The following table summarizes the best weapon and class combinations in New World: Aeternum based on their performance in solo play, leveling efficiency, and general utility. This tier list reflects the current meta.
| Tier | Weapons/Classes | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| S | Hatchet, Spear, Greatsword | High damage output, excellent mobility, and survivability. Greatsword excels in solo play without needing a secondary weapon. Hatchet's Berserk ability provides healing and haste, making it versatile for PvE. |
| A | Great Axe, Bow, Rapier | Great Axe offers strong AoE damage and crowd control. Bow is effective for ranged combat with high crit potential. Rapier is agile with strong single-target DPS. |
| B | Fire Staff, Sword & Shield, War Hammer, Blunderbuss, Ice Gauntlet, Void Gauntlet | Fire Staff and Ice Gauntlet are good for zoning and ranged magic damage but require skill to master. Sword & Shield provides solid defense but lacks offensive power for solo play. Blunderbuss offers burst damage but is situational. |
| C | Flail, Musket, Life Staff | Flail and Musket are niche choices; Musket is good for pulling enemies but lacks consistent damage output. Life Staff is better suited for group play due to its healing focus. |
This ranking is subjective and depends on your preferred playstyle (e.g., speed leveling vs. survivability).
In New World: Aeternum, there is no fixed class system, which gives players the flexibility to switch weapons and adapt their playstyle. However, some archetypes have proven to be more effective or popular due to their versatility and strength in various scenarios. Below is a table summarizing the top archetypes and what makes each one stand out.
| Archetype | Weapons | Playstyle | Strengths | Trade Skills | Why It's Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musketeer | Rapier and Musket | Ranged and close combat hybrid; focuses on mobility | Great for solo PvP, ambushing, and flexible range swapping | Armor Crafting, Harvesting | High-skill, mobile build ideal for smart positioning and aggressive PvP tactics |
| Soldier | Sword and Shield, Hatchet | Tanky frontliner, ideal for close combat | Durable and strong in team fights; balances offense and defense | Weaponsmithing, Mining, Smelting | Beginner-friendly yet effective in all content from PvE to PvP |
| Ranger | Bow and Spear or Bow only | Long-range damage with high mobility | Excellent at kiting and keeping distance from enemies | Tracking & Skinning, Cooking | Ideal for players who prefer precision and mobility from afar |
| Destroyer | Great Axe and War Hammer | Heavy melee damage dealer | Strong AoE and crowd control; very effective in group fights | Stonecutting, Logging | High burst and sustain damage with solid survivability |
| Swordbearer | Sword and Shield, Greatsword | Balanced fighter with control elements | Good in both solo and group settings; can off-tank or deal solid damage | Armoring, Smelting | Versatile archetype with good CC and decent survivability |
| Occultist | Void Gauntlet and Ice Gauntlet | Magic-based, control-focused build | High AoE and crowd control potential | Arcana, Harvesting | Perfect for players who enjoy casting and controlling the battlefield |
| Paladin | Sword and Shield, Life Staff | Support-tank hybrid | Great healing and survivability; excels in defensive group play | Engineering, Mining | Strong choice for team players who enjoy supporting while staying in the front lines |
Key Considerations When Choosing a Class in New World: Aeternum
Earning and managing New World Coins is also an essential part of building your character, as it allows you to purchase better gear, craft high-tier items, and trade with other players. Whether you're investing in weapons to complement your archetype or upgrading trade skill tools, having a steady flow of coins can significantly boost your progress and effectiveness in Aeternum.
In New World: Aeternum, the absence of a traditional class system allows players to tailor their characters to their preferred playstyles. For solo adventurers, certain archetypes offer distinct advantages in survivability, damage output, and utility. Below is a table summarizing some of the best archetypes for solo play, their recommended weapons, and key attributes:
| Archetype | Recommended Weapons | Key Attributes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier | Sword and Shield, Hatchet | Strength, Constitution | A tanky build focusing on durability and melee combat. The Sword and Shield combination provides excellent defense, while the Hatchet offers life-steal abilities, enhancing survivability during solo encounters. |
| Destroyer | Great Axe, War Hammer | Strength, Constitution | A heavy melee archetype emphasizing high damage and crowd control. The Great Axe and War Hammer deliver powerful attacks and area-of-effect damage, making it effective against groups of enemies. |
| Ranger | Bow, Spear | Dexterity, Constitution | A versatile build excelling in ranged combat with the Bow and providing close-quarters options with the Spear. High mobility and kiting capabilities make it ideal for solo players who prefer to engage enemies from a distance. |
| Occultist | Void Gauntlet, Ice Gauntlet | Intelligence, Focus | A magic-based archetype that combines damage with crowd control. The Void Gauntlet and Ice Gauntlet offer a mix of offensive spells and debuffs, allowing solo players to control the battlefield effectively. |
| Paladin | Sword and Shield, Life Staff | Focus, Constitution | A hybrid build that balances offense, defense, and healing. Utilizing the Sword and Shield for protection and the Life Staff for self-healing, the Paladin is well-suited for solo players seeking sustainability. |
Key Considerations for Solo Players:
By carefully considering these archetypes and their components, solo players can create builds that align with their playstyle and effectively navigate the challenges of Aeternum.
In New World: Aeternum, PvE success depends on a balance of survivability, damage output, and utility. Some archetypes stand out for their effectiveness in solo and group content such as expeditions, raids, and open-world farming. Below is a breakdown of top archetypes for PvE and why they work well:
| Archetype | Weapons | Key Strengths | Playstyle Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musketeer | Rapier and Musket | Versatile in both melee and ranged combat. High mobility and damage potential. | The Rapier provides fast, evasive melee skills like Fleche and Evade. The Musket delivers precise long-range damage. Good for kiting enemies and switching roles. |
| Swordbearer | Sword and Shield | Excellent balance of offense and defense. Great crowd control and survivability. | Leaping Strike closes gaps and Shield Bash stuns enemies. Effective in handling multiple mobs and tanking in group play. |
| Ranger | Bow and Spear | High mobility and strong ranged DPS. Effective against single targets in PvE. | Can kite enemies while dealing sustained damage. Spear adds close-range options and crowd control. |
| Soldier | Sword and Shield, Hatchet | Strong frontline fighter. Ideal for taking hits and leading groups. | High durability, self-healing through Hatchet’s Berserker mode, and great for initiating fights. |
| Destroyer | Great Axe and War Hammer | Heavy-hitting melee with excellent area damage. Good for clearing groups of enemies. | High burst AoE, crowd control with War Hammer, and strong sustain through Great Axe abilities. |
| Occultist | Void Gauntlet, Ice Gauntlet | Hybrid caster with AoE damage and debuffs. Useful in group settings for control and support. | Provides crowd control, debuffs, and steady damage in tight spaces like expeditions and dungeons. |
| Paladin | Life Staff and Sword/Shield | Durable support with self-healing and defensive power. | Ideal for solo PvE and support roles. Can heal while tanking or assisting allies with buffs and damage mitigation. |
General PvE Tips in New World: Aeternum
Whether you’re farming resources, running expeditions, or fighting bosses, these archetypes provide a solid foundation for PvE content. Don’t be afraid to adapt as you go—flexibility is one of the game's biggest strengths.
In New World: Aeternum, player-versus-player (PvP) combat is a significant aspect of the game, offering intense battles and strategic encounters. While the game does not have traditional classes, players can create effective PvP builds by combining specific weapons and attributes. Below is a table summarizing some of the best PvP archetypes, their recommended weapons, key attributes, and playstyle descriptions:
| Archetype | Weapons | Key Attributes | Playstyle Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musketeer | Rapier and Musket | Dexterity, Intelligence | Combines the agility of the Rapier with the long-range precision of the Musket. This build excels in both melee and ranged combat, allowing for versatile engagement strategies in PvP scenarios. |
| Ranger | Bow and Spear | Dexterity | Focuses on high mobility and ranged damage with the Bow, complemented by the Spear for close-quarters combat. Ideal for players who prefer to engage enemies from a distance and maintain agility on the battlefield. |
| Soldier | Sword and Shield, Hatchet | Strength, Constitution | Balances offense and defense, making it a durable frontline fighter. The Sword and Shield provide defensive capabilities, while the Hatchet offers aggressive melee attacks, suitable for holding the line in PvP battles. |
| Destroyer | Great Axe and War Hammer | Strength, Constitution | Emphasizes heavy melee attacks with crowd control abilities. The Great Axe and War Hammer combination delivers powerful area-of-effect damage, making it effective against groups of opponents in PvP encounters. |
| Swordbearer | Sword and Shield | Strength, Dexterity | Offers a balanced approach with solid defense and offense. The Sword and Shield setup provides blocking capabilities and versatile attack options, suitable for both offensive pushes and defensive stands in PvP. |
| Occultist | Void Gauntlet and Ice Gauntlet | Intelligence, Focus | Utilizes magic-based attacks with debuffs and crowd control. The Void Gauntlet and Ice Gauntlet combination allows for versatile spellcasting, providing both offensive and defensive options in PvP engagements. |
| Paladin | Sword and Shield, Life Staff | Focus, Constitution | Combines healing abilities with defensive combat. The Life Staff offers healing and support, while the Sword and Shield provide protection, making it a supportive yet resilient build in PvP scenarios. |
Key Considerations for PvP Builds:
By carefully selecting weapon combinations and allocating attributes appropriately, players can create powerful PvP builds tailored to their playstyle, enhancing their performance in the competitive environment of Aeternum.
In New World: Aeternum, players are not locked into specific classes. However, some archetypes are more beginner-friendly due to their simplicity, survivability, and ease of handling combat mechanics. Below is a table that highlights beginner-suitable archetypes, their weapons, playstyle, and strengths:
| Archetype | Weapons | Playstyle | Strengths | Trade Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier | Sword and Shield, Hatchet, Spear | Frontline tank with damage and durability | High survivability, great for solo and group play, easy to manage aggro and survive longer fights | Mining, Smelting, Armoring |
| Ranger | Bow and Spear | Mobile and ranged attacker | High damage from range, strong kiting ability, easier to avoid taking damage | Tracking & Skinning, Cooking |
| Mystic | Life Staff, Void Gauntlet | Healing support with magic utility | Provides healing and buffs, useful in group settings and survivable in solo play | Arcana, Harvesting |
| Destroyer | Great Axe and War Hammer | Aggressive melee fighter | High burst damage, effective in quick encounters, but requires caution in long drawn-out battles | Logging, Stonecutting |
| Musketeer | Rapier and Musket | Ranged with some melee capability | Flexible PvP-oriented build, good for learning both distance and close-range combat mechanics | Armor Crafting, Harvesting |
Important Tips for New Players:
The Soldier archetype stands out as the most beginner-friendly due to its durability and forgiving mechanics. However, every archetype offers something unique, and you are free to adapt and evolve your playstyle as you progress in Aeternum.