Great Axe

Great Axes are a type of Two-Handed Weapon in New World. Its a great option as a primary or secondary weapon for many builds as it can help close the distance with your opponents and mow enemies down either through single target or area of effect abilities.. The Great Axe has two mastery trees:

  • Reaper: an offensive tree focussed around single target damage, speed and survivability
  • Mauler: an offensive tree focussed around Area of Effect damage and crowd control.

Dealing damage with a Great Axe will scale off a player’s Strength Attribute so you should focus your points in these areas to improve your damage.

Below you will find a breakdown of each skill in the mastery trees.

Best Damage Types

Each weapon has a unique way of dealing damage on top of their abilities. For great axes, this is primarily Slash damage. You should take care to look for perks and gems that prioritise Slash Damage as other types will provide no additional bonuses to your character.

Great Axe Mastery Trees

Active Abilities

  • Reap – Extend your axe 5m pulling foes to you and dealing 110% weapon damage. Taunt Gem Compatible: If you have a Carnelian gem equipped in your great axe, this ability will case a 4.0s taunt when it hits (taunts will force enemies to focus on your). Cooldown: 18 seconds
  • Charge – Charge 10m dealing 120% weapon damage when you reach a target or Press Left Mouse Button. This ability has unstoppable (you cannot be interrupted whilst performing). Cooldown: 20 seconds.
  • Execute -A powerful overhead attack dealing 200% weapon damage. Deals 300% weapon damage vs foes under 50% health. Cooldown: 25 seconds

Active Ability Enhancement Traits

  • The Collector – Reap range is now 8m
  • Hunger – Heal yourself for 30% of damage done by Reap.
  • Fatal Attraction – After you pull do a spin attack dealing 115% weapon damage.
  • Frenzied Momentum – Charge now deals 120-140% weapon damage based on how far you travelled.
  • Unpredictable Strike – During Charge you may press Right Mouse Button to execute a swing attack dealing 140-165% weapon damage based on how far you travelled.
  • Unstoppable Greed – Execute gains Grit during the attack, making the attack unstoppable.
  • Executioner – Execute critical hits 100% of the time vs foes below 30% health.

Passive Ability Traits

  • Greed – Light attacks with your Great Axe give you 5% damage for 5s (max 3 stacks)
  • Executioner’s Speed – Hitting 2+ targets with a single Great Axe light attack swing grants 3s of 20% Haste (Character Move Speed Boost)
  • Critical Gains – When you make a critical hit with a Great Axe: Heal yourself for 10% of the damage done.
  • Death’s Embrace – Great Axe attacks against foes below 50% health: penetrate armor by 10%
  • Frustration – After one of your attacks is blocked gain 15% damage for 10s (max 1 stack)
  • Critical Condition – Great Axe attacks against foes below 30% health will Critically hit 15% more often.
  • Keen Edge – Critical Damage increase by 10%
  • Feed – Great Axe attacks against foes below 30% health will heal you for 10% of the damage done
  • Blood Lust – You move 30% faster and deal 15% more damage when looking at a foe within 15m

Active Abilities

  • Maelstrom – Fast-spinning attack that pulls targets closer to you and deals 110% weapon damage. Cooldown: 20 seconds
  • Whirlwind – Spin attack dealing 50% weapon damage to all nearby foes. If your attack hits an enemy, spin again (maximum 4 spins). You can move while spinning. This attack cannot backstab. Cooldown: 30 seconds
  • Gravity Well – Throw an axe to create a vortex that pulls foes to its center for 3s. Ends with a damaging Burst dealing 125% weapon damage. Range 10m. Cooldown: 30 seconds

Active Ability Enhancement Traits

  • Storm’s Reach – Extends the reach of Maelstrom pull range by 50%
  • Absorb – Consumes all projectiles while Maelstrom is active
  • No Reprieve – Maelstrom does an extra spin attack pulling in foes and dealing 110% weapon damage
  • Gusting Winds – Whirlwinds maximum number of rotations is increased to 7
  • Unending Winds – Whirlwind movement speed increased by 50%
  • Surrounded – If you have 3 or more foes around you deal 30% more damage
  • Crowded Well – Increase burst damage by 10% for each foe caught in Gravity Well vortex
  • Unyielding – Allies gain 10% fortify while standing in your well (Fortify will reduce damage taken)

Passive Ability Traits

  • Heavy Pull – Heavy attacks with a Great Axe pull foes closer to you
  • Mauler’s Resolve – If you get hit while holding a Great Axe and below 50% health: Gain 40 stamina (20s cooldown)
  • Enduring Strike – Adds Grit to Great Axe Heavy Attacks, and grants 20% damage reduction while the Heavy attack Grit is active
  • Gravity – After you cause a pull your foe is held still 30% longer
  • Revenge – When you block an attack with a Great Axe gain 5% damage for 5s (max 3 stacks)
  • Crowded Protection – While holding a Great Axe gain 10% damage absorption when 3 or more foes are within 4m.
  • Center of Attention – While holding a Great Axe gain 10% damage when 3 or more foes are within 4m.
  • Mauler’s Fury – Great axe attacks increase damage by 3% for 3s (max 10 seconds)

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