Monster Hunter Wilds: Weapon Difficulty Ranked

As a dedicated fan, I’ve found myself immersed in the diverse arsenal of 14 weapons that “Monster Hunter Rise” offers for my hunting expeditions. Each weapon comes with its own distinct mechanics and abilities, making some a breeze while others require a good deal of practice to master. Some weapons are straightforward, allowing me to jump right into the fray with skills that are easy to grasp. However, there are other weapons that demand patience and training, as they come equipped with multiple techniques that can be tricky to master.

In the game, many of the weapons should look familiar to those who have played past Monster Hunter games. However, it’s worth noting that some weapon changes in Monster Hunter Wilds bring new moves even for veterans to master. Moreover, universal systems like Focus Mode and Offsets add layers of complexity to weapons, increasing their move sets and adding depth to every monster-slaying tool.

Hardest & Easiest Weapons In Monster Hunter Wilds, Ranked

Know Which Weapons Have The Most To Learn

The weapons that are most challenging to master in a fight against a monster have complex inner workings you need to grasp. For instance, the Insect Glaive in Monster Hunter Worlds involves not only handling your weapon but also a pet companion animal, the Kinsect, which collects unique resources from monsters to empower your character. The complexity of these mechanics can vary depending on the weapon, making some more difficult to comprehend than others.

In this table, you’ll find all the game’s weapons arranged from most difficult to simplest to master. The S Rank denotes the hardest weapons due to their intricate learning curve, whereas lower ranks feature weapons that can be quickly picked up and used effectively.

Tier Qualifications Weapons
S Hardest weapons to use due to mechanical complexity or a much longer move list.
  • Charge Blade
  • Hunting Horn
A Harder weapons with multiple mechanics that make them hard to juggle at first without some training.
  • Switch Axe
  • Insect Glaive
B Weapons with some complex mechanics, either from unique resource management or far less mobility.
  • Bow
  • Gunlance
  • Great Sword
  • Heavy Bowgun
C Weapons with very few mechanics that are hard to understand, with maybe one or two nuances that may take slight training to learn.
  • Sword & Shield
  • Lance
  • Light Bowgun
D Easiest weapons to use due to far fewer moves or a very straightforward playstyle.
  • Dual Blades
  • Longsword
  • Hammer

S-Tier

Weapons That Take Long To Learn

Mastering the two most challenging weapons in this game, the Charge Blade and the Hunting Horn, requires a good deal of practice due to their numerous moves that need to be memorized. The Charge Blade is particularly tricky because it can morph between two forms – one resembling a standard Sword and Shield, and another transforming into a powerful Axe mode. Maintaining the balance between these modes is challenging, especially when considering the unique Phial system that comes with the Charge Blade.

The Charge Blade’s Sword form accumulates energy, building a charge that eventually makes the blade too hot to strike enemies. At this point, you need to manually recharge charge into phials, which store elemental or impact resources for use in Axe mode. Moreover, the Charge Blade can boost its Sword, Shield, or Axe using Focus Mode or manual inputs during various combinations, offering a multitude of mechanics to master, thereby enhancing the weapon’s versatility.

Much like the Hunting Horn is intricate because it allows for various tunes to be played, this complexity arises from the unique attack sequences that trigger these melodies. When a specific sequence of attacks is executed, the weapon will play a tune that bestows a beneficial effect on you or your companions. Navigating the correct melodies in the heat of a hunt can be challenging as you simultaneously focus on damaging monsters and dodging their assaults.

The Hunting Horn presents certain challenges due to its restriction of playing just three melodies simultaneously. Mastering this instrument involves a delicate blend of selecting the appropriate tunes and adjusting to various scenarios, which requires some degree of skill and practice.

A-Tier

Complex Weapons With Clear Strategies

Learning the ropes with the Switch Axe and Insect Glaive is relatively more manageable due to their similar complex mechanics. The Insect Glaive requires you to command a Kinsect bug to gather Extracts from monsters, granting exclusive benefits for the weapon. Mastering the art of managing this Kinsect throughout combat will require some practice as you learn to flawlessly incorporate it into your combos during battle.

The Switch Axe comes equipped with a Switch Gauge that allows it to transform between Axe and Sword modes. Maintaining a balance between these two forms is crucial, as each one charges its own meter while simultaneously draining the other. This gauge is segmented into sections corresponding to each mode.

In the game Monster Hunter World, mastering the Switch Axe offers a trade-off: while it inflicts more damage in sword mode, every attack in this form drains the Axe section of the Switch Gauge significantly. To maximize its potential, you need to skillfully switch between modes. The key ability, Elemental Discharge, can only be activated when wielded expertly, making it challenging for novice players.

B-Tier

Unique Resource Management Without Overwhelming Depth

In this tier, you’ll find four distinct weapons: the Bow, Gunlance, Great Sword, and Heavy Bowgun, each offering its own richness without being overly complex. The Bow serves as your simplest long-range weapon, capable of penetrating monsters from a moderate distance with various arrow types. While it boasts potent arrows, keep in mind that the Bow depletes your Stamina to fire shots, creating an interesting dynamic with one of your primary resources.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Bow is more user-friendly than its predecessors because it shoots Tracker arrows. These arrows enable all subsequent shots to automatically target a monster, reducing the need for precise aiming. While there are several combos to optimize the Bow’s performance, they are simpler to master compared to other weapons.

The Gunlance represents a more aggressive version of the standard Lance, employing Shell attacks for firing potent bursts at monsters. Managing the shells on this weapon can make it slightly complex to wield, but its robust defense adds versatility to the mix. With longer attack sequences and easy-to-execute powerful techniques, the Gunlance provides a well-balanced challenge in terms of weapon difficulty.

Simultaneously, both the Great Sword and Heavy Bowgun are weapons with slow attack speeds yet deal substantial damage. The Great Sword builds up its attacks for immense DPS, whereas the Heavy Bowgun uses distinct ammo types to annihilate monsters. Both these tools have straightforward move sets that players can grasp swiftly, but mastering their limited mobility takes practice.

C-Tier

Straightforward Weapons With Slight Variations

In Monster Hunter Wilds, some of the simpler weapons to master include the Sword and Shield, Lance, and Light Bowgun. The Sword and Shield combo is quite intuitive in the game; players use a sword for attacking and a shield for defense. However, what sets the Sword and Shield apart is its ability to utilize items even when drawn, adding an unexpected layer of complexity.

The Lance primarily functions as a defensive shield, employing straightforward jabbing attacks against monsters. Unlike other weapons with an offensive bent, the Lance is predominantly defensive in nature, which means it operates differently. Mastering the Lance may require some adjustment due to its lack of complex combos or specialized resources.

The Light Bowgun, unlike its heavier counterpart, is designed for mobility with swift shots and evasive tactics to dodge monsters. Its safer usage comes from the use of mines that foster a hit-and-run approach, making it an easier weapon to master compared to the Heavy Bowgun. In other words, mastering monster movements is crucial when using the Light Bowgun rather than focusing on complex combos or maneuvers.

D-Tier

Easiest Weapons To Pick Up And Use

In this game, the most straightforward weapons are the Dual Blades, Longsword, and Hammer. Interestingly, the Hammer stands out for having the least complex set of moves compared to other weapons. It relies on charging attacks to hit monsters squarely in the head. From my personal playthroughs, I’ve found that you don’t necessarily need a deep understanding of monster weaknesses when using the Hammer. You can simply keep stunning them by hitting their head with this weapon during a hunt, regardless of your knowledge about their vulnerabilities.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share my excitement about the Longsword in Monster Hunter Wilds! This weapon is truly exceptional, with its long blade extending far beyond most others, making it ideal for striking both grounded and airborne targets. The unique feature of this sword is its ability to accumulate Spirit, which fills a special gauge as you fight. Once fully charged, you can unleash devastating Crimson Slashes that leave no creature unscathed.

What sets the Longsword apart is its agility and defensive capabilities. It boasts multiple evasive techniques that make you nearly invincible, allowing you to dodge even the most ferocious attacks with ease. The power of each strike is immense, dealing significant damage to your foes. And let’s not forget about its mobility – with the Longsword in hand, you can move quickly and fluidly across the battlefield, always ready for the next encounter.

For newcomers, the Dual Blades are an excellent choice, offering a chance to swiftly engage and attack monsters without hindrance. These agile weapons in the game provide smooth maneuverability, making it effortless to dodge enemy attacks on the fly. Moreover, invincibility periods during dodges and a potent Focus Strike make this weapon user-friendly, despite its limitations in severing tails swiftly.

Regardless of the type of weapon you decide to wield in Monster Hunter Wilds, battling monsters will aid you in becoming proficient with the tool your character picks. The most challenging weapon in the game can be just as enjoyable as the simplest one, based on your personal tastes, unique builds, or numerous other factors.

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2025-03-12 05:18