With New World introducing its 3-versus-3 Arenas mode that allows three-man teams to duke it out against other squads, it makes sense for PVP-loving New World players to look forward to proving their dominance in the battlefield. And considering the more tactical and careful nature of New World’s combat unlike other MMOs, some players might find themselves perplexed as to how tricky it could get to fight other players in this game mode.
Thankfully, the right approach and the right perspective could greatly help newcomers to the Arenas mode show their supremacy against rivals early on in their journey. However, just how exactly could players capitalize on their skills to rise to the top?
Consider Mechanics First
One of the most important tips players can take advantage of in the New World MMO and its PVP Arena is its mechanics. That is, players who can plan their approach with the mechanics in mind may be able to dominate the match early on. Here are things to consider:
- Limited Runs: Technically, Arena matches are a best-of-three series, wherein players need to win three rounds before winning the entire match. The rounds themselves are limited in scope, wherein a circle of fire will eventually engulf the whole arena to force players to get closer together and fight should there be no victors after two or so minutes.
- Arena Consumables: Players only have access to Arena-specific consumables in the New World game, ensuring equal item suage across players. These Items can be slotted into the player’s hotkeys and have infinite uses but do have cooldowns. These include items such as Arena Health Potions, Arena Regen Potions, Arena Honing Stones, and the like.
Study The Arena Mode Map
Given how this three-versus-three mode takes place in an Arena and forces players to duke it all out with their skills, it’s important for players to not just study what items and builds they’re going to use but rather take note of what the Arena Mode Map offers as well. Understanding the layout of the map can help New World players create builds that can help adjust to its specifications. Despite the rather straightforward nature of the Arena Mode Map - in that, well, it’s an arena - there are specific nuances to consider:
- Spacious to a degree: Unlike other games where “arena” components take place in a rather cramped space, the Arena Mode Map for New World MMO players are rather spacious. They have more than enough space for players to dodge and run around, as well as cast wide-enough AOE spells to their heart’s content.
- Central pillars: Near the center of the map are two gigantic pillars that players can walk or run around. These are perhaps the only other objects in the map aside from the occasional statue attached to the stone fences that wall off the circular map. They are big enough to provide cover and may force players to walk around just to chase a target, especially in melee.
Check Weapon Viability
Since toolkits in the New World MMO are weapon-based unlike other games, it makes sense for players to take note of their weapon choice before entering the PVP Arena Mode. Unlike other PVP game modes in MMOs other than New World where everything goes, weapon choice here matters as they can practically dictate the playstyle a squad could have in PVP. In that regard, it could greatly help to consider how specific weapons would perform in PVP, given how there’s not a lot of space to work with and no mobs to grind. Here are some considerations:
- Life Staff: Ever the reliable healing weapon, the Life Staff remains an essential component in the Arena Mode for New World, especially for support builds. It helps to have a Life Staff as a secondary slot for heavy armor builds for the defense boost.
- Great Axe: Great for the crowd control, the two-handed nature of the Great Axe allows players to hit enemies consecutively, helpful to defend a teammate from a gank or simply deter an enemy assault.
- Fire Staff: Fire is the cleanser, and this works excellently for the Fire Staff in PVP. Having access to the game’s strongest AOE attacks can wreak havoc and raise literal hell in the constricted landscapes of the Arena Mode.
- Musket: Although the Bow itself is a reliable ranged weapon, players who are good shots might want to use the Musket to secure those head-and-upper-body shots for maximum damage. Being able to stay from afar while melee attackers close in for the kill can make the Musket wielder a menace to behold in PVP.
Remember The PVP Perks
Players may also want to consider leveling up within the Arena Mode and increase their progression in the PVP aspect of New World and its weapons, particularly for the ability to be able to purchase weapons and armor with special Perks. After all, the game has released with exclusive PVP Perks, meaning there will be Perks that certainly fit the context of the Arena Mode best, further encouraging players to make PVP-exclusive builds. Here are some PVP Perks players may need to watch out for:
- Fractured Rend: Block-breaking a player will inflict Rend, which reduces their damage absorption by 12-percent for 4-seconds.
- Exhausted Exploitation: Hitting an Exhausted target will Slow them down, which reduces their movement for 15-percent for 4-seconds.
- Sturdy Fortification: Successful blocks will add 4-percent stack of Fortify, up to a stack of five.
- Shirking Heals: Successful dodges will heal 100 Health, with each armor piece adding a stack of this perk.
- Invigorated Punishment: Abilities will deal 3-percent more damage to a target per buff present in them, up to a stack of eight.
Positions Matter
Considering how players have excellent control over their skill directions in the combat of the New World MMO, it makes sense that positions matter to secure combos. This is why weapons like the Musket have hitscans to ensure they hit bodyparts, whereas certain attacks need precision timing to secure the best hits. However, this is all the more important in the Arena Mode, since the map is a cramped circular stadium.
Players need to take note of how to run around the Arena in order to secure their hits, especially since dodging and blocking become more apparent here. Considering how players would almost immediately find themselves in combat, they need to be wary of flanking or ganking maneuvers and try to steer out of harm’s way as often as possible. Dodging is crucial here, and repositioning often for safety is better than securing a hit.
Lure Opponents In Traps
On top of how positioning is important in the combat of New World is how players should take advantage of how the wrong position could be a huge mistake for their opponents. More aggressive teams need to take note of how to lure opponents out of their safe zones. They can do this with rather imposing attacks, such as an AOE on one side and a fierce combo on the other.
Doing this can force enemies into chokeholds or limit their dodging options, enabling players to get them in a disadvantageous position. Players can do this to trap rather mobile enemy or lure ranged specialists out in the open.
Cover Is Relative
It helps to remember that there are two massive pillars on either side of the center of the Arena, making them quite effective covers. Due to the size of these structures in the New World map, players may need to run or jump their way to go to the other side, making this ideal cover for spellcasters and long-ranged players of New World.
Players need to take note of how to exploit the presence of players in these areas. A well-placed AOE attack can lure enemies out in the open, while another teammate waiting for an opportunity to strike could be placed here to discourage enemies from even trying to go to a safe zone to heal and recuperate.
Exploit Cooldowns
It’s one thing to want to dominate players in the New World MMO’s PVP component on the get-go, but another thing entirely to understand the right timing when doing so. Players well-versed in PVP in games know that rotations matter because players don’t want to be stuck with an empty bar doing normal attacks, since this lessens their damage output. However, this is something that actually happens to players, and something people should exploit in the Arena Mode.
At its core, players might want to study different weapon types and their respective skill trees to understand “optimal” builds and their recommended cooldowns. That way, players can predict what sort of moves would be used and how best to dodge or counter them. A fiercer way of doing this is taking advantage of the times enemies take in between consumable drinks. For instance, that 30-second timer between Arena Healing Potion cooldowns are perfect to zoom in for the kill.
Amazon’s New World MMO was released on September 9, 2021, for PC.