cooldown: 12 seconds.
- Berserk: Triggers a Berserk Mode that increases all attack damage by 20.0% while active. Berserk Mode will be active for 12.0 seconds. Cooldown will trigger once Berserk ends. Cooldown: 18 seconds. Taunt Gem Compatible.
- Raging Torrent: Perform four fast attacks each dealing 90% weapon damage. Cooldown 15 seconds.
For PvP purposes, you can replace Raging Torrent with Social Distancing. As the Ability’s attribute, dealing 120% weapon damage and slowing targets by 15% for three seconds, is a good way to lock enemy players.
Passive Skills to get:
- Enraged Strikes: If target is below 30.0% health. Light and Heavy attacks deal 20.0% more damage.
- Accumulated Power: After 3 successful light attacks against the same target: gain Empower, granting a 30.0% damage increase for 3.0 seconds or until the next attack.
- Against All Odds: Increase base damage by 10.0% for every enemy within 5.0 meters of the player.
- Fortifying Strikes: Hitting the same target with 3.0 light attacks grants Fortify, increasing damage absorption by 15.0% for 3.0 seconds.
- Frenzied Purge: When hitting an enemy while your health is below 30.0%: Removes all Bleed, Burn, and Poison DoT effects from the player. (60.0 second cooldown).
- Defy Death: When you receive lethal damage: Avoid death, reduce to 0.0 HP and gain immortality for 3.0 seconds. (75.0s cooldown).
Great Axe Skill Tree
Fully upgrade these Active Abilities as soon as you can:
- Maelstorm: Fast-spinning attack that pulls targets closer to you and deals 110% weapon damage. Cooldown: 28 seconds.
- Whirlwind: Spin attack dealing 50% weapon damage to all nearby foes. If you hit a foe spin again (Max 4 spins.) You can move while spinning. This attack cannot backstab. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
- Gravity Well: Throw an axe to create a vortex that pulls foes to its center for 3s. Ends with a damaging Burst dealing 125.0% weapon damage. Range 10m. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
For PvP purposes, you can replace Maelstorm and Whirlwind with Reap and Charge. Reap can be used to pull enemies into your Gravity Well while Charge allows you to, well, charge toward a target and break the enemy’s formation.
Passive Skills to get:
- Enduring Strike: Adds Grit to Great Axe Heavy Attacks, and grants a 20.0% damage reduction while the Heavy attack Grit is active.
- Center Of Attention: While holding a Great Axe gain 10.0% damage when 3 or more foes are within 4.0m.
- Crowded Protection: While holding a Great Axe gain 10.0% damage absorption when 3 or more foes are within 4.0m.
- Mauler’s Fury: Great Axe attacks increase damage by 3.0% for 3.0s. (max 10.0 stacks.)
- Greed: Light attacks with your Great Axe give you 5.0% damage for 5.0s (max 3.0 stacks.)
- Critical Gains: When you make a critical hit with a Great Axe: Heal yourself for 10.0% of the damage done.
- Frustration: After one of your attacks is blocked gain 15.0% damage for 10.0s. (max 1.0 stack.)
- Keen Edge: Critical damage increased by 10.0%.
- Critical Condition: Great Axe attacks against foes below 30.0% health: critical 15.0% more often.
- Feed: Great Axe attacks against foes below 30.0% health: heal you for 10.0% of damage done.
Recommended Gear for Hatchet and Great Axe Build
For a Hatchet and Great Axe build, Medium Equip Load is more versatile and recommended thanks to its good balance of damage and armor resistances. Nevertheless, if you are making a glass cannon build, you can try out using Light Equip Load for even more damage. Always keep an eye on your health bar though because just a few stray hits from bosses can take you out of the fight. You can compare the passive bonuses of Medium vs Light Armor below:
| Light Equip Load | Medium Equip Load | |
| Heal Bonus | 20% | 10% |
| Damage Bonus | 20% | 10% |
| Dodge | Farthest distance, Dodge Roll | Medium distance, Dodge Hop |
| Physical and Elemental Resistance | Low | Average |
Always focus on looking for equips that add Strength as it is the Hatchet and Great Axe’s primary attribute. If you do find pieces with Constitution or Dexterity, it’s also a good option to use. Here are the three most recommended pieces of equipment for New World Hatchet and Great Axe build:
- Scout Breastplate of the Soldier
- Gear Score: 336
- Armor Rating – Elemental: 376
- Armor Rating – Physical: 251
- Opportunistic Great Axe of the Soldier
- Gear Score: 352
- Damage: 547
- Slash Damage: 143
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
- Critical Damage Multiplier: 1.4
- Block Stamina Damage: 56
- Blocking Stability: 25%
- + 16 Strength
- Opportunist II: +12% Damage against targets with less than 30% Health
- Insatiable Gravity Well: Gain 35% of your damage with Gravity Well back as Health, and cast another burst around you on successful hit
- Hatchet of the Fighter
- Gear Score: 317
- Damage: 264
- Slash Damage: 101
- Critical Hit Chance: 4%
- Critical Damage Multiplier: 1.4
- Block Stamina Damage: 38
- Blocking Stability: 19%
New World is now available on Windows PC via Steam.
