New World has a lot to do when it comes to activities like Crafting, PvP, and questing. When it comes to weapons, on the other hand, the makers of the game kept things fairly simple. There are a total of eleven different kinds of weapons in the game, which is modest compared to other MMORPGs, and only three of these are one-handed weapons. These are rapiers, hatchets, and swords. Each has its own combat style and choice of Perks depending on the quality and Tier level, which is typical of any weapon in New World.
The rapier is the main choice of most DPS classes and is often paired with a gun or bow, as all three depend on the Dexterity ability score, which scales with the raperi's damage. Hatchets, which are not related to the two-handed battleax or the woodcutting ax, can also be thrown and can double as a ranged option depending on the build. Swords are the only one-handed weapon that can be paired with a shield and are the first choice of most Defenders. Swords and Hatchets rely primarily on the Strength ability score, while all three options for one-handed weapons rely on Intelligence as a secondary ability score.
Rapiers
Bard's Tale (Tier II)
- Base Damage and Abilities: The gear score and damage abilities are basic, but this rapier has buffs in all the right places. It gives the wielder a 5% improvement for their critical hit chance along with a damage multiplier and a big boost to Thrust damage, a basic Rapier attack that players use all the time.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: The Refreshing Ward Perk also reduces any active cooldowns so the time between attacks and combat turns is reduced. Other perks might include bonuses to Constitution or Intelligence depending on the random enchantment. For example, the Bard's Tale of the Ranger, which grants a Dexterity bonus, would be the best option.
- How to Acquire: The Bard's Tale is a quest reward that players can get from a Tier II weapon's chest or a random drop from a fallen enemy.
Marauder Gladiator Rapier (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: A bonus to critical damage of 5% and thrust damage on top of a healthy 280 damage rating make this one of the best weapons a player can have at this level if their weapon of choice is a rapier.
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: A handy gem socket so players can add extra damage or special perks to further customize their weapon is a nice bonus on top of the numerous buffs for damage and blocking.
- How to Acquire: Only members of the Maruader's faction can purchase this weapon from a local representative, provided they have enough money and Faction tokens and the rank of Gladiator. Tokens are rewarded for completing quests that are only acessible to Marauders. The rank of Gladiator is acquired after completing a quest chain at level 30.
Decorative Rapier (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: It's a misleading name, as this weapon is too nice to hang over the mantle. The Dexterity buff is a great start for any rapier, and this one also has bonuses to Thrust and critical damage. The base stats are unremarkable but solid, with a gear score of 350 and 61 damage.
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: The Decorative Rapier has some rare and useful perks that aren't always associated with weapons but are great to have no matter what. Luck gives the weilder a better chance to find rare drops from monsters or chests, and Lifestealing returns the damage done as health.
- How to Acquire: This is a rare drop that players have a chance to find either from monsters as a world drop or from chests that NPCs grant for quest rewards.
Swords
Overseer's Insight (Tier II)
- Base Damage and Abilities: For a Tier II weapon, Overseer's insight is better than it should be. There are three swords in the "Overseer" series, along with the Overseer's Edge and the Overseer's Hunger. However, Insight has the same number of Perks and enchantments as the Tier III option.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: Has a slash damage buff along with the Empowered III Perk, which converts some physical damage to Arcane damage. The enchantment is random, but depending on the character's build, Barbarian or Spellsword would be ideal. Both improve Strength and Intelligence ability scores.
- How to Acquire: This sword is only available either from a Tier II weapon chest rewarded for completing a quest or a lucky drop from a slain enemy.
Amrine Temple Longsword (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: Witha gear score of 300-400 at Tier 3, this is already a better than average weapon for its Tier level. The regular hit damage is average at 64, and the 20% bonus to blocking is great for Defense builds.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: The standout ability is the 125 bonus to Slash damage, one of the sword's most common moves. Perks and enchantments will vary depending on the cerafter's weaponsmithing level, but Fighter adds both Strength and Dexterity, which are the best options.
- How to Acquire: The Amrine Temple Longsword is a crafted item, and some of the materials required come from New World's earliest dungeon, the Amrine Expedition. The crafter can add certain mods, along with some extra Azoth, to give the sword certain perks.
Primordial Edge (Tier V)
- Base Damage and Abilities: One of the few Legendary items that has appeared in New World so far, Primordial Edge has regular stats that are only slightly above average but there are no less than three Perks and one enchantment on this deadly blade.
- Quality: Legendary
- Benefits and Buffs: The base amount of damage for this sword depends on either the weapon score or the character's Intelligrance score, which is the highest. The Cruel enchantment converts 50% of all weapon damage to Void damage. The Keen Perk gives the weapon an additional +11% to critical hit chance, the Rogue Perk gives +19% more backstab damage, and the Keenly Jagged Perk causes a bleed that put a damage-over-time debuff on the enemy, draining them of life for 10 seconds.
- How to Acquire: Dropped by the Blighted Greenskeeper, the final boss of the Garden of Genesis Expedition. Players have to be level 60 in order to equip this sword.
Hatchets
Jagged Amethyst Cleaver (Tier II)
- Base Damage and Abilities: It's a solid early weapon that can take ay character through a number of levels. The stats are slightly above average for the Tier level, with a gear score of 200-300 and 63 damage.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: Any Perk that gives a strength of dexterity buff is ideal, and like many other weapons in New World, this will have a random enchament when the character finds it. The Chain Ice ability, which triggers a chain of ice to bounce between multiple targets and freeze them, is fun no matter what.
- How to Acquire: The Jagged Amethyst Cleaver is a random drop that players can either find in a weapon chest as a quest reward or as a random drop from an enemy.
Soulwalker's Limbcarver (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: The damage and gear score is unremarkable, scaling with some Tier III weapons. However, this hatchet has some impressive Perks and enchantments that make it better than average overall.
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: A generous 86 bonus to slash damage, which is the hatchet's main ability, and the rare Abyssal Curse which converts half of the weapon damage to Void. Like some higher level weapons, it's damage ability is determined by the Intelligence ability score or the character's weapon ability score, whichever is the highest.
- How to Acquire: The Soulwalker's Limbcarver only drops from weapon chests or high-level enemies, so hopefully the character has a Lucky perk on them somewhere if they're looking for it.