In New World, build diversity has taken center stage with the introduction of Artifacts. Among the flashiest and  most effective PvP/PvE setups is the Aeternum Bow Hatchet build, which combines deadly ranged pressure with unmatched survivability and chase potential. With the Boltcaster, Featherweight, and Ankh artifacts, you can craft a build that balances burst damage, mobility, and sustain—perfect for open-world fights, arenas, and OPR skirmishes.

This guide breaks down the build, why it works, and how you can maximize its potential in both small-scale and large-scale combat.

Why Choose Bow + Hatchet?

The Bow Hatchet combo has long been a staple of New World’s PvP scene. The bow provides long-range poke and punishes overextensions with devastating burst, while the hatchet gives you insane chase tools, survivability, and emergency damage with Berserk. When paired with artifacts, the build reaches a whole new level.

Here’s what each artifact brings to the table:

Boltcaster (Bow Artifact)

A straight upgrade to the bow, giving strong damage bonuses to charged attacks and scaling with dexterity. It turns your bow into a lethal ranged weapon with consistent DPS.

Featherweight (Light Armor Artifact)

Maximizes mobility while retaining strong offensive scaling. With Featherweight, you can roll and reposition constantly, which is vital for staying alive as a light-armor bow user.

Ankh (Amulet Artifact)

The defensive core of this build. The Ankh provides healing amplification and self-sustain bonuses, letting you survive longer when focused and synergizing well with the hatchet’s Berserk healing.

Together, these three artifacts create a synergy that makes you both hard to pin down and deadly from any range.

Attribute Distribution

For the Aeternum Bow Hatchet build, you want to prioritize Dexterity, since it scales the bow and boosts light-attack damage. Here’s a recommended setup:

300 Dexterity (Core damage, headshot bonus, and increased bow scaling)

150 Constitution (Enough health to survive burst combos and avoid being one-shot)

50 Strength or remaining into Dexterity (Optional if you want to slightly boost hatchet melee damage, but most should go into Dex)

This stat spread gives you high damage while staying tanky enough to handle focused pressure.

Bow Skill Setup (Boltcaster)

For the bow, mobility and consistent poke are key. Recommended skills:

Penetrating Shot – A long-range, armor-shredding shot. Great for finishing low-health targets or punishing clumps.

Explosive Arrow – A powerful AoE poke option that deals damage over time and applies pressure in team fights.

Evade Shot – A must-have for mobility. Use it to dodge dives, create space, or kite melee players.

Passives to focus:

Aim True (heavy attack bonus)

Archer’s Speed (haste after dodge)

Closing In (CDR when hitting low-health targets)

The Boltcaster artifact shines here by buffing your heavy shots. Mixing heavy shots with Penetrating Shot and Explosive Arrow makes you a nightmare for anyone who tries to close the gap.

Hatchet Skill Setup

The hatchet is your close-range survival and chase tool. Recommended skills:

Berserk – Core to the build. Provides self-healing, increased damage, and CC immunity for clutch survival.

Raging Torrent – High burst when you catch someone in melee. Scales well with dexterity.

Feral Rush – A chase/escape tool that roots enemies if hit in the back. Great for catching runners or peeling for yourself.

Passives to focus:

Against All Odds (damage boost per enemy nearby)

Berserking Refresh (heals when hitting with Berserk active)

Fortifying Strikes (adds sustain in trades)

The hatchet makes sure that even if an enemy reaches you, you aren’t helpless. In fact, with Ankh and Berserk together, you can often out-heal their pressure.

Gear and Perks

Armor

Light Armor with Featherweight (chest piece locked by artifact)

Go for 2 medium / 2 light to maximize mobility while reaching the light equip load.

Prioritize perks: Resilient, Elemental Aversion, Shirking Heals.

Jewelry

Amulet: Ankh (artifact locked, provides sustain)

Ring: Aim for perks like Keen Awareness and Refreshing Toast.

Earring: Look for Purifying Toast and Refreshing.

Weapons

Boltcaster: Default artifact bow with perks like Keenly Jagged or Penetrating Arrows.

Hatchet: Look for Refreshing Move, Keenly Empowered, and Attunement.

How to Play the Build

Open-World PvP

Start fights by poking with the bow at long range. Use Explosive Arrow and Penetrating Shot to soften targets or force cooldowns. If enemies push in, roll backward with Featherweight mobility and punish them with heavy shots. If they dive too close, swap to hatchet, activate Berserk, and either fight back or kite until your bow skills reset.

Arenas

In 3v3, your job is hybrid DPS and survival. Focus on softening priority targets with ranged pressure, then dive in with your hatchet once cooldowns are burned. Ankh and Berserk together let you tank bursts that would kill most light builds.

Outpost Rush

This build shines in skirmishes. Stay on the outskirts of fights, raining down damage with Boltcaster. When enemies collapse on you, roll to safety and use hatchet to either escape or punish overextending melee players.

Tips for Success

Master Heavy Shots: Boltcaster rewards precise heavy attacks. Practice headshotting for massive burst.

Use Featherweight Aggressively: Your dodge roll is your lifeline. Don’t be afraid to roll into angles, not just away.

Ankh + Berserk Combo: When focused, pop Berserk and rely on Ankh’s sustain bonuses to outlast their damage. This makes you surprisingly tanky for a light build.

Swap Constantly: Don’t tunnel vision on one weapon. Swap to bow for poke, hatchet for survival or chase. Fluidity makes the build shine.

Final Thoughts

The Aeternum Bow Hatchet build with Boltcaster, Featherweight, and Ankh is one of the most well-rounded setups in New World. It offers high mobility, strong burst damage, and buy New World coins the sustain to survive when fights get chaotic. While it requires strong mechanical skill—especially with bow accuracy—its ceiling is incredibly high.

Whether you’re diving into Arenas, farming kills in OPR, or surviving massive open-world brawls, this build keeps you relevant and dangerous at all times. If you’re looking for a playstyle that rewards both precision and smart positioning, the Aeternum Bow Hatchet is one of the best ways to dominate Aeternum.