With 14 distinct weapon types, each offering a unique experience, from the agility of dual blades to the devastating power of the great sword. However, the path to mastery varies greatly. Some weapons are intuitive and easy to learn, ideal for newcomers, while others require patience and dedication to unleash their full potential. Are you drawn to the complexity of the gunlance or do you prefer the versatility of the sword and shield?.

In this blog, we will break down the difficulty curve of each weapon, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. We will create a tier list that will guide you in your choice, allowing you to make informed decisions and without fear of challenges. Remember, practice makes perfect. No matter the initial difficulty, with perseverance and dedication, you can master any weapon and become a legendary hunter.

Tier Easy

Dual Blades 

Dual Blades are synonymous with speed and agility in Monster Hunter Wilds. They allow hunters to move fluidly and execute rapid and devastating combos. The main objective is to charge the bar in Demon Mode, which gradually consumes stamina, and then enter Archdemon Mode to unleash a flurry of frenetic attacks.

In these powered-up modes, hunters can perform a succession of crazy combos while moving and dodging gracefully. Dual Blades are capable of dealing explosive damage and exploiting monsters' elemental weaknesses or applying status ailments with ease.

Although it's important to monitor stamina, it doesn't deplete as quickly as to be a significant problem. Dual Blades are a forgiving weapon that allows for mistakes thanks to their speed and mobility. Dual Blades are easy to use and master, making them an excellent choice for hunters of all levels.

The Bow

The Bow, an agile and versatile ranged weapon, has undergone significant changes in Wilds. Now, hunters can fill a gauge by using the soul for coated arrows, which increases their attack power. Additionally, they can mark monsters to deal extra damage with each arrow.

One of the most exciting new features is the perfect dodge, which instantly refills the hunter's stamina when executed correctly. This mechanic allows for greater mobility and more efficient stamina management during combat.

The Bow is a relatively easy weapon to use, with fluid animations and intuitive combos. Its ability to attack from a distance and dodge with ease grants it incredible power and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for hunters of all levels.

Light Bowgun 

The Light Bowgun is a ranged weapon that stands out for its mobility and ability to deal constant damage. Hunters can move freely while shooting and reloading ammunition, allowing them to stay safe and maintain pressure on the monster. The Light Bowgun has a gauge that fills up when shooting, allowing hunters to enter a rapid-fire mode that further increases their mobility and attack power. Additionally, the focus mode special attack consumes special bullets to deal significant damage.

This is an easy-to-use weapon, with fluid animations and great freedom of movement. Hunters can move and attack without restrictions, allowing them to adapt to any situation and maintain a constant combat flow. Its mobility, constant damage, and simplicity make it ideal for those looking for an effective and versatile ranged weapon

Sword and Shield

The SnS boasts a versatile arsenal of moves. Hunters can slash with the sword, bash with the shield to stun monsters, and perform jumping attacks to inflict mounting damage. The ability to block with the shield and execute the new Perfect Guard adds an extra layer of defense. The speed of SnS attacks allows hunters to react quickly to monster movements. This reactivity, combined with dashes and dodges, makes the SnS an extremely adaptable weapon.

A trick that adds complexity to the SnS is a specific combo. If the hunter presses the correct button when they glow red, they will deal additional damage. Mastering this combo requires practice and attention, but rewards hunters with greater offensive potential.

Despite its hidden complexity, the SnS remains a relatively easy weapon to learn. Its mobility, fast animations, and versatility make it accessible to newcomers. However, fully mastering the SnS and maximizing its potential requires time and dedication.

The Lance

The Lance stands out as an exceptionally defensive weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds. Its ability to attack constantly, thanks to its quick animations, allows hunters to stay alert and block monster attacks without interruption. The Perfect Guard adds an extra layer of defense, allowing for devastating counterattacks.

The true strength of the Lance lies in its ability to combine rapid attacks with precise blocks. This balance enables an aggressive and safe playstyle, where hunters can stay close to the monster, dealing constant damage while defending against its attacks.

The main objective when using the Lance is to master the art of attacking and blocking at the opportune moment. This skill allows hunters to maximize their aggressiveness and maintain pressure on the monster.

The Lance is an easy weapon to use and master, lacking complex combos. Its focus on quick attacks, solid defense, and mobility makes it an excellent choice for hunters of all levels. The Lance is ideal for hunters who prefer a strategic and controlled playstyle. Its ability to maintain pressure on the monster while defending makes it a versatile and effective weapon in any situation.

Tier Normal

Long Sword

The Long Sword, the most popular weapon in Monster Hunter, combines elegance and power in an attractive package. Its mechanics, while seemingly simple, offer surprising depth. The main objective is to fill the spirit gauge through continuous attacks, progressing from white to yellow, and finally to red. Upon reaching the red level, hunters can unleash a devastating special attack, now more spectacular than ever in Wilds.

The Long Sword's combat cycle focuses on charging the spirit gauge and unleashing special attacks. Additionally, it has a solid defense for those with quick reflexes and monster knowledge. A special dodge allows hunters to avoid damage and counterattack, charging the spirit gauge. A second counterattack, which involves sheathing the sword and waiting for the monster's attack, offers another opportunity to avoid damage and charge the sword.

Mastering the Long Sword requires more than just button mashing. Hunters must measure their attacks and anticipate monster movements to execute precise dodges and counterattacks. The ability to avoid damage and charge the spirit gauge at the right moment is crucial to maximizing the weapon's potential.

The Great Sword

The Great Sword, an imposing and powerful weapon, is known for its slowness and its ability to inflict massive damage. Its playstyle focuses on charging attacks before releasing them, allowing hunters to unleash devastating blows on monsters. Charged attack combos culminate in an extremely potent double-hit third strike.

In the past, the Great Sword's slowness and monster mobility often resulted in missed hits. However, in Wilds, focus mode has significantly improved the weapon's accuracy. Hunters can now adjust the trajectory of their charged attacks, reducing the frustration of missing crucial blows. This improvement makes the Great Sword more accessible to new players.

The Great Sword has also received an upgrade to its defensive capabilities. The introduction of the Perfect Guard allows hunters to block attacks at the precise moment and counterattack with powerful and flashy blows. Additionally, the weapon's interceptor attack, which can stop certain monster attacks and knock them down, adds an extra layer of control and power. Despite its reputation for slowness and complexity, the Great Sword is now more accessible than ever. Focus mode and defensive improvements have smoothed out its learning curve, allowing hunters of all levels to enjoy its devastating power.

The Hammer

The Hammer, despite its heavy appearance, is surprisingly agile in Monster Hunter WS. Its gameplay focuses on simple combos and raw damage, with the main objective being to hit the monster's head to stun it and exploit its vulnerability.

Hunters can charge attacks and move simultaneously, releasing them at the precise moment to maximize damage. Additionally, the Hammer features an interceptor attack that can stop certain monster attacks, providing an extra layer of control. Despite being a heavy weapon, the Hammer offers good mobility and simple combos. However, its short range requires precision when releasing charged attacks to get the most out of them.

The focus on hitting the monster's head adds an element of complexity to the Hammer. While it's easy to use, fully mastering it requires practice and skill to anticipate the monster's movements and land blows accurately.

Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun, an imposing ranged weapon, offers devastating firepower at the cost of reduced mobility. Unlike its more agile counterparts, the Heavy Bowgun focuses on dealing massive damage with slow shots and powerful ammunition, which often requires the hunter to remain stationary to reload.

It compensates for its slowness with an integrated shield, which allows hunters to block attacks and stay safe. Additionally, it features a gauge that unlocks rapid-fire mode, dealing incremental damage with each hit.

The Heavy Bowgun has a special attack that immobilizes the hunter to unleash a devastating explosion. It also has an interceptor attack that can stop monsters in their tracks, providing additional control over the battlefield.

It is ideal for hunters who prefer a strategic and powerful playstyle, allowing them to deal massive damage and control the battlefield. Its combination of firepower, solid defense, and special attacks makes it a rewarding option for those seeking a devastating ranged weapon.

Tier Hard

Switch Axe

The Switch Axe, a weapon of dynamic transformation, offers hunters the versatility to alternate between two distinct forms: axe and sword. In axe mode, attacks are slower but reach greater distance, allowing hunters to charge the weapon's energy bar. This energy is crucial for unleashing the devastating sword mode.

In sword mode, hunters can charge a secondary bar that, when filled, imbues each hit with red trails of additional damage. However, this power comes at a cost: the sword mode's energy bar gradually depletes. If it drops below 30%, the weapon automatically transforms back into axe mode.

The main objective when using the Switch Axe is to master the charging cycle in axe mode and unleash the power of sword mode to deal extra damage. While the concept may seem complex, practice reveals its fluidity and effectiveness. In sword mode, hunters can execute a spectacular and devastating special attack. Additionally, the weapon features an interceptor attack and a parry, which add layers of defense and control.

Despite its defensive tricks, the Switch Axe is not an easy weapon to master. It requires precise positioning and careful management of modes to maximize its potential. The Switch Axe is ideal for hunters seeking a versatile and powerful weapon that offers a balance between damage, defense, and mobility.

Gunlance

The Gunlance offers a unique hunting experience, combining the robust defense of a giant shield with the explosive power of short-range shots. Unlike the traditional Lance, the Gunlance sacrifices mobility for explosive damage and an unbreakable defense.

The weapon fires explosions at close range, inflicting significant damage. However, mastering the Gunlance requires more than just shooting. Hunters must learn complex combos and find the perfect moment to unload their ammunition into the monster. A key attack involves stabbing an explosive spike, inflicting considerable damage.

Ammunition reloading must be synchronized with monster attacks, taking advantage of guard points to maximize combat fluidity. However, the weapon's long and slow animations can leave hunters vulnerable. The Gunlance suffers from limited mobility, although shots can be used to move in the desired direction. Its special attack, while devastating, leaves hunters immobile for several seconds, making them susceptible to enemy attacks.

Insect Glaive 

The Insect Glaive is a unique weapon that combines ground attacks with exceptional aerial mobility. Hunters can perform agile jumps to attack from the air, mount monsters with ease, and gracefully dodge attacks. Its versatility and mobility make it an exciting and dynamic weapon. The Insect Glaive is a unique weapon that combines ground attacks with exceptional aerial mobility. Hunters can perform agile jumps to attack from the air, mount monsters with ease, and gracefully dodge attacks. Its versatility and mobility make it an exciting and dynamic weapon.

With the three essences, hunters deal more damage and unlock a devastating special attack that consumes the essences. The ease of collecting essences in Wilds allows for a continuous cycle of empowerment and attack, although its constant effectiveness remains to be seen.

Despite its aerial mobility and the ease of collecting essences, the Insect Glaive remains a complex weapon. Hunters must master ground and aerial combos, as well as Kinsect and essence management. Fully mastering the Insect Glaive requires practice and dedication. The Insect Glaive is ideal for hunters seeking a versatile and agile weapon that offers aerial mobility, potent damage, and a unique companion. Its complexity and dynamism make it a rewarding option for those seeking a challenge.

Tier God

Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horn, a unique and versatile weapon, combines the power of a hammer with the ability to provide buffs through melodies. Hunters can inflict blunt damage on monsters and, at the same time, support their teammates with a variety of buffs. Each Hunting Horn has a unique set of melodies, which are activated by playing specific notes. These melodies provide buffs such as attack, defense, healing, and stamina boosts, both for the hunter and their teammates in multiplayer mode.

Although often considered a support weapon, the Hunting Horn is also effective in solo play. Hunters can play melodies to buff themselves and take advantage of its blunt power to stun monsters.

Hunters must learn to memorize the notes and melodies of their Hunting Horn, as well as play them at the right time to maximize their effectiveness. Additionally, they must coordinate their melodies with the needs of their team in multiplayer mode.

The Hunting Horn is a complex weapon that requires coordination and strategy. Hunters must balance attack and support, and anticipate their team's needs to provide the appropriate buffs at the opportune moment. Its complexity and dynamism make it a rewarding option for those seeking a challenge.

Charge Blade 

The Charge Blade is a transformation weapon that allows hunters to alternate between a versatile sword and shield and a devastating giant axe. In sword and shield mode, hunters can charge vials with hits, which are then used to power up the weapon. The shield provides solid defense, with the ability to perform perfect guards and take advantage of guard points to automatically block monster attacks.

Hunters can switch to axe mode at any time, where hits are slower but reach greater distance. In this mode, charged vials are consumed to deal additional damage. The best way to take advantage of axe mode is by activating a special, which in Wilds can be achieved in four different ways. The special mode in axe mode consumes vials more slowly and increases damage dealt. Additionally, axe mode has a special attack that discharges vials to deal massive damage. In Wilds, it seems that the special mode is the best way to deal damage with the charge blade.

The Charge Blade is a complex weapon that requires careful micro-management of modes and vials. Hunters must know when to switch modes and how to make the most of each one. Axe mode, in particular, requires caution due to its slowness and lack of defensive capabilities. Despite its complexity, the Charge Blade is a rewarding weapon for hunters who enjoy strategy and micro-management. Mastering its modes and special attacks allows hunters to deal massive damage.

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