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Here are the best Bow Builds in Monster Hunter Now. Check out the best early game build, the best elemental Bow builds, and the best Bow build progression against large monsters in this guide!
All Bow Guides | ||
---|---|---|
Full List | How to Use | Builds |
List of Contents
Jump to a Bow Build | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Game Build | Raw Build | ||||||
Water Build | Fire Build | Thunder Build | Ice Build |
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
100 | 0% | ||
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 2) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Jagras Mail
(Grade 2) |
▸ Rising Tide Lv.1 | ||
Girros Vambraces
(Grade 2) |
▸ Sneak Attack Lv.1 | ||
Leather Belt
(Grade 2) |
▸ Health Boost Lv.1 | ||
Kulu Greaves
(Grade 2) |
▸ Critical Eye Lv.1 |
As soon as you unlock Bows by defeating Great Girros in Chapter 2, craft the Blooming Arch Bow. The Focus skill from your Helm will shorten the time to charge attacks, allowing you to access its level 4 shot quicker.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
At least Grade 5 |
512 | 0% | None |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 6) |
▸
Focus
Lv. 1 ▸ Health Boost Lv. 2 |
||
Rathalos Mail
(Grade 6) |
▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2 | ||
Kulu Vambraces
(Grade 4) |
▸
Last Stand
Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1 |
||
Banbaro Coil
(Grade 6) |
▸
Attack Boost
Lv. 2 ▸ Firm Foothold Lv. 1 |
||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 6) |
▸
Focus
Lv. 2 ▸ Last Stand Lv. 1 |
This raw build incorporates Focus Lv.3 and damage skills to beat monsters throughout the endgame. While the Black Diablos bow, Galebender, is stronger overall, its Pierce shots may not be ideal for general use and can't be upgraded anytime due to requiring Black Diablos parts.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
(at least Grade 5) |
370 | 0% | 181 |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 6) |
▸
Focus
Lv. 1 ▸ Health Boost Lv. 2 |
||
Pukei Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸
Poison Resistance
Lv. 1 ▸ Focus Lv. 1 |
||
Jyura Vambraces
(Grade 6) |
▸ Water Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Rathalos Coil
(Grade 5) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Jagras Greaves
(Grade 6) |
▸ Water Attack Lv. 2 |
Feel free to swap Pukei Mail with Jyura Mail if you wish to maximize Water Attack, but take note that you'll lose 1 Focus point.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
(at least Grade 5) |
361 | 0% | 232 |
Armor | Skills | ||
Anja Helm
(Grade 4) |
▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Rathalos Mail
(Grade 6) |
▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2 | ||
Anja Vambraces
(Grade 6) |
▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Rathalos Coil
(Grade 6) |
▸
Focus
Lv. 1 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1 |
||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 6) |
▸
Focus
Lv. 2 ▸ Last Stand Lv. 1 |
The Blazing Bow and its upgrades can also be used if you're more comfortable using Spread shots. The Rathslinger has higher damage potential, but you'll need to use its Pierce arrows effectively so to maximize the hits.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
(at least Grade 5) |
361 | 0% | 232 |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 6) |
▸
Focus
Lv. 1 ▸ Health Boost Lv. 2 |
||
Kadachi Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸
Evade Extender
Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1 |
||
Zinogre Vambraces
(Grade 6) |
▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Kadachi Coil
(Grade 6) |
▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 6) |
▸
Last Stand
Lv. 1 ▸ Focus Lv. 2 |
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
(at least Grade 5) |
361 | 0% | 232 |
Armor | Skills | ||
Legiana Helm
(Grade 6) |
▸
Divine Blessing
Lv. 1 ▸ Ice Attack Lv. 1 |
||
Rathalos Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2 | ||
Barioth Vambraces
(Grade 6) |
▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Legiana Coil
(Grade 5) |
▸
Ice Attack
Lv. 2 ▸ Windproof Lv. 1 |
||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 6) |
▸
Last Stand
Lv. 1 ▸ Focus Lv. 2 |
Skill | Explanation / Recommended Level |
---|---|
Focus | Shortening your Bow's charged attacks greatly increases your damage, so be sure to equip an armor that has at least a level of this skill. Priority: ★★★ |
Elemental Attack | Take advantage of a monster's elemental weakness by equipping this stat! Priority: ★★★ |
Attack Boost | This skill increases your raw attack value, improving your DPS. This is worth taking for Bows since most of its power comes from raw attacks! Priority: ★★☆ |
Health Boost | Increases your health, allowing you to take more hits! Priority: ★★☆ |
Critical Eye | Raising affinity, or the critical hit rate, can boost your damage further. Priority: ★★☆ |
Sneak Attack | Attacking the rear is the safest way to not get hit by a monster's rushing attack. This skill will improve your damage while doing this. Priority: ★☆☆ |
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
100 | 0% | 50 | |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 2) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Jagras Mail
(Grade 2) |
▸ Rising Tide Lv.1 | ||
Girros Vambraces
(Grade 2) |
▸ Sneak Attack Lv.1 | ||
Leather Belt
(Grade 2) |
▸ Sneak Attack Lv.1 | ||
Kulu Greaves
(Grade 2) |
▸ Critical Eye Lv.1 |
Jyuratodus is weak against Thunder, however, the Pulsar Bow uses Pierce Arrows, which may be difficult to use whenever it dives. Instead, the Blooming Arch is recommended due to its powerful Spread arrows, making it easier to deal more damage.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
182 | 0% | 75 | |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 2) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Jyura Mail
(Grade 3) |
▸ Water Attack Lv.1 | ||
Jyura Vambraces
(Grade 3) |
▸ Water Attack Lv.1 | ||
Leather Belt
(Grade 3) |
▸ Health Boost Lv.1 | ||
Jagras Greaves
(Grade 2) |
▸ Water Attack Lv.1 |
Anjanath is weak to water so using the Aqua Arrow is recommended to exploit its elemental weakness. Damage can be enhanced by equipping armor pieces with Water Attack.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
128 | 0% | 47 | |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 2) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Anja Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸ Special Boost Lv.1 | ||
Kadachi Vambraces
(Grade 3) |
▸ Evade Extender Lv.1 | ||
Kadachi Coil
(Grade 3) |
▸ Thunder Attack Lv.1 | ||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 3) |
▸ Focus Lv.1 |
Rathian has a long body, making the Piercing Thunder arrows of the Pulsar Bow ideal for hunting it. Make sure to prepare a Special Skill before facing it to take advantage of the Special Boost skill.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
260 | 0% | 117 | |
Armor | Skills | ||
Anja Helm
(Grade 4) |
▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2 | ||
Anja Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸ Special Boost Lv.1 | ||
Anja Vambraces
(Grade 4) |
▸ Fire Attack Lv.1 | ||
Lumu Coil
(Grade 3) |
▸ Divine Blessing Lv.1 | ||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 3) |
▸ Focus Lv.1 |
The Blazing Bow takes advantage of Legiana's weakness to Fire, so craft it as soon as you can. The Fire Attack skill from the Anja armor will increase your elemental damage, increasing your DPS. It's also recommended to have your Special Skill ready to take advantage of Special Boost.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
361 | 0% | 232 | |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 2) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Anja Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸ Special Boost Lv.1 | ||
Kadachi Vambraces
(Grade 4) |
▸ Evade Extender Lv.1 | ||
Legiana Coil
(Grade 5) |
▸ Ice Attack Lv.2 | ||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 3) |
▸ Focus Lv.1 |
The Glacial Arrow is the best Bow to hunt Diablos with because of its weakness to Ice. The combination of the Pukei Hood and Jyura Greaves grants you two levels of Focus, shortening the time of your charged attacks.
For more damage, forge the Legiana Coil to gain two levels of Ice Attack.
Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
---|---|---|---|
(at least Grade 4) |
512 | 0% | None |
Armor | Skills | ||
Pukei Hood
(Grade 2) |
▸ Focus Lv. 1 | ||
Anja Mail
(Grade 4) |
▸ Special Boost Lv.1 | ||
Kadachi Vambraces
(Grade 4) |
▸ Evade Extender Lv.1 | ||
Leather Belt
(Grade 2) |
▸ Health Boost Lv.2 | ||
Jyura Greaves
(Grade 3) |
▸ Focus Lv.1 |
Since the Diablos Bow comes with high raw, skills that help with survivability such as Evade Extender and Health Boost can be fitted in. Focus is also important to shorten charging time and improve DPS. An upgraded Pulsar Bow may also be used as Rathalos is weak to Thunder, but it will require a lot of materials to upgrade.
All Weapon Builds | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sword and Shield | Great Sword | Long Sword | |||
Hammer | Light Bowgun | Bow | |||
Lance | Dual Blades | Charge Blade |
While these builds would be quite powerful in single shots, you’re not accounting for shot speed. With only two pieces of armor you can reach focus 4 (az rath helm, jyura greaves) and if you hit 5 then you can add burst (best with spread and pierce; possible with rapid lvl3 followed by lvl2 charge to active) to the mix even more rewarding speed over pure power. So ideal all rounder would be az helm, rathi vamb, jyura greav, then alternate chest and waist for elems and final focus
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to add as well, if using poison such as rathi’s with powerful spread shots and raw, can even lean in for burst 3 and just crank out the power to try pushing so over raw alone