It’s been over two years since the launch ofMonster Hunter World, the latest title in Capcom’s long-running action-RPG series. Following the classic series' formula,Monster Hunter Worldhas players take on increasingly dangerous beasts as they explore a strange foreign land.
Given that they’re often tangling with monsters the size of houses, no hunter is safe without a trusty weapon by their side. There are fourteen of these to choose from inMonster Hunter World, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. While someMonster Hunterweaponsshine in co-op play and others are better solo, in this list we’re averaging out these modes to determine a base ranking for each weapon. Without further ado, here’s our completeMonster Hunter Worldweapons tier list.
Updated April 24th, 2021 by John Higgs:With Monster Hunter Rise still a year away for PC players, and no next-gen console release in sight, Monster Hunter World retains much of the series' fanbase. Although it doesn’t look as if the title will be receiving any more content, the officialMonster Hunter World board gamehas been cleaning up on Kickstarter.
S-Tier Monster Hunter World Weapons
Great Sword:Combining the highest per-hit damage in the game with great range and frequent staggers securesMonster Hunter World’s Greatsworda spot in S-Tier of theMHWweapon tier list. These advantages, plus its very low Sharpness consumption, are more than enough to offset its poor mobility and slow attack speed. The most powerful Greatsword inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theBlack Fatalis Blade, which more than compensates for its -30% affinity penalty with an incredible 1632 attack rating.
Heavy Bowgun:The Heavy Bowgun is theartillery cannon ofMonster Hunter World, dishing out high damage from long range. While this comes at the cost of heavily reduced mobility, the Heavy Bowgun’s selection of different ammunition-types gives it surprising versatility. The most powerful Heavy Bowgun inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theVor Buster, a Master Rank weapon with incredibly high stats and huge clips of the all-important Pierce and Spread Ammo-types.
Bow:The Bow is one of the most reliable ranged weapons inMonster Hunter World, offering unlimited ammo, sustained DPS, and high mobility. Arrows fired from the Bow are at their most powerful when charged, and can use special coatings for a variety of different debuffs and damage boosts. The most powerfulBow inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theKjarr Bow King, a special weapon that can only be obtained through the Fury of El Dorado Siege Event quest, or Awakening Alchemy.
A-Tier Monster Hunter World Weapons
Dual Blades:The Dual-Blades have the potential to be thehighest DPS inMonster Hunter World. Their Demon and Archdemon special modes allow them to chain lengthy combos without having to worry about counters. They also come with a special Dash Dodge with has more invincibility-frames than the regular dodge. The most powerful Dual Blades inMonster Hunter Worldare currently theKulve Taroth Dual Blades, these blades come in many different elemental-configurations and are obtained in the same way as the Kjarr Bow.
Hammer:While the Hammer can take a little practice to master, its combination of high raw attack power and crushing Charged attacks make it a deadly weapon in the right hands. The Hammer doubles down on aggressiveness, with the ability to knock out monsters and apply exhaust. However, this does come at the cost of no guarding or evasive moves. The most powerful Hammer inMonster Hunter Worldat the time of of ourMHW Iceborneweapon tier list is theFatalis Demolisher, which has the highest raw attack of all Hammers.
Switch Axe:While certainly one of the mostcomplicated weapons to use inMonster Hunter World, the Switch Axe can provide incredible versatility in skilled hands. The weapon switches between an Axe form for increased reach and mobility, and a Sword form for extra damage and precision. Each mode is capable of combo-ing into the other, though the most powerful attacks have long recovery times. The most powerful Switch Axe inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theTrue Fatalis End, which combines high Dragon Damage and top-tier Purple Sharpness.
Long Sword:The Long Sword is well-rounded melee option, combining solid damage, attack speed, and mobility. One of the weapon’s biggest advantages is its long reach, which is unsurprising given the name. While players will have to be careful using its wide sweeps around teammates, the Long Sword is a great middle-ground between the Greatsword and faster, less-damaging weaponry. The most powerfulLong Sword inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theFatalis Zaggespanon, a deadly weapon with a high Elder Seal that allows it to delay Elder Dragon special abilities.
B-Tier Monster Hunter World Weapons
Insect Glaive:One of the mostunique weapons inMonster Hunter World, the Insect Glaive gives its user the ability to control a Kinsect pet. The Kinsect can be dispatched to extract buffing Essence from monsters, before returning to its master. The Insect Glaive is also the most mobile weapon in the game, allowing unprecedented movement and mounting opportunities. However, this all comes at the cost of a relatively low attack power. The most powerful Insect Glaive inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theTrue Fatalis Dyaus, which combines a high base attack of 1101 with a Spirit and Strength Kinsect Bonus.
Light Bowgun:As players might guess from the name, the Light Bowgun is a cousin of the Heavy Bowgun that trades reduced damage for increased mobility. Unfortunately for the Light Bowgun, the Heavy gets the better end of the bargain, with its additional ammo-types and much-higher damage being more than worth the reduced mobility. Nevertheless, the Light Bowgun remains a solid choice against many ofMonster Hunter’s faster monsters. The most powerful Light Bowgun inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theFatalis Depth, a Master Rank weapon with the Wyvernblast special feature and a focus on Pierce Ammo.
Charge Blade:Another weapon capable of switching between Axe and Sword forms is the Charge Blade. In this case however, the Sword Form comes with a shield, allowing for a greater level of defense. While this may seem to give it an advantage over the Switch Axe, the Charge Blade’s Axe form has extremely low mobility, and its moves are even more complicated to master. The most powerfulCharge Blade inMonster Hunter Worldis currently a tie between theKjarr Strongarmset and theTrue Fatalis Charger, depending on whether players prefer Elemental or Impact Phials.
Gunlance:While the Gunlance comes with penalties to dodging and mobility, it counters them with a great balance of reach, defense, and special damage. The Gunlance’s unique trick is its ability to fire various kinds of explosive shells. Its ultimate move isMonster Hunter World’s new Wyrmstake Cannon, a single-shot that deals massive damage. The most powerful Gunlance inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theTrue Fatalis Gunlance, a beast of a weapon that combines Level 7 Normal shelling with 897 base attack, and purple Sharpness.
C-Tier Monster Hunter World Weapons
Sword and Shield:WhileMonster Hunter World’s Sword and Shield brings a versatile combination of sever and blunt damage, it’s not without its down-sides. The reach of this weapon is one of the shortest in the game, requiring players to manage their spacing perfectly in order to get good hits in. On top of this, the Sword and Shield requires frequent Sharpening, particularly after a lot of Sword attacks. The most powerfulSword and Shield inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theTrue Fatalis Sword, a great all-rounder weapon that can take on any kind of monster.
Hunting Horn:While the Hunting Horn can be very effective in a larger team, its lackluster performance in duo and solo play condemns it to C-Tier in this case. The Horn allows the player to provide powerful buffs, but as a blunt weapon it attacks slowly and doesn’t hit hard. The most powerfulHunting Horn inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theFatalis Menace Wailer, which combines Purple, Red, and Orange notes into a variety of powerful songs.
Lance:The Lance is a defensive weapon with a long reach that suffers from its lack of attack power, relegating it to the lowest rank on ourMonster Hunterweapon tier list. While the shield and blocking abilities it provides are great for protection, they come with penalties to movement speed and evasion, as well as a high skill-cap. The most powerfulLance inMonster Hunter Worldis currently theTrue Fatalis Lance, which boasts stats so high that they can even be effective against monsters resistant to Dragon damage.
Following balance improvements released withMonster Hunter World’s Iceborneexpansion, there are no truly bad weapons in the game. Ultimately, each player will have a slightly different experience, and the most important thing is picking a weapon that feels right.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborneis available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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