This New World Great Sword PvE DPS build features the artifact, the Serenity. This build revolves around dealing tons of damage with your great sword and utilizing a back bar great axe for utility. The great sword damage is enhanced with the artifact, and when paired with the great axe provides a lot of value to your team. You can easily clump groups and deal tons of damage quickly.

*IMPORTANT* – Check out our Expedition builds info guide for the full breakdown of damage types versus mob types and consumables you should utilize within each expedition.

Mastery Points

The Serenity (Great Sword)

Great Axe

New World Great Sword great axe PvE dps build

Attributes

AttributeBeginnerExperiencedAdvancedPro
Strength300300300300
Dexterity150200250300
Constitution150100505

New World Great Sword PvE Equipment

ItemWeightAttributePerk 1Perk 2Perk 3Perk 4
HelmetHeavyStrengthHealthEnchanted WardSkyward NullificationN/A
Chest – FeatherweightLightMagnifyHealthRefreshingPhysical AversionWeightless
GlovesLightStrengthHealthRefreshingEnchanted WardN/A
PantsLightStrengthHealthRefreshingShirking Energy / Enchanted WardN/A
BootsHeavyStrengthHealthEnchanted WardRelentless FreedomN/A
AmuletN/AStr / DexHealthProtection Perk (Depending on Mutation)EmpoweredN/A
RingN/AStr / DexSlash DamageHeartyLeechingN/A
EarringN/AStr / DexRefreshing ToastPurifying ToastNimble / RegeneratingN/A
Great AxeN/AStrengthEnfeebling MaelstromViciousAttunementN/A
Great Sword – SerenityN/AMagnifyBalanced BladeTrenchant StrikesTrenchant CritsRefreshing Move

Artifact Additions & Magnify

You will want to add a gem slot to the Serenity artifact at the gypsum kiln. The featherweight’s additional perk will be health as listed above.

Be aware of how much magnify you have added into your build. This can cause your attribute point distribution to not be ideal. However, with that in min there are several pieces of equipment for this build you can farm out if you choose to do so:

ItemTypeObtainedAttribute
SerenityGreatswordPvP Reward TrackMagnify
Featherweight ChestNer’Mur Elysian WildsMagnify
SwipeGreat AxeRemnant of Simon Jeffrey – Elysian WildsStrength
Privateer’s HeriloomRingNereid Barnacles and Black Powder or Gypsum Kiln for 3,500 Dense MateriaStrength
Azoth Crystal GearAll Armor TypesMutation 2+ Expeditions or Gypsum Kiln for 3,500 Dense Mutator MateriaMagnify

Heartrune

For this build you’ll use the Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines. This will give yourself and your group additional utility in the form of both a rend and a weaken.

Gems

For your armor you will want to slot the appropriate gem to mitigate the damage for that particular mutation.

If you feel comfortable with your survivability you can also opt to slot all opals in your gear and then utilize a mutation specific gem in your amulet. This will give you more overall elemental resistance but less mutation specific resistance. However, you will not have to switch gems for each mutation. You would then only need to swap your amulet to match the mutation type.

For your great sword you will want to slot an opal. When you’re in onslaught stance you will consume 10 stamina for each heavy attack. This makes the opal the ideal gem for the weapon.

For your great axe, you can utilize either an opal or a diamond. If you’re in a group with a good healer and you feel comfortable that your health will be topped off then diamond is a great option. However, if you’re running with a pick up group (pug group) or want more direct control over your damage then an opal would the the ideal option.