New World Aeternum Destroyer Archetype

The Destroyer archetype in New World: Aeternum is a melee-focused bruiser designed for players who want to deal heavy damage and dominate the frontlines in both PvE and PvP. While the Soldier archetype emphasizes tanking and absorbing damage, the Destroyer takes a more aggressive approach, wielding powerful weapons like the Great Axe and Warhammer to crush enemies with devastating blows. However, while it excels in group play, the Destroyer can face challenges in solo content due to its limited self-sustain capabilities.

The Destroyer begins the game with a Great Axe and Warhammer, both of which are strength-based weapons that excel in melee combat. This combination focuses on AoE damage, crowd control, and disrupting enemy formations. The downside, however, is that the Destroyer's starting abilities offer little in terms of healing or survivability, making solo gameplay a bit more challenging until certain weapon masteries are unlocked.

In group content, the Destroyer shines, especially in large-scale battles like Expeditions and Wars. Its abilities allow it to deal heavy AoE damage, control the battlefield, and assist in securing kills. In PvP, the Destroyer can be a disruptive force, using its high burst damage and crowd control to turn the tide of battle.

The Great Axe is the heart of the Destroyer's damage potential, and several key abilities are essential to making the most of this weapon:

Maelstrom: A spinning AoE attack that pulls enemies closer, setting them up for follow-up attacks.

Reap: Pulls enemies towards you, dealing damage and healing for a portion of the damage done.

Gravity Well: One of the game's most powerful crowd control abilities, it creates a vortex that pulls enemies into a single point, allowing for massive AoE damage and setting up team combos.

In PvP, these abilities allow the Destroyer to control the battlefield, grouping up enemies for lethal strikes from either the Destroyer itself or teammates. Charge, another Great Axe ability, is invaluable for both initiating and escaping combat situations, particularly useful in PvP when mobility is key.

When it comes to the Warhammer, the focus shifts to more crowd control and disruption. Key abilities include:

Shockwave: An AoE stun that staggers enemies and applies a debuff that weakens their attacks.

Wrecking Ball: This tool knocks enemies down and fortifies the user, making it great for staying in the fight longer.

Armor Breaker: Deals high single-target damage and applies a Rend effect, making enemies take more damage.

The Warhammer's abilities make it a versatile tool in both PvE and PvP. In Expeditions, it's useful for dealing with large groups of enemies, while in PvP it can stun and disrupt opponents, preventing them from escaping or retaliating effectively.

The Destroyer benefits most from investing in Strength and Constitution. Strength is the primary attribute for both the Great Axe and Warhammer, directly increasing damage output. On the other hand, the Constitution is critical for boosting health and survivability, especially since the Destroyer is a frontline fighter who often absorbs damage.

Maintaining a 50:50 ratio between Strength and Constitution is a good rule of thumb. For example, if you have 100 points in Strength, aim for around 50 points in Constitution. This balance ensures you can deal significant damage while also staying alive in extended combat.

In PvE, this build allows the Destroyer to be a reliable damage dealer and battlefield disruptor. In PvP, the combination of crowd control from the Warhammer and the AoE damage from the Great Axe makes the Destroyer a formidable force in any large-scale battle.

The Destroyer's crafting bonuses are centered around

Armoring, Skinning, and Leatherworking

. While these bonuses aren't as directly impactful for combat as the Soldier's Weapon Smithing bonuses, they do provide some utility for crafting armor and gathering resources.

Armoring: Allows light and medium armor crafting, though most Destroyer players will focus on medium or heavy armor to maximize their survivability on the frontlines.

Skinning and Leatherworking: These are useful for gathering and refining hides into leather, but since these skills are easy to level up naturally, the bonus isn't as game-changing as it might seem. Nonetheless, it's a good starting point for crafting materials early in the game.

Although the Great Axe and Warhammer complement each other well and form a strong core for the Destroyer build, there are alternatives for players who want to experiment with different playstyles:

Great Sword: Offers higher base damage and faster attacks, making it a viable swap for either the Great Axe or Warhammer. This can give the Destroyer more flexibility in delivering single-target damage or burst damage in PvP.

Hatchet: For solo players, swapping the Warhammer for a Hatchet can increase survivability. The Hatchet's Berserk ability provides self-healing, increased movement speed, and crowd control immunity, making it a great tool for surviving tough encounters in the open world.

The Destroyer archetype is built for players who enjoy high-damage, close-quarters combat and don't mind being on the frontlines, whether in PvE expeditions or large-scale PvP battles. Its combination of AoE damage and crowd control abilities make it an essential part of any group composition. However, solo players may find it more difficult to thrive early on due to limited self-sustain options.

With the right gear, attributes, and weapon mastery, the Destroyer can become an unstoppable force, crushing enemies with overwhelming power while maintaining control of the battlefield. Whether you're playing solo or in a group, mastering the Great Axe and Warhammer will allow you to unleash the full potential of the Destroyer in New World: Aeternum.