War Hammer Melee Bruiser PvP Build for New World

This build will use a standard bruiser crowd-control weapon--the War Hammer--to establish point presence and setup kills with your high damage weapon, the Great Axe. These two weapons have some of the best synergy in New World. Both weapons have incredible defensive passives, self-healing, debuffs, and damage output. While light or medium armor you will have a great deal of kill pressure. It is a build that is tanky and can consistently remain in the fight. This is one of the easiest builds to learn and it can be very forgiving. When this build is properly mastered and in the hands of an experienced player, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

There are Three versions of this build:

• Option 1: Light Armor - This has high burst damage and more single-target lockdown, but lacks survivability. It is normally placed within a dedicated dive team.
• Option 2: Medium Armor - This will focus on survivability and staying in combat to maximize damage output.
• Option 3: Heavy Armor - This is the least commonly played version of the build. You will have lower damage output and higher defensiveness, but the lack of mobility can make it difficult to survive.

• Wrecking Ball — This is a great tool for defensiveness and crowd-control. When it is used it will apply a Fortify buff that will help with survivability. Additionally, it has a unexpectedly large AoE knockdown effect that is essential for starting any kind of crowd-control combo.
• Shockwave — In most cases, this should be used as soon as a target is knocked down by Wrecking Ball. Not only with it provide a massive AoE stun. Every target will be debuffed and rended as long as you use its perk. This makes all targets extremely vulnerable.
• Path Of Destiny — This is perfect for free AoE damage and it does stagger, so you can use it to interrupt healers or other players. It is primarily used to catch targets who are running away because of its stagger and its slowing debuff. It can also be used defensively with its perk to provide quick healing.

When it comes to Great Axe builds all three armor weights can play any option. Traditionally, light will be focused on mobility and lockdown, but there are situations that can be beneficial for heavier armor weights.

Typically, Maelstrom will be better for those staying in combat and playing in clumps. This does have great burst damage still and adds survivability.

Reap will play with Blood Lust making it easier to chase down targets and keep them close so that you can lock down single targets. This is typically played in a light build. Tanky heavy armor builds may also use this to add CC in clump fights.

• Charge — This is an extremely fast option for mobility to escape a fight or chase down a target. It does have collision, even with allies, so it has to be used with no obstacles in your way. This can also be a way to provide a quick burst of damage if used at close range immediately after finishing a light or heavy attack.
• Maelstrom — This ability offers single-target and AoE burst. It then deflects all incoming projectiles, and it pulls enemies within its range. It will also apply a weaken with its perk. Prioritize using it in a clump fight, or if you have setup a War Hammer combo on a single target you can use it to quickly burst them down.
• Gravity Well — This is the best crowd-control ability in New World. Much of the PvP META revolves around gathering up targets with this ability and pairing up crowd-control combos. This will pull targets, do great damage, and heal you with its perk. Avoid using it on a single target unless they are prioritized and the cooldown would otherwise be unused for a significant duration.

This is general standard build with this weapon combination.Use this build if you are wanting to stay in clumps and continue fighting. You will be focused on increasing damage by stacking Mauler's Fury.

• Reap — This will pull your target from a very far distance away. It is great for enemies who are escaping or to keep several targets in a clump and keep them close. It also offers some quick healing potential through its own passive in combinattion with the various other healing passives. Its perk will also add a slowing effect that makes it difficult to get away after being pulled in.

Use this while in light armor build when playing in a dive team, or a heavier setup where you are wanting more crowd-control. This is best for applying pressure to a single target.

• Whirlwind — In medium and heavy loadouts it can be beneficial to use this ability as a means of repositioning. It has a stacking fortify with its perk, deals good AoE damage, and has no problems with collision. It can be used to escape more easily in heavier weight builds that lack a roll.

Use this build if you are in heavy or medium and do not want to use Charge for mobility. This will help apply a bit more AoE damage, add stacks of Fortifying Whirlwind, and build Mauler's Fury. It can quickly build stacks, but you do not have the instant escape potential. This can be used as a repositioning technique. Think of Whirlwind as a boomerang and you use it to get out of a fight and reposition around to another spot within a clump fight.

Traditional Strength builds playing on points with medium armor will use this split. This is the standard bruiser setup in New World. In a light build you can switch to 150 Constitution if you want more damage, but it is not needed..

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Great Axe	Refreshing Move Thwarting Strikes Attunement Perk or Chain Damage Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal***	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
War Hammer	Sundering Shockwave Thwarting Counter Attunement Perk or Chain Damage Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal***	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion**	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion**	Cut Pristine Onyx	Medium	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion**	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Freedom or Elemental Aversion**	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** 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 or Invigorated Punishment Slash Damage or Keen Awareness 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 Sundering Shockwave, Insatiable Gravity Well, and Leeching Path Of Destiny. The optional perks depend on your ability choices, Enfeebling Maelstrom is a great utility pick, Crippling Reap only works on targets below 50% but it can still be valuable, and Penetrating Wrecking Ball can be an okay addition but its damage value is subpar.

**: Freedom, Elemental Aversion, and Refreshing Ward, are all viable options. When using Freedom you should stack 3 or 5 times. Any combination of these perks is viable. Depending on your build it may also be valuable to use Refreshing.

***: 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.

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Great Axe	Refreshing Move Thwarting Strikes Attunement Perk or Chain Damage Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal***	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
War Hammer	Sundering Shockwave Thwarting Counter Attunement Perk or Chain Damage Perk	Runeglass of Ignited Opal***	-	Strength	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Shirking Fortification	Cut Pristine Onyx	Heavy	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Refreshing Ward** Resilient Shirking Fortification	Cut Pristine Onyx	Heavy	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Shirking Fortification	Cut Pristine Onyx	Medium or Heavy	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Refreshing Ward** Resilient Shirking Fortification	Cut Pristine Onyx	Light or Heavy	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ability Perk* or Refreshing Ward** Resilient Shirking Fortification	Cut Pristine Onyx	Medium or Heavy	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Stamina Recovery Slash Protection	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring****	Slash Damage Keen Awareness Leeching	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength	Named Drop****
Earring	Refreshing Toast Purifying Toast Refreshing Ward**	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength or Constitution	Crafted/BoE

*: The ability perks you need to make sure are in your build are Sundering Shockwave, Insatiable Gravity Well, and Leeching Path Of Destiny. The optional perks depend on your ability choices, Enfeebling Maelstrom is a great utility pick, Crippling Reap only works on targets below 50% but it can still be valuable, and Penetrating Wrecking Ball can be an okay addition but its damage value is subpar.

**: Refreshing Ward is the most effective in a heavier loadout. You can use Refreshing to get cooldown reduction on both weapons if that fits your playstyle. Freedom is also another option, but you will only need 3 stacks of it on gear.

***: See table above--any type of elemental damage.

****: Legate's Ring is a best in slot drop from Grave Offerings in Brimstone Sands. You can pick this up during a chest run, or focus specific locations. It is best because Slash Damage and Keen Awareness cannot normally be on an item together. Since you do not need Hearty, this is best.

Overall with gearing, this is the ideal loadout of perks for a best in slot build. With that being said, be sure to refer to the Great Axe Perks guide or War Hammer guide to have a better understanding of other flexible perk options to fit into your build. You can decide what you are most comfortable with.

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 with a Great Axe, 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

Bruisers 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.

For a safer alternative that can increase your burst potential, Cunning Heartrune of Detonate can be an option.

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 Great Axe guide or War Hammer guide for tips on how it can be used most effectively.

• Use Wrecking Ball to knock down the target.
• Use Shockwave immediately to stun.
• Charge a heavy Great Axe attack, or use a light attack if they have Freedom.
• Use Maelstrom immediately after to pull, burst damage, and bait their dodges so they exhaust themselves.
• If the target does not die, fire a basic attack at them

• Use Shockwave to stun.
• Use Wrecking Ball to knock down the target.
• Light attack with Great Axe while they are on the ground.
• Use Maelstrom immediately after to pull, burst damage, and bait their dodges so they exhaust themselves.
• If the target does not die, finish them with a basic attack.

• Use Gravity Well on clumps of enemies, or on a priority target.
• Use Wrecking Ball if targets are stacked together or a priority target is alone
• Use Shockwave if targets are stacked together or a priority target is alone
• Use Maelstrom to pull enemies toward you and provide burst damage.
• Use Path Of Destiny for AoE damage, interrupting casts, or to apply a slow and catch players. It can also be used when outnumbered for a burst heal with Leeching Path Of Destiny.
• Use Charge to escape or to secure a kill and chase targets.

When using the Great Axe or War Hammer 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 Great Axe page or War Hammer page.

For more information on the most frequently asked Great Axe or War Hammer questions please refer to the FAQ section of the Great Axe, or War Hammer, for answers on PvP and PvE topics!