The latest patch notes for New World have been unveiled, promising substantial changes to the game. These season 1 patch notes are currently accessible on the Public Test Realm (PTR) and introduce several noteworthy alterations. In this article, we’ll explore the most impactful changes highlighted in the latest patch notes.
Grit & Greatsword:
Significant changes have been made to the Grit passive on the PTR. Previously, it required 300 strength for activation, but it now necessitates 300 constitution. Conversely, 300 strength now provides bonus damage to heavy attacks. These adjustments are expected to favor PvP players, enhancing their survivability and build diversity, while diminishing the impact of burst damage and promoting group or zerg encounters.
On the other hand, the Greatsword, already renowned for its high damage output, has undergone some skill nerfs, targeting, and attack speed reductions. Nevertheless, it still delivers heavy attack damage of up to 7,000 against light armor users. The Season 1 patch notes don’t address this heavy attack damage, resulting in Greatsword users benefiting from both Grit and strength bonus damage, potentially making them even more potent. Balancing adjustments, particularly to heavy attack damage, are necessary for the Greatsword.
Musket:
The PTR introduces substantial changes to the musket. Adjustments have been made to its traps and precision. Traps will now enter cooldown only if the attack isn’t interrupted before tossing. Precision with the musket suffers when moving and aiming quickly, making it harder to hit distant targets in rapid succession. However, a new passive ability called Steady Hand improves musket precision when aiming down sight for 2 seconds, contributing to better accuracy.
While players have long called for these changes, the musket’s viability as a weapon, particularly in the War meta, is reduced. It may retain some usefulness as a close-range ranged weapon in Outpost Rush (OPR) due to traps and pinpoint accuracy within 15 meters.
Critical Hits:
The game’s critical damage system has undergone changes. Previously, critical damage was multiplied by other damage modifiers, like headshot or crit mods. Now, critical damage is added to other damage modifiers. This alteration results in slightly lower critical damage when multiple modifiers are involved. For instance, a 1.4 critical hit multiplier and a 1.2 headshot modifier used to yield a total modifier of 1.68, but it now equals 1 + 0.4 + 0.2 = 1.6.
Furthermore, your chance to land a critical hit increases by the weapon’s base critical hit chance for each non-critical hit that is triggered. This change means it takes longer to reach higher critical hit chances. These changes aim to enhance fairness and fun and provide additional balance for developers. Their impact on the meta, especially for the Void Gauntlet, heavily reliant on critical hits, remains uncertain.
Fortify & Rend:
AGS modified Fortify and Rend to directly scale the player’s Armor Rating, eliminating the maximum cap for both. These changes aim to accurately reflect their weight. In the previous system, damage calculations were based on factors like base mitigation and additional damage absorption. In the new system, Fortify scales the player’s total armor.
This change can significantly impact gameplay, as it may lead to more damage taken. A side effect affects the Invigorated Punishment perk, which now deals more damage due to the Orb of Protection’s buff. Maybe you need to use New World gold to improve your attributes to resist more damage.
Bruisers & Equip Load:
Changes to Equip Load passives replace bonuses for outgoing Crowd Control with penalties to CC duration. This change may shift Bruisers into a more support-oriented role, diverting from their current damage-dealing role.
OPR:
In Outpost Rush, individual score gains for capturing or contesting points have been increased. This change aims to reward risk-taking and increase point earners’ influence.
Closing Thoughts:
The upcoming Season 1 patch promises a significant shift in the game’s meta, which has seen minimal change since its launch. While many changes are welcomed, concerns about balancing persist. The adjustments to Grit and Greatsword require further evaluation, particularly related to heavy attack damage. The musket’s nerf affects its viability in the War meta but retains some usefulness in OPR and Arena. Critical hit changes add an additional layer of balance, while Fortify and Rend bring equip loads more in line with their intended purpose.
Overall, these changes are anticipated to rejuvenate the game for the next three months before Season 2.