Greatsword Perks for New World
Welcome to our Perks page for Greatsword. 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 Greatsword 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 Greatsword and properly gearing your build.
Greatsword Perks
The perks within this section include general weapon perks and Greatsword specific perks that are in the current META.
S-Tier
Trenchant Strikes — This will add a large burst of damage the Greatsword since most of its output comes from heavy attacks. When you are in Onslaught stance these will cost stamina, but finish just as fast as most weapons' light attacks.
- Attunement Perks — This adds a great burst of damage to every heavy attack.
Plagued Strikes — The Greatsword does not need 3 damage perks, it has incredible output thanks to Onslaught stance and its passives. So, by adding an anti-heal, it will add great kill potential.
- Bane Perks — (PvE) Use a Bane perk instead of
Plagued Strikes in PvE.
A-Tier
Relentless Rush — Great for PvP when trying to escape CC. The critical hit chance does not have high value because of passives in the Onslaught tree.
Slowing Rupture — This is a great PvP option if you choose to use
Roaring Rupture instead of
Steadfast Strike. The slow makes it easy to chase down targets. If you use this ability, you should try to fit this perk into your build.
- Chain Damage Perks — Adds a decent burst of damage to heavy attacks. Can bounce and help with Heartrune charge.
Keenly Empowered — Fantastic option for increasing damage in PvP and PvE. This will proc when hitting a target in the back.
B-Tier
Leeching Crosscut — Decent PvE survivability option if it fits into your build.
Energizing Counter — Great passive to help with mobility or blocking. This ability is not often used in PvP or PvE, unless you use it for tanking.
- Chain Damage Perks
Keenly Jagged — Will stack with the Defiance DoT damage passive, adding great damage pressure.
- Shirking Damage Perks — Can be a budget option instead of Attunement or Chain Damage.
Refreshing Move — This can have value in a Defiance build, but is never needed in any damage builds thanks to the Onslaught ultimate.
C-Tier
Skyward Nullification — Unnecessary perk, it can be okay for duration removal, but the 20% is negligible and overshadowed by defensive and utility options.
Steadfast Purification — This is often a wasted perk it will not be used often enough to reduce debuff durations on you. It will be overshadowed by other defensive and utility options.
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.
Thwarting Strikes — Can be a a budget option, but this should almost never be taken.
Trenchant Strikes is much better.
Enchanted — This has PvE viability, but is not better than
Trenchant Strikes or
Thwarting Strikes.
Keen — The Greatsword has so much passive critical hit chance that this is never needed.
Rogue
PvP Perks
The perks within this section include general armor perks for builds that are viable in the current PvP META.
S-Tier
Resilient — Great for survivability in all PvP environments. Should be stacked on almost every armor piece.
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.
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.
- Ward (Ancient, Angry Earth, Corrupted, Lost) — When playing damage roles in end game PvE content, it is important to have this in your gear so you are able to play with less Constitution and have more defensiveness.
- Bane (Ancient, Angry Earth, Corrupted, Lost) — Free damage increase for mutator-specific enemies. This will require you to have multiple different weapons depending on the expedition it is used in.
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
Refreshing Evasion — Free cooldown reduction in PvE. It can be useful, but it is better to have
Refreshing
Freedom — Can be beneficial to reduce CC effects from some enemy types.
Refreshing Ward — Loses value in PvE, it is typically best to just use
Refreshing as a DPS. With that being said, this is a good option for tanks.
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.
Invigorated
- Ward (Beast) — Although listed in C-Tier, this should not ever be taken until there is an expedtion with beast damage in it.
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
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.
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.
Mortal Empowerment — In light armor builds, this is a great option if you are able to snowball and not die.
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.
Hearty — Since almost all Hatchet builds are light, this is a necessary perk. If you choose to use a medium build, this is not needed.
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.
B-Tier
Refreshing Evasion
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.
Refreshing Ward
Frozen Protection
Brilliant
Fortified Recovery
Fortified
Alacrity
Purify
Focused
Healthy Toast
Changelog
- 29 Mar. 2023: Updated perk tiers for Season One.
- 16 Feb. 2023: Guide added.
More Weapon Guides
Lemoni is a New World content creator with thousands of hours of gameplay. He specializes in theory crafting builds and various gameplay mechanics to improve player performance. He also enjoys long walks on the beach.
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