Every massive multiplayer online game has an impressive array of items for the players to find, craft, or acquire as rewards. In a tradition that began with the first Diablo games and continues until today, the upcoming MMORPG New World also has a lot to offer players when it comes to collecting neat and useful items and tools. Foremost on every player's mind, however, is the selection of weapons.
Every player has their own preference when it comes to their favorite weapons, whether they are useful or purely cosmetic. The following ranking outlines the best weapons in terms of tier levels, buffs, and other abilities; however, players shouldn't let that keep them from equipping or seeking out a certain weapon that complements their build.
Updated on October 18th, 2021, by Kristy Ambrose: New World still retains its fresh and shiny glow, it just isn't so new anymore. Gamers have spent a few weeks exploring Aeternum and have some new discoveries to report. That includes a few savage, beautiful, and fun ways to do some damage to enemies, heal the party, or defend your allies. Faction rewards, high-level drops, and expertly crafted items make up the new additions to our small catalog of the best weapons in New World.
14 Soaked Musket (Tier IV)
- Base Damage and Abilities: With 380 damage, which depends on the ammunition to some extent, and a gear score of 337, this musket will be the best thing you can find or craft for ten levels until Tier IV items of a better quality start to turn up. It's one of the best weapons in New World for its level.
- Quality: Common
- Benefits and Buffs: Nothing, which is often the way with Common items. However, it's a Tier IV weapon level that a character can use from as early as level 27 when most players are just graduating to Tier III.
- How to Acquire: It doesn't look special, but the only way to acquire this musket is if it drops from a random mob near a body of water, preferably a swamp.
13 Regent's Bow (Tier II)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 100 - 106 depending on the ammo used, plus a 5% improvement to critical hit chance.
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: +13 to Dexterity, plus an empty gem socket.
- How to Acquire: The Regent's Bow is rewarded upon completion of the Ancient Craftmanship's Quest, which players can start at level 17 in Onarch's Bluffs. Find an NPC known as Estebanita Gomes to start this quest. Completing it also awards 1000 experience, 82 gold, and 250 Territory Standing.
12 Syndicate Adept Rapier (Tier II)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 95 - 110 hit points, plus a 5% increase to critical hit chance which is hard to find in Tier 2 weapons.
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: +2 to Dexterity and an empty gem slot.
- How to Acquire: Only players that have chosen to align with the Syndicate Faction have access to this weapon. It's given to new inductees, and there are higher-level versions that players can acquire later.
11 Whaler's Harpoon (Tier II)
- Base Damage and Abilities: +70 is the base damage for this spear with an additional 5% chance for a critical hit. The gear score can range from 200 to 300.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: +13 to Dexterity and the Mortal Lifesteal Perk, which returns 3.7% health to the wielder every time they kill an enemy.
- How to Acquire: This item cant be crafted, but it has a chance to drop from random mobs or from Tier II chests that NPCs give out as quest rewards.
10 Musket of the Battlemage (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 484 base damage, a 2% hit chance, and a gear score of 327, which is generous for a level 22 item. The socket is also advantageous, allowing some extra customization which is always a plus.
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: "Of the Battlemage" is an attribute commonly found on a variety of weapons. It adds buffs of 6 to 10 to Strength and a 14 to 20 Intelligence and can include other perks like Beast Bane, which gives the musket a damage boost against Beasts.
- How to Acquire: This musket can be dropped, crafted, or rewarded after completing a quest. The base damage and abilities are always the same, depending on the level of the weapon, but the other buffs and perks may vary.
9 Staff of the Fiery Sacrifice (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 103 - 120 hit points, plus a 4% critical hit chance increase.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: +4-6 to Dexterity and +9-12 to Intelligence. It also boasts the power of Mortal Energy, which gives the player extra Stamina when an enemy dies.
- How to Acquire: This weapon is sometimes awarded as a quest or as a random drop from enemies. Fire Staffs are some of the most powerful and sought-after weapons in the game, and this is one of the first that isn't Faction-specific or crafted by an artisan.
8 Ignited Hotshot (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 145 - 168 hit points, depending on the player's ammo, plus a 2% increase to critical hit chance.
- Quality: Uncommon
- Benefits and Buffs: +13-19 to Dexterity. It also gives the power of Ignited II, which converts 30% of hit damage to Fire. The damage scales off the player's base weapon stat or Intelligence score, whichever is higher. The Fire DoT is a handy extra ability for a musket, which has limited crowd control and AoE abilities.
- How to Acquire: Awarded from some quests or as a random drop from certain enemies.
7 Marauder Gladiator Rapier (Tier III)
- Base Damage and Abilities: Has a 5% critical hit chance, which is great at any level, and base damage of 280
- Quality: Rare
- Benefits and Buffs: A generous 7% bonus to light and heavy attack damage and a handy gem socket for further customization options.
- How to Acquire: Only Members of the Marauder Faction can acquire this rapier, and even then only after they've reached the rank of Gladiator. That's done by completing a quest at level 20, which is the same level a character has to be to equip this weapon. At this level, Faction rewards are some of the best weapons in New World.
6 Rallying Taiyings Heart (Tier IV)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 118 - 137 hit points, plus a 4% increase to critical hit chance.
- Quality: Epic
- Benefits and Buffs: +24 to Intelligence, plus the powers of Rally IV (+15 to damage), Keen (+9.5 to critical hit chance), and Vicious (+9.5 to damage).
- How to Acquire: One of the unique weapons included in the lore of New World, this is one of many Ice Gauntlets available in the game. These drop from a boss called Zhou Taiying, located in a level 55 Expedition called the Dynasty Shipyard.
5 Abyssal Endless Void (Tier IV)
- Base Damage and Abilities: 172 - 200 hit points, plus a 4% increase to critical hit chance.
- Quality: Epic
- Benefits and Buffs: +10 - 11 to Strength and +20 - 23 to Dexterity. Additionally, 4% of the damage this weapon does is converted to Void. The damage scales off the player's base weapon stat or Intelligence score, whichever is higher.
- How to Acquire: This great-ax drops from a level 56 Elite Boss located somewhere between Ebonscale Reach and Brightwood. This massive, aggressive, predatory crocodile is aptly named Bloody Jaws, so players might want to bring a friend or three to help kill it.