Spear Hatchet Dive PvP Build for New World

Last updated on Feb 23, 2023 at 12:00 by Lemoni 12 comments

The following is a PvP dive build that will use the high single-target damage and crowd-control of the Spear and pair it with the Hatchet so it has the highest damage and survivability there is to offer. A player can dive into enemy lines, focus on one target, and put them in a crowd-control loop that will prevent them from moving until they die.

1.

Spear Hatchet Dive - PvP

A build with this weapon combination enables an incredibly strong kit that will allow you to dive into backlines and have some of the best survivability in the game because of your Hatchet. This build emphasizes crowd-control combos to take on one target at a time. You are highly mobile and can do fantastic burst damage in light or medium variants of this build.

There are two versions of this build:

  • Option 1: Light Armor - This has high burst damage and more mobility.
  • Option 2: Medium Armor - This will focus on survivability but still has incredibly high burst potential. It is not commonly played, but is more of a bruiser option.
2.

Spear Builds

2.1.

Javelin

  • Javelin 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 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 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.
2.2.

Sweep

  • Sweep 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 Javelin.
3.

Hatchet Build

  • Feral Rush 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 Gravity Well.
  • Berserk 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 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.
4.

Attributes

200str150dex150con

This split allows you to take advantage of the 200 Strength passive which increases damage on targets affected by crowd-control. If you prefer, you could go with 200 Dexterity to increase backstab damage. If you scale with Dexterity you will have higher sheet damage, but the passive from Strength will be more potential effective damage. You will want to scale both attributes to get the highest possible damage.

Alternatively, you can scale completely to 300 Dexterity and go 200 Constitution, or stay at 150 and go with 50 Strength. The 300 Dexterity passive guarantees a critical hit, but only applies every 10 seconds.

5.

Gearing

5.1.

Light or Medium

Slot Perks Gem Weight Attribute Source
Spear Runeglass of Ignited Opal Runeglass of Ignited Opal** - Dexterity Crafted/BoE
Hatchet Runeglass of Ignited Opal Runeglass of Ignited Opal** - Strength Crafted/BoE
Helmet Cut Pristine Onyx Cut Pristine Onyx Light or Heavy Strength or Dexterity Crafted/BoE
Chest Cut Pristine Onyx Cut Pristine Onyx Medium or Heavy Strength or Dexterity Crafted/BoE
Gloves Cut Pristine Onyx Cut Pristine Onyx Light or Medium Strength or Dexterity Crafted/BoE
Pants Cut Pristine Onyx Cut Pristine Onyx Light Strength or Dexterity Crafted/BoE
Boots Cut Pristine Onyx Cut Pristine Onyx Light or Medium Strength or Dexterity Crafted/BoE
Amulet Cut Pristine Opal Cut Pristine Opal - Constitution Crafted/BoE
Ring (Light) Cut Pristine Opal Cut Pristine Opal - Constitution Crafted/BoE
Ring (Medium) Cut Pristine Opal Cut Pristine Opal - Constitution Crafted/BoE
Earring Cut Pristine Opal Cut Pristine Opal - Strength or Constitution Crafted/BoE

*: The ability perks you need to make sure are in your build are Sundering Javelin Sundering Javelin, Crippling Feral Rush Crippling Feral Rush, Keen Vault Kick Keen Vault Kick and Enfeebling Skewer Enfeebling Skewer. You may also use Bleeding Sweep Bleeding Sweep as an optional perk. 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 Freedom, Elemental Aversion Elemental Aversion, and Refreshing Refreshing, are all viable options. When using Freedom Freedom you should stack 3 or 5 times. Any combination of these perks is viable.

6.

Gem Optimization

For more specific information on optimizing your gems in PvP and PvE please refer to our dedicated guides.

6.1.

Punishing Runeglass

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

7.

Heartrune

When you are looking to have higher damage output and burst down multiple targets within a clump should use Brutal Heartrune of Detonate 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 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 Cunning Heartrune of Stoneform is the better option.

7.1.

Heartrune Usage

Your Heartrune will be used similarly in PvP and PvE scenarios. As such, please refer to our Spear guide or Hatchet guide for tips on how it can be used most effectively.

8.

Rotation and Priority List

  • Open on a target with Javelin Javelin if they are a farther distance away.
  • Open on a target with Vault Kick Vault Kick if they are in melee range.
  • Dodge and use Vault Kick Vault Kick or Javelin Javelin (Whichever you did not open with) to get cooldown reset.
  • Dodge and use Skewer Skewer from behind the target.
  • If it is available, repeat this rotation again, starting with either Javelin Javelin or Vault Kick Vault Kick.
  • Light attack whenever all abilities are on cooldown or you can sneak in quick damage.
  • If the target escapes, swap to Hatchet and attempt an animation cancel with Berserk Berserk immediately into a Feral Rush Feral Rush.
  • If the target successfully escapes, attempt to use Social Distancing Social Distancing to root them and catch up.
  • Swap to Hatchet if you are about to die to use Defy Death Defy Death. Also swap and use Berserk Berserk to escape CC.
9.

Gameplay Tips

When using the Spear 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 Spear page or Hatchet page.

10.

FAQ

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

11.

Changelog

  • 22 Oct. 2023: Guide updated for expansion.
  • 29 Mar. 2023: Updated gear.
  • 23 Feb. 2023: Guide added.
Show more
Show less