If you’ve taken a break from New World: Aeternum, there’s a good chance you may have missed one of several major PvE updates that have come to the game over the last few years. These updates are much more than just gear changes though – they’re completely new challenges that have been added to the game, and are considered some of the most difficult content in all of New World: Aeternum.
To catch you up, below is a list of some of the most difficult PvE content within the game (so far), as well as a link to an in-depth guide for each to learn more about how you can take down these challenges.
The Sandwurm (20-Man Raid)
One of the most difficult PvE challenges in the game is taking down Shah Neshen (also known as the sandwurm). This is a 20-man raid that requires a great detail of strategy, timing, and unique build composition across the full raid.
A very low percentage of players have been able to success in this raid, and last year they actually made it even more difficult with a revamped set of rewards if you come out victorious. These rewards include some very unique pieces of gear that’s considered best-in-slot, including the Sandlion Tarsus (which are heavy boots with the Keen Speed perk), and the Dune Tagma (which is a medium chest with Keen on it). Both of these perks are limited to weapons only, except for this situation, making them even more sought after.
To learn more about how to take down the sandwurm, check out our Sandwurm Elite Trial Guide.
The Hive of Gorgons (10-Man Raid)
One of the more recent raids introduced to the game is the Hive of Gorgons. This raid requires 10 players to join together to take down three unique bosses, each with unique battle mechanics and weaknesses. Although this raid is considered to be not as difficult at the sandwurm raid, it’s still extremely difficult to complete, as you have to rely on 9 other members of your team doing their job.
Similar to the sandwurm raid, this raid will require a unique strategy to take down each of the three bosses, and there’s unique builds that perform best based on the boss you’re up against. What makes this raid one of the best PvE activities to do is that you will get rewarded some amazing gear by taking down each of these bosses, which includes max gearscore items (725)!
It’s important to note though that you can only receive rewards from each boss in this raid once a week, so there isn’t much point in doing this multiple times each week unless you’re helping out some friends.
To learn more about how to succeed in this raid, check out our Hive of Gorgons Guide.
Mutated Expeditions
If you’ve played New World before, then you’re aware that there are many, many expeditions (or dungeons) available within the game. These instanced PvE challenges allow you to be in a group of up to 5 players to explore a unique instanced expedition, which includes unique loot tables, mobs, and of course, bosses.
Every expedition in the game can be re-challenged at a higher difficulty, ranging from mutated level 1 to mutated level 3. At mutated level 3 (M3), the expeditions are extremely difficult – mobs hit hard, there’s ongoing debuffs hitting you, and the bosses are more challenging to defeat.
Although these are very hard to complete, these are still listed below the two raids mentioned above in regards to difficulty. These will likely get a revamp in the upcoming season 10 of New World, as the current rewards associated with M3 expeditions are not that great.
To learn more about the secrets within every expedition in the game, check out our in-depth New World Expeditions Guide.
What’s Next in New World?
With the upcoming launch of season 10 in New World: Aeternum, we’re expecting to see a handful of new PvE-related activities that will be added to this list.
These new PvE-related items include:
- An all-new zone
- New raid
- Procedural expeditions with extractions
- And more!
Additionally, it was teased that an endgame progression systems overhaul will be implemented, including a new system utilizing umbral shards (likely to be used to upgrade gearscore of certain gear).
If you’re an enjoyer of PvE in New World, then stay tuned for more updates coming in season 10!