Shrapnel DPS Build – New World Season 9

The Shrapnel DPS Build in New World Season 9 is a precision-focused setup tailored for high-damage output, ideal for activities like the Hive of Gorgon’s Raid and Invasions. This build emphasizes maximum headshot damage, achieved with significant Empower bonuses through a strategic ability rotation. The Shrapnel build rewards accurate aiming with strong damage, appealing to players who enjoy a skill-based playstyle.

Mainhand Weapon

Offhand Weapon (options)

Attributes

Strength	25
Dexterity	350
Intelligence	300
Focus	25
Constitution	fill the rest

Armor 

Prioritize armor perks in the following order:

• Enchanted Ward
• Refreshing 4x
• Weapon Perks
  • Refreshing Power Shot
  • Empowering Shooter’s Stance
• Empowering Breaker and Mortal Refreshment

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.

It’s important for the Earring to be Intelligence in this build to hit the correct attribute splits.

Heartrune

Brutal Heartrune of Cannon Blast

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

1. Drop Oblivion
2. Shooter’s Stance
3. Powder Burn
4. Power Shot
5. Light attack
6. Use each ability when it is up again with light attacks in between

Aim for headshots whenever possible to keep cooldowns lower, Empower higher, and Shrapnel passive active.

Empower details

Mortal Power	12%
Empowering Shooter’s Stance	43.28%
Heightened Precision	18%
Empowering Weakness	5%
Empowering Headshot	10%
Initial Engagement	10%
Empowering Toast	10%
Powerful Honing Stone	7%
Oblivion	15%
Total	130.28% Capped at 50%

Removing some of the harder to get Empower bonuses, and averaging each stacked Empower to only 1 each, AND assuming you hit no headshots, you would still hit 50% Empower almost exactly. To know where your current Empower total stands, check out the Empower Calculator.

Tips to remember

This build is most enjoyable for activities like Invasions, where you have lots of time and room to make sure your headshots land, and the damage numbers you get will reflect that. For an easier musket build that does not require landing high amounts of headshot, check out the Musket DPS Build instead.

Aiming for the high chest or neck area of most human-sized mobs is the safest thing to do to make sure you maintain some DPS rather than missing completely by aiming too high.

Build made using the free tools at New World Buddy.

For unfamiliar terms, please refer to our terminology guide.