New World Season 10 Nighthaven The Enduring Bruiser DPS Build

Patch Aeternum 1.0 (Season 10 Nighthaven)

Welcome, Adventurer! Season 10 has fundamentally changed how character power works, raising the Level Cap to 70 and Gear Score to 800. This guide provides a foundational Great Axe (GA) / Greatsword (GS) build that offers immense AoE damage, self-sustain, and the raw power needed for the new Nighthaven Zone and the Catacombs game mode.

This build is versatile and excels in both PvE (Dungeons, Raids) and large-scale PvP (OPR, Wars).

1. Core Build Overview and Key Changes

Feature: Primary Weapon
Focus: Great Axe (AoE Cleave, Utility)

Feature: Secondary Weapon
Focus: Greatsword (Sustain, Heavy Damage)

Feature: Armor Weight
Focus: Heavy (for defense and the new GS/GA scaling)

Feature: Primary Attribute
Focus: Strength

Playstyle: Frontline Bruiser: Dive into groups, use AoE abilities, and use Greatsword to sustain through heavy fights.

Crucial Season 10 Update Changes:
Level Cap 70 / GS 800: Focus on acquiring new 700-800 GS gear with updated perks.
Hearty Removal: The 'Hearty' Ring perk is now baseline for all players, increasing your baseline stamina. This frees up a critical ring perk slot!
Perk Overhaul: Ward and Bane perks are removed. Look for new, powerful Infix Perks and Set Bonuses to define your late-game power.

2. Attribute Distribution (Level 70)

The Attribute Cap has shifted. This distribution maximizes damage while providing resilience.

Strength: 400-450. Rationale: Maximum scaling for both Great Axe and Greatsword damage.
Dexterity: 50. Rationale: Minor damage bonus and 50 CON bonus (if needed for utility).
Intelligence: 5. Rationale: Base value.
Focus: 5. Rationale: Base value.
Constitution: 150-200. Rationale: 150: Required for the high health regeneration breakpoint. 200+: Recommended for serious PvP/Raid tanking.

Goal: Aim for 450+ STR and 150+ CON using gear attributes and food buffs (e.g., Savory Fish Fillet for +40 STR).

3. Weapon Skill Trees and Abilities

Great Axe (The Utility and Cleave)
Ability: Reap. Upgrade Path: Blood Lust. Function and Use: Pulls targets into your cleave zone and provides essential self-heal on hit.
Ability: Gravity Well. Upgrade Path: Unyielding. Function and Use: The ultimate AoE lockdown tool. Use to initiate combat or trap clumped enemies.
Ability: Charge. Upgrade Path: Storm's Reach. Function and Use: Excellent gap-closer and finisher. Use it to chase targets or escape danger.
Passive Key Perk: Mauler's Fury: Damage increases significantly when surrounded (perfect for OPR/Wars).

Greatsword (The Damage and Sustain)
Ability: Relentless Rush. Upgrade Path: Leeching Crosscut II. Function and Use: High damage, gap closer, and now provides Lifesteal (Leeching Crosscut II) from the new perk system.
Ability: Calamity Counter. Upgrade Path: Steadfast Strike II. Function and Use: Defensive ability that punishes attackers. Energizes you for stamina regen.
Ability: Roaring Rupture. Upgrade Path: Crippling Rupture II. Function and Use: AoE damage with a Slow (Crippling Rupture II) to keep enemies in your range.
Passive Key Perk: Relentless Freedom II: Using Relentless Rush removes Roots and Slows, making you impossible to lock down.

4. Gear, Artifacts, and Perks (The New Endgame)

The power of this build now heavily relies on the new systems.

A. Artifacts (Choose One Weapon and One Armor)
Recommended Weapon Artifact: Choose a Great Axe or Greatsword Artifact that drops with a strong base attribute roll (STR or CON).
Recommended Armor Artifact: Look for a Heavy Chest piece or Helm that complements your build, ideally one that provides a helpful Set Bonus when paired with other new gear.

B. Essential Perks
Gear Slot: Great Axe. Top PvE Perk: Shirking Damage II. Top PvP Perk: Leeching or Planted
Gear Slot: Greatsword. Top PvE Perk: Corrupted Bane II (if available). Top PvP Perk: Vicious or Enfeebling Maelstrom
Gear Slot: Armor (Overall). Top PvE Perk: Health (on all pieces). Top PvP Perk: Resilient (if it returns), otherwise Elemental Resistances
Gear Slot: Ring. Top PvE Perk: Bloated Toad (new Hearty replacement). Top PvP Perk: Tired (new Stamina utility perk)
Gear Slot: Amulet. Top PvE Perk: Health (new baseline stat, but look for more). Top PvP Perk: Refreshing (Cooldown Reduction)

C. The New System: Set Bonuses
Aim to collect pieces with the same Set Bonus (e.g., 5/5 Gladiator Set) to unlock powerful passive effects that drastically improve your damage or survivability in the new level 70 content.

5. Heartrune and Consumables

Heartrune: Detonate Heartrune is generally the best choice for DPS, providing a massive burst of AoE damage in the middle of a clump of enemies.
Consumables: Always carry the highest tier Oakflesh Balm (damage resistance) and Stat Food (for the attribute breakpoint).

Conclusion: The Enduring Bruiser is a high-octane build perfectly suited to the new Season 10 landscape. Prioritize high STR, smart use of your utility cooldowns (Gravity Well/Charge), and stacking up the powerful new set bonuses to dominate Aeternum!

Feel free to provide feedback, this is based on my opinion :)