This is a guide on the damage types and effects in New World. Read on to learn New World's damage mechanics, differences between the damage types, effects and ailments, and more!
List of Contents
- New World's Damage Mechanics
- Physical Damage Types
- Slash
- Strike
- Thrust
- Elemental Damage Types
- Fire
- Ice
- Nature
- Arcane
- Lightning
- Void
- New World Related Guides
New World's Damage Mechanics
Damage Mechanics Explained
In the above image, the sword has the default Slash as its physical damage type. It also has a Lightning elemental damage type due to its Chain Lightning perk.
New World's damage mechanics consists of two damage types: Physical Damage and Elemental Damage. Hovering over your weapon in the Inventory lets you see its Physical Damage Type, as well as any perk that adds an additional Elemental Damage Type.
Some weapons allow you to use a secondary physical damage type. For example, Swords have a Slash damage type when using its light attack. However, its heavy attack is a Thrust damage type.
Certain Weapon Skills also allow you to change a weapon's damage type when activating an abillity.
Critical Hit Chance and Damage Modifier
All weapons in New World have a Critical Hit Chance and Critical Damage Modifier.
Critical Hit Chance determines the chance of landing a critical hit to an enemy while Critical Damage Modifier determines the extra damage dealt when doing so.
You can increase these two stats using perks or adding points to a certain attribute.
Backstabs and Headshots
Landing a critical hit causes the floating damage counter to appear with an orange color.
Backstabbing or hitting an enemy in the head is a guaranteed critical hit.
Backstab works by hitting an unsuspecting enemy from behind. This works best against stationary enemies such as the Corrupted in abandoned farmlands or the Lost sailors in shipwrecks.
Headshots work by aiming at an enemy's head using a ranged weapon such as the Bow or Musket.
Take advantage of these maneuvers when facing PvE and PVP enemies.
Resistances and Weaknesses
| Resistant | Neutral | Effective |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
When dealing damage to an enemy, a floating damage counter number appears briefly showing your damage output. The color will vary depending on the enemy's resistance and weakness.
Resistant damage values are displayed with a blue color along with double arrows pointing downwards (⯯). This indicates that the physical or elemental damage is ineffective against the enemy.
Neutral damage values are displayed with a white color and a physical or elemental damage type icon used to attack the enemy. This means that the damage type is neither weak nor resistant against the enemy.
Effective damage values are displayed with a yellow color with double arrows pointing upwards (⯭). This means that the physical or elemental damage is effective against the enemy.
Enemy Type Resistances and Weaknesses Chart
Every enemy type in the game is weak or resistant against certain damage types. Knowing these will help you defeat enemies easier and create effective DPS builds.
See the chart below to learn each of the enemy type's resistances and weaknesses.
| Enemy Type | Resistant | Neutral | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient | ・Slash ・Fire | ・Thrust ・Ice ・Nature ・Arcane | ・Strike ・Lightning ・Void |
| Angry Earth | ・Thrust ・Lightning | ・Strike ・Ice ・Nature ・Void ・Arcane | ・Slash ・Fire |
| Beast | ・None | ・Slash ・Strike ・Fire ・Ice ・Lightning ・Nature ・Void ・Arcane | ・Thurst |
| Corrupted | ・Thrust ・Ice | ・Slash ・Fire ・Lightning ・Void | ・Strike ・Nature ・Arcane |
| Lost | ・Thrust ・Void | ・Slash ・Fire ・ Lightning ・Arcane | ・Strike ・Ice ・Nature |
Physical Damage Types
Slash
| Effective Against: | ・Angry Earth |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Beast ・Corrupted ・Lost |
| Weak Against: | ・Ancient |
Slash is the primary physical damage type of Swords, Hatchets, and Great Axes.
Strike
| Effective Against: | ・Ancient ・Corrupted ・ Lost |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Angry Earth ・Beast |
| Weak Against: | ・None |
Strike is the primary physical damage type of War Hammers.
Thrust
| Effective Against: | ・Beast |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Ancient |
| Weak Against: | ・Angry Earth ・Corrupted ・Lost |
Thrust is the primary physical damage type of Spears, Muskets, Bows, and Rapiers. Swords can also inflict thrust damage when using its heavy attack.
Elemental Damage Types
Fire
| Effective Against: | ・Angry Earth |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Beast ・Corrupted ・Lost |
| Weak Against: | ・Ancient |
Fire is the primary elemental damage type of Fire Staves. You can also equip a gemstone on a weapon to add a secondary fire elemental damage.
Perks that add a Fire Damage Type
| Ignited III | Ignited IV | Ignited II |
| Ignited I |
Ice
| Effective Against: | ・Lost |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Ancient ・Angry Earth ・Beast |
| Weak Against: | ・Corrupted |
Ice is the primary elemental damage type of Ice Gauntlets. You can also equip a gemstone on a weapon to add a secondary ice elemental damage.
Perks that add an Ice Damage Type
| Frozen IV | Frozen III | Frozen II |
| Frozen I |
Nature
| Effective Against: | ・Lost |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Ancient ・Angry Earth ・Beast |
| Weak Against: | ・None |
Nature is the primary elemental damage type of Life Staves. You can also equip a gemstone on a weapon to add a secondary nature elemental damage.
Perks that add a Nature Damage Type
| Arboreal I | Arboreal IV | Arboreal III |
| Arboreal II |
Arcane
| Effective Against: | ・Corrupted |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Ancient ・Angry Earth ・Beast ・ Lost |
| Weak Against: | ・None |
Arcane is a secondary elemental damage type that you can equip as a perk on a weapon. Certain weapons such as the Faeforged Musket has this as its primary damage type.
Perks that add an Arcane Damage Type
| Empowered IV | Empowered III | Empowered II |
| Empowered I |
Lightning
| Effective Against: | ・Ancient |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Beast ・Corrupted ・Lost |
| Weak Against: | ・Angry Earth |
Lightning is a secondary elemental damage type that you can equip as a perk on a weapon.
Perks that add a Lightning Damage Type
| Electrified II | Electrified IV | Electrified III |
| Electrified I |
Void
| Effective Against: | ・Ancient |
|---|---|
| Neutral Against: | ・Angry Earth ・Beast Corrupted |
| Weak Against: | ・Lost |
Void is a secondary elemental damage type that you can equip as a perk on a weapon. Certain weapons such as the Longsight has this as its primary damage type.
Perks that add a Void Damage Type
| Abyssal I | Abyssal IV | Abyssal III |
| Abyssal II |
New World Related Guides
Tips and Tricks: Beginner's Guide to New World
| Tier Lists | |
|---|---|
| Best Weapon Combos | Best Starter Weapons |
| Game Mechanics | |
| How to Set Up and Upgrade Camps | Factions Guide |
| Fast Travel Guide | Repair Guide |
| How to Play with Friends | Gem Sockets Guide |
| How to Cleanse Portals | Azoth Staff Guide |
| Crafting Guide | How to Gain Territory Standing |
| Respec Guide | Stats Guide |
| Leveling Rewards | AFK Timer Guide |
| How to Sell Items | How to Enable PvP |
| How to Create and Join a Faction Company | New World Keybinds |
| How to Split Item Stacks | Housing System |
 List of Damage Types and Effects | Outpost Rush Guide |
| Guides | |
| Character Creation Guide | Leveling Guide |
| Controller Support | How to Get Azoth |
| How to Track Resources | List of Marauder Gear and Resources |
| List of Syndicate Gear and Resources | List of Covenant Gear and Resources |
| Trading Post Guide | How to Farm Faction Tokens |
| Money Making Guide | List of Legendary Weapons |
| Timeless Shards Guide | Gypsum Guide |
| Trade Skill Aptitude System | FAQs |
| What Happens When You Die? | What to Do With Old Gear |
| How to Use Voice Chat | |
