Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier-List - Moikas

Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier-List

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Weapon Overview


Monster Hunter Wilds features 14 weapon types, each with unique mechanics and playstyles. Below, we rank them into S, A, and B tiers based on damage potential, ease of use, versatility, and fun factor, offering a fresh perspective for hunters of all levels.

S Tier: Elite Choices

These weapons balance high damage, accessibility, and versatility, making them ideal for both new and experienced players:
  • Long Sword: Known for fluid combos and spirit gauge, delivering consistent high damage with a cinematic spirit helm breaker.
  • Charge Blade: Offers complexity with shield and sword modes, phial explosions, and guard points, rewarding tactical play.
  • Bow: A ranged option with mobility and coatings, excelling at precision with moves like dragon piercer.

A Tier: Powerhouses

These weapons are powerful but may require more skill or dedication, appealing to players seeking a challenge:
  • Great Sword: Slow but devastating, perfect for timing heavy hits to break parts, like a high-stakes chess game.
  • Dual Blades: Fast and aggressive, ideal for constant movement, though stamina management is key.
  • Switch Axe: Versatile with axe and sword modes, offering high damage and adaptability, especially with elemental discharge.
  • Sword and Shield: A jack-of-all-trades, great for beginners with utility-like item use, status effects, and a strong perfect rush combo.

B Tier: Specialists

These weapons shine in specific scenarios or playstyles, requiring situational awareness or teamwork:
  • Hammer: Excels at stunning and breaking heads, is mobile for a heavy weapon, and is satisfying for targeting weak spots.
  • Lance: Defensive with a high block and counter thrust, more dynamic in Wilds with guard dashes, steady but not flashy.
  • Gunlance: Combines melee and explosive shelling, effective against tough foes but slow and complex.
  • Insect Glaive: Aerial and mobile, great for mounting with kinsect buffs, though managing the kinsect can be distracting.
  • Hunting Horn: Provides team buffs via melodies, viable solo with self-buffs, but requires memorizing songs.
  • Light Bowgun: Customizable with rapid-fire for status effects, needs ammo management, great for build tweaking.
  • Heavy Bowgun: High damage from afar with special ammo like wyvernfire, slow and stationary, best with team support.

Detailed Analysis:

A Comprehensive Look at Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons

In the vast and dynamic world of Monster Hunter Wilds, set to release in 2025, the choice of weapon is a pivotal decision that shapes your hunting experience. With 14 distinct weapon types, each offering unique mechanics and playstyles, the question of the "best" can feel overwhelming. This analysis provides a fresh perspective on the weapon tier list, ranking them based on damage potential, ease of use, versatility, and fun factor while considering how they fit different hunter archetypes and playstyles. All rankings are based on general observations and community sentiment, acknowledging that player skill and preference play a significant role in effectiveness.

Methodology and Context

The tier-list is divided into S, A, and B tiers, reflecting a spectrum of performance and accessibility. Unlike traditional rankings that focus solely on damage or speedrun potential, this take emphasizes a balance of factors:
  • Damage Potential: Considering single hits and sustained output, how much raw power can the weapon deliver?
  • Ease of Use: How accessible the weapon is for beginners or casual players, factoring in the learning curve and forgiving mechanics.
  • Versatility: How adaptable the weapon is across different monsters, environments, and situations, including solo and multiplayer play.
  • Fun Factor: How engaging and satisfying the weapon feels to use, capturing its playstyle's aesthetic and emotional appeal.
This approach ensures a holistic view, recognizing that Monster Hunter Wilds is as much about enjoyment as it is about efficiency. All weapons are viable with practice, and rankings may shift with future updates or player feedback, especially given the game's dynamic environments and new mechanics.

S Tier: The Elite Choices

Weapons in the S tier excel across multiple categories, making them ideal for new and experienced hunters. They offer a great balance of damage, ease of use, and versatility, ensuring they can handle various situations.
  • Long Sword:
    The Long Sword is the epitome of grace and precision, embodying the archetype of the elegant dancer. Its fluid combos and spirit gauge system allow for consistent high damage, while its spirit helm breaker delivers a rewarding cinematic finisher. With a damage potential of 4, ease of use at 4, versatility at 4, and fun factor at 5, it scores 17 out of 20. It’s perfect for players who enjoy a mix of strategy and flair, making it a top pick for those who want to "dance" with their prey. Its popularity, as noted in community discussions, underscores its broad appeal.
  • Charge Blade:
    For the tacticians among us, the Charge Blade is a masterpiece of complexity and reward, fitting the archetype of the master strategist. Combining a shield for defense with a sword and axe for offense offers unparalleled versatility. Mastering its phial system and guard points takes time. Still, once you do, it feels like conducting a symphony of destruction, with a damage potential of 5, ease of use at 2, versatility at 4, and fun factor at 5, totaling 16. It’s ideal for players who love intricate mechanics, offering high rewards for dedication.
  • Bow:
    Ranged combat reaches new heights with the Bow, appealing to the sniper archetype. Its mobility and variety of coatings make it adaptable to any situation. At the same time, its dragon piercer shot can skewer monsters with devastating precision, scoring 4 in damage, 4 in ease of use, 4 in versatility, and 4 in fun factor for a total of 16. It’s ideal for players who prefer to keep their distance but still want to feel involved in the action, with its precision shots offering a satisfying experience.

A Tier: The Powerhouses

Weapons in the A tier are incredibly effective but often require more skill or dedication to master. They’re perfect for players who want a challenge and are willing to invest time into learning their nuances, fitting archetypes like the berserker or power hitter.
  • Great Sword:
    If you love raw power and don’t mind waiting for the perfect moment, the Great Sword is unmatched, embodying the brute force archetype. Its slow swings pack a punch, capable of breaking parts and dealing massive damage with a well-timed level 3 charge, with a damage potential of 5, ease of use at 3, versatility at 3, and fun factor at 4, totaling 15. It’s like playing a high-stakes chess game—predict your opponent’s moves, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the highest damage numbers, making it a favorite for part-breaking enthusiasts.
  • Dual Blades:
    For adrenaline junkies, the Dual Blades are a whirlwind of speed and aggression, fitting the speed demon archetype. Their demon mode boosts damage and mobility, allowing you to stick to monsters like glue, with a damage potential of 4, ease of use at 4, versatility at 4, and fun factor at 4, totaling 16. However, managing stamina is key, as overcommitting can leave you vulnerable. If you thrive on constant action, these are your blades, offering a thrilling experience.
  • Switch Axe:
    The Switch Axe is all about adaptability, appealing to the shapeshifter archetype. Its axe mode offers reach and mobility, while sword mode delivers raw power, with a damage potential of 4, ease of use at 3, versatility at 4, and fun factor at 4, totaling 15. The elemental discharge is a high-risk, high-reward move that can clear entire areas of monsters, perfect for players who enjoy switching up their strategy mid-hunt.
  • Sword and Shield:
    Don’t let its size fool you—the Sword and Shield is a jack-of-all-trades, fitting the utility player archetype. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing you to use items without sheathing, apply status effects quickly, and even perform a powerful, perfect rush combo with a damage potential of 3, ease of use at 5, versatility at 5, and fun factor at 3, totaling 16. It’s the ultimate beginner-friendly weapon but also has depth for advanced players who want to master its utility, making it a reliable choice.

B Tier: The Specialists

Weapons in the B tier are fantastic in specific scenarios or for particular playstyles but might not appeal to everyone. They often require more situational awareness or teamwork to shine, fitting niches like the defender, support, or specialist.
  • Hammer:
    If you love breaking heads and stunning monsters, the Hammer is your best friend, embodying the headhunter archetype. Its charged attacks are surprisingly mobile for a heavy weapon, and landing a KO feels like a personal victory, with a damage potential of 4, ease of use at 3, versatility at 3, and fun factor at 4, totaling 14. It’s less versatile than other weapons but unmatched for targeting weak spots like heads, offering a satisfying experience for those who master its timing.
  • Lance:
    The Lance is the defender’s dream, fitting the steadfast guardian archetype. With its high block capability and counter thrust, it’s perfect for players who prefer a steady, calculated approach. It has a damage potential of 4 (adjusted for counter potential), ease of use at 4, versatility at 3, and fun factor at 3, totaling 14. In Wilds, its guard dashes add mobility, making it more dynamic than ever. Though it’s not flashy, it’s reliable for defensive play.
  • Gunlance:
    Part melee, part artillery, the Gunlance brings explosive power to the hunt, fitting the artillery specialist archetype. Its shelling ignores monster armor, making it great against tough foes, with a damage potential of 4, ease of use at 2, versatility at 3, and fun factor at 4, totaling 13 initially, but adjusted to 14 with fun factor consideration. However, its slow movement and complex combos can be intimidating, appealing to players who enjoy a mix of close-quarters combat and ranged attacks.
  • Insect Glaive:
    The Insect Glaive is unmatched for aerial acrobats, fitting the acrobat archetype. Its ability to mount monsters and deal damage from above is unique, and collecting kinsect extracts adds a layer of strategy, with a damage potential of 3, ease of use at 3, versatility at 4, and fun factor at 4, totaling 14. However, managing the kinsect can sometimes feel distracting, making it perfect for players who want to feel soaring through the hunt.
  • Hunting Horn:
    The Hunting Horn is a team player’s weapon, fitting the support maestro archetype. Its melodies provide buffs like increased attack or defense, making it invaluable in multiplayer hunts, with a damage potential of 3, ease of use at 2, versatility at 5 (adjusted for self-buffs), and fun factor at 4, totaling 14. Even in solo play, self-buffs make it viable, though memorizing songs can be a barrier, appealing to players who enjoy supporting while dealing damage.
  • Light Bowgun:
    Highly customizable with various ammo types, the Light Bowgun is a specialist’s tool, fitting the gadgeteer archetype. Its rapid-fire can apply status effects quickly, with a damage potential of 4 (adjusted for rapid fire), ease of use at 3, versatility at 4, and fun factor at 3, totaling 14. Managing ammo requires planning, making it great for players who love tweaking their builds to perfection.
  • Heavy Bowgun:
    If you want to feel like a walking tank, the Heavy Bowgun is your answer, fitting the artillery unit archetype. Its special ammo, like wyvernfire, can deal massive damage, with a damage potential of 5, ease of use at 2, versatility at 3, and fun factor at 4, totaling 14. Its slow movement means you must position it carefully, and it is best suited for players who enjoy a more stationary, high-damage playstyle, especially with team support.

Comparative Analysis

To provide a clearer picture, here’s a table summarizing the scoring for each weapon, which informed the tier placements:
Weapon
Damage Potential
Ease of Use
Versatility
Fun Factor
Total Score
Long Sword
4
4
4
5
17
Charge Blade
5
2
4
5
16
Bow
4
4
4
4
16
Great Sword
5
3
3
4
15
Dual Blades
4
4
4
4
16
Switch Axe
4
3
4
4
15
Sword and Shield
3
5
5
3
16
Hammer
4
3
3
4
14
Lance
4
4
3
3
14
Gunlance
4
2
3
4
13 (adjusted to 14 for fun)
Insect Glaive
3
3
4
4
14
Hunting Horn
3
2
5
4
14
Light Bowgun
4
3
4
3
14
Heavy Bowgun
5
2
3
4
14
This table highlights the balance of factors, with S-tier weapons scoring 16-17, A-tier at 15-16, and B-tier at 13-14, adjusted for fun factors to ensure all weapons feel viable.

Unexpected Insights

One unexpected detail is the versatility of the Hunting Horn, often seen as a support weapon. In Monster Hunter Wilds, its self-buffs make it viable solo, challenging the notion that it’s only for multiplayer. Similarly, the Lance’s increased mobility with guard dashes in Wilds adds a dynamic layer, making it more appealing than in previous titles.

Community and Controversy

As seen in discussions, community sentiment often highlights the Long Sword and Bow as top picks, with some calling the Bow "OP" for its safety and damage. However, controversy exists around rankings, with players debating whether ease of use or fun factor should outweigh damage potential. This tier list aims to be diplomatic, acknowledging all weapons’ viability and encouraging players to find their fit.

Conclusion

This tier list offers a unique perspective on Monster Hunter Wild weapons, emphasizing a balance of factors beyond raw power. Whether you’re a tactician with the Charge Blade, a dancer with the Long Sword, or a support maestro with the Hunting Horn, there’s a weapon for every hunter. Experiment in the training grounds, share your favorites in the comments, and may your hunts be ever successful!
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