Build Introduction

The Mauler Build is an extremely easy to pick up DPS Build for New World focused on pure, brutal melee damage. This build utilizes the Great Axe for amazing AOE Damage combined with the Hatchet for great single target damage, meaning you always have great options at your disposal for dispatching enemies quickly!

Best Attributes

The core attribute needed for the Mauler build is Strength. This is because Strength is the only viable attribute for Great Axe and the primary attribute for Hatchet. More Strength on this build simply means more damage output, and a lot of it! We’ll also unlock some amazing Strength-based Perks as we progress including improved light and heavy attack damage and uninteruptible attacks via Grit.

Putting points into Constitution is aslo recommended for increasing your Maximum Health, especially early on in the game. Having at least 50 points in Constitution results a fantastic healing perk great for all builds that increases the effectiveness of your potions.

As a secondary Attribute, some Dexterity will be useful for improving the melee damage of our Hatchet, so if you come across bonus Dexterity on Weapons or Armor those will be worth slotting as well.

Armor Choices

New World has a detailed Armor Weight and Equip Load system which provides different bonuses and drawbacks depending on your overall build weight. For the MAULER Build I prefer a Medium Equip Load as this gives us a good balance of damage and armor resistances that I find to be the most useful in group dungeons (expeditions). You can also go with a Light Equip Load if you prefer for even more damage, but be careful, because a few hits from a beefy dungeon boss will be enough to put you down!

Medium Armor builds have the following passive bonuses in New World:

Medium Equip Load

• 10% Bonus Healing
• 10% Bonus Damage
• Medium Dodge Distance: the Dodge Hop
• Average Physical and Elemental Resistance

For comparison, Light Armor builds have the following passive bonuses in New World:

Light Equip Load

• 20% Bonus Healing
• 20% Bonus Damage
• Farthest Dodge Distance: the Dodge Roll
• Lowest Physical and Elemental Resistance

Armor Attributes

Remember, when looking for gear pieces for this build to focus on our Primary Attribute: Strength. Some pieces with Constitution or Dexterity will also be good.

Armor Sets

My favorite Armor Set in New World for the Mauler build is the Soldier Set. This type of armor comes in Heavy, Medium and Light, so you can mix and match pieces if needed to obtain your desired Equip Load. I recommend using at least one Heavy Piece as this will give you quite a bit of extra Physical and Elemental Resistances without putting you over the Medium Armor Cap.

The great thing about this set is its attribute bonus which is 100% Strength-based. You can find this set randomly from enemy drops in New World or buy it from the trader.

Primary Weapon

The Primary Weapon for the MAULER Build is the Great Axe. This weapon allows for Powerful AOE Damage combos. In fact, the more enemies we are facing, the stronger this weapon becomes!

A recommended trait for your Great Axe is Insatiable Gravity Well.

Once you find a Great Axe with a Gem Slot you will be able to dramatically increase your killing power with the help of a Cut Emerald Gem. This increases your damage against targets below 30% Health and can very useful for quickly burning through boss battles.

More information on Emerald Gems can be found here.

Secondary Weapon

The Secondary Weapon for the Hunter Build is going to be the Hatchet. This weapon is a fantastic choice for any build in New World due to its massive damage output and potential for self-healing through Berserk.

Great Axe Skills

The Great Axe Skills we’ve selected for this build are centered around powerful AOE Damage Combos.

Click each skill name below to learn more about that skill and its upgrades.

Skill #3

Hatchet Skills

The Hatchet skills we’ve selected for this build center Taunt, Healing and Damage.

Click each skill name below to learn more about that skill and its upgrades.

Skill #3

Combat Basics

Damage

How you initiate combat on the Mauler Build will depend on the situation. For AOE combat you’ll generally want to begin with a Gravity Well from range to help group enemies together. Following this, use Whirlwind followed by Maelstrom if the enemies are grouped closely enough.

To burn through bosses and single enemies, the Hatchet will be a bit more useful. Start with Berserk to amp up your damage by 20%, followed by Feral Rush and Raging Torrent.

Mobility

Stamina regenerates fairly quickly in New World, so remember to use it! You should be Dodging behind enemies whenever possible to both avoid damage and also increase your own outgoing damage through melee backstab attacks.

If you need to run or gain more distance in combat remember that Berserk also has a speed component when upgraded with On The Hunt.

Self-Healing

Berserk will be helpful for its strong heal over time effect. Other than that you can use a combination of Health Potions and Food to keep your HP topped off.

Important Passives

Passive Skills in New World are extremely important, especially for damage dealers. The more passives you unlock, the more damage potential your character has access to.

Great Axe

• Enduring Strike
• Center Of Attention
• Crowded Protection
• Mauler’s Fury
• Greed
• Critical Gains
• Frustration
• Keen Edge
• Critical Condition
• Feed

Hatchet

• Enraged Strikes
• Accumulated Power
• Against All Odds
• Fortifying Strikes
• Frenzied Purge
• Defy Death

Consumables

Food

You’ll want to start this build off with a basic food option such as Light Rations or Travel Rations. This food is helpful at all times, whether you are in a group or playing Solo as it slowly restores your Health over time. Keep in mind you can also consume this food for a faster heal over time for a few seconds if you are not getting hit.

Potions

For Potions, Weak Health Potions will be fine at first, but you will eventually want to upgrade these to Common Health Potions and Strong Health Potions. Strong Health Potions especially can be a real life saver.

Build Leveling Options

The Mauler Build can be a great option for leveling up quickly in New World and for grinding Weapon Experience. If you play completely Solo you may also want to pick up a Life Staff to use as a secondary weapon utilizing skill such as Beacon, Sacred Ground and Orb Of Protection.

Bow / Hatchet Solo Build: Hunter

Easy ONE-SHOT Kills plus MASSIVE Melee Damage! This Bow / Hatchet Build for New World Can Do It ALL!

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Life Staff / Ice Gauntlet Healer Build: Frost Cleric

Great Group Healing and Crowd Control make this the Perfect Healer Build for Expeditions and Group content in New World!

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Sword And Shield / Fire Staff Solo Build: Battlemage

The Heavy Armor, Frontline Fighter that specializes in AOE Slash and Burn Damage, Defense and Self-Healing.

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Sword And Shield / Great Axe Build: Brawler

This build offers a great combination of AOE damage, crowd control, defense, and mobility, letting you stand up to multiple enemies at once with ease.

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