Best Musket Builds for PVE and PVP (Update 1.2.1)

This is a guide on the best Musket builds in New World. Read on to see the recommended stats, skills, armor, and playstyle guides of the best and latest Musket builds for PVE and PVP as of Update 1.2.1!

Musket / Rapier PvP DPS Sniper Build

Build Purpose
PvP (Single Target Focused)
Strengths	Weaknesses
・Effective at every range ・High burst single-target DPS	・Requires good aim to be effective ・Lower damage against Undead type enemies ・No AoE attacks

Build Stats and Skills

Stat Priority	Dexterity
Strength	5
Dexterity	195
Intelligence	5
Focus	5
Constitution	5

Stats obtained through armor are not accounted for in this table.

1st Weapon	2nd Weapon
Musket	Rapier
Active Skills
Shooter's Stance Power Shot Stopping Power	Evade Riposte Fleche
Passive Skills
Critical Reload Called Shot Salt on the Wounds Initial Engagement Empowering Headshot Ballistic Advantage First Blood Lasting Impression Bullseye Called Shot Resupply Shoot More Tactical Reload Hit Your Mark Heightened Precision Marksman Sniper	Refreshing Strikes Desperation Breathe In Perfectionist Insult To Injury Red Curtains Allegro Quick Lunge Priority Adagio Swiftness Backside Lasting Consequence Crescendo Interruption Momentum

Best Perks and Equipment

Perks and Equipment Stats
Best Perks	Rally IV Vorpal Empowering Shooter's Stance Sundering Riposte Vicious
	Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)

Build Playstyle

This build focuses on using your Musket as your main DPS to fight your enemies from afar while using your Rapier as a close-range weapon to fend off enemies who manage to get close to you. Landing headshots is critical when using this build, as you'll lose a lot of DPS if you don't.

Go for headshots with the musket

Ideally, when participating in massive fights, you will want to shoot the enemies at the backline, especially healers, to prevent them from further casting their spells. Since the Sniper perk helps you aim from a longer distance, it will be safe for you to use Shooter's Stance.

During a 1-on-1 battle, you will want to cripple your enemy with a Power Shot to the head as they approach you. Use Stopping Power to delay their advances. Once they're close enough, switch to Rapiers to finish them off with their high burst damage.

Musket / Ice Gauntlet CC Build

Build Purpose
General (PvP and PvE)
Strengths	Weaknesses
・High burst DPS ・Good crowd-control options	・Requires good aim to be effective ・Weak at close-range fights

Build Stats and Skills

Stat Priority	Dexterity → Intelligence
Strength	5
Dexterity	150
Intelligence	50
Focus	5
Constitution	5

Stats obtained through armor are not accounted for in this table.

1st Weapon	2nd Weapon
Musket	Ice Gauntlet
Active Skills
Power Shot Stopping Power Sticky Bomb	Ice Storm Ice Shower Entombed
Passive Skills
Called Shot Back it Up Initial Engagement Empowering Headshot Empowering Weakness First Blood Lasting Impression Bullseye Called Shot Resupply Tactical Reload Unflinching Walk Heightened Precision Supplementary Repulsion Kick 'Em When They're Down Sticky Slow Lethal Combo	Cold Reach Critical Rejuvenation Quick Frost Energized Critical Gathering Storm Weakening Gust Enduring Shower Critical Frost Storm Summoner Quick Shower Refreshing Frost Strengthened Tomb Heavy Freeze Punishing Storm Frigid Showers Ultimate Chill

Best Perks and Equipment

Perks and Equipment Stats
Best Perks	Rally IV Cruel IV Vorpal Empowering Shooter's Stance Healing Tomb Vicious
	Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)

Build Playstyle

This build focuses on keeping your enemies away from you by having the Ice Gauntlet cast a ton of crowd control abilities while you try to shoot them from a safe distance.

Kite with your Musket and disable with Ice Gauntlet

Generally, you'd want to create some distance first between you and the enemy before you try and engage. Start by using Power Shot and aim directly at the head to maximize your DPS from utilizing Empowering Headshot. Keep hitting the enemy to get the most out of Heightened Precision before they get too close. Use Stopping Power to slow the enemy down, and if they get too close, immediately switch to your Ice Gauntlet. Cast Ice Storm between you and the enemy and make sure you're inside the frosted area as you gain bonuses from perks such as Refreshing Frost, Critical Frost, and Quick Frost.

Try to land as many shots as you can using your Musket while Ice Storm is active if they decide to wait for it to stop. Once your AoE is over, you will want to survive until Ice Storm is off cooldown. Use Ice Shower to keep your enemy away and Entombed if they manage to catch up with you.

If your enemy tries to go inside while Ice Storm is active, use your Heavy Normal Attack to proc Heavy Freeze. This will root them for a second, in which you can switch back to your Musket to throw a Sticky Bomb at your opponent before shooting them with Stopping Power, slowing them even more. This will proc Lethal Combo perk, increasing your damage as long as they're affected by status effects under the Trapper Skill Tree.

Since your opponent is always affected by CCs, Kick 'Em When They're Down is much easier to proc.

Musket / Fire Staff AoE Build

Build Purpose
PvE
Strengths	Weaknesses
・High burst damage ・Single target and AoE attacks	・Requires good aim to be effective ・Few close-range options

Build Stats and Skills

Stat Priority	Dexterity → Intelligence
Strength	5
Dexterity	150
Intelligence	50
Focus	5
Constitution	5

Stats obtained through armor are not accounted for in this table.

1st Weapon	2nd Weapon
Musket	Fire Staff
Active Skills
Power Shot Powder Burn Stopping Power	Fireball Incinerate Burn Out
Passive Skills
Called Shot Back it Up Empowering Headshot Initial Engagement First Blood Ballistic Advantage Backdraft Lasting Impression Called Shot Resupply Bullseye Chronic Trauma Energy Burst Heightened Precision Hit Your Mark Supplementary Repulsion Sniper	Fiery Restoration Pyromania Clear Mind Let it Burn Kindle Scorched Scorched Earth All In Cauterize Wounds Catch Flare Heat it Up! Combat Speed Trial by Fire Flame Out! Reheat

Best Perks and Equipment

Perks and Equipment Stats
Best Perks	Rally IV Efficient Burnout Empowering Fireball Fire Damage Vorpal Empowering Shooter's Stance
	Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)
	Weight: Light Stats: Assassin (Dexterity + Intelligence)

Build Playstyle

Since the Musket only has one Aoe Spell, it is usually hard fighting against multiple mobs. This build focuses on using Fire Staff's AoE to solve that problem.

Rely on the Fire Staff when Outnumbered

Before engaging, make sure to create some distance between you and your enemies. Use the Fireball spell from your Fire Staff and make sure to hit as many enemies as you can. Switch back to your Musket and shoot them with the Power Shot or Powder Burn applied, then kite them as much as you can. Make sure to always hit them right in the head to proc Empowering Headshot, giving you the Empowered Buff.

Apply Stopping Power to your shot to slow their advances. Keep firing until they're close to you, then switch back to your Fire Staff. Wait until they're in melee range or at least 3m away from you to cast Incinerate to keep them away. You can then use Burn Out as mobility to gain some distance from your enemies or use it as a DPS to finish them off.

Musket / Rapier Mobile Sniper Build

Build Purpose
PvP
Strengths	Weaknesses
・Both weapons scale off Dexterity ・Lots of mobility and defensive options ・Huge DPS	・Lacks AoE damage ・Difficult to learn and master

Build Stats and Skills

Stat Priority	Dexterity → Constitution
Strength	5
Dexterity	185
Intelligence	5
Focus	5
Constitution	15

Stats obtained through armor are not accounted for in this table.

1st Weapon	2nd Weapon
Musket	Rapier
Active Skills
Traps Powder Burn Shooter's Stance	Evade Riposte Fleche
Passive Skills
Called Shot Empowering Headshot Trapped Damage Backdraft Ballistic Advantage Hustle Chronic Trauma Called Shot Resupply Shoot More Scent of Blood Hit Your Mark Heightened Precision Marksman Double Trap Sniper	Refreshing Strikes Controlled Breathing Breathe In Perfectionist Insult To Injury Red Curtains Allegro Quick Lunge Priority Adagio Swiftness Backside Lasting Consequence Crescendo Interruption Momentum

Best Perks and Equipment

Perks and Equipment Stats
Best Perks	Accelerating Traps Crippling Powder Burn Empowering Shooter's Stance Cruel IV
	Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Type: None Stats: -
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)

Build Playstyle

This build focuses on having the Rapier as a support weapon to give you more mobility, effectively distancing yourself from your enemy. Make sure that you're positioned away from your opponent before a fight. This way, you won't get in trouble when using Shooter's Stance. Use Powder Burn as they approach you to slowly chip away their health.

Musket to land headshots as much as possible against your enemies. If an enemy has caught up with you, use Rapier's Fleche to distance yourself away from them or defend against them by using Riposte. If you managed to land the stun, you can switch back to your Musket and drop a trap that will root them, giving you a chance to headshot your opponent.

Positioning is required when using this build, as you need to consistently land headshots with the Musket. You will also need to learn when to use Riposte and Evade when an enemy does get close. One mistake, and you risk losing the fight, making this build hard to play and will require some degree of mastery.

Musket / Spear DPS Build

Build Purpose
PvP
Strengths	Weaknesses
・Both weapons scale off Dexterity ・Effective in mid and long range fights ・High DPS for both weapons	・Highly immobile ・Lacks AoE damage

Build Stats and Skills

Stat Priority	Dexterity → Constitution
Strength	5
Dexterity	145
Intelligence	5
Focus	5
Constitution	55

Stats obtained through armor are not accounted for in this table.

1st Weapon	2nd Weapon
Musket	Spear
Active Skills
Power Shot Traps Powder Burn	Sweep Cyclone Vault Kick
Passive Skills
Critical Reload Called Shot Salt on the Wounds Initial Engagement Empowering Headshot Weakened Defense Trapped Damage Backdraft First Blood Hustle Chronic Trauma Bullseye Called Shot Resupply Scent of Blood Heightened Precision Sniper	Deadly Consistency Refreshing Jabs Refreshing Reach Evasive Maneuvers Crippling Jabs Merciless Strength Tenacious Sweep Invigorating Combo Defensive Stance Coup De Grace Aggressive Maneuvers Relentless Blows Strong Momentum Strong Conditioning Continuous Motion Reserved Strength

Best Perks and Equipment

Perks and Equipment Stats
Best Perks	Exhilarate IV Bleeding Sweep Refreshing Power Shot Crippling Powder Burn
	Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Type: None Stats: -
	Weight: Medium Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Medium Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Light Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)
	Weight: Medium Stats: Ranger (Dexterity)

Build Playstyle

This build uses the spear to make up for the weakness of the Musket when fighting against opponents in close-range combat.

Since both weapons use the same attribute, they won't suffer from any DPS loss, making the spear an excellent choice to have with the Musket. If you're fighting someone in PvP, make sure to fight at a distance as much as possible. You want to chip away their health as they approach you, then finish them off with the spear. Make sure to prioritize landing headshots, as this is where all your damage and perk bonuses will be coming from.

The only main problem with this build is if you're fighting with more than one opponent. You will have a hard time as you don't have a lot of AoE options. Positioning will be the key to winning fights. If all things should fail, you still have the spear to fend off against your opponents.

New World Related Guides

Best PVE and PVP Builds

List of Role Builds

List of Role Builds
Best Tank Builds	Best Healer Builds	Best DPS Builds

Best Weapon Builds

Best PVE and PVP Weapon Builds
Sword & Shield	Rapier	Hatchet	Spear
Great Axe	War Hammer	Bow	Musket
Fire Staff	Life Staff	Ice Gauntlet	Void Gauntlet