Monster Hunter Wilds weapon tier list with best weapon types ranked

Monster Hunter Wilds weapons tier list

In many ways, there are no best or worst weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds, since as with prior games they can be better in certain situations.

Playing with a group? A Hunting Horn among your squad could be a huge boon, but it’s not necessarily the weapon you’d reach for when you hunt solo.

With that in mind, our tier rankings are formed of how satisfying the weapon is to use, how useful it is in a variety of circumstances, and how much fun you can have while wielding it.

Weapon rankings at a glance

S-Tier:

• Long Sword
• Great Sword
• Bow
• Heavy Bowgun
• Insect Glaive

A-Tier:

• Dual Blades
• Hammer
• Sword & Shield
• Charge Blade
• Light Bowgun
• Gunlance

B-Tier:

• Lance
• Switch Axe
• Hunting Horn

Best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds ranked

Here's a more in-depth look at the best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds ranked. Remember - these rankings are subjective.

S-tier: The best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds

With the caveats of preference out of the way, these five weapons mark the pinnacle of Monster Hunter Wilds’ sizeable arsenal.

Long Sword

Arguably the coolest weapon to wield and one that many players will gravitate towards, it has plenty of reach and a Spirit Gauge that builds through dealing damage before letting players unleash flashy attacks.

It’s great for new and experienced players alike, and ideal for making use of the new Wound system.

Secondary weapon: Try adding a Bow for ranged damage, or a Great Sword for bigger hits.

Great Sword

A classic whichever way you slice it, the Great Sword maybe isn’t as flashy as the Long Sword but it can be handy for moments when a monster is pinning and you can wind up a series of big attacks.

It’s slow, but it’s a little more forgiving in Wilds since you can tiptoe to adjust your angles mid-combo, and the option to guard is always welcome.

Secondary weapon: Pair with something nimble, like the Insect Glaive or Dual Blades.

Bow

One of two ranged weapons in S-Tier, the Bow is simple to understand but has additional potential thanks to the Tracker added in Wilds which means rounds are more likely to hit.

Add to that the fact it’s ideal for pulling a monster’s focus away from your teammates, plus it’s great for aerial threats, and the Bow earns a spot on your Seikret.

Secondary weapon: Something for melee combat is key, so whatever you feel comfortable with.

Heavy Bowgun

Don’t let the name fool you, this is essentially a machine gun with various weapon types which means you can tweak your playstyle on an ad hoc basis to account for a monster’s weaknesses.

If you can manage your ammo, it’s a great beginner’s weapon which still feels powerful and versatile, while pairing nicely with melee companions.

Secondary weapon: Again, something for melee is crucial, preferably something that keeps you light on your feet like the Dual Blades.

Insect Glaive

It may not be all that common, but the Insect Glaive is one of Monster Hunter Wilds’ most enjoyable weapons to use, with a focus on mobility and aerial manoeuvres that can’t be matched.

Using your weapon to 'pogo' and bring the hurt to a monster from the skies is great, but having an additional air dodge can be crucial in some of the game’s tougher fights.

We have a guide covering our best Insect Glaive build and one on how to manage Kinsects if you'd like to learn more about this weapon.

Secondary weapon: The Insect Glaive doesn’t hit as hard as some, so consider a Hammer or Great Sword for a chance to do bigger damage when the opportunity arises.

A-Tier: Great weapons to try

A-Tier is very, very slightly behind S-Tier, and again much of this comes down to how you want to play.

Dual Blades

Dual Blades are the fastest weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds, and while they don’t do a great deal of damage on their own, shifting to Demon Mode does buff damage considerably and allow additional combats.

They’re also handy for applying status effects, and you can stay mobile while you attack, too, which is just as well since they offer no real defence.

Secondary weapon: Again, big damage is welcome, but you might want to try using something with range like a Bow or Bowgun variant.

Hammer

The Hammer lacks some of the nuance of others on this list, but makes up for it with sheer damage output and the opportunity to stun monsters when hitting their head.

It can also do a great job of knocking off parts of monsters, and besides that it’s an enormous hammer with some huge, easy-to-use combos which are always fun.

Secondary weapon: Consider packing a weapon that does severing damage to go with the blunt force trauma of the Hammer.

Sword and Shield

It’s not the most exciting, but Sword and Shield might end up being the easiest weapon type for beginners, earning it a spot in A-Tier.

It’s got fast attacking potential backed up by a shield, but low damage numbers will mean you could be wailing on an enemy for a while before seeing any real results.

Secondary weapon: The Sword and Shield is pretty balanced, but you might want to think about having something more exotic - consider using the secondary slot to experiment.

Charge Blade

A weapon that can snowball into a power-hitter very quickly, the Charge Blade offers two weapon configurations and switching between them is key.

With their own movesets, though, it can be a tricky combo to learn - so you’ll definitely want to spend some time in the Training Area.

Secondary weapon: Consider something that hits hard and fast, like a Long Sword or Dual Blades.

Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun is, as the name suggests, a version of the Heavy Bowgun that trades damage for increased mobility, making it less likely you’ll be caught in an awkward spot.

It lacks stopping power, but it does let you tool around with ammo types like its heavier sibling, meaning if one doesn’t suit your playstyle, the other might.

Secondary weapon: Again, something melee-focused will do the trick here, maybe a heavy-hitter like the Great Sword.

Gunlance

Monster Hunter veterans may swear by the Gunlance’s explosive payloads and shield, combined with the lance part, but it’s not always easy to get to grips with.

If you have used it before, however, you’ll find it’s just as viable as it’s ever been here, particularly with its devastating Wyvern’s Fire attacks.

Secondary weapon: The choice is yours since the Gunlance is dual-purpose, but maybe something simpler like the Dual Blades would be an ideal tonic.

B-Tier: Prepare to spend some time with these

While we’ve put these in the 'bottom' tier, each has plenty of advantages over the options above.

Lance

One of the most consistent weapons in the game when it comes to blocking, the Lance lacks movement options but it’s rangy enough to have fun with the Wound system.

The trouble is, it’s just too slow to be able to throw yourself at a monster at times, meaning you often feel as though you’re holding back somewhat.

Secondary weapon: Something that makes it easy to move mid-fight, like the Long Sword or Dual Blades would work nicely.

Switch Axe

The Switch Axe is likely to be a favourite of many returning players, but for newcomers it’s a lot to take in.

It has two forms, but if you go for a big hit you could be left stranded and with little defence, plus learning to juggle the two can often leave new players confused.

Secondary weapon: Another weapon that’s a little slow, we’d opt for a Long Sword in reserve.

Hunting Horn

Somewhat memed in the community for its inherent silliness, the Hunting Horn can be the difference between a successful hunt and a failed one but requires a skilled wielder.

It can hit hard, but it’s best for supporting other players, making it to recommend in solo content.

Secondary weapon: Anything that you feel comfortable using solo!

Best of luck in Monster Hunter Wilds!