As New World Aeternum continues to evolve through 2025, players are relentlessly chasing the perfect build to dominate both PvE and PvP content. The launch of Season 9 has once again reshaped the combat landscape with new artifacts, weapon tweaks, and a fresh meta affecting DPS, healer, and tank roles alike.

This Season 9 Build Tier List breaks down the best weapon combos and builds you need to know for excelling in PvE expeditions, large-scale wars, Outpost Rush, and intense arena battles — reflecting the latest patches and the pulse of the community's rankings.

What's New in Season 9?

Season 9 introduces exciting content and balancing changes that impact every role:

· New PvP mode: Capture the Flag, offering fresh strategic objectives.

· New maps: Updated Outpost Rush and a dedicated arena map.

· Combat adjustments: Reduced haste effects, higher gear score drops (non-Apex crates now drop 720–725 GS gear), and artifact reworks.

· Key new artifacts:

  · Hammer of Yeet: Massive knockback effects.

  · Crescent's Wave Greatsword: Ranged heavy attacks with notable damage.

  · Plague Herald Helm: Disease stacking and damaging clouds.

Together, these updates have influenced build viability, requiring players to rethink their strategies and gear loadouts.

Season 9 Best DPS Builds (Weapon Combos)

DPS roles have adapted to weapon balancing, artifact power, and the demands of new PvP modes. Here are the top combos dominating the meta:

1. Fire Staff + Ice Gauntlet

This remains the top DPS combo due to its sustained ranged damage, crowd control, and survivability. Though Fire Staff took nerfs on damage-over-time and cooldowns, pairing it with Ice Gauntlet's control and defensive tools keeps this build dominant across Outpost Rush, wars, and arenas. Mana management is manageable with potions, making it reliable for extended fights.

2. Great Axe + Blunderbuss

Favored by players who excel in close-quarters skirmishes, this combo balances crowd control and burst damage. Great Axe's chase and crowd control abilities lock down foes, while Blunderbuss delivers explosive damage and mobility. The Pestilence artifact's healing reduction synergizes well against healer-heavy teams. Typically built with high constitution and some intelligence/dexterity for damage over time.

3. Sword & Shield + Great Axe

A go-to for kill squads and coordinated group fights. Sword & Shield provides durability and crowd control, while Great Axe ensures no enemy escapes. The combo excels in wars and Outpost Rush with effective crowd control and chase.

4. Fire Staff + Rapier

Popular in competitive arenas, this pairing offers burst damage and quick repositioning. Vulnerable to focus fire but excels in high mobility scenarios like arenas and Outpost Rush.

5. Bow + Hatchet

While Bow is less dominant than Fire Staff, its ranged pressure combined with Hatchet's self-sustain and escape tools makes it a solid pick for open-world PvP and certain competitive modes.

Honorable Mentions:

· Great Sword + Hatchet: The new Crescent's Wave artifact enhances Great Sword with ranged heavy attacks, potentially making this combo a sleeper meta pick.

· Rapier + Bow: Offers agility and tactical kiting, useful in modes favoring hit-and-run tactics.

Season 9 Best Healer Builds (Weapon Combos)

Healing remains critical in both PvE raids and PvP battles, with slight shifts but core builds holding steady:

1. Life Staff + Void Gauntlet

The undisputed top healing combo in Season 9. It excels in group healing, utility, and survivability. Life Staff's abilities like Sacred Ground and Beacon provide solid healing, while Void Gauntlet offers pressure, buffs/debuffs, and hybrid healing/damage. PvE healers benefit from full focus stats, while PvP healers add constitution for survival. Artifacts like Featherweight and Lifetaker complement this build perfectly.

2. Life Staff + Rapier

Trades some utility for superior mobility, allowing healers to reposition quickly in fights. Highly valuable in arenas and skirmishes where staying alive matters.

3. Life Staff + Hatchet

Provides self-sustain and defensive options, essential in open-world PvP and large battles. Berserk offers mobility and safety for healers under pressure.

4. Life Staff + Ice Gauntlet

A niche build focused on fort defense and choke point control, combining crowd control with steady healing output.

Season 9 Best Tank Builds (Weapon Combos)

Tanks must balance toughness, control, and utility. These builds shine post-patch:

1. Sword & Shield + Ice Gauntlet

A classic tank combo dominating wars and fort defense. Sword & Shield provides core tanking skills and mitigation, while Ice Gauntlet's Ice Shower is key for area denial and crowd control.

2. Sword & Shield + Great Sword

New Crescent's Wave artifact adds ranged zoning to the tank's toolkit. This combo blends frontline durability with offensive threat from afar, making it increasingly popular.

3. Sword & Shield + Spear

Offers crowd control and anti-healing, critical for disrupting enemy healers and controlling fights. Favored in coordinated group play.

4. Sword & Shield + Flail

Buffs to flail healing make this a versatile tank/off-support hybrid, offering utility and survivability in large-scale engagements.

5. Great Axe + Warhammer

A bruiser tank option delivering heavy crowd control and objective pressure. Warhammer's stuns and knockdowns synergize with Great Axe's chase mechanics, effective in wars and Outpost Rush.

Final Thoughts

Season 9 of New World Aeternum offers dynamic and evolving combat options. Whether you prefer to dish out damage, keep your team alive, or soak up enemy aggression, this tier list provides a solid foundation for crafting powerful builds. Experiment with the new artifacts and weapon combos introduced this season, adapt to shifting metas, and you'll be primed to dominate Aeternum's battlefields.

For more guides and the latest updates on New World Aeternum, visit Eld.gg — and grab your New World gold coins while you’re there!