New World allows players to equip two types of weapon, each with its own Mastery tree and skills.
The Hatchet runs off Strength and Dexterity and can inflict heavy damage, as well as inflict enemies with Disease.
This build focuses on effectiveness in both PvP and PvE gameplay.
How to get a Hatchet
In New World, there are various ways to obtain a Hatchet.
- Dropped by mobs or found in crates
- Purchased through the it in the Trading Post
- Crafted by Weaponsmiths
Which weapon to pair with the Hatchet
If you opt for the Hatchet as your primary weapon, there are two great choices we think are best as secondary weapons. The Hatchet is based on Strength and Dexterity, so you actually have quite a few options overall.
Spear
The Hatchet doesn't have any control abilities, which is where the Spear comes in.Pairing Sweep and Skewer abilities with your Hatchet follow-up makes for a pretty ideal offensive combo.
Here are the skills we'd recommend for the Spear.
Great Axe
A more aggressive crowd-controlling combo, the Great Axe can draw enemies in, allowing you to Execute for massive damage without breaking a sweat.
We'd pick up the following skills for the Great Axe as a secondary.
The best build for the Hatchet
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.
Throw an axe that deals 150% weapon damage and triggers Disease and weakens target for 5s. (Diseasereduces targets healing efficiency by 30%) (Weaken reduces target's damage by 10%).
Upgrade
○ Mortal Power: Increased duration of disease and weaken to 8 seconds on targets below 30% Health.
○ Aerial Transmission: Creates a 3 meter disease AOE on impact that lingers in place for 3 seconds.
Upgrade this skill four times.
Triggers a Berserk Mode that increases all attack damage by 20% while active. Berserk Mode will be active for 12 seconds. Cooldown will trigger once Berserk ends. Taunt Gem Compatible: If you have a Carnelian gem equipped in your hatchet, this ability causes a 8s taunt to all enemies within 8m. (Taunt causes monsters to focus only on you.)
Upgrade
○ On The Hunt: Increases movement speed (Haste) by 20% while in Berserk Mode.
○ Berserking Refresh: While Berserk is active, gain a portion of your health back every 4 seconds to a max of 30% of max HP.
○ Berserking Purge: Triggering Berserk removes all Crowd Control effects (Stuns, Slows, Roots) from the player.
○ Uninterruptible Berserk: While in Berserk, your attacks are uninterruptible and you can't be staggered.
Upgrade this skill twice.
A sprinting melee attack that causes the player to leap forward, hitting twice. The first hit deals 115% and the 2nd deals 130% weapon damage.
Upgrade
○ Dispatch: If target is below 30% health, Feral Rush deals 20% more damage.
○ Crippling Strikes: If Feral Rush hits a target in the back, it causes Root, immobilizing target for 2 seconds.
Passive Tree Build
After 3 successful light attacks against the same target: gain Empower, granting a 30% damage increase for 3 seconds or until the next attack.
Increase base damage by 10% for every enemy within 5 meters of player.
Hitting the same target with 3 light attacks grants Fortify, increasing damage absorption by 15% for 3 seconds.
When hitting an enemy while your health is below 30%: Removes all Bleed, Burn, and Poison DoT (damage over time) effects from the player. (60 second cooldown)
When you receive lethal damage: Avoid death, reduce to 50 HP and gain immortality for 3 seconds. (75s cooldown)
Thrown axes are now capable of triggering headshot or random critical hit. Also increases critical hit chance of all attacks by 5%.
Must have 1 point in Critical Throw. Successful Critical Hits with Light Attacks or Aimed Throws regenerates 10 Stamina.
All attacks deal 15% additional damage to targets with an active debuff.
Why did we choose this build?
The Hatchet doesn't necessarily find its strength in the Throwing branch, but more in the Berserker branch. However, taking Infected Throw is a great way to start an engage, debuffing your enemy with Disease.
Berserk allows you to hunt your enemy down, enjoying a small period of invulnerability. Feral Rush is useful both in front of the opponent and behind, causing huge damage.
Ultimately this build is intended to be aggressive, but with a more sneaky approach.
Stat Point Allocation
We think the Hatchet is a far better prospect when you put the majority of points into Strength over Dexterity, increasing light and heavy damage. However, you still need a little Dexterity, especially for the crit bonuses.
When it comes to gear, focus on Dexterity and Constitution, for more survivability and to augment the crit bonuses and damage.
How to improve the Hatchet
Gear providing either Strength or Dexterity is important in maximizing the potential of the build, although we've already mentioned we favour the latter.
Gems that add Strength and Taunt provide the best synergy with the build.
How to level up the Hatchet
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.
