New World Aeternum S10 Nighthaven Weapon Tier List

If you've been grinding Aeternum since the launch days, you've seen weapons rise and fall with the tides of patches. Remember when certain picks ruled because they bent scaling rules in their favor?

Season 10: Nighthaven flips that script entirely. Every weapon now rocks dual attribute scaling, opening doors to wild hybrid experiments that make old-school metas feel like ancient history. Attribute caps have tightened too—think 500 to 530 points max, forcing smarter spreads across strength, dexterity, intelligence, and focus. The result? No more cookie-cutter builds; it's all about tailoring your kit to your playstyle, whether you're a frontline brawler or a sneaky caster. This shift breathes fresh life into PvP skirmishes and PvE grinds alike, letting you mix melee burst with ranged poke or tanky sustain with magical flair.

As you dive deeper into these changes, why not bookmark MMOJUGG for all your Aeternum insights? And if you're gearing up fast, swing by our New World Aeternum shop to snag Gold Coins, Trophies, Matrix, and more—perfect for those quick upgrades without the endless farm.

Let's break it down weapon by weapon, ranking them loosely by versatility and impact in the new meta (S-tier for game-changers, down to A for solid performers). We'll cover scalings, key abilities, ideal pairings, and why they shine now. 

S-Tier: The Meta-Defining Powerhouses

These weapons lead the pack thanks to their seamless hybrid potential, turning solo adventurers into group saviors or duel dominators.

Sword and Shield – The Unyielding Guardian

Scaling with strength and dexterity, this classic frontline staple gets a massive glow-up in Nighthaven. No longer chained to pure strength bruisers, you can dip into dex for fluid swaps to agile secondaries like the spear or bow. It's your go-to for space control: block incoming chaos, shield-bash to stun rushers, and leap in with strikes to close gaps. That combo of lockdown and durability makes it essential for holding objectives in Wars or peeling healers in expeditions.

Pair it with the Warhammer for a strength-focused duo where hammer stuns feed into sword lockdowns—devastating for flattening enemy lines. In PvE, it's a tank's dream, soaking hits while your team unloads. The hybrid scaling means you can tweak for more crits or sustain without gutting your defenses, making it feel rewarding for patient players who love outlasting the storm.

Rapier – The Elusive Duelist

Dexterity and intelligence scaling cements the Rapier as a slippery assassin's delight, perfect for caster hybrids who hate getting pinned. Its precision thrusts and evasive dashes punish overcommits, with Riposte flipping enemy aggression back on them for clutch reversals. In the old meta, it was niche for 1v1s; now, group viability soars as you weave through zergs, bursting squishies before vanishing.

Try it with the Fire Staff for int-scaling magic bursts up close, or stick to dex with Musket for a hit-and-run sniper setup. The mobility lets you chase stragglers or escape ganks, and Nighthaven's attribute tweaks amplify its burst without sacrificing evasion. If you're the type who thrives on mind games and perfect parries, this is your blade—agile, unforgiving, and endlessly replayable.

Void Gauntlet – The Debuff Dynamo

Intelligence and focus make this the ultimate support-DPS hybrid, blending curses, heals, and raw void energy. Abilities like Essence Rupture weaken foes while your Void Blade carves them up, and Oblivion's tether pulls groups into kill zones. It's a group-play wizard, amplifying allies by sapping enemies' strength—think reduced heals on healers or slowed tanks in raids.

Link it to the Life Staff for a sustain machine that keeps your squad immortal, or Fire Staff for aggressive mage duos with built-in recovery. Nighthaven's point spreads reduce the pain of balancing int and focus, letting you lean offensive or defensive as needed. For players who enjoy puppet-mastering fights from the shadows, it's pure satisfaction—versatile enough for solo PvE farming too.

A-Tier: Versatile All-Stars

These picks excel in multiple roles, thriving in the dual-scaling era with smart synergies.

Hatchet – The Frenzied Pursuer

Strength and dexterity scaling turns the Hatchet into a sticky nightmare for backliners. Berserk's attack speed, lifesteal, and forward dash create unstoppable pressure, while Feral Rush lets you cling to fleeing targets like glue. That Defy Death passive? It's your "not today" button, granting seconds of immunity at zero health for desperate plays.

Combo with Great Axe for a bruiser loadout that chases and cleaves, or Bow for dex-based skirmishes where you harass from afar before diving in. The hybrid flexibility shines in solo open-world hunts, where you can spec for speed or raw power. Nighthaven rewards aggressive souls here—if chasing down a healer mid-fight gets your blood pumping, grab this and never look back.

Spear – The Precision Controller

With dexterity primary and strength secondary, the Spear masters duels and peels alike. Vault Kick opens with stuns, Sweep chains into knockdowns, and its bleed DoTs keep pressure relentless. The reach is killer for snagging healers or disrupting casters, making it a chase artist's best friend.

Run it pure dex with Bow for hunter kiting, or hybrid with Great Sword for bruiser CC chains. Attribute bonuses now let you fine-tune for more reach or fortify, enhancing its role in everything from Arenas to mutations. It's rewarding for tactical minds who love turning enemy momentum against them—methodical, yet brutally effective.

Great Sword – The Stance-Shifting Beast

Equal strength and dexterity scaling unlocks the Great Sword's full potential as a versatility king. Swap stances for offensive onslaughts (relentless heavies for burst) or defensive guards (sustain through sieges). Mobility from rushes and hard-hitting waves make it a group-fight monster, CC-locking before unloading.

Pair with Spear for stun-burst combos or Hatchet for hyper-aggression. Nighthaven's system lets you spread points to max stance synergies, squeezing extra damage from hybrids. If you crave a weapon that adapts to your mood—tank one minute, DPS the next—this is it, feeling like a fresh take on melee mastery.

Flail – The Disruptive Hybrid (New Kid on the Block)

Strength primary with focus secondary, the Flail blends frontline damage, CC, and light heals/buffs for support-bruiser vibes. Smite disrupts CDs, Vortex pulls and heals, offering creative utility without full commitment to healing.

Team it with Life Staff for paladin-style fortify chains or Warhammer for stun overloads. Dual scaling eases splitting points for damage and utility, making it ideal for players dipping into team play without ditching the melee rush. As Nighthaven's fresh face, it's exciting for experimenters—disruptive, sustaining, and full of combo potential.

B-Tier: Specialized Threats

Strong in niches, these demand precise play to outshine the top tiers.

Great Axe – The Clump Crusher

Primarily strength (with dex hybrid viability), it's the bruiser eternal. Reap pulls foes in, Charge closes fast, and Whirlwind/Maelstrom AoEs shred groups. It's built for zergs, yanking enemies into kill boxes.

Stick with Warhammer for the ultimate strength duo, or mix Hatchet for pressure. Nighthaven keeps its tankiness intact while adding hybrid wiggle room—perfect for PvP pushes, less so for solos.

Warhammer – The Shockwave Enforcer

Pure strength scaling, but Nighthaven's tweaks make it a tank contender too. Shockwaves stun, Path of Destiny flattens pushes—pure CC gold for objectives.

Pair Sword and Shield for tanking or Great Axe for frontline dominance. Survivability gains without damage loss elevate it in groups, though mobility lags.

Bow – The Ranged Shredder

Dexterity primary (strength secondary for bruisers), it's kiting perfection. Explosive Arrows pressure, Poison/Penetrating shots melt tanks from afar.

With Spear for dex hunters or Hatchet for skirmishes. Strength scaling fits it into melee kits now—sustained DPS heaven for distance lovers.

Musket – The Sniper's Edge

Dexterity and intelligence keep it lethal for headshot fans. Sticky Bombs utility, Stopping Power slows—punish from range, no AoE needed.

Rapier for survival or Bow for pure ranged. Less unique now, but consistent aim makes it terrifying.

Blunderbuss – The Chaotic Blaster

Strength and intelligence scaling bridges bruiser and caster worlds. Shotgun bursts and Mortar AoEs ambush squishies with explosive flair.

Great Axe for melee or Ice Gauntlet for magic chaos. Nighthaven unlocks mage hybrids, boosting its ambush game.

C-Tier: Niche Casters and Healers

Reliable supports, but shine brightest in teams.

Fire Staff – The Inferno Rainmaker

Intelligence scaling (strong hybrid bonus) for raw DPS. Pillar, Fireball, Meteor Shower burn groups—pure casting joy.

Rapier for melee or Ice Gauntlet classic. New pairings like Musket open experiments; a winner for AoE fans.

Ice Gauntlet – The Zoning Sovereign

Intelligence (with tanky mage durability) controls space. Ice Storm entangles, Entropic Shard defends—objective lockdown pro.

Fire Staff for DPS/CC or Blunderbuss chaos. Versatility as denial or backbone makes it a control staple.

Life Staff – The Team Lifeline

Focus and intelligence buff heals hybrid supports. Sacred Ground amps, Orbs protect—mandatory for groups.

Void Gauntlet for utility or Fire Staff hybrids. Opens small-scale PvP styles; still OP for sustain.

FAQs on New World Aeternum Season 10 Weapons

Do all weapons really have dual scaling now?

Yes, Nighthaven introduces dual attributes for every weapon, though some lean heavily primary (like Great Axe on strength). This promotes hybrids without full respecs.

How do the attribute cap changes affect builds?

Caps drop to 500-530, emphasizing meaningful choices over maxing one stat. Hybrids feel balanced, reducing diminishing returns for spread points.

What's the best starter weapon for new players?

Sword and Shield—easy to learn blocking/CC, scales well into hybrids, and fits most roles without overwhelming complexity.

Are there new weapons in Season 10?

The Flail debuts as a strength/focus hybrid for bruiser-support, but Daggers are delayed. Focus on mastering existing kits first.

How do these changes impact PvP vs. PvE?

PvP gains from mobility/CC hybrids (e.g., Rapier duels), while PvE loves sustain/AoE (e.g., Fire Staff clears). Both benefit from versatile pairings.

Thanks for Reading

Stay sharp, adventurer. Whether you're theorycrafting wand builds or chasing hybrid burst combos, let MMOJUGG be your tactical outpost—bringing you the latest weapon tiers, scaling breakdowns, and build tweaks to keep your edge lethal and your loadout future-proof.