In Monster Hunter Wild you fight with big, scary monsters using weapons available in the game. The only way to beat them is if you’ve got the best weapons with you all the time.
Each weapon is unique, with its own moves and style. But which ones are the best in beating that particular monster?
In this article, I’ll rank all the weapons in Monster Hunter Rise from top to bottom.
I’ll look at what makes each weapon special, what’s good about it, and where it falls short in a fight.
Let’s get started –
S+ Tier: The Cream of the Crop
Sword and Shield
The Sword and Shield claims a coveted spot in the S+ tier, praised for its versatility and enhanced defensive capabilities.
The perfect guard system makes the shield feel “truly impenetrable,” while the counter slash following a successful guard adds a new layer of offensive potential.
The charge chop serves as both a combo finisher and extender, offering more variety to the weapon’s already diverse moveset.
The sliding swipe provides excellent repositioning options, supporting the weapon’s philosophy of rarely needing to sheath.
With aerial gameplay, focus strikes, and power clashes all feeling great, the Sword and Shield has surpassed its already impressive iterations from previous games.
Hammer
As the hunter’s self-proclaimed “main main” weapon, the Hammer’s placement in S+ tier comes as no surprise. The mighty charge system in Wild perfectly complements the Hammer’s identity, offering a satisfying and aggressive playstyle.
The offset attack, a holdable and delayable golf swing, rewards precision and timing.
The reworked spinning bludgeon now serves as a purposeful combo tool rather than an accidental occurrence.
Wild has added complexity to the Hammer, providing more options for stringing combos together and rewarding thoughtful play over simple hit-and-run tactics.
Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horn rounds out the S+ tier, praised for its innovative blend of mechanics from previous games. The weapon now incorporates elements from Iceborne and Sunbreak, creating a unique and satisfying playstyle.
New features like special melodies, delayable offset melodies, and the echo bubble mechanic add depth and complexity to the weapon.
The hunter notes that the Hunting Horn has evolved to become a “secret Chargeblade,” offering an intricate system of melodies, note overlaps, and attack variations that create a deeply rewarding experience when mastered.
S Tier: Exceptional Weapons
Great Sword
The Great Sword lands firmly in the S tier, maintaining its classic enjoyability while introducing new mechanics. The offset feature, particularly effective due to the weapon’s length, adds range and satisfaction to attacks.
The ability to chain offsets into meteor combos and focus strikes creates a fluid and powerful playstyle. The weapon’s length also proves advantageous when targeting specific monster parts or wounds.
With the addition of perfect guards, power clashes, and a 360-degree focus mode, the Great Sword offers a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.
Gunlance
The Gunlance has seen significant improvements in Wild, earning it a spot in the S tier. Double wyvern fire charges and enhanced wormstake combos add to the weapon’s explosive potential.
The removal of the shelling level system allows for more versatile builds, as shell damage now scales with attack stat. Different shelling types have been reworked, enabling multiple viable playstyles within a single optimal build.
The addition of perfect guards and a guard point on reload further enhances the weapon’s defensive capabilities.
Switch Axe
The Switch Axe’s placement in the S tier is attributed to its well-designed form-switching mechanics.
The axe mode offset and sword mode counter create a satisfying flow between the two forms, each offering unique advantages. The full release slash provides a powerful, high-risk-high-reward attack option.
Overall, the weapon feels cohesive while maintaining distinct identities for each form.
Bow
Rounding out the S tier is the Bow, which has received significant improvements in Wild. The reworked coating system now rewards active gameplay, with coatings gained through combat rather than pre-hunt management.
Special ammo options double as repositioning tools, adding versatility to the weapon. The inbuilt dodgebolt effect and satisfying animations, particularly the double jumping shot, enhance the Bow’s mobility and style.
The focus strike is described as “possibly the coolest in the game,” contributing to the weapon’s high ranking.
A Tier: Solid Performers
Long Sword
The Long Sword sits comfortably in the A tier, offering new ways to reach red gauge and improved reasons to maintain it.
The proper charge round slash and enhanced wound destruction capabilities add to the weapon’s appeal.
While not quite reaching S tier for this hunter, the Long Sword provides a fun and varied experience.
Dual Blades
Landing in the A tier, the Dual Blades are praised for their impressive focus strike and the new “attack on Titan”-style grappling attack.
Changes to blade dance and demon flurry have improved the weapon’s flow. The hunter admits that more time with the weapon might elevate it to S tier, but for now, it remains a solid A-tier choice.
Charge Blade
The Charge Blade finds itself in the A tier, with mixed feelings about its evolution. The enhanced Savage Axe mode and the ability to activate it through perfect guards or wound destruction are appreciated.
However, the shift away from super amped elemental discharge (SAED) focused builds and the proliferation of guard point-like mechanics to other weapons have slightly diminished the Charge Blade’s unique identity.
Light Bowgun
The Light Bowgun secures an A-tier ranking, with the hunter noting it as their favorite iteration of the weapon to date.
Improved agility, evading reloads, and chaser shots add depth to the ranged playstyle. The infinite ammo for standard ammo types reduces the need for mid-hunt crafting, streamlining the experience.
B Tier: Solid but with Drawbacks
Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun lands in the B tier, with the hunter enjoying the wyvern heart spam playstyle but noting several issues.
The forced use of shield mods and limited recoil control options have reduced build variety.
Spread ammo builds have become less viable, and using non-standard ammo types feels unwieldy. Despite these drawbacks, the existing playstyles remain fun, earning the weapon its B-tier spot.
C Tier: Room for Improvement
Lance
The Lance, while still enjoyable, finds itself in the C tier due to its repetitive nature.
The hunter acknowledges that the weapon feels better than ever in Wild, with improved movement, perfect guard mechanics, and the addition of power clash.
However, the core gameplay loop remains too monotonous for extended play sessions, leading to its lower ranking.
Insect Glaive: A Special Case
The Insect Glaive presents a unique situation, nearly reaching S+ tier but held back by control scheme issues.
The weapon receives high praise for its charged piercing kinsect attack, simplified extract gathering, and the addition of descending slash and rising spiral slash.
However, the awkward control scheme, which requires uncomfortable hand positions, prevents the weapon from reaching its full potential in the tier list.
Conclusion
Monster Hunter Rise has made its weapons better and more fun to use.
From the S+ tier weapons that offer complex, satisfying playstyles to the lower-ranked options that still provide enjoyable experiences, each weapon has its strengths and unique characteristics.
Ultimately, the beauty of Monster Hunter Wild lies in its variety, allowing each hunter to find the weapon that best suits their playstyle and preferences.
