Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List: Ranked Worst to Best

What makes Monster Hunter titles popular globally is their combat mechanics, which heavily rely on different weapons. In Monster Hunter Wilds, there are a total of 14 weapons, each with unique abilities and playstyles. In this Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon tier list, we will rank the worst to best weapons available in the game.

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Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List

This tier list is ranked based on various aspects, including difficulty, damage potential, overall usefulness, and effectiveness in solo play. It’s important to understand that tier lists are subjective. What makes a weapon good actually depends on several factors:

Damage potential: How much damage can it deal in optimal conditions.
Consistency: How reliable that damage is across different scenarios.
Versatility: How well it performs against various monster types.
Safety: The risk-reward balance of using the weapon.
Solo viability: How well it performs without team support.

With that in mind, there are no truly “bad” weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds—if you master a weapon, it can actually be incredibly powerful.

14. Insect Glaive

The Insect Glaive’s Kinsect lets you gather extracts from monsters that buff your abilities. Red extract boosts attack power, white makes you faster, orange adds defense and prevents you from flinching, and green heals you. The Insect Glaive is great for mounting monsters, too.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Fast
Key Strength	Aerial combat and mobility
When to Pick	When you want to focus on mounting and airborne attacks

Here are some tips for Insect Glaive users:

Maintain your triple buff (red, white, orange) at all times.
Don’t rely solely on aerial attacks, ground combos do more DPS.
Use aerial mobility to avoid attacks and reposition.
Train your Kinsect for the right balance of speed and power.

13. Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun (LBG) fires rapidly, making it great for applying status effects and elemental damage. It also has Wyvernblast mines that explode when hit, adding extra damage. Compared to the Heavy Bowgun (HBG), the LBG focuses more on support and crowd control instead of raw power. Because of this, playing solo with the LBG can be harder than with other weapons.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Fast
Key Strength	Mobility while shooting and rapid-fire ammo
When to Pick	When you want to apply status effects or elemental damage from range

Here are some tips for Light Bowgun users:

Match your ammo types to monster weaknesses.
Place Wyvernblast mines where monsters will hit them.
Use evade reload to maintain a safe distance.
Focus on rapid-fire ammo types for your build.

12. Gunlance

The Gunlance’s shelling actually ignores monster hit zones. It will keep dealing fixed damage regardless of the monster’s defenses. Its Wyvern’s Fire attack delivers a strong blast but has a cooldown. In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Gunlance got a major mobility boost, making it more agile than ever—an upgrade the weapon really needed. However, there are still better weapons to use; that is why we put Gunlance in B-tier for now.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Slow
Key Strength	Fixed damage shells and strong guard
When to Pick	When you want good defense with explosive attacks

Here are several tips if you are planning to use Gunlance in Monster Hunter Wilds:

Choose between Normal, Long, or Wide shelling based on playstyle.
Use shells to break through tough monster parts.
Guard and counter with quick shells.
Use Wyvern’s Fire when the monster is down for maximum damage.

11. Lance

The Lance is the best defensive weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds, offering the strongest guard in the game. It can block and counterattack, while its charge move helps with repositioning and mounting. However, in solo hunts, moving around can be tricky. But when facing a monster head-on, no weapon does it better.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Slow
Key Strength	Strongest guard and counter-attacks
When to Pick	When you want to stay aggressive while maintaining defense

Tips for Lance users:

Stay aggressive.
Use counter-thrust to maintain offensive pressure.
Use charge attacks to close the distance quickly.

10. Dual Blades

The Dual Blades’ Demon Mode lets you unleash rapid attacks but drains your stamina. Filling the Archdemon gauge allows you to keep some of these powerful moves even after exiting Demon Mode. Known for speed and aggression, Dual Blades have the highest elemental DPS of any weapon.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Very Fast
Key Strength	Rapid attacks and mobility, high elemental damage
When to Pick	When you want to focus on elemental damage and aggressive playstyle

Helpful tips for Dual Blade users in Monster Hunter Wilds:

Create multiple elemental Dual Blades to match monster weaknesses.
Manage your stamina to maximize Demon Mode time.
Use your mobility to stick to monster weak points.
Time your Blade Dance when monsters are down for maximum damage.

9. Sword and Shield

The Sword and Shield is the jack-of-all-trades in Monster Hunter Wilds, offering versatility that few weapons can match. Its biggest advantage is the ability to use other items without putting the weapon away, making it easy to heal, set traps, or use tools quickly. As the second-best support weapon after the Hunting Horn, it’s great for helping the team while staying in the fight.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Fast
Key Strength	Versatility and item use while weapon is drawn
When to Pick	When you want to adapt to any situation without missing a beat

When played correctly with perfect combos of Perfect Rush, the Sword and Shield can become the highest damage-dealing weapon in a hunt. If every combo hit lands, it can even surpass the Longsword in damage output. Here are some advices for Sword and Shield users:

Use slinger bursts to create openings for Perfect Rush.
Don’t forget you can use items while your weapon is drawn.
Exploit the shield for quick blocks when dodging isn’t an option.
Mix up normal attacks with shield bashes for KO potential.

8. Hammer

The Hammer’s charged attacks allow you to deliver powerful blows to a monster’s head, potentially stunning them and creating openings for your team. Its power charge mechanic adds extra damage and prevents bouncing off hard parts.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Medium
Key Strength	KO potential and charged attacks
When to Pick	When you want to focus on stunning monsters and breaking the head

Some great Hammer playstyle you can note:

Aim for the monster head whenever possible.
Use slopes and ledges for powerful spinning attacks.
Charge your hammer while moving to position for the perfect strike.
Time your big hits for when monsters are vulnerable.

7. Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horn’s melody system allows you to play songs that buff yourself and nearby hunters. In Monster Hunter Wilds, its combat capabilities have been enhanced while maintaining its support role.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Medium
Key Strength	Team buffs through melodies
When to Pick	When hunting in groups or when you want to support while still dealing damage

If you are using Hunting Horn in the game, remember these strategies:

Learn which melodies provide the most valuable buffs.
Queue up songs during openings, then perform them when safe.
Position to hit monster heads for KO potential.
Use Performance Mode to extend buffs and deal extra damage.

6. Charge Blade

The Charge Blade’s phial system lets you store energy in sword mode, then release it in devastating explosions in axe mode. Its Super Amped Element Discharge (SAED) can deal massive damage in a single burst. The Charge Blade is also the second-best elemental damage weapon, just behind Dual Blades.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Medium (Sword mode), Slow (Axe mode)
Key Strength	Versatility and explosive damage
When to Pick	When you enjoy technical weapons with a high skill ceiling

How to master the Charge Blade:

Keep your shield charged for bonus defense.
Learn guard point timing for effective counters.
Choose between SAED spam or Savage Axe style based on the monster.
Keep phials charged to prevent bouncing in sword mode.

5. Switch Axe

The Switch Axe transforms between axe and sword modes, each with distinct advantages. In axe mode, you gain mobility and reach, while sword mode offers higher damage and phial effects. The Zero Sum Discharge allows you to latch onto monsters for a powerful explosive finisher. This makes Dual Blades the best weapon for farming specific monster parts, thanks to their rapid attack speed and high elemental damage output.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Slow (Axe), Medium (Sword)
Key Strength	Transformation mechanics and phial bursts
When to Pick	When you want sustained damage output with occasional explosions and when you are targeting a certain part of a monster

Tips for Switch Axe users:

Focus on one part first until it breaks, then move on to the next part.
Manage your sword gauge to avoid running out mid-combo.
Position carefully, as you lack defensive options.
Use Zero Sum Discharge when monster parts are wounded.

4. Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun is the tank of the ranged weapons, offering powerful ammunition options at the cost of mobility. It specializes in dealing sustained damage from a distance. Its special ammo types like Wyvern Fire and Cluster Bombs can deal significant burst damage, while its shield mods allow for some defensive capability.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Very Slow
Key Strength	High damage from a distance
When to Pick	When you want maximum firepower and don’t mind reduced mobility

Some tips and tricks for Heavy Bowgun users:

Position carefully due to limited mobility.
Learn which ammo types work best against different monsters.
Use special ammo when the monster is vulnerable.
Consider shield mods for difficult hunts.

3. Bow

The Bow is listed as the top ranged option in Monster Hunter Wilds. This weapon is great for applying elemental damage from a safe distance. Its charging system allows for sustained DPS while maintaining full mobility. The addition of specialized coatings also gives the Bow incredible versatility, letting you apply status effects or focus on pure damage. What makes the Bow stand out in Monster Hunter Wilds is its new homing arrow skill, which deals a ton of damage and is incredibly satisfying to watch.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Fast
Key Strength	• Ability to maintain consistent damage output • Excellent elemental application • Superior mobility while attacking • Safe distance from monster attacks
When to Pick	When you want to maintain distance while dealing consistent damage

Key strategies if you want to use Bow in the game:

Create multiple Bows with different elements to exploit monster weaknesses.
Master dash-dancing to maintain optimal damage while repositioning.
Manage your stamina carefully, it’s your most precious resource.
Use power coatings for damage phases and status coatings for utility.

2. Longsword

Being fan-favorite for years, the Longsword gives you an exceptional combination of offense, defense, and mobility. What makes the Longsword special is its Foresight Slash and Special Sheathe counters, which allow you to evade attacks while building up your spirit gauge. A properly executed counter can transition directly into your powerful Spirit Helm Breaker, dealing significant damage.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Medium-Fast
Key Strength	• Excellent mobility around the battlefield • Counter mechanics that reward skillful play • Strong damage output without major weaknesses • Stylish, flowing combos that feel satisfying to execute
When to Pick	When you want a balanced weapon with a high skill ceiling

Tips for Longsword users:

Master the timing of your Foresight Slash to counter monster attacks.
Maintain your spirit gauge at the red level whenever possible.
Use Special Sheathe to quickly counter and build meter.
Practice positioning to hit weak spots with your Spirit Helm Breaker.

1. Greatsword

The Greatsword is the quintessential Monster Hunter weapon, delivering massive damage with each swing. What it lacks in speed, it makes up for in raw power. The Greatsword’s playstyle revolves around charging your attacks to unleash devastating blows. You’ll spend most of your time predicting monster movements and positioning yourself for the perfect strike. A well-timed True Charged Slash can deal more damage in a single hit than almost any other weapon in the game.

What makes the Greatsword the best of the best, is its combination of incredible damage potential and reliability in solo hunts. It becomes even stronger in Monster Hunter Wilds with the addition of Focus Mode, allowing users to actively change direction while charging a True Charge Slash.

Stats	Rating
Movement Speed	Slow
Key Strength	Extremely high damage per hit
When to Pick	When you want to focus on timing and positioning for massive damage

Some advice you can use if you are wielding the Greatsword:

Focus on learning monster patterns to predict where they’ll be.
Practice the timing for your charged attacks.
Hit and run tactics work well.
Use shoulder tackle to power through roars and attacks.

The best weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds is ultimately the one that feels right in your hands. While this tier list can guide you toward potentially stronger options, your personal skill and comfort with a weapon matter more.

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Don’t be afraid to keep on choosing and learning with different weapons as you progress through the game. What feels awkward at first might become your favorite with practice. We all know that Monster Hunter has always rewarded hunters who take the time to master their chosen weapons.

Monster Hunter Wilds