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When it comes to action role-playing games, one thing that is absolutely certain is that you need to make sure that you are using the best available weapons.
Monster Hunter World is no different and there are many aspects to the gameplay that determine how well you would perform against a gigantic monster that you’re out to hunt.
Naturally, one of the most important ones is what weapon you’re using, and finding the one suited best for your loadout is half the battle.
With 14 different weapon types that all play differently and variations within each type as well – it can take a lot of time to figure out which ones to use. That’s why we’ve created a thorough list of the top 10 best weapons to use in Monster Hunter World so that you’re never ill-prepared and have what it takes to win!
Read this: How Long Does It Take to Beat Final Fantasy 15?
Monster Hunter World Weapons Ranked
Explore GamesBustop’s top 10 MHW weapons for 2024.
1. Sword and Shield
Weapon Category: Light.
Some weapons are meant for offensive play styles and some are meant for defensive ones. But then we have the Sword and Shield weapon which can be used both offensively and defensively at the same time. You can attack enemies and use items while you’re blocking, which is very helpful in fights that take a lot of time.
There is of course a catch, though. The sharpness of the weapon decreases faster than the usual weapons in the game and both the attack and defense stats are not the highest that the game has to offer.
But it’s still pretty useful for hybrid playstyles and especially helpful for newcomers who need to take a bit of time in figuring out how they want to play the game.
2. Bowgun (Light)
Weapon Category: Light.
Since the monsters in Monster Hunter World are rather gigantic, it’s understandable if your preferred approach to attacking is long-ranged.
The Light Bowgun is a kind of gun that can use different types of ammo and even make use of grenades – which makes it very useful to have in combat.
It’s not a weapon you should use if you’re not well-researched about the monster that you’re about to face, but once you know how things work, using it as your primary long-ranged weapon will be very beneficial for you.
3. Great Sword
Weapon Category: Heavy.
Whether you’re playing Dark Souls or Monster Hunter, the words Great Sword are always good to hear. That’s because it’s a great weapon that acts as kind of an all-rounder for people who like to have something that is useful against almost every type of enemy but at the same time not too fancy.
The sword requires both hands to be used and its charged attack can be chained into many long combos, which is always a great thing to have in a game with hack ‘n’ slash gameplay.
And of course, its damage potential is pretty high and is great for crushing through your enemies.
4. Charge Blade
Weapon Category: Technical.
The Charge Blade is an interesting weapon as it acts as a hybrid between swords and shields. Instead of allowing you to hold both at the same time, this weapon has three different forms that act as a sword, an axe, and a shield respectively.
While you can just use each of the individual weapons for what they’re meant to do, there are more technical ways to play with the Charge Blade too.
A common example within the community is that players use the sword form to rack up energy and then use that energy for the axe, which then leads up to heavy attacks that damage opponents by a great number. And additionally, you also get some agility within the moveset with things like backstepping, sliding, and more.
It’s an all-rounder weapon in the most literal sense of that term, but it’s only meant for experts who know what they’re doing and have a bit of experience with all three types of weapons that you can form the Charge Blade into.
5. Bowgun (Heavy)
Weapon Category: Heavy.
If you’ve read this far, you already know of the light version of the Bowgun. Now, for people who prefer a bigger band, we have the heavy variation of the Bowgun weapon. It has a long-range and a higher capacity of ammo, while the damage is obviously much higher in comparison too.
You can still attach different types of ammunition to it, but a downside that this variation has is that it slows down your movement and also has a slower rate of fire. It was necessary to balance the game because the light Bowgun would become useless otherwise.
However, you can use a shield with this gun which allows you to play more strategically to make up for the slower speed. It’s ultimately a weapon that should only be used by people with more experience compared to someone new to the game.
6. Bow
Weapon Category: Technical.
So, you’re not a fan of modern-day weaponry when it comes to long-ranged options and prefers things a little old-school? Worry not, because Monster Hunter World has you covered. The Bow weapon is as simple as it sounds – there are no bullets or machinery, only you and the good old bow that has existed since as early as time itself.
You have unlimited ammunition here which makes up for the lack of bullets – but it’s not as simple as it sounds either.
You can apply different types of coatings to your arrows which provide different qualities to the shots you will be firing, which is something that players are familiar with in most RPG games. This adds a nice level of variety to how you can play with this weapon and makes it one of the best weapons to use in Monster Hunter World.
Keep in mind, though, the room for error with the Bow is very low. If you miss your shots too many times, it can mean the end of your adventures for the time being.
So, only players who have good aim to start off with or are experienced after playing the game for a while should use this weapon, otherwise, any of the modern-day guns would be a much better use. You do get a few slide and dash moves to make up for its difficulty of use, though.
7. Lance
Weapon Type: Heavy.
The Lance is great for people who wish to prioritize defensive weaponry as it has the best guard options compared to the other weapons in the game and it offers something nearly irresistible – the ability to block while you’re still moving.
It’s a great alternative to people who feel that some of the swords are too heavy to handle and it also has a pretty good range too.
The only downside to this weapon is that it requires precision, which can be said for almost any defensive weapon in the game. Since your offensive options are a bit nerfed in comparison, you need to have sufficient knowledge about the monsters that you’re about to fight.
Otherwise, you might get overpowered and feel the need to switch to something more offensive in the end, killing your hopes and dreams of using a defensive option primarily.
8. Hammer
Weapon Type: Heavy.
So, you’re someone who takes out the biggest weapon that you have and begins firing onto everything that you see in video games when the objective says ‘stealth is optional.
Naturally, as soon as you get started on your Monster Hunter World adventure, you’re thinking about tank weapons to destroy everything in your sight immediately.
If you feel that the statement above is relatable, then the Hammer is the weapon for you. It’s an extremely heavy and highly damaging weapon that can knock out monsters much easier in comparison to some of the other options on this list.
Not only that but you can even charge it and then slay monsters with even more convenience.
The only downside is a lack of range and it may feel too slow for some people. But when you want so much power, a few sacrifices have to be made.
9. Hunting Horn
Weapon Type: Heavy.
The Hunting Horn is a no-brainer weapon for this list because it’s a staple for every Monster Hunter game. If you’re not a fan of offensive and defensive playstyles, chances are that you’re more of a support guy.
And that’s all that the Hunting Horn is meant for, especially if you’re playing cooperative multiplayer with your friends.
You can use the horn and attack enemies with it, dealing a decent amount of damage and experiencing a moveset that is somewhat similar to the hammer. However, the main purpose of this weapon is to play songs for your friends to increase their morale – and of course, have a good time for yourself too while you’re at it.
10. Insect Glaive
Weapon Type: Technical.
The Insect Glaive is an interesting weapon that is meant for players who like to use speedy attacks that keep them on the move at all times and work well with mid-air attack strategies.
Not only that, but it’s also very useful in co-operative multiplayer in terms of support. Different properties can be applied to it, which range from special damage to specific types of monsters – to healing your teammates.
The downside is that you will need to keep an eye on your stamina and the damage dealt with this weapon is quite low.
But it does not mean that it is useless, as it is one of the best weapons to use in Monster Hunter World if you know what you’re doing and you can buff it as you progress further too. So, mobility, speed, and flashiness – everything that a hunter needs.
That’s it for our list of the 10 best weapons to use in Monster Hunter World. We hope that you found the best weapon suited for your playstyle on this guide and while you’re here, don’t forget to check out some of our other helpful gaming articles too!
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