This Fire Staff/Blunderbuss build is currently the top DPS setup for all PvE content in New World - dominating Catacombs, Raids, Open World, and solo play. It outperforms Rapier, Great Axe, and all other weapon combinations with its massive fire damage output and powerful burst rotations, making it a prime reason to buy New World Coins to gear it up quickly.

Gear Progression

Starter Set (Temporary)

Overcharge Set - Available from the Catacombs vendor after running several Catacombs

· Use this until you begin acquiring Enrage pieces

· Provides a solid foundation while you farm better gear

Mid-Game Goal

Enrage Set (5 pieces required for bonus)

· First piece drops from the first raid boss - equip immediately for 10% damage boost

· Strategy: 4 armor pieces + 1 accessory

· The set bonus activates at 70% health or lower

Best-in-Slot (End Game)

Spectral Enrage Set from Raids

· Ideal distribution: Amulet + 4 armor pieces

· Look for these fixed perks (can't be changed):

1. Helmet: Sacrificial Empowerment, Light Stealer, Drought

2. Chest: Vital Synergy, Sacrificial Empowerment

3. Other pieces include Breaker Bypass and Sacrificial Empowerment

· Random bottom perk slot (aim for):

1. Prolonged Favor (priority)

2. Quick Revive

3. Mortal Aggression (acceptable but not mandatory)

Accessories & Weapons

Ring

Exemplary Ring (Open World drop)

· Perfect rolls: Curse Enchantment + Fire Damage

· Bonus: Enraged Leech (optional but excellent)

· Look for: Gem socket + Ability/Offensive socket

· Note: Offensive perks are strong in PvE (not recommended for PvP)

Earring

Perfect PvE Earring:

· Empower + Toast + Refreshment + Beloved

· Gem socket + Enchanting socket ideal

· Skill socket is acceptable alternative

· Beloved provides 9% damage, Toast gives 12% power buff

Weapons

Fire Staff (Inferno):

· Source: Imperium Forge

· Perks: Keenly Empowered + Keenly Jagged + Fire Harnessing

· Important: Put offensive perks on off-hand weapon (Blunderbuss) not primary

· Blunderbuss (Close Quarters Combat):

· Source: Elite Ancient Chests in Scorpius, Life, or Raven Haven

· PvP Track alternative (comes with Resilient - less optimal for PvE)

· Perfect PvE rolls: Close Quarters + Gem socket + Ability socket + 2x Attunements

· Attunements slightly nerfed with multiples but still best option

· No Diamond gem (Enrage set keeps you below full health)

Attributes

· 350 Strength (Sweet spot for damage)

· 150 Intelligence (Fire damage scaling)

· 50 Dexterity (Bonus damage at full health)

· 50 Constitution (PvE staple - no more needed)

· 25 Focus (Minimum for secondary benefits

Gems & Runes

Armor Gems

United Elemental Ward (recommended for versatility):

· Protection against all elements

· Ideal for Catacombs with mixed damage types

· Works well in raids and open world

· Carnelian Alternative (raid-specific):

· Only use if exclusively raiding with a tank

· Provides extra damage but no protection

Heartrune

Brutal Heartrune of the Cannon Blast:

· Excellent for AOE situations (dungeons, Catacombs, raids)

· Applies burning to enemies

· Cunning variant for single-target focus

Artifact

Atuna's Pants (from final MSQ in Elysian Wilds)

· Provides optimal attribute distribution

· Crown artifact not recommended - gives fewer attributes, making it hard to reach 350 Strength threshold

Rotation & Gameplay

Opening Combo (Fire Staff)

1. Fireball → Light Attack

2. Meteor Shower → Light Attack

3. Pillar of Fire

4. Light attacks between abilities build burning stacks (3-4 stacks ideal)

5. More stacks = bigger Pillar of Fire damage

Blunderbuss Rotation

Ideal sequence:

1. Splitting Grenade → Basic Attack

2. Shrapnel Blast → Basic Attack

3. Claw Shot → Basic Attack

4. Why this order?:

· "Unload" passive: After abilities, next basic attack shoots 8 pellets instead of 6

· "Deep Blow" passive: Last bullet deals 15% more damage

· Rotation maximizes 8-pellet empowered shots

5. Adaptive rotation (when Splitting Grenade on cooldown):

· Basic Attack → Shrapnel Blast → Basic Attack → Claw Shot → Basic Attack

· Or just Basic Attack → Shrapnel Blast → Basic Attack if Claw Shot unavailable

Overall Flow

· Start with Fire Staff combo (3 abilities + light attacks)

· Swap to Blunderbuss and maintain its rotation

· Stay on Blunderbuss majority of time - each reload gives 4% damage stack (up to 16%)

· Swap back to Fire Staff only when all 3 abilities are off cooldown

· Repeat cycle

Key Mechanics & Tips

Enrage Management

· Spectral Helmet with "Enrage Refreshment": Light/heavy attacks at 15+ Enrage stacks consume 3 stacks to reduce ability cooldowns by 5% (1s cooldown)

· This enables more ability spam = higher DPS

· Stacks regenerate quickly, so consumption is sustainable

Aggro Warning

· This build generates massive threat - be prepared to pull aggro often

· Consider team coordination or defensive positioning

Perk Priorities

Mandatory:

· 5x Enchanted (weapon perks)

· Prolonged Favor (where possible)

· Sacrificial Empowerment (from Spectral set)

Flexible:

· Mortal Aggression (nice-to-have, provides health/stamina on kills)

· Other defensive/utility perks based on content

Farming Locations Summary

1. Overcharge Set: Catacombs vendor

2. Enrage/Spectral Set: Raids

3. Close Quarters Blunderbuss: Elite Ancient Chests (Scorpius/Life/Raven Haven)

4. Exemplary Ring: Open World drops

5. Inferno Fire Staff: Imperium Forge

6. Atuna's Pants: Final MSQ in Elysian Wilds

Final Notes

This build represents the peak of PvE DPS in the current meta. While gear optimization takes time, even the intermediate versions deliver exceptional performance. If you want to accelerate your progress, you can buy New World Coins at MMOEXP to gear up faster. Remember that perfect bottom perks on Spectral gear are rare - use what you get and upgrade gradually through raid farming. Happy hunting, and prepare to top the damage meters!