Amazon Games had a massive task on their hands when they dropped the expedition content known as The Abyss New World. If you’ve been hanging around Aeternum since launch, you know the drill. New World is a game of peaks and valleys. It’s got that visceral, action-combat feel that most MMOs completely miss, but it also struggles with its identity. The Abyss isn't just a weapon—though that's what most people are hunting—it's a symbol of the game's pivot toward more vertical progression and high-stakes endgame loops. Honestly, it’s a lot to take in if you're just getting back into the game after a six-month hiatus.
Let’s be real. Most players aren't reading the lore notes scattered on the floor of the Glacial Tarn. They want the loot. They want to know if the artifact is actually worth the grind or if it's just another vault-filler.
Understanding the Void: What is The Abyss New World?
Basically, when we talk about The Abyss New World, we are looking at a specific Artifact Great Axe that changed the meta for mages and bruisers alike. It’s a game-changer. Why? Because it scales off Intelligence. That sounds like a small tweak, but in the context of New World’s attribute system, it’s a massive shift. Suddenly, your fire-flinging mage isn't a glass cannon stuck with a rapier for self-defense. They can swing a heavy axe and actually deal damage that matters.
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This item drops from the Glacial Tarn expedition, specifically from the final boss, Ser Loth. You have to be running it on Mutated difficulty to even see it. It’s not a guaranteed drop. You’ll probably run it twenty times and get nothing but generic greens and the occasional legendary ring you'll immediately salvage for parts. That’s the nature of the beast.
The Artifact Grind is Real
Artifacts were introduced to give players a reason to care about the endgame again. Before them, you were just chasing Gear Score numbers until your eyes bled. Now, you’re chasing unique perks. The Abyss has this specific perk called "Void Affinity." It converts 99% of your damage to Void. Think about that for a second. If you're running a build that stacks Void damage bonuses, this axe becomes a literal butcher's blade.
It’s heavy. It’s slow. It hits like a freight train.
But it’s not just about the weapon. The "Abyss" as a concept in the game refers to the encroachment of the Corrupted and the deep, dark lore tied to the Empyrean Forge and the newer snowy regions. The environmental storytelling in these zones is actually decent, which is a surprise given how dry the game’s story was at launch. You can see the shift in design philosophy. The developers at Amazon Games started leaning into the "weirdness" of Aeternum rather than just making it "Generic Fantasy Island Number 5."
Why the Meta Shifted So Hard
Before The Abyss New World meta took over, the divide between physical and magical dealers was a canyon. You were either a STR/DEX bruiser or an INT/FOC caster. There wasn't much room for the "Battlemage" fantasy without feeling like you were gimping your stats. The Abyss fixed that. Or broke it, depending on who you ask in the global chat.
When you look at the Great Axe's kit—Reap, Gravity Well, Maelstrom—these are crowd control kings. Now, imagine a mage dropping a Pillar of Fire and then immediately sucking everyone into a Gravity Well that actually deals damage because the axe is scaling off their 350 Intelligence. It’s terrifying in 3v3 Arenas.
I’ve seen entire squads get wiped because they underestimated an INT-based Great Axe user. They thought they were closing the gap on a squishy caster. They were wrong.
- Intelligence Scaling: 100% scaling off INT instead of STR.
- Void Conversion: Virtually all damage becomes Void elemental.
- Crit Synergy: Most mages run high crit, and the GA loves crit.
Some people hate this. They think it muddies the water of class identity. New World doesn't have "classes" in the traditional sense, but players like their archetypes. When the lines get blurred, the "purists" start complaining on the forums. But honestly? It's the most fun the game has been in years. It allows for creativity.
The Glacial Tarn Experience
If you haven't stepped into the Glacial Tarn yet, prepare to be annoyed by ice mechanics. It’s a beautiful dungeon, but the friction is real. You’re dealing with the Frozen condition, which slows your stamina regen. In a game where dodging is your only way to stay alive, a stamina debuff is a death sentence.
Ser Loth, the guy holding your precious Abyss, is a mechanical fight. It’s not a gear check; it’s a "can you actually move out of the way" check. He uses a lot of AoE (Area of Effect) attacks that punish players who tunnel-vision on their damage numbers. You have to watch his hands. If you’re lucky enough to get the drop, the work isn't done. You then have to complete a series of objectives to "unlock" the full power of the artifact.
- Kill 50 Corrupted in the Great Cleave.
- Complete a specific trial.
- Gain enough XP with the weapon equipped.
It’s a journey. It makes the weapon feel earned.
The Economy of the Abyss
Let's talk about the gold. Getting The Abyss New World players interested in the economy again was a smart move. Because you need specific resources to upgrade these artifacts, the market for Matrix items and high-end ores went through the roof.
If you're a casual player, this might feel like a barrier. You see these "Best in Slot" (BiS) items and think you'll never get there. But the reality is that the gap between a "good" build and an "artifact" build is narrower than it looks on paper. Skill still carries a lot of weight in New World. An idiot with The Abyss is still just an idiot with an axe.
However, if you're serious about Outpost Rush (OPR) or Wars, you basically need this or one of the other top-tier artifacts like The Wall or Scorpion's Sting. The power creep is real. Amazon Games has to be careful here. If they keep releasing artifacts that are 20% better than anything else, the old gear becomes literal trash. We’re already seeing that happen.
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Misconceptions About the Build
A lot of people think you can just slap The Abyss on any build and win. Nope. You need the right jewelry. You need the "Void Damage" perk on your ring. You need to understand that since you're scaling Intelligence, your secondary weapon almost has to be a Fire Staff, Ice Gauntlet, or Void Gauntlet.
Running a Life Staff with The Abyss? It’s... okay? But you’re splitting your focus too thin. You want synergy. The most common pairing is the Fire Staff. You use the Staff for poke damage and the Axe for when things get messy in melee range. It’s a "zoom and boom" playstyle.
Is New World Finally "Fixed"?
"Fixed" is a strong word. The Abyss New World content brought back a lot of players, but the game still suffers from some of the same old issues. Server stability during Wars can be hit or miss. The endgame loop, while better, still feels a bit repetitive once you’ve cleared the mutations for the week.
But the direction is right. The developers are listening more than they used to. They’re experimenting with bold ideas instead of playing it safe. The Abyss is a bold idea. A Great Axe for mages? That’s the kind of "what if" thinking that keeps an MMO alive.
There's also the community aspect. The hunt for these items creates a shared goal. You see people grouping up in recruitment chat specifically for "Tarn M3 - Abyss Hunt." It fosters a sense of purpose that was missing during the dry spell after the Brimstone Sands update.
How to Prepare for the Grind
If you’re looking to get your hands on this thing, don't just jump in blind. You need a solid set of Ward gear—or the modern equivalent, which is basically just high-level gear with the right elemental resistances. For Glacial Tarn, you want Ice Resistance. Pack those tinctures.
- Reach Level 65 (obviously).
- Get your Gear Score to at least 695+ to comfortably run the higher mutations.
- Find a consistent group. Pugs (Pick-Up Groups) can be a nightmare in the Tarn because of the mechanics.
- Pray to the RNG gods.
The drop rate isn't abysmal (pun intended), but it’s low enough that you’ll feel the sting of a bad streak. Some players get it on their first try; others are thirty runs deep and still swinging a regular iron axe. That’s just the luck of the draw.
Moving Beyond the Abyss
Once you have the axe, what's next? The game doesn't stop at the artifact. You have to build around it. This means re-rolling your gear, hunting for specific gems (usually Opals or Malachites), and practicing your combos. The skill ceiling for an Abyss mage is actually quite high. You have to manage your mana and your stamina simultaneously while switching between two very different combat styles.
It's rewarding. There's nothing quite like pulling three enemies into a Grav Well and then finishing them off with a Fireball.
The game is evolving. Whether The Abyss New World is the peak of that evolution or just a stepping stone remains to be seen. But for now, it's the center of the universe for anyone serious about Aeternum.
What to do now
Start by checking your current build. If you're tired of the same old sword-and-board routine, look into the Intelligence-scaling artifacts. The Abyss is the most famous, but it’s not the only one.
Go to the Great Cleave. Farm some faction tokens. Buy the seals you need. Even if you don't get the drop today, you can start prepping the materials for when it finally happens. You’ll need a Weapon Matrix and some Dark Matter. Keep an eye on the mutation rotation; Glacial Tarn isn't always available at the highest levels. When it pops up, drop everything and run it.
If you're a returning player, don't feel pressured to catch up in a day. The game is huge now. Explore the new zones, get a feel for the mount system (which is a lifesaver), and slowly work your way toward the endgame expeditions. The Abyss will be waiting for you when you're ready. Just make sure you're prepared for the cold.