New World: Great Axe - weapon skills New World guide, tips

This page of the New World guide is dedicated to the weapon called Great Axe. Here you will learn all the active and passive skills and attributes that increase the damage of the two-handed axe.

Last update: 25 October 2021

This page of the guide to New World describes Great Axes, weapons focusing on inflicting AoE damage. You'll learn how to increase the damage you deal with a Great Axe and all of the skills related to this weapon.

• Related attributes
• Reaper - active skills
• Reaper - passive skills
• Mauler - active skills
• Mauler - passive skills

Related attributes

Investing into Strength increases the damage you deal with a Great Axe.

Reaper - active skills

Charge - charge 10m forward, dealing 120% weapon damage after reaching the target or pressing LMB. You also gain the Unstoppable status (your attacks can't be interrupted while you're using this skill).

1. Frenzied Momentum - the charge deals 120-140% weapon damage depending on the distance covered.
2. Unpredictable Strike - during the charge you can press RMB to inflict a powerful blow, dealing 140-165% weapon damage depending on the distance covered.

Reap - extends the axe up to 5 meters, pulling enemies closer and dealing 110% weapon damage.

1. The Collector - increases Reap's range to 8 meters.
2. Hunger - restores health equal to 30% of damage dealt with Reap.
3. Fatal Attraction - when pulling enemies closer, you execute a spin attack dealing 115% weapon damage.

Execute - A powerful overhead blow dealing 200% weapon damage. Deals 300% weapon damage to enemies with less than 50% health.

1. Unstoppable Greed - Execute applies Grit, making the attack impossible to interrupt.
2. Executioner - Execute always crits agains enemies with less than 30% health.

Reaper - passive skills

Greed - quick attacks with a Great Axe give bonus 5% damage for 5 seconds (stacks up to 3 times).

Executioner's Speed - hitting at least two targets with a single Great Axe quick attack grants you 20% of Haste for 3 seconds (increases your movement speed).

Critical Gains - crits with a Great Axe restore health equal to 10% of the damage dealt.

Death's Embrace - Great Axe attacks against enemies with less than 50% health ignore 10% of armor.

Frustration - gain 15% bonus damage for 10 seconds after your attack is blocked (stacks once).

Keen Edge - increases crit damage by 10%.

Critical Condition - Great Axe attacks against enemies with less than 30% health get extra 15% crit chance.

Feed - Great Axe attacks against enemies with less than 30% health restore health equal to 10% damage dealt.

Blood Lust - you move 30% faster and deal 15% more damage when facing an enemy within 15m.

Mauler - active skills

Whirlwind - a spin attack dealing 50% weapon damage to all nearby enemies. Once an enemy is hit, another spin occurs (up to 4 spins). You can move during the spin. The attack doesn't deal backstab damage.

1. Gusting Winds - increases the maximum number of Whirlwind spins to 7.
2. Unending Winds - increases movement speed by 50% when using Whirlwind.
3. Surrounded - Deal 30% more damage when surrounded by at least 3 enemies.

Maelstrom - a fast spin attack drawing targets closer and dealing 10% weapon damage.

1. Storm's Reach - increases the Maelstrom's pull reach by 50%.
2. Absorb - Maelstrom consumes all projectiles when active.
3. No Reprieve - adds a second spin attack to Maelstrom, pulling enemies closer and dealing 110% weapon damage.

Gravity Well - throw your axe to create a vortex pulling enemies closer for 3 seconds. Afterwards, it explodes and deals 125% weapon damage. Range: 10 meters.

1. Crowded Well - increases explosion damage by 10% for each enemy caught in the vortex.
2. Unyielding - Allies gain 10% Fortify when standing in your vortex (reduces damage received).

Mauler - passive skills

Mauler's Resolve - gain 40 stamina if an enemy hits you while you wield a Great Axe and have less than 50% health.

Heavy Pull - heavy Great Axe attacks pull your enemies closer.

Enduring Strike - adds Grit to heavy Great Axe attacks and reduces damage taken by 20% when the heavy attack Grit is active (Grit gives resistance to stagger, making your attacks impossible to interrupt).

Gravity - enemies that are pulled closer stay immobilised for 30% longer.

Revenge - gain a 5% damage bonus for 5 seconds after blocking an attack with your Great Axe (stacks up to 3 times).

Center of Attention - gain 10% bonus damage when wielding a Great Axe while surrounded by at least 3 enemies less than 4m away.

Crowded Protection - gain 10% damage absorption when wielding a Great Axe while surrounded by at least 3 enemies less than 4m away.

Mauler's Fury - Increases damage by 3% for 3 seconds after a Great Axe attack (stacks up to 10 times).