In this guide, we’re breaking down single-target, high-damage Rapier builds for New World—specifically Evade Rapier and Bleed Rapier. These are the exact setups you’ll see requested in Worm, Gorgon, raids, and high-end PvE content when groups ask for “Evade Rapier” or “Bleed Rapier DPS.” If you’re looking to optimize your gear and progression, you can also buy New World Coins to help acquire key items faster. We’ll cover:

· Gear choices and farmable options

· Why Finisher is the core weapon

· Required perks and artifacts

· Attribute setups for Evade vs Bleed

· Skill trees and rotations

· Heart runes for Worm, Gorgon, and War

· How and when to pop bleeds

Core Weapon – The Finisher Artifact (Mandatory)

Everything about these builds revolves around Finisher, one of the strongest and easiest-to-farm artifacts in the game.

How to Farm Finisher

Head to Oliv Z Van and kill the three elemental mammoths (Lightning, Nature, and Fire). Once all three are down, the named elite spawns in the alcove nearby. Kill it, and Finisher can drop. This is a popular farm spot, so expect competition.

Why Finisher Is So Strong

· 725 Gear Score (Upgradeable)

· 15% increased damage to bleeding targets

· Deadly Flourish – +42% base damage to Flourish and Finish

· Keen Tondo – Extra crit chance vs bleeding targets + Weakens

· Bleed damage scales insanely well in PvE

Required Upgrade

1. Upgrade Finisher with:

· Distained Infliction – +15% outgoing DoT damage

· PvE bonus for +5% damage

You’ll need a coconut from the FFA zone to fully upgrade it.

2. This weapon boosts:

· Your direct Rapier damage

· Your bleed ticks

· Your bleed pops

· And yes—it works across both weapons.

Offhand Weapon Options (Flexible)

Your offhand depends on the content and role:

Most Common Choices

· Musket – Excellent synergy with DEX/INT scaling

· Bow – Mobility and haste utility

· Greatsword (INT) – Common for melee Stamina Break in Worm

· Spear / Hammer – Extra Weakens and Rend support

· The offhand matters far less than Finisher. Choose based on group needs.

Armor Perks – What Groups Expect

Mandatory PvE Perks

For Worm, Gorgon, and coordinated groups:

· 4× Enchanted Ward

· 4× Refreshing

· This is non-negotiable in organized raids.

Best Farmable Starter Gear – Azoth Crystal

Azoth Crystal armor:

· Drops from M2 expeditions

· Craftable at the Kiln

· Comes with Enchanted Ward + Refreshing

· Allows a selectable third perk

· This is the best entry path if you’re not already geared from Gorgon or Worm.

Required Rapier Perks (Non-Negotiable)

1. Leeching Flurry (Required)

· Best survivability perk in the build

· Massive self-healing

· Works perfectly with iframe-heavy gameplay

· Should be on armor (not weapon)

2. Omnidirectional Evade (Required)

· +11% damage after Evade

· Works in every direction

· Core to Evade Rapier DPS loops

· Without these two perks, the build loses a massive amount of power.

Artifacts & Armor Choices

Pants – Attuned Leather Pants

· Massive attribute value

· Enables 350 DEX + 300 INT

· Flexible perk slot (cheap to customize)

Chest – Flexible

· Silk & Cocoon (Worm drop) if you have it

· Otherwise Azoth Crystal chest works perfectly

Nimble Coat (Optional Variant)

· Lower cooldowns on Evade and Flurry

· Requires full light armor setup

· Slightly less attributes, more fluid gameplay

· Both variants are viable.

Jewelry Setup

Amulet

For Worm and Gorgon:

· Strike Protection

· Empowered

· Health or Divine

· Empowered increases Adagio and damage uptime.

Ring

Best-in-slot alternatives:

· Elemental Band (725)

· Azoth Crystal Ring (Hearty + Leeching + Keen Awareness)

· Crit chance + sustain = massive DPS gains.

Earring

· Refreshing

· Empowering Toast

· Healing Heart (personal preference)

· Avoid Endless Thirst unless running specific setups.

Carnelian Setup (Threat Reduction)

1. For Worm and some Gorgon runs:

· Punishing Carnelians in armor

· Carnelians in jewelry

2. Results:

· ~70% threat reduction

· Bonus damage to taunted enemies

· Helps tanks maintain aggro while you pump DPS

Heart Runes (Endgame Required)

You should have all three upgraded to 625:

1. Stalwart Firestorm

· Mandatory for Worm

· Cleanses acid stacks (“Kick” mechanic)

2. Brutal Detonate

· Burst DPS

· War and PvE utility

3. Brutal Grasping Vines

· Rend + Weaken

· Excellent for Gorgon and group PvE

· Base versions are not enough—upgrade them.

Attributes – Evade vs Bleed

Evade Rapier (Standard DPS)

· 350 Dexterity

· 25 Strength

· 25 Focus

· Remaining points into Intelligence

· Constitution: 50–100 (content dependent)

· This maximizes light attack damage and cooldown cycling.

Bleed Rapier

· 350 Intelligence

· 25 Strength

· 25 Focus

· Remaining points into Dexterity

· Why?

· 10% ability damage bonus massively increases bleed pops from Flourish and Finish.

Skill Trees

Evade Rapier (Most Common)

· Flurry (full tree)

· Evade (full upgrades except stamina node)

· Riposte or Tondo (flex slot)

· Evade players do not pop bleeds—they apply them while pumping raw DPS.

Bleed Rapier

1. Flurry

2. Flourish and Finish

3. Optional Tondo

4. Bleed players:

· Stack bleeds

· Time Flourish and Finish to pop them

· Deal massive burst damage for the group

Bleed Mechanics – Why Groups Want You

· Each Rapier can apply 3 bleed stacks

· Flourish and Finish pops all bleeds

· Multiple Rapiers = massive coordinated burst

· Poor timing wastes damage—coordination matters

· This is why groups ask for specific numbers of bleed poppers.

Rotation Basics

Evade DPS Loop

1. Light Attack

2. Evade

3. Repeat

4. Use Flurry on cooldown

5. Position behind targets

6. Crits + cooldown reduction = nonstop damage.

Bleed Pop Rotation

1. Apply bleeds (Flurry / Tondo)

2. Confirm 3 stacks

3. Flourish and Finish

4. Resume Evade DPS

5. Proper pops can chunk 20k+ HP instantly.

Final Advice – Don’t Int Yourself

Running 9k HP is powerful—but dangerous.

If you’re new:

· Start with 100 CON

· Learn positioning

· Learn iframe timing

· Drop CON slowly as confidence increases

· A dead DPS does zero DPS.

Closing Thoughts

You do not need perfect 725 gear to play this build:

· Attuned Leather Pants come from MSQ

· Azoth Crystal gear comes from M2s

· Two-perk crafts work fine

· Skill execution matters more than gear score

· You can also buy cheap New World Gold from MMOEXP to help speed up gearing and upgrades

· Upgrade your heart runes, learn your timing, and enjoy melting bosses