Best Weapons In Monster Hunter Wilds
GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.
Generally speaking, the best weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds is the one that you're most comfortable with. However, there are still a few caveats, such as options that can deal a ton of damage and those that are easy enough to use. Our guide helps you determine which armaments are ideal for your playstyle.
The best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds
There are 14 weapon types in the game, each with its own moveset, Focus Strike for wounds, and perks that truly define how you wield them in combat. These armaments include the Great Sword, Long Sword, Sword & Shield, Hammer, Hunting Horn, Lance, Gunlance, Switch Axe, Charge Blade, Insect Glaive, Light Bowgun, Heavy Bowgun, and Bow.
Note that you can head to the training area to test out various attacks and maneuvers. These should help you ascertain which weapon fits your preferred playstyle or role as part of a squad.
Best weapon for beginners: Great Sword
We feel that the Great Sword is the best weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds, at least for beginners who want to a feel of the combat mechanics. This blade deals decent damage and its attack swings have a wide arc. You can hold down the button for the Charged Slash to improve its effectiveness. Alternatively, you can chain your Charged Slash or Wide Slash into a tackle, which can then lead to other moves. And, yes, you can block with it, too.
Best weapon for high damage: Hammer
The Hammer is the ideal armament for players who want to deal a ton of damage, even with its cumbersome and slow attacks. Its Spinning Bludgeon maneuver lets you hit a target multiple times as you turn into a whirling dervish of death. Its Big Bang combo, meanwhile, lets you do a series of "bonks" to a foe's head. If everything hits, then you'll likely crush an opponent's defenses. However, if you miss one attack, then you'll have an issue with the recovery animation.
Best weapon for fast attack speed: Dual Blades
If you want something that lets you stab and slice enemies swiftly, then look no further than the Dual Blades. Each singular strike doesn't do as much damage compared to heavy hitters like the Great Sword or Hammer, but this armament excels at lengthy, sustained combos.
The weapon further shines once you activate Demon Mode, which allows you to chain multiple attacks, such as Demon Fangs, Demon Flurry Rush, and the absolutely vicious Blade Dance. The only downside is that Demon Mode drains your stamina while it's active, so you need to be mindful of when you use this state. And, of course, don't forget to cook meals to boost your stats as well.
Best ranged weapon: Heavy Bowgun
Those who want to hang back and let melee fighters duke it out with gargantuan foes might want to try the Heavy Bowgun, which we consider the best ranged weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds. That's because it's very easy to use and requires almost no effort.
The Heavy Bowgun's primary mode lets you fire three rounds with each shot, but the main draw is its alternate fire mode, where it turns into a machine gun for several seconds. You're going to do a lot of DPS if you unload on creatures that are ensnared or stunned. Perhaps the only downside is the low mobility since it's a hefty piece. At the very least, you're still able to guard while wielding it.
Best ranged weapon (if you can master it): Bow
Yes, there's also another ranged weapon that we'd like to recommend. It's none other than the Bow. The reason for this is because its Charged Shot state lets you use the Ready Tracer ability. This fires a tracer round at an opponent, causing subsequent shots to home in on your target automatically. This only lasts for a few seconds, so you need to make your shots count or fire another tracer round afterward.
Sadly, the main drawback when using the Bow (pun intended) is that its two modes require you to hold down either the attack and aim buttons. One moment, you might want to use Ready Tracer or Arc Shot (hold down the attack button), and the next you might prefer to activate Dragon Piercer or your Focus Fire to hit wounds (hold down the aim button). So the whole thing becomes pretty jumbled, requiring you to practice until you master it.
Best support weapon: Hunting Horn
There's really only one option if you want to play more of a supporting role whenever you're in a squad, and it's the Hunting Horn. What makes this weapon unique is that you can play melodies based on button input sequences. For example, if you want to gain an attack boost, you need to do the following:
- Input #1: Focus button + primary attack
- Input #2: Secondary attack
- Input #3: Focus button + primary attack
Finally, the corresponding button prompt to perform the melody. You also perform all melodies that you've lined up in sequential order. While the Hunting Horn requires more finesse, and a bit of memorization, it nonetheless becomes a viable tool in battle.
That does it for our guide on the best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. Again, the ideal option is always the one that you're most comfortable in using. So, spend some time in the Training Area to learn about various movesets and combos until you find a few armaments that you really like.
Need more tips as you continue fighting deadly creatures and venture into lands unknown? We've got you covered in our Monster Hunter Wilds guides hub.