One of the most important decisions in any Monster Hunter game is which weapon you are going to wield. Monster Hunter Wilds is no different! For newcomers to the franchise, don’t stress about your choice too much! Each of Wilds’ weapons is balanced beautifully. That being said, you’ll always have your favorite, and finding them can take some time in the Training Area and in the field. While you’ll only really get a feel for a weapon once you try some out, this guide aims to steer you towards your perfect Monster Hunter play-style!
Using A Greatsword
The greatsword is a great all-rounder for first-time monster hunters! It can be on the slower side as weapons go, but it makes up for that with some big damage and solid defensive options. Perfect if you want to get up close and personal with the monsters, deal heavy hits, and practice blocking and offsetting monster attacks. A low barrier for entry but high skill ceiling.
Using A Sword And Shield
Arguably the go-to first-time weapon, the sword and shield is even better than the greatsword when it comes to acting as an all-rounder. The weapon is fast-paced enough that repositioning is a breeze, but it also offers defense in the form of the shield, as well as a blunt damage option. On top of this, it is the only weapon where you can use items without having to sheath it first, as long as you’re using your radial menu. In general, sword and shield is a fairly user-friendly melee option with various ways to approach its gameplay. Very low barrier for entry, decent skill ceiling.
Using A Hammer
The joke with hammer is that it’s a brain-off weapon, but don’t let that trick you into thinking it’s an easy weapon! Hammer is all about slow hits, but very heavy hits! Play hammer if you want to be bashing that monster’s head in for the whole fight! The trade-off is, you have to be okay taking damage here and there. With hammer, you have no option to guard and no option to dodge, meaning you will be relying on your positioning and timing your offset attacks. A medium barrier for entry and decent skill ceiling.
Using A Lance
Do you like getting hit a lot but seeing your health bar move barely an inch? Lance might just be for you! Lance is quite possibly the best option in the game for guarding, making you the tank of the Monster Hunter world. You’ll also have fairly quick and powerful attacks to retaliate with. Really, your only trade-off is in mobility, but if you fancy being the immovable force meeting the unstoppable object, then lance is your calling. A medium barrier for entry and decent skill ceiling.
Using A Switch Axe
Can’t decide if you want to use an axe or a sword? Why not choose both! The switch axe allows you to interchange between an axe for better reach and a sword for better attack speed. In both forms, you will be aiming to build up your gauges to unleash your big attacks. It can be a particularly baffling weapon for newcomers, but has some really great synergy for those able to master it. If you can get past the tough barrier for entry, there’s the potential for a very high skill ceiling.
Using An Insect Glaive
You’ll need a two-pronged approach to mastering the insect glaive. The first involves managing your Kinsect bug companion to power up your moves. The second involves perfecting the vaulting, mid-air attacks of the glaive. If you’re good at multitasking and you enjoy really fluid movement abilities, then the insect glaive could bring you a lot of fun. Medium barrier for entry with a high skill ceiling.
Using A Heavy Bowgun
You like to keep a bit of distance from the monster while pelting it with heavy artillery. But, when the monster does get close to you, you like to be able to tank a hit. If this sounds like you, then you may enjoy the heavy bowgun. Like with the lance, you are trading off your mobility, but who needs to move when you can guard? Medium barrier for entry and decent skill ceiling.
Using A Long Sword
If you want to live out your samurai fantasies, the long sword is the weapon of choice. As a melee weapon, you’ll be required to stick close to the monster, but that doesn’t mean you should be tanking hits. The long sword thrives on speed. If you can master its quick attacks and the tight timings on its unique evading attacks, you’ll soon find a flow state with this weapon. A medium barrier for entry with a high skill ceiling.
Using The Dual Blades
Do you like high DPS? Do you like snapping at the heels of monsters like a frenzied chihuahua until they can’t take any more? If so, you may be a dual blades player. Similar to long sword, but perhaps to an even greater degree, you have insanely quick melee attacks. Seriously, you are not going to be giving those monsters a break. But dual blades do have a slightly more forgiving evade mechanic, so long as you haven’t burnt through all of your stamina on your rapid attacks. If you find yourself liking elemental attacks or proccing status effects, the dual blades also excel in that department. Low barrier for entry with a decent skill ceiling.
Using A Hunting Horn
Hunting horn players are the support players of the Monster Hunter universe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t solo a monster. Hunting horn is all about playing melodies to bolster yourself and your allies, as well as dealing blunt damage to the enemies. Unlike in previous Monster Hunter titles, you no longer need to memorize your songs, which makes it more beginner-friendly than ever, but it can still be a little complicated to master. Beyond that, like with the hammer, you cannot evade or guard, and only some horns have offset songs, which can be complicated to time. This makes later fights more challenging with the horn. I personally think hunting horn makes an excellent secondary weapon for any hunter. Medium barrier for entry with a high skill ceiling.
Using A Gunlance
If you’re torn between the lance and the heavy bowgun, fear not! They have a lovechild known as the gunlance. You’ll still get the lance’s giant shield, perfect for guarding, and its long, poking attacks. But you can also pepper the monster with bursts of shell fire from a slightly greater distance! As with its two ‘parent’ weapons, it has a medium barrier to entry and decent skill ceiling.
Using A Charge Blade
Charge blade is like if you took the already complicated switch axe and added more complicated elements to it. Like switch axe, it also has a sword mode and an axe mode, but charge blade has an additional shield mode. If switch axe is about filling gauges, then charge blade is about filling and storing phials. This will initially charge your sword mode for elemental discharges. Then it will charge your shield mode, for your big elemental discharge attack. Finally, it will charge your axe mode, allowing your damage to pass through the monster. If that all sounds rather complicated, it’s because it is! But it can be very rewarding to master. Definitely a high barrier to entry with a very high skill ceiling.
Using A Light Bowgun
If you like the sound of the heavy bowgun, but don’t really like the idea of taking hits, then the light bowgun may be a better option for you. You’ll get the benefit of mid-range attacks for very high DPS, but with much more mobility. This includes the ability to evade, although without the perfect dodge ability that dual blades and bows get. A medium barrier to entry with a high skill ceiling.
Using A Bow
Somewhat similar to the light bowgun, the bow gives you the longest range attacks you could ask for. When the monster closes that distance, you have evasive abilities equal to the dual blades. If you want to keep your distance from the monster and get good at dodging any damage coming your way, the bow is the way to go. A medium barrier to entry with a high skill ceiling.
Regardless of your preferred play-style, there is a weapon for you in Monster Hunter Wilds. I hope this guide helped you to find your favorite! What weapon will you main? Let us know in the comments! And, if you’re looking for combat advice on another recent Monster Hunter game, check out our Yama Tsukami boss fight guide for Monster Hunter Stories 3!
