MH Wilds: Weapon Guide & Best Choices for your Playstyle

In Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds), one of the most crucial decisions you'll make is selecting the right weapon. The weapon you choose directly impacts your combat experience, making the difference between a smooth hunt and a challenging, frustrating one. Each weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds offers unique advantages, playstyles, and mechanics. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the 14 different weapon types, breaking down their strengths, weaknesses, and who each weapon is best suited for.

Whether you're new to the series or a seasoned veteran, understanding the nuances of each weapon will help you maximize your effectiveness in the hunt.

1. Great Sword: Master of Damage

Strengths:

Massive damage output, especially when fully charged.
Excellent at breaking monster parts due to its size and power.
Great for dealing with high-health monsters.

Weaknesses:

Slow movement and attack speed, requiring careful positioning.
Vulnerable to quick, aggressive monsters.

Best For:

Players who enjoy a slow but impactful playstyle.
Those who prefer dealing massive damage with precise timing and positioning.

Pro Tip: Mastering the Great Sword requires patience. Learn to time your charged attacks effectively to make the most out of this heavy-hitting weapon.

2. Long Sword: Balance of Speed and Power

Strengths:

Agile and fast, allowing for swift, continuous combos.
Spirit Gauge lets you unlock powerful attacks and buffs.
Can counter or evade quickly while maintaining offensive pressure.

Weaknesses:

Lacks defensive options.
Requires skill to manage the Spirit Gauge and combos efficiently.

Best For:

Players who want a flexible weapon that balances offense with mobility.
Those who prefer a combination of quick attacks and devastating counters.

Pro Tip: Master the Spirit Gauge system to boost your attack power. Use it wisely to perform Spirit Blade combos and elevate your combat style.

3. Sword and Shield: Versatile and Defensive

Strengths:

Allows you to block while attacking.
Can use items without sheathing the weapon, making it great for multitasking.
Offers great mobility and moderate damage.

Weaknesses:

Lower damage output compared to other weapons.
Lacks the sheer power of heavier weapons.

Best For:

Beginners or players who prefer a balanced, defensive playstyle.
Those who want to combine offense and utility without sacrificing mobility.

Pro Tip: Make use of the Sword and Shield's ability to use items during combat, such as healing potions, to stay alive longer in tough battles.

4. Dual Blades: Aggressive and Swift

Strengths:

Extremely fast attack speed, allowing for continuous assault on monsters.
Ideal for building up damage quickly.
High mobility makes it easy to dodge attacks.

Weaknesses:

Lower damage per hit compared to slower weapons.
Lacks defensive capabilities.

Best For:

Players who enjoy rapid, aggressive combat and want to dish out constant attacks.
Those who like to keep the pressure on monsters with continuous damage.

Pro Tip: Learn to manage your stamina to keep up the aggressive assault. Dual Blades are perfect for relentless attackers who prefer dodging to blocking.

5. Hammer: Heavy Impact and Stun

Strengths:

High damage per hit, excellent for stunning monsters.
Great for breaking parts, especially heads and limbs.
Strong crowd control capabilities.

Weaknesses:

Slow attack speed and long wind-up times.
Requires precise positioning to land critical hits.

Best For:

Players who like dealing devastating blows and controlling the battlefield with stun effects.
Those who prefer a more methodical, high-damage playstyle.

Pro Tip: Focus on hitting the monster’s head to maximize the impact of the Hammer and trigger stuns that leave the monster vulnerable.

6. Hunting Horn: Support and Power

Strengths:

Buffs teammates with powerful musical notes that enhance attack, defense, and health.
Can deal decent damage while supporting others.
Great for cooperative play.

Weaknesses:

Requires memorizing melodies to unlock the full potential of the weapon.
Not as effective in solo play compared to other weapons.

Best For:

Players who enjoy playing a support role in multiplayer sessions.
Those who want to enhance their team’s effectiveness while still contributing to damage.

Pro Tip: Master the melodies and work with your team to coordinate buffs. You can dramatically improve your teammates’ survivability and damage output.

7. Lance: The Defensive Warrior

Strengths:

Excellent for defense, with strong blocking capabilities.
Long reach allows for safe poking from a distance.
Great for defensive playstyles.

Weaknesses:

Limited offensive options and slower movement.
Requires careful timing and positioning for optimal effectiveness.

Best For:

Players who enjoy a tank-like, defensive approach.
Those who prefer consistent, steady damage while maintaining a solid defense.

Pro Tip: Use the Lance’s long reach to poke from a safe distance while keeping your guard up to defend against enemy attacks.

8. Gunlance: Explosive Defense

Strengths:

Combines the Lance’s defensive capabilities with explosive firepower.
Fires shells at the monster, offering a mix of ranged and melee combat.
Great for crowd control and dealing with large groups of enemies.

Weaknesses:

Slow movement, especially when using shells.
Requires managing shell types and cooldowns effectively.

Best For:

Players who enjoy a hybrid of defensive combat and ranged attacks.
Those who want to control the battlefield while dealing significant explosive damage.

Pro Tip: Time your shell usage for maximum damage output. Be mindful of the reload time to avoid getting caught in the open.

9. Switch Axe: Versatility in Combat

Strengths:

Transforms between sword and axe modes, providing versatile attack options.
Great for adapting to different combat situations.
Powerful combos in both forms.

Weaknesses:

Requires managing the weapon’s mode and energy.
Can be complex to master.

Best For:

Players who enjoy switching between different styles of combat.
Those who want the flexibility to adapt to different monster types and combat situations.

Pro Tip: Master the Switch Axe’s transformation mechanics to unlock its full potential, transitioning between forms for different types of attacks.

10. Charge Blade: Power and Precision

Strengths:

Switches between sword and shield mode and axe mode, allowing for a blend of defense and offense.
Powerful charged attacks and combos.
Great for both solo and multiplayer hunts.

Weaknesses:

Complex mechanics, requiring energy management and precise timing.
Not the best choice for beginners.

Best For:

Players who enjoy mastering complex weapons and dealing high damage.
Those who like having a weapon that can handle both defensive and offensive situations.

Pro Tip: Focus on charging up the weapon's energy for devastating axe-mode attacks. Practice the transition between sword and shield mode and axe mode to optimize damage.

11. Insect Glaive: Aerial Combat Specialist

Strengths:

Excellent for aerial combat, allowing you to jump and attack from above.
The Kinsect can be sent to gather buffs and deal damage.
Great mobility and evasion.

Weaknesses:

Weak in ground combat and requires mastery of aerial mechanics.
Relies heavily on the Kinsect for buffs and damage.

Best For:

Players who enjoy acrobatic combat and aerial attacks.
Those who prefer a dynamic, mobile playstyle.

Pro Tip: Master the aerial mechanics to maximize your attacks from above. Use the Kinsect effectively to gain buffs and keep your attacks powerful.

12. Light Bowgun: Agile and Mobile

Strengths:

Fast and mobile, allowing for quick movement while firing.
Can use various ammo types for different effects, such as poison or paralysis.
Great for ranged combat and evading attacks.

Weaknesses:

Lower damage output per shot compared to the Heavy Bowgun.
Requires managing ammo types.

Best For:

Players who prefer ranged combat with high mobility.
Those who want to stay on the move while still dealing consistent damage.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different ammo types to maximize your ranged effectiveness. Focus on keeping your distance while consistently harassing the monster.

13. Heavy Bowgun: Heavy Firepower

Strengths:

High damage per shot, especially with powerful ammo types.
Great for crowd control and dealing with large monsters.
Effective for long-range combat.

Weaknesses:

Slow movement and difficult to dodge.
Requires managing ammo types and reload time.

Best For:

Players who enjoy a heavy firepower style with ranged combat.
Those who prefer a more methodical, strategic approach.

Pro Tip: Set up your positioning carefully to avoid being overwhelmed. Use powerful ammo types to deal with monsters from a safe distance.

14. Bow: Precision and Agility

Strengths:

Versatile ranged weapon with the ability to charge shots for increased damage.
Can target weak points effectively.
High mobility allows for precise and strategic attacks.

Weaknesses:

Requires stamina management for charged shots.
Less effective in close combat.

Best For:

Players who enjoy precision and ranged combat.
Those who want to focus on targeting weak points and dealing consistent damage from afar.

Pro Tip: Focus on mastering charged shots for maximum damage and learn to target monster weak points to deal the most damage.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Weapon for You

The best weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds ultimately comes down to your personal playstyle. Whether you enjoy tanking hits with a Lance, raining down damage with Dual Blades, or supporting your team with a Hunting Horn, there’s a weapon for everyone. Take the time to experiment with different weapons in the training area, and consider your role in a team if you're playing multiplayer.

Choosing the right weapon is about more than just damage; it's about complementing your strengths and working within your comfort zone. With 14 different weapons to explore, the possibilities are vast, and the key is finding one that suits how you like to hunt.

Pro Tip: Don't be afraid to try different weapons as you progress through the game. You can always craft another weapon or consult NPCs like Alma to help you make a decision!

How to Defeat Guardian Rathalos in Monster Hunter Wilds: A Complete Guide

In Monster Hunter Wilds, taking down the Guardian Rathalos is no easy task, but with the right strategy and preparation, you can come out victorious. This fiery beast can be daunting with its relentless attacks and powerful aerial strikes. To help you defeat this formidable foe, check out our detailed guide to defeating the Guardian Rathalos for expert tips, gear recommendations, and combat strategies that will give you the upper hand.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Paid Character Changes Explained

In Monster Hunter Wilds, some character changes come with a price. Whether you're looking to customize your hunter’s appearance, abilities, or other traits, understanding the paid character changes is essential. To make sure you're fully informed about the options and benefits, take a look at our breakdown of the paid character changes in Monster Hunter Wilds. This will guide you on how to make the most of your customization choices while understanding the potential costs involved.

These resources will help you maximize your experience in Monster Hunter Wilds and ensure you're fully equipped to take on the toughest challenges.