Weapons in Monster Hunter World (MHW) are equipment that assists the player during their hunts by helping them deal damage to Monsters. Weapons are divided into fourteen types, each with special requirements and a unique move-set, complete with strengths and weaknesses.
To better understand the combat mechanics of MHW, please see:
- Combat for tips and Weapon Mechanics for detailed information on how weapons perform.
- Defense and Elemental Resistance for detailed information on surviving combat with Monsters.
- Some weapons have Elemental Damage that is grayed out and in parentheses. These weapons require a skill called Free Elem/Ammo Up to take effect
- For information on configuring your Hunter arsenal, see Loadouts.
- For information improving Weapons, see Augmentations and Upgrades.
- See Kulve Taroth Weapons for the special event weapons
- Please see Master Rank Weapons for Iceborne weapons
Choosing a Weapon in MHW
When choosing a Weapon, it is important to consider its Damage Type and/or Status Effect to take advantage of a Monster's weaknesses.
- Raw (Physical) Damage from Weapons is dealt as one of three types: Cutting (Sever), Blunt, and Ammo, while Elemental Damage has five types: Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, and Dragon.
- Status Effects do not directly deal damage, but rather build up effects including Poison, Stun, Paralysis, Sleep, and Blast.
- Monsters' resistance to Raw and Elemental Damage will vary by body part, while resistance to Status Effects vary by Monster.
Additionally, keep in mind that wielding a Blademaster (melee) Weapon will reduce Physical Damage taken, while ranged Weapons will reduce Elemental Damage taken.
- See Monsters or the ingame Monster Field Guide for more information.
- See Damage Types and Status Effects for details.
Also not all upgrades will be avalible at the start of MHW. you will see an Under Development area of the upgrade Screen, these will update as the story progresses.
- At the start of the game you will be able to upgrade your weapons to Rarity 4.
- After arriving in the Rotten Vale and doing some Exploring, you will get a Field Master(Tracker) cut scene.
After you will be able to upgrade weapons to Rarity 6.
What is the best weapon type in Monter Hunter World?
It is impossible to determine the best weapon type in Monster Hunter World, since it ultimately depends on your preferred playstyle, strengths, and weaknesses. Whether you favor the raw power of the Great Sword, the swift attacks of the Dual Blades, or the tactical support of the Hunting Horn, each weapon type offers a unique and rewarding experience.
The vast amount of weapon types available, the highly-customized Skill system, and the broad range of pieces of Armor allow players to be able to experiment with different Builds.
Experiment with different weapons, find the one that resonates with your hunting style, and master its intricacies for a truly unforgettable hunting journey in the New World.
Master Rank Weapons in Monster Hunter World
Master Rank Weapons in Monster Hunter World elevate the hunting experience to new heights, delivering a potent blend of power and precision. These formidable weapons, exclusive to the 
Iceborne Expansion, boast enhanced damage, unique designs, and augmented capabilities compared to their High Rank counterparts.
Crafted from the spoils of challenging encounters with the game's fiercest monsters, Master Rank weapons are the pinnacle of craftsmanship and efficiency. Whether you prefer the swift elegance of a Master Rank Longsword or the devastating might of a Heavy Bowgun, these weapons cater to diverse playstyles. As you embark on your Master Rank journey, these weapons become indispensable allies in the quest for supremacy.
Monster Hunter World Weapon Categories
There are fourteen different weapons at the Hunter's disposal, each with their own unique characteristics and attacks. Many hunters acquire proficiency in multiple types, while others prefer to gain mastery in one.
Great Sword
Sword & Shield
Dual Blades
Long Sword
Hammer
Hunting Horn
Lance
Gunlance
Switch Axe
Charge Blade
Insect Glaive
Bow
Light Bowgun
Heavy Bowgun
All MHW Weapons List
For Iceborne Weapons, please see Master Rank Weapons.
Great Sword Gallery MHW
Great Sword Ore Weapons
Buster Blade
Chrome Razor
Nergal Judicator
Purgation's Atrocity
Great Sword Bone Weapons
Sword & Shield Gallery MHW
Sword and Shield Ore Weapons
Sword and Shield Bone Weapons
Dual Blades Gallery MHW
Dual Blades Ore Weapons
Dual Blades Bone Weapons
Long Sword Gallery MHW
Long Sword Ore Weapons
Long Sword Bone Weapons
Hammers Gallery MHW
Hammer Ore Weapons
Hammer Bone Weapons
Hunting Horns Gallery MHW
Hunting Horn Ore Weapons
Hunting Horn Bone Weapons
Lances Gallery MHW
Lance Ore Weapons
Lance Bone Weapons
Gunlance Gallery MHW
Gunlance Ore Weapons
Gunlance Bone Weapons
Switch Axes Gallery MHW
Switch Axe Ore Weapons
Switch Axe Bone Weapons
Charge Blades Gallery MHW
Charge Blade Ore Weapons
Charge Blade Bone Weapons
Insect Glaives Gallery MHW
Insect Glaive Ore Weapons
Insect Glaive Bone Weapons
Bows Gallery MHW
Bow Ore Weapons
Bow Bone Weapons
Light Bowguns Gallery MHW
Light Bowgun Ore Weapons
Light Bowgun Bone Weapons
Heavy Bowguns Gallery MHW
Heavy Bowgun Ore Weapons
Heavy Bowgun Bone Weapons
Anonymous
- Anonymous
Always remember, there are no “bad weapons”. Just people who don’t know how to use said weapons they call bad.
Of course you can always have an opinion, not liking a weapon is fine, not everyone prefers slow heavy hitters or weapons where you have to manage buffs. But no weapon is ever objectively bad.
So, never be afraid to use the stuff you like, you’re always helping the hunt. Wether you’re caving in skulls with, dashing around and repeatedly shanking knees, flying through the air and being the king of the skies, cutting tails with an unreasonably long blade, or providing buffs for the team and showing off your break dancing skills, you’re as important to the hunt as everyone else.
I write for everyone who might need to hear this. Keep on huntin’, I wish you luck.
-Gigi (I exist)
P.S I copy pasted my other comment from the Rise wiki. Thought I’d share this with more people.
- Anonymous
Always remember, there are no bad weapons, only bad players.
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Hammerbros are obnoxious, you know.... being so obsessed with hammers is just stupid. I love hammer, also. Its just that almost everyone who plays hammer acts like a f*cking child with a god-complex on steroids. Every weapon is fun to play. I prefer other weapons, and thats my choice. There is nothing wrong with hammers. But its not just hammers that, when used correctly, destroy monsters left and right. I’m a longsword main, just not a noob who doesn’t know hot to Monster Hunter. I can slay every monster effortlessly. And I’m very happy with actually knowing how to time my attacks and counters, especially the Spirit-Iai (thats pronounced “iai” for those who don’t know) and the Spirit Helm-Breaker. To be clear, I love every weapon and I praise every other player I was ever with in any hunt I did in multiplayer. Hammers are amazing, hunting horns are god-like, greatswords are satisfying, bow is sooooooo clean, charge blade is epic, switch-axes are chads and longsword (when used correctly) is just beastly. I play mainly single player, so I don’t have much experience in actually seeing ls users stagger others that much. In fact; I’ve never seen such a thing. But I’m sure you have your own reasons to either love or hate a weapon. Just don’t be toxic about it in any way. Don’t say people should stop using ls because its a noob weapon, sure its easy to learn so a lot of true noobs use it, but experts at this weapon absolutely slay. And don’t be that hammerbro that spews toxic sh*t like “STOP ATTACKING THE HEAD NON-HAMMER SCRUBS, THATS OUR JOB!!!!”. Choose your own weapon, don’t discriminate others for using a different weapon than your own. Every weapon is awesome, its just that the players are either good or bad at the game. Lets just all have fun hunting the way we like best.
- Anonymous
No weapon is the best, and the isn't a worst, it just depends on how well you use them. I can't use DB effectively but I can destroy with LG and SA. It's pretty easy to find pros for each weapon who destroy their enemies and it's soooo satisfying to see a pro dominate a monster. And really it doesn't matter which weapon is the best as long as it gets the job done.
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I somehow went from starting with the DB to going to the IG then the LS THEN SA after a while I got good with CB but then after all that I became amazing with the hammer and now I switch between 5 different weapons constantly. (Is this bad?)
- Anonymous
When you use a 200 pound sword to kill a dragon then someone uses a bow and does the same
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can we get some more sword and shield mains up in here? no? ok...
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All you people pledging your wepon is best... you're wrong. Fishing rod for life.
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Switch Axes are not as good with damage, but i am attacking a lot more so i think its worth it
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Hey hamlord, do you only use hammer or do you use other weapons
- Anonymous
OEF i think the bristle grudge stats aren't correct yet, because a purple sharpness hammer is insane O_O
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Well I was lost on weapon choice at first, so in my view for anyone newer: as much as I hate to say it after 100 hours what I heard when I first started playing MH world seems to be right: Greatswords are pretty solidly the best melee weapon overall. Simply put it's the best at fitting the most damage into the smallest windows of opportunity, which ultimately is most of what combat is about in MH. As lackluster as the GS seems and as tempting as I found fancier weapons like the charge blade, unfortunately as time went on and I encountered faster, stronger monsters/multiple monsters where openings can be fleeting maintaining a charge became more and more of a burden; by the time a charge blade/long sword/insect glaive is set up to deal real damage, a GS is already out there landing 750 damage combos. Add to that special sitiuations where speed is irrelevant vs. raw damage, like jumping attacks/mounted finishers, or most importantly wakeup attacks where, for ex, my leviathan blade generally does just below 1k damage not including barrel bombs, and IME it becomes tougher and tougher to justify using other melee weapons outside niche circumstances. I mean, I guess the real (let's see if that works) choice of pros is bows as used by all those ludicrous speed runners, but they only start becoming really impressive once one has a proper fancy armor/jewel setup to support it.
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is there any weapon that can cut both tail and breaking horns? i'm planning to play solo since my internet kinda suck
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do it my style for each weapon type get 1 elemental type attack, for example dual swords paralyze, Hammer thunder ...etc you will find your self playing all weapons with many different elements + the play style.
soon pc ver will be released can't wait to start playing :D
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I'm love Heavy bowgun but expert on Long sword but most used is Gunlance. xD
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when i see great jagras fight tobi kadachi.
*inhales- derp derpity derp derp der derp
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hello! yes! hi! i am a glaive main, and i thought.... to all those glaive mains out there, lets all have some fun! like if you agree! pls reply! i am very humbled by all the glaive mains out there, but... how many? its okay if you dislike, this is a crappy post. but.... thanks for all da support, and the fifth fleet honors you!
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is a glaive a blade or gun? it says it shoots a pheromone bullet, so does that mean its a gun? pls halp meh on this one!
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Link to kinsects has now been added! https://monsterhunterworld.wiki.fextralife.com/Kinsect
- Anonymous
Once you reach HR 10 you unlock high rank quests unlocking so many new eapons that are much stronger than their predessecors. also the weapon tree does grow quite large
- Anonymous
Kinda disappointed at how small the weapon tree is. And that you cannot just flat out craft a weapon using the raw materials
- Anonymous
No CHAINSLAUGHTER in the longsword tree.
Son, I am disappoint.
- Anonymous
If a weapon has "?" on it it has to mean that you havn't discovered the materials for it. However I don't have it memorized but I don't think you can get the materials for a rarity 5 or above until you are above rank 10 for spoilery reasons.
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I'm rank 9 on my character and for some reason even though I have all the mats I cannot build a rarity 5 hammer that I need. Any idea why it'd be showing up as ???? on my screen?
- Anonymous
Why is everything that doesn't stem from the Ore or Bone trees tossed under "Bone?" Blacksteel and Dragonbone are their own unique trees. Heck, Teostra's Artillery even gets Wyvernheart instead of Wyvernsnipe (The special ammo typically given to ore HBG's vs. the Bone HBG's)
So I was takin' a gander and just wonderin' are all these lil' weapon thumbnails fer the top level of that specific path? That sure be what it seems like, least to me and my Ham head. Anyway thanks fer makin' this wiki, it's one lovely source of information.
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im thinking these guys are going the bone route for many of the weapons
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Does anyone know what the element in parentheses means? Attacks dont look like they have the element added to the attacks.
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Any gunners out there? I feel like the bowgun doesn't get enough love.
Cripes the updates for this wiki involving this GLORIOUS game is waaaaay to slow :(
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Boy I sure do love Hammin' monsters. I love Hammin' monsters so much, that I'm proud to say that The Ham Lord recommends this game.
Been using the Longsword since I first saw it come out on MHF2 on the PSP, felt like riding a bike when I started using it again in this game :)
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I'm not all that familiar with monster hunter but i have taken to like this one. My main weapon is the glaive, I would like to use it more efficiently so i can contribute more to the team. My question how ever is what do all the stats on the kinsect mean. i.e. There is Power, Speed, and Heal. Power mean show hard the kinsect hits, Speed means how fast it flies to its mark, an Heal means (?)
Now on the some glaives there is a Kinsect bonus for Health Boost. Does that mean that the kinsects "heal" is the stamina for how long it can be off of my characters arm?
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i am actualy looking for how to get a dual blade weapon called blood drinker chainblades the guy on this youtube vid was useing them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-61v8N58Sag&t=1s i would like to know how to get the what i need to get or what i need to upgrade to get them thanks.
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are there more weapon they need to add in the list or this is it? happy hunting people.
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Charge Blade or switch axe for solo play, Lance/Gunlance or Hunting Horn for Multiplayer for me.
- Anonymous
This section needs to be updated with a subsection for Kinsects.
- Anonymous
gunlance for me personaly. i like the balance between power and defence.
Gunlance has to be one of the best all rounder solo weapons having the ability to easily break of parts and do slicing damage as well with high defense it felt really amazing. The Great-sword on the other hand should only be used by skilled players it need a well placed timing and charge time to attack and knowing when to release your weapon for damage even if it not the highest just to get it in most people don't realize you can combo in shoulder tackle to charge into the next stage and that the great sword also has a block function on it.
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Played the great sword for the majority of both beta's and was having a hard time landing hits after charging so long (new to the series so probably doing it wrong) but I wanted to do good damage for my group, finally tried a new weapon and OH MAN do I love me the Switch Axe! So versatile and fun to pull off the long combos and end with an explosive finisher. SOLD on that class forevermore! kicking myself in the pants for not trying it out sooner!
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I personally would love, love some scythes, whips (especially), Boomerangs and general throwing weapons
Love the design of Pulsar bow and long swords - Wyvern Blade... can't wait to use them :o
- Anonymous
longswords and glaives look the coolest, but i'm afraid they'll be twice as long as our charater...
I was torn between gunlance and lance but after learning that gunlance can now shoot stakes as well I am soooo sold.
Well now that we have a full view of what's coming with the beta, I see some of the new weapons for the new monsters looking pretty awesome. I think I'm gonna Longsword - gotta get that Wyvern Blade!
LS and hammer players trying not to be toxic to each other for one second: impossible
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