What is the focus of the Boltcaster DPS Build in New World Season 10: Nighthaven?

The Boltcaster DPS Build focuses on high damage output against Ancient enemies, PvP, and the Hive of Gorgons Raid, leveraging precise light attack rotations and the artifact's passive.

What mainhand weapon should I use for the Boltcaster DPS Build?

Equip Boltcaster as the mainhand weapon to leverage its strengths for high damage against Ancient enemies.

What is the offhand weapon for this build?

Use a Spear with Enfeebling Skewer for additional Rend and debuff utility in PvE and PvP.

What skill tree should I use for the Boltcaster DPS Build?

For PvP, use Penetrating Shot in the skill tree; for PvE, switch to Rapid Shot for optimal performance.

How should I allocate attributes for the Boltcaster DPS Build?

Set attributes to Strength 100, Dexterity 500, Intelligence 25, Focus 25, and Constitution 28.

What armor perks should I prioritize?

Prioritize Weapon Perks (Enfeebling Poison Shot, Shattering Penetrating Shot), Gem Slot with Onyx (x5), and Fixed Perks (Sacrificial Empowerment, Lifestealer's Draught, Prolonged Favor, Shirking Fortification, Vital Synergy).

What jewelry should I choose for this build?

Select a Protection Amulet matching the activity’s damage type with Protection, Well-Being, Gem Slot, Enchanted, and Leeching perks (II versions). Use a Ring with Enchanted Totality, Cursed Enchantment, Critical Infliction, Keen, and Leeching perks. Equip an Earring with Refreshment, Beloved, Keenly Fortified, Keen, and Leeching perks.

Which Heartrune is best for this build?

Use Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines, Brutal Heartrune of Cannon Blast, or Stalwart Heartrune of Stoneform based on the situation.

What buffs and trophies should I use for Hive of Gorgons Raid?

Apply 3x Major Angry Earth Trophies (15% Angry Earth Damage), Infused Angry Earth Coating (15% Angry Earth Damage), Infused Angry Earth Ward (10% less damage from Angry Earth), Powerful Honing Stone (7% Empower), Desert Sunrise (25% reduced DoT duration), and +48 food. Aim for 5 buffs above your health bar.

What is the combat rotation for the Boltcaster DPS Build?

Follow this sequence: 1. Perform 3 light attacks, 2. Use Poison Shot, 3. Perform 3 light attacks, 4. Use Penetrating Shot, 5. Perform 3 light attacks, 6. Use Explosive Arrow. Skip Explosive Arrow for single-target fights to avoid DPS loss.

What are some tips for optimizing this build?

Land 3 light attacks before each ability to activate Boltcaster's passive for +20% average damage to light attacks. Maintain precise aim, as the passive expires within 3 seconds without light attack hits. Use Rapid Shot for PvE. Use the Empower Calculator to track your 54% Empower total (capped at 50%) from Powerful Honing Stone, Evasive Tactics, Keenly Empowered, Lightning Harnessing, and Electrified Physical Ward.

Boltcaster DPS Build - New World Season 10

This Boltcaster DPS Build for New World Season 10: Nighthaven focuses on playing to the strengths of the artifact. Following the correct attack and ability rotation, your potential damage output is one of the highest possible for Ancient enemies. This build also excels in PvP damage (if you can survive long enough) due to most players choosing not to mitigate lightning damage since there are not many sources of lightning damage. For Corrupted or Beast type enemies, you should look for a more versatile bow build like I detail in this Bow Guide.

Additional Bow builds:

Weapons

Mainhand

Boltcaster with:
Enchanted
Keenly Empowered

Offhand

Spear with:
Enfeebling Skewer
Compounding Perforate
Gem slot
End
Attunement

Skill Tree

The skill tree below is what I like to take for PvP. For PvE I would recommend Rapid Shot instead of Penetrating Shot

Attributes

Strength	100
Dexterity	500
Intelligence	25
Focus	25
Constitution	28

Armor

This gear serves as a starting point to build upon as some of it may get replaced when you come into Set pieces with infixes. Infixes should replace your least favorite fixed perk on each piece. The Gem slot serves as your defensive piece with an Onyx.

Weapon Perks
- Enfeebling Poison Shot
- Shattering Penetrating Shot (less important)
Gem Slot x5
Fixed Perks
- Sacrificial Empowerment
- Lifestealers Draught
- Prolonged Favor
- Shirking Forification
- Vital Synergy

Jewelry

Pick the best Protection amulet that matches the most common damage you will be taking in the activity you are in. Assume all perks are the new “II” or “2” versions.

Amulet Perks:

Protection
Well-Being
Gem Slot
Enchanted
Leeching

Ring Perks:

Enchanted Totality
Cursed Enchantment
Critical Infliction
Keen
Leeching

Earring Perks:

Refreshment
Beloved
Keenly Fortified
Keen
Leeching

Some of the Offensive and Defensive sockets are flexible for your to pick the your preferred perk.

Heartrune

Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines

Brutal Heartrune of Cannon Blast

Stalwart Heartrune of Stoneform

Typical Buffs and Trophies

You should ideally have 5 buffs above your health bar, and Major trophies at each of your 3 houses matching the enemy type you are facing. For example:

3x Major Angry Earth Trophies – 3×5%(15%) Angry Earth Damage
Infused Angry Earth Coating – 15% Angry Earth Damage
Infused Angry Earth Ward – take 10% less damage from Angry Earth enemies
Powerful Honing Stone – 7% Empower
Desert Sunrise – reduce duration of incoming DoTs by 25%
+48 food

How to Play

3 light attacks
Poison Shot
3 light attacks
Penetrating Shot
3 light attacks
Explosive Arrow

Landing 3 attacks between each ability is very important so you can proc the Boltcaster passive for the +80% damage.

Empower details

Powerful Honing Stone	7%
Evasive Tactics	15%
Keenly Empowered	13%
Lightning Harnessing	12%
Electrified Physical Ward	8%
Total	54%

Empower is capped at 50%, but having more than 50% can help you manage to stay at cap at all times. To know where your current Empower total stands, check out the Empower Calculator.

Tips to Remember

Make a serious effort to land 3 light attacks before each ability use, so you utilize the artifacts passive, which unlocks an average +20% damage to light attacks (+80% spread over 4 attacks).

Aim is very important for bow builds, and even more so with Boltcaster as the passive from light attacks will wear off within 3 seconds of the enemy not being hit with a light attack. It’s fairly unforgiving in this one way.

Build made using the free tools at New World Buddy.

For unfamiliar terms, please refer to our terminology guide.