MMOEXP-Most Efficient Gear Farms in New World Season 10

Season 10: Nighthaven has transformed the endgame loop in New World once again, sharpening its focus on Umbral progression, elite chest runs, and high-pressure group combat. With the fog-covered citadels of Nighthaven spawning more elites than ever and the update demanding consistent Umbral Shard investment to push gear past 650, choosing the right farming method can make or break your season start. After dozens of hours grinding chests, clearing mutated expeditions, and New World Coins racing rival companies in open-world PvP hotspots, this ranking highlights the most effective ways to gear up fast-judged by efficiency, reliability, and long-term value for both solo players and groups.

This guide breaks down exactly why some farms rise above the rest, how Season 10's subtle balance changes affect gear progression, and which methods give you the highest return on your time.

Why Gear Farming Matters More Than Ever in Season 10

Nighthaven's design philosophy is clear: more enemies, more rewards, and more pressure. Elite zones have been reworked with a roughly 20 percent increase in spawn density, turning old chest routes into tightly packed gauntlets. At the same time, Umbral Shards have become the true gatekeeper for progression; even if you pull 700-GS drops, you need shards to lock them into your build and push them toward full potential. This creates a loop where raw loot isn't enough-you must combine drop-heavy farms with consistent Umbral income to stay competitive.

The new scaling expeditions add another layer. Players who enter below the 650 threshold will find themselves locked out of optimal drops, and that pushes gearing strategies toward activities that reward both score and shards. Gypsum farming has also been streamlined thanks to auto-crafting, making it easier to generate guaranteed upgrades during downtime.

Ultimately, the best farms in Season 10 do three things well:

Provide steady, high-GS drops.

Funnel Umbral Shards efficiently.

Minimize downtime, travel, or PvP interference.

With that in mind, here are the definitive rankings for the most effective gear farms in New World Season 10.

1. Nighthaven Elite Chest Runs (The Unquestioned King)

Nothing beats the raw efficiency of elite chest routes, and Nighthaven's new layout makes them even stronger. Packed with elites, minibosses, and dense enemy clusters, these routes reward both raw drops and high shard potential. The improved spawn density means you're fighting more enemies per minute, which increases both the quantity and quality of your loot.

Chest runs also scale beautifully with group size. A coordinated party of five or ten players will tear through elite patrols, but even smaller groups can survive thanks to predictable enemy patterns and safe reset points. For solo players, circling the outer ruins still works-but you'll feel the increased danger from Season 10's buffed enemy types.

Best For: Endgame players, shard farmers, anyone chasing fast 650+ progression.

Why It Ranks #1: Highest drop volume per hour in the game, low downtime, excellent for both gear score and named drops.

2. Mutated Expeditions (Best Shard-Per-Hour Farm)

If Umbral Shards are your bottleneck-and for most players they are-mutated expeditions are your best long-term path. Season 10 emphasizes the synergy between mutations and Nighthaven itemization, making the shard payout more meaningful when paired with high-GS drops.

Mutations reward thousands of shards per run if you hit a decent score, and skilled groups can chain several runs in an hour. The loot table is also tighter than open world farming, giving you a better chance at useful items rather than random stat combinations.

The downside is accessibility. You need a competent group, good builds, and experience dealing with mutation-specific mechanics. For casual or undergeared players, this can feel punishing early in the season.

Best For: Organized groups, players pushing BIS gear, anyone farming shards at scale.

Why It Ranks #2: Top shard-per-hour method, strong targeted loot, competitive with chest runs if your team is fast.

3. Nighthaven Boss Circuits (The Rising Star Farm)

The new bosses scattered across Nighthaven are quickly becoming crowd favorites thanks to their improved drop pools and the high likelihood of rolling 700+ items. These bosses are tanky and aggressive, but they reward players with named items, rare crafting mats, and upgrade-friendly gear.

A boss circuit-rotating between all the respawns in a controlled loop-is the closest Season 10 equivalent to old-school Siren's Stand or Myrkgard trains. Once a party gets into rhythm, you can rotate endlessly, and competition is lower since most players still prioritize chest routes.

Best For: Mid- to endgame players looking for named or perfect-stat drops.

Why It Ranks #3: Great mix of raw drops and targeted loot, scalable groups, and ideal for players who dislike constant movement.

4. Gypsum + Daily Cooldowns (Slow But Steady)

Gypsum remains one of the only guaranteed ways to advance gear score. Season 10's auto-crafting has removed the tedious part of this loop, but it's still limited by cooldowns and the nature of randomized rewards.

It's consistent. It's safe. But it's never going to match the pace of elite zones or mutated expeditions.

The real value comes from stacking Gypsum with other activities-you earn it naturally while doing chests, killing bosses, or participating in PvP. For alts and casual players, Gypsum is still essential for closing the gap and hitting that 650+ threshold.

Best For: Solo players, casuals, and players who log in for an hour at a time.

Why It Ranks #4: Guaranteed progression, but capped by daily limits and slower than other farms.

5. Open World PvP Hotspots (High Risk, High Reward, Unpredictable)

Season 10 added new incentives for PvP flaggers in Nighthaven. Increased rewards, better drop rates, and improved Umbral income make these zones more appealing than previous seasons. In the right scenario-when your company controls an area or you're running in a strong warband-the loot can rival elite chest runs.

But the unpredictability hurts it. Constant PvP interruptions will tank your efficiency, and being chain-killed by tryhard squads is not exactly the best shard-per-hour experience.

When the stars align, it's phenomenal. Most of the time, it's chaotic and inconsistent.

Best For: Dedicated PvP players and groups running coordinated territory pushes.

Why It Ranks #5: Great loot potential but far too inconsistent to rank higher.

6. Trading Post Flipping (The Economic Cheat Code)

It's not glamorous, but flipping the Trading Post remains one of the fastest ways to obtain BIS gear-if you already have the gold or market awareness. With more Season 10 items flooding the market each day, underpriced 700-GS perks appear constantly.

Flipping doesn't give you experience, shards, or drops, but it does shortcut the entire gearing system by letting you buy exactly what you need.

The catch? You need starting gold, understanding of the market, and high-luck timing.

Best For: Experienced traders, players with deep gold reserves, and crafters.

Why It Ranks #6: Fastest route to BIS for market players, but not a “farm” in the traditional sense.

The Bottom Line

Season 10's darker atmosphere and denser elite packs have made gear progression faster and more enjoyable than ever-if you pick the right farms. Chest runs remain the undisputed champion thanks to their unrivaled drop volume, while mutated expeditions dominate the shard economy. Meanwhile, Nighthaven's bosses offer a fresh alternative for players seeking named drops buy New World Coins  and more focused farming.

Whether you're gearing a fresh character or fine-tuning your endgame loadout, these methods will guide you through the fog and help you carve your legend into Aeternum once more.