Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List: Every Weapon Ranked for Solo and Multiplayer

Monster Hunter Wilds has 14 weapon types, each with distinct movesets, combos, and playstyles. Unlike most games, there's no "best" weapon — every weapon is viable at endgame. This tier list ranks by a combination of damage output, ease of use, and versatility. As developers who study combat systems, MH Wilds' weapon design is some of the best in action gaming.

S-tier (highest damage ceiling, strong in all content)

Greatsword — the iconic Monster Hunter weapon. Massive charged attacks that deal the highest single-hit damage in the game. The new Focus Strike mechanic in Wilds adds a counter window that rewards aggressive positioning. Requires reading monster patterns to land True Charged Slashes but when they connect, nothing hits harder. Best for: players who love commitment-heavy attacks with huge payoff.

Long Sword — the most popular weapon in every Monster Hunter game. Fast, fluid combos with the Spirit Gauge system that rewards sustained aggression. Wilds adds new counter moves that make LS even more versatile. The Foresight Slash counter is one of the most satisfying mechanics in action gaming. Best for: players who want speed and style with a high skill ceiling.

Charge Blade — the Swiss Army knife. Sword mode charges phials, axe mode spends them. SAED (Super Amped Element Discharge) deals devastating area damage. Guard Points let you block mid-combo. The most complex weapon to learn but the most versatile once mastered. Best for: players who want to do everything.

A-tier (excellent, slightly lower ceiling or harder to optimize)

Dual Blades — fastest attack speed, constant aggression, Demon Mode for enhanced combos. DPS is competitive with S-tier when uptime is high. Sharpness management is the main challenge — DB eats through sharpness faster than any weapon. Best for: players who want relentless speed.

Switch Axe — morphs between axe (reach, mobility) and sword (damage, element discharge). Amped State in sword mode adds explosions to every attack. Wild Swing → Amped Element Discharge is devastating. Best for: players who want aggressive transformation combos.

Bow — the highest sustained DPS at optimal range. Power shots and spread shots shred weak points. Stamina management and positioning are critical. Wilds' environmental interactions give Bow new tactical options. Best for: ranged players who want to deal competitive melee-level damage.

Insect Glaive — aerial combat, kinsect buffs, and infinite mounting. Triple buff (red + white + orange) transforms the weapon's damage and defense. The most mobile weapon in the game with aerial evasion options no other weapon has. Best for: players who want aerial freedom and constant movement.

B-tier (solid, niche strengths, or higher learning curve for lower ceiling)

Hammer — blunt damage, KO potential, exhaust damage. Head-focused attacks stun monsters, creating openings for the whole team. Simpler than most weapons but positioning on the head is demanding. Wilds adds Impact Burst for more KO options. Best for: players who want to bonk heads and stun monsters.

Hunting Horn — support weapon that buffs the entire party while dealing respectable damage. Wilds' simplified melody system makes HH more accessible than previous entries. Self-Improvement melody for movement speed is always active. Best for: multiplayer-focused players who want to support and fight simultaneously.

Heavy Bowgun — turret-style ranged weapon. Highest raw ranged damage with special ammo types (Wyvernheart machine gun, Wyvernsnipe piercing shot). Mobility is the trade-off — HBG is slow without sheathing. Best for: ranged players who want to maximize damage from safe positions.

Light Bowgun — mobile ranged weapon with rapid-fire ammo specialization. Lower raw damage than HBG but more mobile with more ammo flexibility. Status ammo (sleep, paralysis, poison) provides team utility. Best for: ranged players who want mobility and status support.

Gunlance — lance with a cannon. Guard capability plus shelling (fixed damage that ignores monster defenses). Wyvern Fire for burst damage. The shelling damage ignoring hitzones makes GL uniquely effective against heavily armored monsters. Best for: players who want defensive play with explosive offense.

Lance — the ultimate defensive weapon. Perfect guard blocks everything. Counter-thrust turns defense into offense. Highest shield uptime and safest playstyle. Lower damage ceiling but virtually unkillable with proper play. Best for: players who want to never cart.

Sword and Shield — fast attacks, shield bash KO damage, item use without sheathing. The jack-of-all-trades weapon. Can cut, bash, guard, use items, and mount. Master of none but competent at everything. Best for: beginners and players who want maximum flexibility.

General weapon tips

Try every weapon. The training area lets you test all 14 weapons on a target dummy. Spend 10 minutes with each before committing. Your "best" weapon is the one that clicks with your playstyle.

Sharpness matters more than raw damage. A yellow-sharpness weapon with high raw deals less effective damage than a white-sharpness weapon with lower raw. Keep your weapon sharp.

Elemental damage matters against specific monsters. Check the hunter's notes for monster elemental weaknesses. Fire weapons against ice monsters, water weapons against fire monsters, etc.

Upgrade paths branch. Don't commit upgrade materials until you've checked the full tree. Some paths lead to dead ends while others lead to endgame weapons.

What we make at Choost

We study Monster Hunter's weapon design for Granny's Rampage — the principle that every weapon should feel distinct and viable is something we apply to our own weapon/upgrade system. For more Monster Hunter content, the monster hunter wilds tips, monster hunter wilds best armor, and monster hunter best builds posts have more.

The shortest version

Beginner-friendly: Sword and Shield, Hammer, Dual Blades. Highest damage: Greatsword, Charge Blade, Bow. Best defense: Lance, Gunlance. Best multiplayer support: Hunting Horn. Most popular: Long Sword. The truth: Every weapon is viable. The tier list matters less than finding the weapon that makes you want to keep hunting.