Monster Hunter Wilds best weapons tier list

What is the best weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds? The most important decisions in any Monster Hunter game are always related to your weapons. Monster Hunter Wilds, like its recent predecessors, gives you access to 14 distinct weapon types from the very beginning. So to aid you in figuring out which weapon to choose, in our guide below we've ranked all weapons from best to worst in the current post-launch meta.

Read on, and you'll find our definitive Monster Hunter Wilds weapon tier list ranking everything from the mighty Great Sword to the melodic Hunting Horn, including every melee and ranged option in the same tier list, and fully accounting for all the latest weapon balance changes in Title Update 1. All 14 weapons are extremely powerful in the right hands, and more than capable of seeing you through the entirety of Monster Hunter Wilds. But if you want the very best weapons in the game for sheer destructive power and finishing hunts in record time, these are the ones to pick.

Monster Hunter Wilds - Which Weapon is Best For You

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Monster Hunter Wilds best weapons tier list

As of Title Update 1, The best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds are the Long Sword, the Bow, and the Sword And Shield, each of which is placed in the top SS-Tier rank of our tier list. The Long Sword reigns supreme as a remarkably well-balanced weapon that makes use of counters and dodges to completely nullify dangerous attacks. The Bow packs amazing damage potential into a fast-firing package, can be very easily used to decimate any monster in the game. And the Sword And Shield gives you amazing mobility and versatility, allowing you to block, dodge, and carve up enemies with either brute force or elemental status effects. All three are exquisitely powerful in the right hands, and deserve their spots at the top of our tier list.

Below you can see our Monster Hunter Wilds tier list of best weapons in full. Keep scrolling beyond that and you can read in more detail about each of our rankings, as well as some notes on the best weapons in each category.

Monster Hunter Wilds weapon tier list

SS-Tier:

• Long Sword
• Bow
• Sword And Shield

S-Tier:

• Gunlance
• Great Sword
• Dual Blades
• Insect Glaive

A-Tier:

• Charge Blade
• Heavy Bowgun
• Hunting Horn
• Hammer

B-Tier:

• Lance
• Switch Axe
• Light Bowgun

This tier list reflects the current weapon meta in Monster Hunter Wilds, but it's important to remember that things may change over time as new content updates and balance changes are added to the game by Capcom. Specifically, we've taken into account the recent weapon balance changes introduced in Title Update 1 - more info on those exact balance changes below.

Before you protest: even B-Tier weapons, in the right hands, and with enough practice, can hit every bit as hard as SS-Tier weapons. They're still very much worth trying to see if you get on with them, because all 14 weapon types can be astoundingly strong. We're splitting hairs by necessity here in order to make a tier list in the first place. The weapon you should use is the one that you enjoy using most, full stop.

However, for a lot of people, it's good to know that you'll be spending your time learning the very best weapons that Monster Hunter Wilds has to offer. Below we'll explore each of our tier list rankings in greater detail, explaining why each weapon is ranked in the position it is.

1. Long Sword

The Long Sword is quite simply phenomenal. In its current state it surpasses every other melee weapon in the game, boasting the massive reach of a Great Sword, but in a far less clunky and unwieldy package. Unlike most other weapons of its size, it's fast enough to deal great elemental damage, particularly once you max out your Spirit Gauge. The Long Sword allows easy access to every part of a monster, and keeps you mobile even while you're delivering tremendous amounts of damage. The best part, though, is the Foresight Slash, which acts as a counterattack that completely negates all damage when you time it right. With practice, you can feel utterly invincible with a Long Sword, which makes it a phenomenal choice whether in solo or as part of a hunting party, right up to endgame fights against Arch-Tempered monsters.

For more info, check out the Long Sword weapon tree, or consult our guide to the best Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds.

2. Bow

Even among the SS-Tier rank weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds, the Bow is quite special. With a Bow, you have easy access to amazing amounts of very precisely targeted damage thanks to the Tracers and Focus Strikes; and you're also highly mobile, capable of completely negating damage with a well-timed Charging Sidestep. It's a simple weapon that delivers outstanding damage, applies status effects easily, and gives you lots of tools for staying safe throughout a fight. The changes in Title Update 1 have shifted its balance slightly, lessening the strength of Dragon Piercer but increasing the power of Thousand Dragons and Power Volley - and all in all, we don't think these changes have really hurt or hindered the Bow in any massive way, so it's still one of the very best weapons around.

To learn more about our pick for the best ranged weapon in MH Wilds, you can delve into the Bow weapon tree here, or check out our list of best Bows.

3. Sword And Shield

The Sword And Shield has never been stronger than it is in Monster Hunter Wilds. It's the most versatile weapon of all, and I believe it outclasses the Dual Blades - the other very fast-attacking melee weapon. With the Sword And Shield equipped you are extremely mobile, particularly with the incredible utility of the Sliding Swipe; and if you find yourself in harm's way, you can use your tiny little shield to block or even perform a full-blown Power Clash against a large monster. Add to this the great consistent DPS and status effect procs you get with the SNS, and it well deserves its spot in the SS-Tier rank.

If you want to learn more, you can start by browswing the Sword And Shield weapon tree here, or read our guide on the best Sword And Shield.

4. Gunlance

The Gunlance can hit like an absolute truck, and can end some fights quicker than nearly anything else. Its lack of mobility can lead you into difficult situations unless you are very well practiced with the weapon, which is the only reason why it isn't SS-Tier, instead topping our list of S-Tier weapons. It was always a very hard-hitting weapon that can also keep you about as protected as the Lance, but in Wilds it's even more devastating thanks to Wyrmstake Full Blast, the special attack you can unleash after your main Wide Sweep combo. Gunlance has a faster clear time than almost any other weapon on average - it's a truly fearsome weapon, provided you can tolerate its Lance-like heft and playstyle.

For more on this destructive hybrid weapon, you can check out the Gunlance weapon tree here, or browse our list of the best Gunlance options.

5. Great Sword

The monumental Great Sword can deliver the highest raw damage per strike of any weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds, provided you charge it up first. The most iconic weapon type in the series, the Great Sword is a little easier to use in Wilds thanks to the addition of Focus Mode, which helps you to aim those massive swings at exactly the right angle. The reason it's not quite top-tier and other large weapons like the Long Sword outclass it is simply because of how unwieldy and slow the Great Sword is, and how punishing it is when you miss an attack. It's a simple moveset, but a very tricky weapon to master.

Learn more about this powerhouse with our walkthrough of the Great Sword weapon tree, or read up on our picks for the best Great Swords in MH Wilds.

6. Dual Blades

The lightning-fast Dual Blades have one strategy: aggression. As the fastest-attacking weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds, they are of course excellent at inflicting element damage and building up status effects, so they're a great pick against enemies that are particularly weak to a certain status. Demon Mode is easy to misuse and the stamina management involved makes the Dual Blades surprisingly finnicky, but there's no denying the attack power when you're diving between a monster's legs, evading attacks and letting loose with massive, seconds-long combos.

For more info, check out the Dual Blades weapon tree here, or read our best Dual Blades ranking list.

7. Insect Glaive

If this were a tier list based on how fun and satisfying each weapon is, then the Insect Glaive may well sit at the top thanks to those marvellous aerial attacks. Kinsect management is of course essential with the Insect Glaive, and the micromanagement involved can be to your disadvantage in some cases. It's a lot to get used to. But it also provides a lot of versatility and power to a weapon which feels almost as freeing and mobile as the SNS. That's a very powerful combo which will appeal to an awful lot of players. It certainly does to me.

To learn more, look no further than the Insect Glaive weapon tree and our list of the best Insect Glaives.

8. Charge Blade

The complexity of the Charge Blade is its major drawback, when all's said and done. It's long been said that the Charge Blade is the most complex weapon in the Monster Hunter series (which is saying something when the Hunting Horn exists), so it'll take quite some getting used to before you can make it shine under fretful circumstances. That said, this unusual hybrid can deliver excellent burst damage with the sword, and even more so with the axe once it's charged up fully. It has middling weight, so don't expect to be the most mobile of hunters, but the Perfect Guard ability allows you to stand your ground and retaliate against dangerous attacks, as long as your timing is sound.

To learn more, check out the Charge Blade weapon tree here, or consult our list of best Charge Blades.

9. Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun, much like the Gunlance, can deliver stupendous damage from afar once you know what you're doing. It's hard to recommend a Light Bowgun when you have its heavier cousin as an option, simply because of the damage output available here, as well as the versatility of all the different ammo types and the ability to Offset Attack. But similarly, it's tricky to recommend the Heavy Bowgun when the Gunlance exists! As is common in this lower half of our tier list, the Heavy Bowgun is brought down by its clunkiness and complexity, and you should definitely pair it with a faster melee weapon to counteract its shortcomings.

If you're looking for more info, consult the Heavy Bowgun weapon tree here, or check out our best Heavy Bowgun guide.

10. Hunting Horn

Despite placing 10th in our tier list, Hunting Horn players are eating well with Monster Hunter Wilds. This buff-oriented blunt damage support weapon shines in multiplayer, and with the addition of Echo Bubbles and the ability to perform an Offset Attack or other powerful 4-step melodies, the Hunting Horn is the best it's been yet Even so, it can't match up to the power of certain other similarly-sized weapons. You can argue that it isn't meant to, as it's a support-focused weapon. And yes, it's still a solid choice - but in the current meta, this is where we think the Hunting Horn lies.

For further guidance, you can check out the Hunting Horn weapon tree, and consult our list of the very best Hunting Horns.

11. Hammer

The straightforward Hammer is capable of brute-force-bonking its way into even the most armoured Monster Hunter player's heart. The main lure of the Hammer is its massive stun potential: aim at a monster's head and you'll be stunning them with ease (particularly with the right Skills), leading to some very easy fights if things go your way. It's got some massively powerful charge attacks that maintain your mobility while you're charging, making it one of the simplest and most forgiving weapons in the game to learn. There's a reason we pick the Hammer as one of our best starter weapons for Monster Hunter Wilds beginners. Its major drawback is its tiny range (far lower than similarly bulky weapons like the Great Sword and Long Sword), its general lack of versatility, and the fact that it just can't quite clear monsters as quickly as certain other weapons higher up in this tier list.

For more info, check out the Hammer weapon tree here, or read our list on the best Hammer in the game.

12. Lance

The Lance is a slow and steady defensive powerhouse, an endless redoubt of charged pokes and giggling from behind a gigantic shield. The Lance can deal good damage in capable hands, and it's of course strong enough to take into the endgame, as is every other weapon. But you certainly won't be breaking any speed records with a Lance as your primary. It's a good option for sustained and safe raw damage, but it can't cope with the mobility and power of certain of its rivals.

For more details, check out the Lance weapon tree, or read our list of the best Lance in the game.

13. Switch Axe

The Switch Axe looks cool, and feels cool, particularly in the gigantic axe form. But while not as complex as the Charge Blade, it still feels like the Switch Axe comes off a little worse compared to other weapons when you consider how much goes into learning the best ways to deliver the strongest combos, and what you get out of it in raw damage. It's a hard sell for beginners, a punishing and unwieldy option even in its more nimble form.

For more guidance, read up on the Switch Axe weapon tree here, or check out our best Switch Axe shortlist.

14. Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun is by no means a bad weapon, but personally I don't think sacrificing damage for mobility is really all that beneficial in Monster Hunter Wilds. It does much of what the Heavy Bowgun does, and there are times when the extra manoeuvrability is useful, but in most cases you may find yourself pining for the greater damage potential to get the fights over and done with quicker.

For more details on this weapon type, you can check out the Light Bowgun weapon tree, or read our list on the best Light Bowguns.

Best weapons for each type

Here's a quick rundown of the individual weapons we consider to be the very best in Monster Hunter Wilds, organised by the 14 different weapon types. All of these weapons are endgame weapons, found at the very end of their respective trees.

Great Swords

Long Swords

Sword And Shields

Dual Blades

Hammers

Hunting Horns

Lances

Gunlances

Switch Axes

Charge Blades

Insect Glaives

Light Bowguns

Heavy Bowguns

Bows

Which weapon should you use?

Monster Hunter Wilds is exclusively PvE, so it needn't matter so much which weapon is the absolute best. All of them are phenomenally powerful if you learn them, and each one is more than capable of seeing you through to the endgame.

But if you're stuck trying to figure out which weapon to use, then here are our recommendations depending on what you're after:

• Pick Sword And Shield for a balance of mobility, strength, and complexity.
• Pick Long Sword if you prefer dodging to blocking, and want good reach.
• Pick Great Sword if you want the most amazingly powerful charge-up attacks.
• Pick Hammer if you need a lot of blunt damage and enjoy stunning monsters.
• Pick Dual Blades if you want high speed, evasion, and the elements as your ally.
• Pick Lance if impenetrable defence and counterattacking appeals to you.
• Pick Gunlance if you can handle a slower Lance that gives you strong ranged attacks.
• Pick Hunting Horn if you naturally gravitate towards support and buff-based combat.
• Pick Insect Glaive if you like a smart approach to hunts, and lots of aerial combat.
• Pick Switch Axe if you like counterattacks, and the Lance is too constricting.
• Pick Charge Blade if you don't mind a steep learning curve in exchange for versatility.
• Pick Bow if you want to stay light on your feet while destroying wounds at a range.
• Pick Heavy Bowgun if you want to deliver the highest damage from a safe distance.
• Pick Light Bowgun if charging monsters scare you too much to use the Heavy Bowgun.

That wraps up our tier list ranking all the best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. If you're more interested in what you'll be fighting against, then check out our full Monster Hunter Wilds monster list for details of everything you'll face. You can also consult our Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough for a full overview of every main quest, or find the answers to more specific questions like how to capture monsters, how to get Layered Armor, how to get Hunter Symbols, and how to get Monster Fluid.