Hello, warriors of the New World—welcome back to another installment of Aeternums PvP Build Guide! Today, we're taking a deep dive into a beloved melee build that combines mobility, damage, control, and survivability into one clean, deadly package: the Sword and Shield with an Axe build (SnS). This build is known for its satisfying combos, fast pace, and ability to outlast opponents. Whether you're chasing down squishy heroes or engaging with tanky heroes, this build is sure to give you easy wins. If you're looking to enhance your experience further and get the most out of your battles, consider ways to buy New World Coins for valuable gear upgrades and crafting materials, allowing you to dominate the battlefield even more effectively. Let's take a look!

Weapon Choices

Sword & Shield (SnS)

You have three main options here:

1. Gloomed Bowsprit Sword (from the Well in Cutlass Keys)

· Base Perks: Penetrating, Empowered, Vicious

· Recommended Upgrade: Penetrating Backstab

· Ideal Perk Setup:

o Penetrating Backstab

o Plagued Crits

o Empowering Leaping Strike / Keen / Vicious (depends on your shield and armor)

2. Sword of the Champion (PvP Track reward)

· Base Perks: Vicious, Penetrating Backstab

· Upgrade Options: Plagued Crits or Empowering Leaping Strike

· Max GS: 700 — good starter option, but not BIS

3. Crafted BIS Sword

· Requires Gorgonite Inductor to reach 725 Gear Score

· Customizable with ideal perk combinations

· Pro Tip: Always prioritize a 725 GS sword for PvP when possible.

Hatchet

Best Options:

· Ship Wrecker (Cutlass Keys)

· Berserker’s Axe (PvP Track)

Ideal Perks:

· Keen

· Berserk

· Penetrating Backstab

· Optional: Vicious or Plagued Crits

Best-in-Slot:

· A Gorgonite-crafted 725 GS Hatchet with the above perks.

Shield and Gear Setup

Shield Perks:

· Fortifying Shield Rush

· Keenly Jagged

· Optional: Vicious (if not on weapon), Keen, or Enchanted Ward

· Use a Round Shield with Shield Aggression

Armor:

To remain in Light Equip Load while using a shield, you must equip gear strategically:

· Featherweight Artifact (from a bird in Elysian Wilds) is mandatory

· Legs: 1x Medium

· Head, Gloves, Feet: 2x Medium, 1x Light

Key Armor Perks:

· Contagious Upheaval (on weapon if possible)

· Leaping Strike (if not on weapon)

· 1x Hasted Vigor

· Health, Shirking Heals (as many pieces as possible)

· 1–2x Enchanted Ward

Sources:

· PvP Track Named Gear (upgradable to 700 GS)

· Hoplite Armor from Gorgon (725 GS, comes with Enchanted Ward and Health)

Jewelry

Amulet:

· Ankh (Best in Slot)

· Upgrade with Protection or any other defensive perk

Ring:

· Fixed Perks:

o Hearty

o Slash Damage

o Healing Breeze

o Healing Breeze synergizes with Shirking Heals for extra sustain.

Earring:

· Refreshing Toast + Preferred Perks

Gems and Runestones

Gems:

· Weapons: Emeralds, Jaspers, or Elemental Split

· Armor: Punishing Onyxes

· Jewelry: Rubies

Heartrunes:

· Stoneform

· Dark Ascent

· Vines (great CC)

Attributes

· 150–200 Constitution

· 350 Strength

· Dump remaining into Dexterity

· Optional: add 25 Intelligence for specific rune synergy

Skill Trees

Use the standard PvP SnS + Hatchet tree:

Sword & Shield Core Skills:

· Leaping Strike (Mobility / Gap Close)

· Shield Rush (CC / Combo starter)

· Upheaval (Big damage, especially after CC)

Hatchet Core Skills:

· Berserk (Self-heal + movement speed)

· Defy Death (Life-saver in 1vX)

· Feral Rush (Chasing / Damage)

Combos and Combat Tips

The SnS Hatchet build is all about clean execution and quick reactions:

Basic Combo:

1. Leaping Strike →

2. Shield Rush →

3. Wait for enemy dodge →

4. Heavy Attack →

5. Upheaval

Hatchet Usage:

· Berserk for chasing, burst, or surviving

· Feral Rush for finishing or pressuring

· Swap to Hatchet if you're about to die (Defy Death)

· Always commit when using Berserk—weapon swaps cancel it

· Watch for counters like:

o Diminishing Orb

o Oblivion (Nullifies Berserk)

Final Thoughts

This is the new world of Sword, Shield, and Hatchet PvP builds—a high-pressure, high-reward build with amazing burst. With the right execution and gear, you’ll be able to dominate duels, sneak into the backlines, and save the day like a true Eternal warrior. To enhance your performance even further, consider options to buy New World Gold coins; a great resource for acquiring the best gear and items. For reliable purchases, I recommend MMOEXP to help you on your journey. Good luck!