Monster Hunter World (MHW) is an RPG in which players hunt down various creatures. They are given the option of selecting from a variety of weapons. Not every weapon, however, is appropriate for every player. This is primarily because each weapon is unique in its manner. Each of them has perks and cons.
Monster Hunter World is a one-of-a-kind, fantastic adventure that can be enjoyed in single or co-op play. Playing with others makes those terrifying times much more exciting because pals experience them together. However, playing solo increases the game’s difficulty by forcing the player one-on-one against the game’s most savage enemies.
How is the Tier List Determined?
This tier ranking is based on how simple a weapon is to use and how well it performs under Solo Time Attack (TA) limitations. This tier list was tested specifically on the optional mission M5 Clashing Swords upon the Rime, where you must hunt Velkhana.
So S Tier weapons inflict a lot of damage while still being beginner-friendly, but C Tier weapons are complicated and difficult to learn to reach their full damage level. Take notice that some weapons perform significantly better in multiplayer.
What is a Solo Time Attack (TA)?
Solo TA is a speedrunning classification. It’s similar to speedrunning but with tougher regulations. Solo TA focuses on a weapon and its build’s ability to inflict damage as quickly as possible without any sort of external help, such as your Palico, Paratoads, Traps, and Mantles.
Monster Hunter World Weapons Tier List
Below is the Monster Hunter World Weapons Tier List (Solo and Multiplayer) 2023:
Monster Hunter World Weapon Tier List Solo 2023
Strongest Solo Weapon S-Tier:
Strongest Solo Weapon A-Tier:
Strongest Solo Weapon B-Tier:
Strongest Solo Weapon C-Tier:
Monster Hunter World Weapon Tier List Multiplayer 2023
Strongest Multiplayer Weapon S -Tier:
Strongest Multiplayer Weapon A-Tier:
Strongest Multiplayer Weapon B-Tier:
Strongest Multiplayer Weapon C-Tier:
Monster Hunter World Weapon Tier List 2023
Below is The Monster Hunter World Weapon Tier List 2023:
1: Heavy Bowgun (Solo S – Tier | Co-op S – Tier)
The Heavy Bowgun is likely to be the best-ranged weapon in MHW due to the amount of damage while being safe from monsters. Unlike its little brother, the Light Bowgun, the Heavy Bowgun offers status alignments, elemental damage, and raw harm into the quest. When using a Heavy Bowgun weapon, you must know the amount of damage it does at specific ranges.
During multiplayer, you can aim for the monster’s weak point from a safe distance when your party is busy hitting the target with their melee weapons. The Heavy Bowgun has no flaws except for its mobility and ammo, but these issues have quick solutions. In addition, the Best Heavy Bowgun in the game is Vor Buster.
Below are the pros and cons of Heavy Bowgun Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Allow you to hunt from a safe distance |
Low mobility |
Great damage |
Limited ammo |
Easy to learn and understand |
Requires the right build for maximum damage |
2: Great Sword (Solo S – Tier | Co-op B – Tier)
The best Great Swords can deal up to 2000 damage in one single hit. Moreover, Great Swords allows you to take down a monster quickly during a flawless run. Several new hunters may get turned off due to the weapon’s slow speed, & its damaging attacks need some long charge time.
However, it might take time to learn and understand this weapon, but the wait is truly worth it. Furthermore, the Best Great Sword in the game is Black Fatalis Blade.
Below are the pros and cons of the Great Sword Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Largest raw damage in the game |
Slow charging speed |
Brilliant range |
Landing charge attacks need perfect timing. |
Simple movements |
|
3: Long Sword (Solo S – Tier | Co-op C – Tier)
The Long Sword is considered the game’s most stylish and elegant weapon. Also, the weapon is not hard to master but can also deliver satisfying damage numbers. Moreover, there are 3 tiers to this meter, which are white, yellow, and red. In addition, White is considered the weakest, while red is the strongest. Players must always maintain the red-colored Spirit Meter in order to increase damage output.
Other moves, like the Iai slash, are also just as stylish. However, the Long Sword’s movements are considered high-risk/high reward as if you fail to land a hit; you may require to make up your Spirit Meter again. Long Sword also does not offer much utility in multiplayer and interrupts your team members’ combos when hit. Also, the Best Long Sword in the game is Fatalis Zaggespanon.
Below are the pros and cons of the Long Sword Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Anime-tier flashy moves |
Missing your combo can be frustrating and punishing. |
Offers countless raw damage and mobility |
Attacks can interrupt your team when playing co-op. |
Offers high reward when landing risky moves |
|
4: Light Bowgun (Solo A – Tier | Co-op S – Tier)
The Light Bowgun can deplete a good chunk of the enemy’s health from a distance. Indeed, the damage does not compare to the Heavy Bowgun, but the Light Bowgun has better mobility and allows you to reload quicker, even on the run. Moreover, a Light Bowgun weapon consists of simple combos; you only need to reload, aim, and shoot.
The only complicated thing about Light Bowgun is the variety of ammo and armor skills you want to go for. When playing the light blowgun, ammo capacity may be an issue, and you require to make sure you are hitting the right spots. Furthermore, the Best Light Bowgun in the game is Fatalis Depth.
Below are the pros and cons of Light Bowgun Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Wonderful mobility |
Limited ammo capacity |
Great range |
Not the most damaging long-ranged weapon |
Offers excellent utility for solo and co-op |
|
5: Charge Blade (Solo S – Tier | Co-op C – Tier)
Like the Switch Axe, the Charge Blade is a transforming weapon that allows you to transform your sword and shield into one giant axe, each offering its advantages. However, Charge Blade is a technical weapon in the game; therefore, you must memorize its moves even doing a basic combo. The weapon’s default form is a sword & shield that offers fast attacks & excellent defense options.
This form enables you to charge your phials to do extra damage and improve your defense. The Charge Blade has ridiculous damage output potential, but its complexity may scare newer players. However, Charge Blade can be frustrating as it requires time to charge up the weapon and does effective combos. Moreover, the Best Charge Blade in the game is Kjarr Strongarm.
Below are the pros and cons of Charge Blade Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
High DPS and burst damage |
Takes forever to master |
Cool finishers and combos |
The best combos need long animations that leave you vulnerable. |
Great defensive options in Sword mode |
|
6: Hammer (Solo A-Tier | Co-op A-Tier)
The hammer is a blunt weapon that you must use while aiming your enemy’s head to attack. Hammer offers one of the biggest single-hit damage in the game and does plenty of KO damage. Moreover, it provides you the advantage of knocking down monsters to unleash all-out attacks.
However, the hammer can be challenging to control, and you can accidentally interrupt your co-players and even send them flying during mid-combo. Also, hitting the enemy’s head is not as easy as during solo due to the unpredictability of co-op hunting. It will cause you to run back and forth before finally landing a hit on the monster’s head.
Below are the pros and cons of Hammer Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Can KO monsters easily |
Only effective when hitting heads |
Wonderful overall damage |
Very short range |
Offers decent mobility for a heavy weapon |
Still needs sharpening even though it is a blunt weapon |
7: Bow (Solo A – Tier | co-op B – Tier)
The Bow is a kind of weapon that offers great utility for solo and multiplayer and has excellent mobility for a ranged weapon. Even Bow offers some exciting combos that are hard-hitting, just like some of the melee options.
The Bow weapon consists of light and charge attacks that enable you to deal KO damage, which is beneficial when playing in multiplayer. Using a Bow weapon needs solid stamina; therefore, you must maintain your energy to perform powerful combos and get out of monster attacks. Additionally, the Best Bow in the game is Kjarr Bow King.
Below are the pros and cons of Bow Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Great mobility |
Consumes quite of stamina |
Excellent damage output potential |
|
Offers ranged attack with combos that can KO monsters. |
|
8: Switch Axe (Solo A-Tier | Co-op A-Tier)
The Switch Axe is a large weapon that transforms from axe mode to sword mode mid-combo. However, the Switch Axe allows you to switch between a sword and an axe. The Switch Axe offers amazing mobility and an excellent range.
Switch Axe is one of the stylish weapons in the game, as the combos let you switch from one to another while adding some explosions at the end of the combos. However, Switch Axe is a bit tricky to understand in order to master it. It does not offer several defensive options, so it can make you vulnerable to managing attacks. Also, the best Switch Axe in the game: is True Fatalis End.
Below are the pros and cons of Switch Axe Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Amazing reach with axe mode |
Poor defensive options |
Offers elegant and stylish combos |
Difficult to use |
Great DPS potential |
Sword mode depletes sharpness quickly. |
9: Insect Glaive (Solo B – Tier | Co-op S – Tier)
The Insect Glaive is easily one of the exclusive weapons in Monster Hunter: World. It is the only weapon that consists of aerial attacks and offers some interesting mechanics, such as controlling a Kinsect pet, which allows you to get the essence from different monsters.
Insect Glaive weapon enables you to mount monsters easily, which is very beneficial in multiplayer. Furthermore, its aerial attack helps you to make sure your team below is attacking the target from all sides. However, the biggest drawback of the Insect Glaive weapon is its low damage output. And managing essences with the Kinsect may be a little complicated for starters. However, the Best Insect Glaive in the game is True Fatalis Dyaus.
Below are the pros and cons of Insect Glaive Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Offers Aerial combat |
Poor damage output |
Helps your teammate mount monsters |
Uses plenty of stamina |
|
Always require to manage the essence. |
10: Gunlance (Solo B – Tier | Co-op B – Tier)
The Gunlance is a unique weapon that offers a long piercing weapon. However, it enables you to deal with explosive rounds at each combo. Like the Lance, Gunlance provides some wonderful defensive moves but a poor movement. Despite Gunlance’s weaknesses, it is one of the few weapons that can slice through a monster’s defense while dealing tons of explosive damage.
When Iceborne arrived, the Gunlance earned a new ability, “Wyrmstake Blast,” which further increased the destruction. However, a Gunlance weapon takes time to master; therefore, you will not easily be able to do enough damage unless you implement the right combos. It is vital to mention that the Best Gunlance in the game is True Fatalis Gunlance.
Below are the pros and cons of Gunlance Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Good damage |
Poor mobility |
Excllent defensive options |
Your team can get hurt from the explosion. |
Explosive moves that ignore the monster’s defense |
Every blast consumes your shells and weapon sharpness |
11: Lance (Solo B – Tier | Co-op B – Tier)
The Lance has a long piercing weapon that enables the players to reach and attack the enemy’s weak points. However, Lance does not rank higher on the list due to its low attack power and poor movement, which makes it quite tough to evade monsters’ attacks.
When doing co-op, Lance’s wonderful defensive abilities will be useful during more difficult hunts as it can block those normally unblockable attacks from the most powerful monsters. So, Lance is an excellent choice if you are looking for an easy-to-use weapon without hard combos. It is worth mentioning that the best Lance in the game is the True Fatalis Lance.
Below are the pros and cons of Lance Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Great Defensive Options |
Slow animations |
Excellent Reach |
Limited movements |
Simple Movements |
|
12: Dual Blades (Solo B – Tier | Co-op C – Tier)
The Dual Blades are the smallest sets of swords in the game. However, they are also considered the fastest weapon because of their great attack speed. Moreover, Dual Blades allow you to implement the Demon and Archdemon modes, offering impressive combos.
However, these modes consume a lot of stamina; therefore, you must be careful with them. In addition, Dual Blades is a weapon that offers no defensive move except dodging. So, Dual Blades may help out players to attack enemies quickly but does not offer anything to assist the team. It is worth mentioning that the Best Dual Blade in the game is Kulve Taroth Dual Blades.
Below are the pros and cons of Dual Blades Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Fastest Attack Speed |
Consumes much stamina |
Decent combos |
Poor range |
|
Not much use in multiplayer co-op |
13: Hunting Horn (Solo C – Tier | Co-op S – Tier)
The Hunting Horn is the weakest weapon in Monster Hunter World because of its low speed, damage output, and of course, the lack of defensive options. Moreover, the weapon offers no decent combos that better deal with huge damage.
The hunting horn is a weapon that should only be used during co-op as it helps out your team members in several situations. However, the hunting horn is a great choice for playing multiplayer. It is vital to mention that the Best Hunting Horn in the game is Fatalis Menace Wailer.
Below are the pros and cons of Hunting Horn Weapon:
Pros |
Cons |
Does KO damage |
Slow attack speed |
Heals and buffs team members |
Poor harm |
|
Poor animation |
14: Sword & Shield (Solo C-Tier | Co-op A-Tier)
The Sword and Shield are considered the worst weapon in the game, as they are mostly criticized for their lack of power, which is a huge letdown when playing solo. However, it is a game changer during co-op as its ability in order to throw bombs and drink potions on the go can support your team. It also has decent KO and stun damage which is helpful when multiplayer. It is worth mentioning that the Best Sword & Shield in the game is the True Fatalis Sword.
Pros |
Cons |
Offers decent attack and defense |
Poor overall damage |
Supports the whole party |
|
Offers various effects |
|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are the FAQs about Monster Hunter World Weapons Tier List:
Q1: What is the Best Monster Hunter World Weapon?
Ans: The Heavy Bowgun is the finest weaponry in Monster Hunter World since it is effective in both solo and multiplayer play.
Q2: What is Monster Hunter World’s Worst Weapon?
Ans: In Monster Hunter World, the Lance is the weakest weapon for single play. However, the Long Sword is the worst weapon for multiplayer.
Q3: What is the highest DPS weapon in MHW 2023?
Ans: Great Sword has the highest damage per hit (DPH) than any other weapon in the Monster Hunter World.
Q4: What is the best weapon for solo play in Monster Hunter World?
Ans: Heavy Bowgun is one of the best weapons for solo play in the Monster Hunter World.
Q5: What is the best overall weapon in Monster Hunter World?
Ans: Dual Blades are the most powerful weapon type in the Monster Hunter World. Game.
Q6: What is the fastest killing weapon in MHW?
Ans: Bow and HBG are the fastest weapons with the fastest times.
Q7: What weapon has the highest skill ceiling in Monster Hunter World?
Ans: The Insect Glaive is the weapon with the highest skill ceiling in Monster Hunter World.
Conclusion
Monster Hunter World (MHW) is an RPG in which players are provided the option of choosing weapons from a variety of weapons. However, each of the weapons has pros and cons. Moreover, MHW is a great adventure that can be enjoyed in single or co-op play. Playing with a team makes the game more exciting. However, playing solo increases the game’s difficulty by forcing the player to play one-on-one against the game’s most tough enemies.
The blog has amazingly covered the required details about Monster Hunter World: A Complete Weapon Tier List for Both Cooperative & Solo Play 2023. So, make sure to read the blog fully to understand the usage of the weapons well. For more blogs, check out our website Qnnit.