Whether you’re a DPS-focused solo hunter or a supportive team player, this monster hunter world weapon tier list breaks down every weapon’s strengths, ideal playstyles, and top situational picks so you can dominate the hunt. Read on for ranked tiers, short build tips, and precise advice for each weapon class.
How this tier list works
This monster hunter world weapon tier list ranks weapons by their overall effectiveness across typical endgame hunts: raw DPS potential, utility, survivability, consistency, and ease of use. Weapon performance can shift with armor, augmentations, and player skill — treat tiers as guidance, not gospel. Specialist playstyles (e.g., dauntless charge blade mastery or dedicated support hammer builds) can flip a weapon’s value in skilled hands.
Quick Tier Summary
S Tier — Meta staples (highest overall impact)
- Long Sword — Consistent high DPS with agile repositioning and deadly burst (Spirit Blade play).
- Greatsword — Massive single-target burst, essential for high-damage solo finishing.
- Bow — Versatile damage types, rapid element/status application, superb mobility.
A Tier — Excellent choices, slightly more niche or setup-dependent
- Charge Blade — Explosive combos and insane burst when mastered.
- Insect Glaive — Air dominance and party buffing via Kinsect.
- Dual Blades — Highest sustained DPS during Demon Mode, great for slicing builds.
B Tier — Good, reliable weapons with tradeoffs
- Hammer — Stunning utility and raw blunt power, requires positioning.
- Switch Axe — Flexible play (axe/melee), strong burst with proper phasing.
- Gunlance — High-defense, steady shelling, niche for guard/GL shell builds.
C Tier — Situational picks or require heavy tuning
- Lance — Very defensive; excellent when team needs a pocket tank but lower damage.
- Hunting Horn — Top-tier support buffs but outclassed for raw solo DPS.
- Light Bowgun — Mobile and safe, but less forgiving at higher DPS ceilings.
Detailed weapon breakdown (what each weapon excels at)
Long Sword
The Long Sword sits at the top of many monster hunter world weapon tier list rankings for a reason: incredible reach, mobility, and spike damage via Spirit Helm/Spirit Slash combos. Best for players who value fluid movement and precise counters. Key tips: manage your Spirit Gauge, practice fade-slashes for repositioning, and time counter moves for big openings.
Greatsword
Pure, brutal damage. Greatsword’s charged hits can one-shot parts of the monster with proper aim. It requires patience and timing—when you land a fully charged True Charged Slash, you’re often rewarded with massive stagger or KO. Use Charge + Guard combos and aim for head/weak spots.
Bow
Bow’s range and constant damage application make it exceptional for elemental and status builds. Mobility lets you reposition while dealing steady DPS. Bow users can outrange aggressive monsters and stack coatings/equipment for specialized builds (e.g., paralysis, sleep). Bow remains a top pick in this monster hunter world weapon tier list for balanced utility and damage.
Charge Blade
Charge Blade is a highly technical weapon that converts sword/axe energy into explosive phials. When mastered, it delivers the highest burst combos in the game. Learn guard point timings, shield charges, and how to switch into Axe mode for phial detonations.
Insect Glaive
Air control and party support. IG excels at mounting and keeping DPS on the head/weak spots while providing valuable Kinsect buffs to teammates. It’s mobile and great for players who love vertical play and mounting pressure.
Dual Blades
Dual Blades are all about speed and sustained output. Demon Mode equals exceptional raw and element output—ideal for shredding monsters that have many openings. Watch stamina and manage heat gauge to maximize uptime.
Hammer
Hammer is the king of KOs and blunt damage. If your team needs to stun or break heads frequently, a hammer specialist is invaluable. Positioning for charged hits and perfect roars/knockouts is the name of the game.
Other weapons (Switch Axe, Gunlances, Lance, Hunting Horn, LBG)
Each has distinct roles: Switch Axe balances range and power, Gunlance offers shelling and Wyvernheart burst, Lance is the best defensive pick, Hunting Horn shines in team support, and LBG provides rapid-fire specialized ammo. These belong lower in the overall monster hunter world weapon tier list because they’re niche or demand specific team compositions.
Top builds & short setup guide (by role)
| Role | Weapon | Quick Build Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Solo DPS | Greatsword / Long Sword | Raw/crit boost, Critical Eye, Attack Boost, Focus |
| Elemental/Status | Bow / Insect Glaive | Element Up, Coating/Elemental Attack, Weakness Exploit |
| Support | Hunting Horn / Insect Glaive | Buff Duration, Earplugs, Stun Resist, Health Boost |
| Guard/Tank | Lance / Gunlance | Guard Up, Defense Boost, Guard Skill |
| Burst Specialist | Charge Blade / Switch Axe | Artillery, Capacity Boost, Handicraft/Sharpness |
Situational notes — when to pick lower-tier weapons
- Lance/Gunlance: If your team needs to tank or maintain constant hits on a specific body area, these shine.
- Hunting Horn: For coordinated squads that want to push DPS windows with long-lasting buffs.
- Light Bowgun: Perfect for tackling fast-moving monsters where mobility and status ammo beat raw numbers.
Practical tips to climb ranks with any weapon
- Master monster tells — knowing when to punish is more valuable than raw DPS stats.
- Prioritize sharpness/affinity augmentations — weapon stats matter, but uptime and criticals win hunts.
- Adjust loadout per monster — element/resistances sometimes beat pure raw power.
- Use decorations and charms to plug weaknesses — a single skill change can jump a weapon between tiers for a given fight.
Final thoughts on the monster hunter world weapon tier list
This monster hunter world weapon tier list is designed to guide your choices, not to limit your creativity. A weapon’s ranking depends heavily on your playstyle, the monster you’re facing, and how well you tune your gear. The best weapon is the one you enjoy using and have practiced — mastery can make even a C-tier weapon shine. Try multiple styles, adopt the suggestions above, and focus on learning one main weapon until your muscle memory beats your doubts.