In New World, few bosses leave as strong an impression as Captain Thorpe, the once-proud commander of the Corrupted who now serves as one of the most iconic and New World coins challenging enemies in the game. Whether you’re encountering him in the early game during the Starstone Barrows story arc or facing his most terrifying form in the Tempest’s Heart Expedition, Thorpe demands strategy, coordination, and precision. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to defeat Thorpe — from understanding his mechanics to choosing the best weapons, builds, and tactics to ensure victory.

1. Who Is Thorpe?

Captain Thorpe, originally a valiant leader of the settlers in Aeternum, succumbed to the island’s corruption and transformed into one of the most powerful Corrupted Commanders. You’ll fight him multiple times across the game’s story progression, but his final and hardest form appears in the Tempest’s Heart Expedition in Shattered Mountain — a Level 65 dungeon that caps off the main storyline.

Thorpe’s combat style blends brute strength, fiery corruption magic, and relentless aggression. He punishes players who panic or mismanage stamina, making this fight as much about timing and positioning as raw damage output.

2. Recommended Level, Gear, and Team Composition

To stand a real chance against Thorpe in his final form, you’ll need to meet certain power and preparation thresholds:

Recommended Level: 65+

Gear Score: 600+

Weapon Types: Life Staff, Greatsword, War Hammer, or Bow

Elemental Protection: High Corruption Resistance (50+ minimum)

Consumables: Corruption Tinctures, Health Potions, Powerful Honing Stones

Team Composition (Expedition version):

1 Tank: To maintain Thorpe’s aggro and survive heavy melee hits.

1 Healer: A Life Staff user with Sacred Ground and Beacon.

3 DPS: Mix of melee and ranged for flexibility. Ranged attackers can help kite and deal damage when Thorpe becomes enraged.

A well-coordinated party is essential. Players who attempt to solo Thorpe, even in earlier encounters, will need perfect dodges and optimized builds to survive.

3. Thorpe’s Attack Patterns and Phases

Thorpe’s boss fight unfolds in three primary phases, each with escalating mechanics and aggression. Learning these patterns is crucial to managing the chaos and minimizing deaths.

Phase 1: The Corrupted Commander

Key Mechanics:

Heavy Cleave Attack: Thorpe swings his greatsword in a wide arc, hitting anyone in front of him.

Tip: Stay behind him or to his side when possible.

Ground Slam: He smashes his weapon into the ground, creating a red shockwave that knocks back players.

Tip: Dodge just as the weapon hits the ground.

Charge Strike: Thorpe rushes a target, dealing massive damage and inflicting Corruption buildup.

Tip: Tanks should position against a wall to prevent the charge from scattering the group.

Strategy:

During this phase, DPS players should focus on consistent damage while avoiding frontal attacks. Healers must stay mobile and keep Sacred Ground active beneath the group. Tanks should use defensive cooldowns like Shield Bash and Defiant Stance to hold aggro and reduce damage spikes.

Phase 2: Flames of Corruption

Once Thorpe reaches 60% health, he channels corruption energy and ignites his sword with fire, entering his second phase.

New Abilities:

Corrupted Fire Sweep: A fiery 180-degree slash that leaves a burning trail on the ground.

Tip: Roll toward him as he swings to avoid the flame wave.

Flame Pillars: He summons fire columns across the arena that linger for several seconds.

Tip: Always fight in clear areas—standing in flame zones will melt your health bar.

Corrupted Pull: Thorpe draws players toward him and follows with a sweeping cleave.

Tip: Dodge backward the moment the pull animation begins.

Strategy:

Positioning becomes critical here. Ranged DPS should spread out to avoid overlapping fire zones. The tank must kite Thorpe carefully, leading him away from fire pillars. Healers should pre-cast heals like Beacon and Orb of Protection before heavy attacks to cushion the group.

If your party’s damage output is strong, you can push Thorpe to the final phase before he summons multiple flame pillars, significantly reducing the fight’s difficulty.

Phase 3: The Final Rebirth

At 25% health, Thorpe’s rage peaks. He slams his sword into the ground, triggering an arena-wide explosion that inflicts heavy corruption damage. Drink a Corruption Tincture immediately when this happens.

New Abilities:

Infernal Burst: Thorpe raises his sword overhead, then slams it down for a massive AoE.

Tip: This attack is telegraphed—dodge roll at the moment his sword glows red.

Corrupted Shade Summon: Thorpe summons two spectral versions of himself that mirror his basic attacks.

Tip: Focus-fire these shades quickly; ignoring them overwhelms the healer.

Unending Fury (Enrage): At 10% HP, Thorpe gains +50% attack speed and damage for 20 seconds.

Tip: Use all stuns, slows, and crowd control abilities to keep him contained until the buff ends.

Strategy:

This phase is chaotic but manageable with good coordination. Tanks should kite Thorpe in a circular pattern, avoiding flame patches while maintaining aggro. Ranged players should destroy the shades while melee focuses on bursting Thorpe during windows of vulnerability. Healers must stay vigilant—this phase often wipes groups that get greedy with damage.

When Thorpe falls, he drops high-tier loot, including pieces of the Corrupted Commander armor set and a chance for the Heart of Thorpe, a rare crafting material for powerful corruption-resistant gear.

4. Solo Strategy (Story Version)

In the solo storyline version of the Thorpe fight (around Level 25–30), the mechanics are simplified but still dangerous. His melee swings can down you in two hits if you’re unprepared.

Tips for Soloing Thorpe:

Use a Sword and Shield or Life Staff build for sustain.

Dodge diagonally, not backward, to stay close for counterattacks.

Block his heavy strikes with stamina if you can’t dodge them.

Save consumables for when he enters his enraged phase—burn damage over time can quickly overwhelm you.

Patience is key. Thorpe punishes overaggression, so focus on consistent dodging and controlled counterattacks.

5. Rewards and What’s Next

Defeating Thorpe, especially in the Tempest’s Heart, rewards you with:

High-end corrupted gear

Heart of Thorpe (crafting material)

Legendary weapon schematics

Endgame currency and expedition tokens

More importantly, conquering Thorpe marks a symbolic milestone—you’ve overcome one of Aeternum’s greatest corrupted champions and proven your strength against the island’s most insidious forces.

Final Thoughts

Beating Thorpe in New World is a test of skill, coordination, and endurance. His unpredictable aggression and cheap New World coins corruption-based mechanics force players to think strategically and adapt under pressure. Whether you face him in the story campaign or the Tempest’s Heart Expedition, the key lies in mastering his attack patterns, managing positioning, and maintaining composure.

When Thorpe finally falls and his corrupted flames fade, you’ll not only earn exceptional loot—you’ll have triumphed over one of New World’s most legendary battles.