Boltcaster DPS Build – New World Season 9
This Boltcaster DPS Build for New World Season 9 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.
If there is ever an armor artifact that increases attack speed or fire rate of light attacks, remember this build, as it will become a serious contender for the best single-target damage builds.
Mainhand Weapon
Boltcaster with Penetrating Rapid Shot
Boltcaster has limited options for its chosen perk i.e. no gem slot, no attunements, so Penetrating Rapid Shot is the best all around option.
Offhand Weapon (options)
Void Gauntlet with Nullifying Oblivion. The other 2 perks don’t really matter for this build.
Attributes
| Strength | 25 |
| Dexterity | 500 |
| Intelligence | 150 |
| Focus | 25 |
| Constitution | fill the rest |
Armor
Prioritize armor perks in the following order:
No weapon perks needed on armor for this build.
Jewelry
Pick the best Protection amulet that matches the most common damage you will be taking in the activity you are in. For example, Echidna from Hive of Gorgons uses Strike Damage, so you’d want a Strike Protection Amulet.
Ring options are usually Elemental Band, Azoth Crystal Ring, or an equal Gorgon ring.
Perks to aim for in a ring:
Hearty
Keen Awareness
Leeching
Perks to aim for in an earring:
Nimble
Refreshing Toast
Empowering Toast
Heartrune
Brutal Heartrune of Cannon Blast
Brutal Heartrune of The Devourer
Typical Buffs and Trophies
In order to do maximum damage, the correct trophies and damage boosting buffs should be applied. The example below is for the Hive of Gorgon’s Raid, where you should ideally have 5 buffs above your health bar, and Major trophies at each of your 3 houses matching the enemy type.
- 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 17.5%
- +48 food
How to Play
- 3 light attacks
- Poison Shot
- 3 light attacks
- Rain of Arrows
- 3 light attacks
- Rapid Shot
Unless you are fighting a group of mobs, you can skip Rain of Arrows for single-target fights since the activation time is much longer and can actually reduce DPS in single target fights.
Empower details
| Mortal Power | 12% |
| Evasive Tactics | 15% |
| Elemental Affinity x1 | 4% |
| Empowering Toast | 10% |
| Powerful Honing Stone | 7% |
| Oblivion | 15% |
| Lightning Harnessing | 8% |
| Total | 71% |
Lightning harnessing allows you to stay almost at cap with 49% Empower, while not having to rely on Empowering Toast or Mortal Power (combined 22%). 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.
