Full Monster Hunter Wilds Guide: What Weapons Should You Use?

Monster Hunter Wilds presents a diverse arsenal of 14 weapons, each with unique gameplay mechanics. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to select the perfect weapon for your hunting style.

Sword and Shield

Ideal for Beginners: The Sword and Shield is a fantastic starting choice. Its balanced approach to mobility, damage, and defense makes it manageable for early-game hunts. The quick moveset is effective for applying elemental blights like Fireblight and Thunderblight. Crucially, the weapon boasts convenient item usage and dodge rolls that seamlessly integrate with attacks, making it intuitive for newcomers.

Longsword

Aggressive Style: Longsword excels in aggressive playstyles. Its snappy swings and high-damage combos are readily accessible. The Spirit Gauge mechanic dynamically enhances your damage the more aggressively you play. The new Focus system in Monster Hunter Wilds synergizes well with the Longsword’s poke attacks, maximizing damage on vulnerable wounds. This makes it a reliable and easy-to-learn option for damage-focused hunters.

Greatsword

Raw Power, Calculated Risk: The Greatsword, a classic Monster Hunter weapon, prioritizes raw power but demands calculated attacks. Its slow moveset necessitates a deep understanding of monster attack patterns. The charge-up mechanic rewards patience with high damage and stun potential, yet charging swings are vulnerable to mistiming. Defensive maneuvers like the shoulder bash and offset attacks compensate for the slow attack speed, offering a rewarding but challenging playstyle for experienced players.

Dual Blade

Hyper-Aggressive Mobility: The Dual Blades offer unparalleled mobility and attack speed. Their emphasis lies in generating consistent high damage with fast, looping combos. However, the lack of significant defensive capabilities means stamina management is crucial. The Demon Mode unlocks enhanced combos and creates potent damage loops, but it requires high stamina and tactical execution, catering to the most aggressive and skilled players.

Hammer

Staggering Powerhouse: The Hammer is a versatile weapon that excels at staggering monsters. Its gameplay revolves around striking monster heads for maximum stagger, creating extended damage windows. While not the fastest, its stagger-inducing attacks are effective and reliable. The Hammer’s charge-up mechanic also allows for significant stagger, perfect for players looking for consistent stun-based damage, particularly when working within a team.

Hunting Horn

Versatile Support: The Hunting Horn is a powerful support weapon. It provides significant buffs to the user and nearby allies, often rivalling the effectiveness of consumables. While demanding a learning curve for effective buff application, the rewards of consistent buffs and additional damage make it worthwhile for players who enjoy a supportive playstyle. The Hunting Horn’s buffs can be consistently refreshed, providing constant support throughout a hunt.

Lance

Defensive Maestro: The Lance boasts the best defensive kit in the game. Its primary strength lies in its unparalleled blocking capabilities, making it highly resilient against powerful attacks. Counter-attacks are potent, allowing for a balanced strategy that involves protecting the party while dealing consistent damage, emphasizing a defensive and focused style.

Gunlance

Strategic Ranged Option: The Gunlance builds upon the Lance’s defensive foundations, adding a ranged element. This multifaceted weapon incorporates Shells, Wyvern Gauge, and Wyrmstake Shot. Shells penetrate armor for extra damage, Wyvern Gauge provides devastating Wyvern Fire, and Wyrmstake Shot is a versatile universal ammo. This weapon offers both defensive and offensive capabilities for players who want a tactical edge.

Bow

Easy Ranged Proficiency: The Bow is a user-friendly ranged option. Its unlimited ammo and consistent damage output provide a smooth and reliable gameplay experience. Coatings provide extra elemental damage, but the quantity is limited and requires strategic application. Ideal for players desiring a straightforward ranged experience, aiming accuracy is key.

Light Bowgun

Fast-Paced Shooter: The Light Bowgun is a nimble ranged weapon with a high rate of fire. It requires ammunition management, but its ability to apply status effects rapidly is its core strength. While damage per shot is lower than other ranged options, its quick shots and mobility are strengths, creating an effective weapon for players who prefer a more frantic, action-packed experience.

Heavy Bowgun

Precise Sniper: The Heavy Bowgun’s range is unmatched, but it is accompanied by slow firing speed and limited mobility. Its smaller ammo capacity is compensated by high single-shot damage, ideal for precise shots at long range. The Ignition Mode offers special Wyvern attacks, adding strategic depth and rewards those who can perfectly position and time their shots.

Insect Glaive

Agile Aerialist: The Insect Glaive prioritizes mobility and aerial combat. Its Kinsects mechanic lets players dispatch these creatures to gather essences, granting valuable buffs. This weapon excels at monster mounting, offering a reliable source of stagger. Players who relish a dynamic airborne experience will appreciate the Insect Glaive’s maneuverability and buff generation potential.

Switch Axe

Dual-Form Master: The Switch Axe boasts versatility with Sword and Axe modes. The Sword Mode is rapid and damaging, while Axe Mode offers greater range. Attacking with one mode charges up the other mode, incentivizing continuous mode switching for optimal damage output. The system encourages a technical playstyle and rewards consistent transitions.

Charge Blade

Complex Mastery: The Charge Blade is the most demanding weapon to master. Multiple systems and mechanics must be carefully managed. Its multiple forms, Sword and Axe, require understanding phial management and transformations. While mastery rewards massive physical and elemental damage, new players will find the Charge Blade’s complexity daunting, requiring extensive practice and a deep understanding of Monster Hunter’s systems.