If you've been keeping up with the content added in New World Season 10, you already know the update leans heavily toward PvE. Between the new Catacombs activity and the Isle of Night raid, Amazon is clearly pushing cooperative dungeon-style combat. Most players approach these activities with a standard group setup, especially since the new raid continues to rely on the traditional 10-player structure. That particular mode is punishing enough that entering alone is a quick path to repair bills New World Coins and frustration.

Catacombs, however, is a different story.

Unlike the Isle of Night raid, the Catacombs is designed as a flexible three-player activity that doesn't strictly enforce group presence. While the recommended team of DPS, tank, and healer is still the most efficient way to clear it, players with strong builds and a high level of game knowledge have discovered that soloing Catacombs is not only possible but surprisingly fun. If you enjoy challenge runs, extreme builds, or simply want to test your limits, solo Catacombs might be the most rewarding activity in Season 10.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know before attempting a solo clear, including preparation, route strategy, recommended builds, and what kind of rewards you can realistically expect.

Why Catacombs Works for Solo Play

Catacombs has a few key characteristics that make it viable for solo players despite being designed for three adventurers.

First, the dungeon does not include hard locks. The design feels like the mutated expeditions from earlier seasons, but with fewer mandatory group mechanics. There are no synchronized switches, split-party puzzles, or gimmicks that require multiple bodies to progress. That alone opens the door to solo players.

Second, enemy AI in Catacombs is manageable if you understand kiting, crowd control, and hit spacing. While the mobs hit hard, their movesets are predictable enough that a mechanically skilled player can avoid the majority of incoming damage.

Lastly, the dungeon's layout contains optional side rooms and branching paths. This means you can skip some encounters entirely, which dramatically increases your chance of completing a solo run. Efficiency and survival matter more than full clears when you're alone.

Recommended Builds for Solo Catacombs

While nearly any endgame build can attempt a solo run, certain setups drastically increase your odds of success. Catacombs enemies deal high burst damage and have multiple stagger effects, so your build needs either strong mitigation or consistently high mobility to avoid hits in the first place.

Here are the most reliable archetypes for solo play.

Solo Bruiser with Lifesteal

A bruiser build using Great Axe, War Hammer, or Greatsword with heavy weapon perks and life-stealing passives is the most common choice. The naturally high health and armor give you room for mistakes, while the self-sustain keeps you alive through extended fights.

Pairing Great Axe with Sword and Shield is especially strong, giving you both offensive pressure and a reliable defensive toolkit. Heavy armor is preferred for solo bruisers, since you can't rely on a healer.

Ranged Kiting Builds

Bow and Musket players who excel at spacing and mobility can thrive in Catacombs solo. The dungeon's wide hallways and long sightlines allow ranged builds to pick off enemies one by one, eliminating the risk of being overwhelmed.

The main drawback is stamina management. If you run out of dodge attempts while being chased, you can easily be cornered.

Magical Sustain Builds

Healer-focused Life Staff users or hybrid Fire Staff and Ice Gauntlet builds can solo Catacombs with careful play. Life Staff allows you to heal through many encounters without potions, and the combination of crowd control and defensive buffs makes survival easier.

This type of build may take longer to clear the dungeon, but it offers some of the safest sustain in the game.

Preparation Before Entering Solo

A successful solo run begins long before you step into the Catacombs.

Gear Score and Perks

Ideally, you should enter with at least 690 gear score. Perks to prioritize include Fortify, Health, Lifesteal, Refreshing, and any weapon-specific perks that enhance your build's survival or stamina efficiency.

Damage perks are useful, but survivability is always the priority when alone.

Consumables

Bring a full stack of the following:

• Powerful health potions

• Regeneration potions

• Food offering Constitution or hybrid stats

• Weapon coatings for extra damage

You'll also benefit from ward potions if your build struggles with certain enemy types.

Understanding Enemy Types

Catacombs features a mix of corrupted and ancient enemies, each with its own weaknesses. Memorizing their attack patterns helps you dodge predictable bursts and avoid deadly stagger chains.

Strategy for Soloing Catacombs

Once inside, survival becomes your guiding principle. Here are the most effective strategies used by successful solo runners.

Fight on Your Terms

Unlike in group runs, you never want to pull large packs. Lure enemies one by one or in pairs. You control the pace of the run by maintaining distance and breaking aggro when needed.

Use corners, pillars, and doorways to isolate enemies. Most mobs will lose sight of you if you break line of sight for long enough.

Prioritize Mobility

Even with a bruiser build, standing still is the fastest way to die in Catacombs. Dodge key attacks, rotate around enemy hitboxes, and avoid letting enemies back you into walls. Learn which attacks stagger and which you can block.

Save Cooldowns for Elite Enemies

The dungeon contains miniboss-style elites that hit significantly harder than the standard mobs. When running solo, treat every elite like a boss. Use your biggest damage cooldowns, defensive abilities, and potions proactively, not reactively.

Skip When Necessary

One of the advantages of Catacombs is that you aren't forced to kill every enemy. Sometimes the smartest decision is to bypass a hallway entirely. Successful solo runners know when to fight and when to maneuver around danger.

Rewards for Solo Clearing

Catacombs drops seasonal rewards, crafting materials, nameplates, and occasionally high-end gear. While you won't receive additional bonuses for clearing solo, the satisfaction of completing it alone is a reward in itself.

Many players also run it solo specifically for the challenge and to sharpen their mechanical skills.

Final Thoughts

Solo Catacombs is one of the most satisfying challenges introduced in New World Season 10. It's not easy, and most players won't complete it on their first attempt. But the fact that it's possible opens up a new type of gameplay that rewards mastery, patience, and clever decision-making.

If you're willing to invest time in New World Gold for sale preparation and refine your build, stepping into Catacombs alone offers a fresh and thrilling experience. Try it for yourself, push your limits, and see whether you can emerge with the rewards entirely on your own.