New World allows players to equip two types of weapon, each with its own Mastery tree and skills.
The only weapon that's not primarily focused on dealing damage, the Life Staff is the tool of choice for those who want to play a healing class and aid other players. As such, it's not going to cause mass devastation of your enemies.
Given your lack of focus on offense, you don't need to worry too much about a secondary weapon, as one option stands out above all.
How to get a Life Staff
In New World, there are various ways to obtain a Life Staff.
- Dropped by mobs or found in crates
- Purchased through the it in the Trading Post
- Crafted by Arcanists
Which weapon to pair with the Life Staff
Given the Life Staff scales off Focus -- the only weapon to do so -- there's no ideal choice of secondary weapon. Everything else uses either Strength, Dexterity or Intelligence.
However, there is one weapon that can prove to be useful for healers, offering more control of your enemies, as well as good protection.
Ice Gauntlet
Scaling off Intelligence, the Ice Gauntlet doesn't immediately synergise with the Life Staff. However, given damage output isn't really your primary focus, that's not a huge problem.
Picking up enough Intelligence to be able to quest and take down general mobs can be done through your gear and gems, and this build almost requires a 'two-set' approach to your equipment.
The Ice Gauntlet offers excellent crowd control in the form of abilities like Ice Storm, while Entombed is crucial in ensuring your survival in key moments.
We'd recommend the following skills:
The best build for the Life Staff
Our guide focuses on builds that offer ideal balance between the PvE and PvP sides of the game.
It is intended for players who don't wish to waste resources when it comes to allocating skill points.
Upgrade this skill twice.
Create an area on the ground that lasts for 15s and heals 20% weapon damage every second. Costs 15 Mana.
Upgrade
○ Holy Ground: Regenerate Stamina and Mana 100% faster while in Sacred Ground.
○ Blessed: While allies are in Sacred Ground, they are healed for 50% more from all healing.
Upgrade this skill three times.
Shoot out a light projectile that grants 10% Fortify for 20s, heals an ally for 10% of weapon damage, and deals 146% weapon damage when it hits an enemy. (Fortify reduces incoming damage.) Costs 16 Mana.
Upgrade
○ Potector's Blessing: If Orb of Projection hits an ally, they gain Recovery for 10s. (Recovery heals for 7.5% weapon damage every second.)
○ Shared Protection: If you successfully heal an ally with Orb of Protection, you also gain Fortify and Recovery.
○ Aegis: When this projectile hits, it effects all allies within a 3m radius.
Upgrade this skill three times.
Shoot out a light projectile that deals 146% weapon damage to enemies, attaches to its target, and heals all nearby allies for 20% weapon damage each second for 10s. Costs 16 Mana.
Upgrade
○ Infused Light: Beacon's area of effect is now 50% larger.
○ Radiance's Blessing: Beacon lasts 5s longer.
○ Speed of Light: When Beacon heals a target, it also applies 20% Haste for 3s. (Haste increases movement speed.)
Passive Tree Build
Life Staff's Light and Heavy attacks no longer take mana.
Must have one point in Absolved. Life Staff's Heavy Attack now removes 1 debuff when passing through an ally.
Must have one point in Absolved. Light attacks now heal target for 20% weapon damage when passing through an ally.
When you heal an ally with less than 50% health, Life Staff ability's cooldowns are reduced by -10%. (Can only be triggered once every 5 seconds)
While holding a Life Staff: increase the amount of incoming healing to all friendlies in your group by 5%.
After a dodge, your heals are 20% more effective for 5s.
Life Staff's Light and Heavy attacks grant 15% Fortify for 3s when hitting an enemy. (Fortify reduces incoming damage.)
Increases mana regeneration for you and group members by 3%.
Why did we choose this build?
The Sacred Ground ability will be crucial in being able to heal your entire party without having to focus on individual healing, which can get chaotic when allies are swarmed. Orb of Protection buffs your allies while healing them, but can also chip in with damage when enemies are struck. Beacon is another ability that allows for both healing and damage dealing.
The passives we've chosen are incredibly important for mana regen and removing debuffs from your allies. You'll also add Fortify to your allies, and increase their mana regen.
All in all, this build is an out-and-out support class, augmented by the Ice Gauntlet's control.
Stat Point Allocation
Given almost all you do consumes mana, you want the bulk of your points in the Focus stat. Naturally though, you need a little survivability, so we've put 25% into the Constitution tree.
When it comes to gear, you'll want to stick with Focus and Constitution also. Some Intelligence may help, but given you're not going to be relied on for damage, it's better to stick to your lane and let others bring the pain.
When socketing your gear, gems that convert damage into Nature are quite useful, although generally it's better to go with Focus.
You can even equip heavy armor for a little more survivability, especially in Wars, but ultimately the more Focus you have, the better.
How to level up the Life Staff
Levelling up equipment is pretty easy in New World -- the more you use the weapon, the more experience it will gain.
Be mindful that the weapon doesn't gain experience if you don't use it, so even if you bring it out for a single hit, you'll benefit from the XP.
