Last updated on Oct 14, 2024 at 12:30by Savvvo4 comments
General Information
Welcome to our guide for Flail, a weapon inNew World. Within these pages, you will find everything required tounderstand how best to play with this weapon in both PvE and PvP.
1.
Flail Overview
The Flail is an impactful support weapon that comes with potent group buffingcapabilities, as well as, devestating crowd-control and debuffs to help take down enemies..
2.
Flail Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Incredible group support through buffs, healing, and crowd control
- Acts as a secondary healing weapon
- Versatile and can fit into many builds
- Fantastic disruption weapon because of staggers and knockdowns
Weaknesses
- Low damage output
- Lacks quick, consistent mobility
- Lacks ability diversity in META content
3.
Flail Builds
No matter what build the Flail is in, it will be a support weapon. It will be primarily used forits secondary support build that offers the most group synergy, but it can be interestingly usedas an option for a healer-damage hybrid in PvE.
For more builds, beyond the two builds we present below, please refer to our PvE and PvP build pages:
Flail PvP BuildsFlail PvE Builds
3.1.
Void Gauntlet Support
3.2.
Life Staff PvP Secondary
3.4.
Void Gauntlet
Void Gauntlet offers healing over time and burst healing through Orb of Decay. It allows you to rootenemies in place with Petrifying Scream for defensive utility and to set up kills for teammates. You can also use Oblivionto increase damage output, stamina and mana regeneration, and remove enemy buffs.
3.5.
Sword and Shield
Sword and Shield synergize well with the flail as it also has the opportunity for 3 additionalperks that can be provided from wearing a shield. Both of these weapons have potent support buffs, gap closers, and crowd-control lockdown potential..
3.6.
Spear
Spear offers a second weapon that can be used to disrupt enemies. When paired with theFlail, this combination will provide a devestating mix of crowd-control abilities.
3.7.
Other Weapons
The Flail is a support tool that can have viability when flexed into just about any weapon. It may not directly scale with theprimary weapon that is selected, but you may use a support Flail build to still have effectiveness in combat.
4.
Flail Attributes
Your attribute distribution will heavily rely on the build and playstyle you have selected. For clarity on attributes, please referenceour PvP and PvE build sections.
Flail PvP BuildsFlail PvE Builds
5.
Important Perks
This section restricts itself to the important perks of Flail. For acomplete rundown, please read our dedicated guide:
Flail Perks
5.1.
Weapon Perks
5.1.1.
Healer
- Blessed — This perk is NECESSARY for healing. It is one ofthe only weapon perks that improves healing output.
- Mending Vortex — This perk provides incredible PvP survivabilitywhen using the Flail as a healer.
- Keen Speed
5.1.2.
Damage Support
A damage Flail becomes much more flexible and you can play to your preferences. Itis just paramount to have Refreshing Move within your build. It may also justbe best to use the Artifact - Odo.
5.2.
PvP Perks
- Enchanted Ward
- Refreshing
- Shirking Heals
- Shirking Fortification
- Health
- Conditioning Perks — Use Thrust Conditioning or Slash Conditioningacross multiple pieces to counter damage from major sources of player damage.
- Freedom
5.3.
PvE Perks
- Health
- Refreshing
- Conditioning Perks — These can be used to counter expedition specificelemental damage.
- Harnessing Perks
5.4.
Jewelry Perks
5.4.1.
Amulet
- Health — This is the standard pick for all builds, it is freehealth that will add to the defensiveness of your kit.
- Stamina Recovery — This is a backpocket save when beingfocused and taking heavy damage. You will receive a burst of stamina that willallow you to potentially get a quick dodge that can save your life and continuethe fight.
- Thrust Protection — This acts as a third perk option thatprovides more defensiveness against Bows, Muskets,Blunderbusses, Spears, and Rapiers.
- Slash Protection — This acts as a third perk slot thatprovides more defensiveness against Greatswords,Great Axes, Hatchets, andSwords.
5.4.2.
Ring
- Sacred — This perk functions similarly to Blessed. Itis one of the only ring perks that will result in a healing output increase.This should be the main perk you are searching for on a ring. ONLY USE IF YOUARE A HEALER
- Hearty — This provides an increase to your stamina cap by10%, which is just enough to allow you to dodge twice while in light armorwithout draining your entire stamina bar. It significantly improves yourmobility, making it a high priority in light armor, but it is not needed inmedium or heavy loadouts.
- Purifying
- Invigorated Punishment
- Arcane Damage
- Strike Damage
5.4.3.
Earring
6.
Artifacts
6.1.
Weapon
6.2.
Armor
6.3.
Jewelry
7.
Flail Heartrunes
7.1.
Stoneform
Minor Heartrune of Stoneform is the most defensive and useful option ahealer has. It allows you to freely break out of crowd control effects, becomeimmune to stagger, and obtain defensive buffs. There are three viable upgradeoptions:
Stalwart Heartrune of Stoneform is the best pick as it notonly gives a 10% Fortify, but a healing over time effect as well.
7.2.
Grasping Vines
Minor Heartrune of Grasping Vines is the best option for non-healer supportbuilds that are trying to emphasize their presence in a fight with crowd-control.
There are three viable upgrade options:
- Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines
- Stalwart Heartrune of Grasping Vines
- Cunning Heartrune of Grasping Vines
Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines is the best pick to make sure that enemies caughtin the rooting effect are vulnerable to high damage bursts.
When using other weapons, or if you are seeking more damage, Minor Heartrune of Detonate can be used.
There are two viable upgrade options:
Brutal Heartrune of Detonate makes you more vulnerable, but will result in a massiveAoE burst of damage. This is best in more defensive builds or for light armor buildswhere you play with more risk.
8.
Gems and Consumables
8.1.
Gems
For more detailed information on how to properly use Gems in your Flailbuild, please refer to the our Flail Gems guide.
8.1.1.
Weapon Gems
It is best to use a Runeglass variant of a Cut Pristine Diamond. This will allow for a mixtureof increased damage and healing all while also applying damage over time effects.
8.1.2.
PvP Gems
In PvP it is most effective to have an even resistance split, and then dedicate additional defensiveness to Thrust or Slash through an amulet perklike Thrust Protection or Slash Protection.
- Cut Pristine Onyx x4 & Cut Pristine Opal x4
8.1.3.
PvE Gems
In PvE combat, more specifically mutators, elemental resistance is the main concern. You can use the following gems in your gear:
- Elemental Resistance Gem x8 (Based on mutator elemental effect) + Amulet Protection Perk (Based on mutator elemental effect)
8.2.
Consumables
For more information on how to manage your cooldown hotbar, what consumablesto use, what foods should be eaten, or tips on how to be more effective withyour consumables in PvP and PvE, please refer to our Flail Consumablesguide.
9.
Flail Rotation and Gameplay
Your rotation will change dependent on the build you are playing. For more specific rotations pleaserefer to our PvP Builds and PvE Builds:
Flail PvP BuildsFlail PvE Builds
For more information, about Flail abilities, we have a dedicated guidethat goes through every single ability in great detail:
Flail Abilities
10.
Changelog
- 14 Oct. 2024 (perks page): Guide updated for expansion.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (PvP builds page): Guide added.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (PvE builds page): Guide added.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (gems page): Guide added.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (perks page): Guide added.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (abilities page): Guide added.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (this page): Guide added.
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