Bow vs. Musket in New World: Which Reigns Supreme for DPS?

The question of whether the bow or the musket is superior for Damage Per Second (DPS) in New World is a complex one, with no single definitive answer. Both weapons boast unique strengths and weaknesses, making their effectiveness highly situational and dependent on player skill and build. Currently, the bow often edges out the musket in overall DPS potential, particularly in PvE scenarios where mobility and consistent damage output are crucial. However, this is not a universal truth, and a skilled musket player can certainly compete, especially in specific PvP situations. Ultimately, the “better” weapon boils down to individual playstyle, chosen builds, and the specific content being tackled.

Bow: The Agile and Consistent DPS Option

Strengths of the Bow:

• Higher Consistent Damage: In most scenarios, the bow’s rapid rate of fire and consistent damage output tend to produce higher overall DPS compared to the musket. It allows for more frequent attacks, even when perfect aim isn’t guaranteed.
• Mid-Range Dominance: The bow excels at mid-range combat, where it can consistently land shots while maintaining a safe distance from enemies. It’s this sweet spot where its damage potential is maximized.
• Mobility: The bow user benefits from better mobility than the musket. This allows for easier repositioning during combat and makes it difficult for enemies to pin them down. The Hatchet/Bow combo, in particular, is known for its excellent movement speed buffs, which also aids in general sustainment.
• AoE Capabilities: While not traditionally a weapon for AoE, the bow does have skills that provide some multi-target damage, which can be useful for clearing trash mobs and during boss fights.
• Viability in PvE: The bow consistently proves to be a strong choice for PvE, largely due to its high consistent damage and versatility. Bow and spear combo offers a compelling PvE playstyle due to excellent damage and crowd-control options.

Weaknesses of the Bow:

• Projectile Travel Time and Drop: Unlike the musket’s hitscan nature, bow shots have travel time and are subject to gravity, requiring players to lead targets and compensate for projectile drop at longer distances. This can make it more difficult to land shots on mobile targets.
• Steep Skill Curve: Mastering the bow’s projectile physics takes practice. Players need to develop good aim and predict enemy movement to maximize damage.
• Lower Single Hit Damage: Although it is capable of high dps, the base damage of a single bow shot is lower than that of a well placed musket shot.
• Requires Held Mouse Clicks: Holding both right and left mouse buttons to draw a bow string and shoot can be uncomfortable or even impossible for some users.

Musket: The Precision Hitscan Option

Strengths of the Musket:

• Hitscan Accuracy: The musket’s hitscan nature means that shots register instantly, eliminating the need to lead targets or account for projectile drop. This makes it incredibly effective at longer ranges, especially in PvP.
• High Single-Target Damage: When shots land, a well-placed musket shot deals significantly more damage per hit compared to a bow. This damage can be devastating, particularly when combined with critical hits.
• Strong Burst Potential: While the musket’s overall DPS might be lower than the bow’s in many situations, it excels at delivering high burst damage. This is useful for quickly taking down priority targets or finishing off weakened enemies.
• Long-Range Advantage: The musket shines at long ranges, where it can harass enemies from a distance and pick off targets.

Weaknesses of the Musket:

• Lower Overall DPS: The musket’s lower rate of fire often leads to lower overall DPS than the bow, especially if shots miss or don’t crit.
• Limited Mobility: The musket requires more standing still and is less mobile than the bow, making the user vulnerable to melee attacks if not positioned correctly.
• Less Effective in PvE: Compared to the bow, the musket is not as highly recommended for PvE, particularly in group content where sustained damage over time is more important than burst. The focus on single target damage of the musket can also be detrimental in mob clearing.
• Skill Ceiling: Although being hitscan it still requires a fair amount of aiming skill to maximize its damage potential, particularly on moving targets.

The Verdict: A Matter of Style and Situation

While the bow offers a more consistent DPS in most scenarios, the musket has a clear edge in long-range poke and single-target burst damage. Ultimately, the “better” weapon depends on the following factors:

• Player Skill: Skilled bow users can achieve high DPS through constant, accurate shots, while skilled musket users can leverage their burst potential and hitscan to take down enemies quickly.
• Game Mode: In PvE, the bow’s consistency and mobility tend to be more effective. In PvP, the musket’s hitscan and burst damage can be more impactful, particularly in open-world encounters.
• Build and Playstyle: Certain builds may synergize better with either the bow or the musket. For instance, Dexterity builds focused on mobility and constant damage might favor the bow, while builds focused on burst damage and debuffs might favor the musket.
• Personal Preference: The feel and playstyle of each weapon also play a role. Some players prefer the flow of combat with the bow, while others prefer the precision and power of the musket.

In conclusion, while the bow often holds a slight edge in overall DPS due to its consistent damage output, both weapons are viable and can excel in the right hands and under the right conditions. Choosing between them is largely a matter of personal preference, playstyle, and the specific requirements of the situation at hand.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which weapon is easier to learn, the bow or musket?

The musket is generally considered easier to learn initially due to its hitscan nature, while the bow requires more practice to master its projectile travel time and drop.

2. What attributes scale best with the bow and the musket?

Both the bow and musket scale primarily with Dexterity.

3. Is the bow good for PvP?

Yes, the bow is a very effective PvP weapon. Its mobility and consistent damage output make it effective in many PvP situations.

4. Is the musket good for PvP?

Yes, the musket is also a very strong PvP weapon. Its hitscan ability, burst damage, and long-range poke make it a formidable choice in PvP scenarios.

5. What is the best secondary weapon to pair with the bow?

Popular choices include the spear for crowd control and debuffs in PvE, and the hatchet for mobility in general, particularly for leveling.

6. What is the best secondary weapon to pair with the musket?

The rapier is a common choice for a musket player, providing added mobility and damage, as both scale with Dexterity.

7. Which weapon has better range, the bow or musket?

The musket has longer effective range due to its hitscan nature. The bow can still shoot far, but may suffer accuracy losses due to drop and travel time.

8. What are some BiS (Best in Slot) perks for the bow?

Enchanted (for general damage increase) and other specific perk based on personal preference. The named Syncretic Bow is considered to be a BiS option by some.

9. What are some BiS (Best in Slot) perks for the musket?

Enchanted, Keenly Jagged (for a DoT) and Attunement perks, Crippling Powder Burn are all great options for the musket.

10. Which weapon is better for leveling in New World?

The Hatchet and Bow combination is widely considered one of the fastest leveling builds due to its mobility and sustainability.

11. Is the bow good for solo play?

Yes, the bow is very viable for solo play due to its mobility, consistent damage, and ability to deal with both single target and multi target situations.

12. Is the musket good for solo play?

Yes, the musket is viable for solo play, but requires more careful positioning and planning, especially when dealing with groups of enemies.

13. Which weapon is better for large-scale PvP, like wars?

Both can be very effective in large-scale PvP. The bow provides a more consistent and mobile approach, whereas the musket can be devastating with proper positioning to take out priority targets.

14. Does the bow require holding mouse clicks to fire?

Yes, the bow requires the user to hold both the right and left mouse buttons, which can be an issue for some players.

15. Do historical muskets penetrate armor in real life?

Yes, muskets in history were capable of penetrating armor, but the accuracy was not nearly as good as in games. The musket was more about the force and less about the precision.