Here are the best Heavy Bowgun Builds in Monster Hunter Now. Check out the best early game build, the best elemental Heavy Bowgun builds, and the best Heavy Bowgun build progression against large monsters in this guide!

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Best Heavy Bowgun Builds

Heavy Bowgun Build Selection

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Early Game Build
Water Build		Fire Build		Thunder Build
Ice Build			Dragon Build

Early Game Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Jagras Assault	135	0%	38
Armor	Skills
Leather Headgear (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye 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
Jagras Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1

Jagras Assault is a good starter Heavy Bowgun. Pair this weapon with generally good skills to start farming more difficult Large Monsters.

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Water Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Mountainous Roar (at least Grade 6)	428	0%	319
Alternative: Water Cannon (at least Grade 6)	475	0%	251
Armor	Skills
Mizutsune Helm (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 2
Lumu Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Recoil Down Lv. 2
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 2
Pukei Lagoon Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1 ▸ Recoil Down Lv. 1
Rath Soul Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 2 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1

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Fire Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Flammenkanone (at least Grade 6)	475	0%	251
Armor	Skills
Anja Helm (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2 ▸ Fire Resistance Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Recoil Down Lv. 2
Anja Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Pukei Lagoon Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1 ▸ Recoil Down Lv. 1
Rath Soul Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 2 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1

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Thunder Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Mightning+ (at least Grade 6)	461	0%	320
Armor	Skills
Tzitzi Headgear (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2 ▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Recoil Down Lv. 2
Zinogre Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Pukei Lagoon Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1 ▸ Recoil Down Lv. 1
Rath Soul Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 2 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1

This build caters to dealing more damage with 4 points of Thunder Attack and max levels on both Recoil Down and Reload Speed skills. This will ensure that the weapon's sluggish nature won't get in the way of your damage.

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Ice Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Daora Grande	551	0%	238
Armor	Skills
Banbaro Helm (Grade 6)	▸ Tremor Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Recoil Down Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Recoil Down Lv. 2
Barioth Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Legiana Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2 ▸ Windproof Lv. 1
Rath Soul Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 2 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1

This build caters to dealing more damage with 4 points of Ice Attack and max levels on both Recoil Down and at least 2 points in Reload Speed skills. This will ensure that the weapon's sluggish nature won't get in the way of your damage.

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Dragon Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Dark Devourer (at least Grade 6)	475	-30%	394
Armor	Skills
Vangis Helm (Grade 5)	▸ Slugger Lv. 1 ▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Recoil Down Lv. 2
Legiana Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 2
Vangis Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 2 ▸ Tremor Resistance Lv. 1
Rath Heart Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 2 ▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1

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Best Skills for Heavy Bowgun

Recommended Skills to Equip

Skill	Explanation / Recommended Level
Recoil Down	As this skill lowers recoil, more levels to this skill make us shoot our ammo faster and make us more mobile in the process. Priority: ★★★
Reload Speed	Reloads are one of the bowgun's biggest weaknesses. Higher levels of Reload Speed make our reloads faster and make us more mobile. Priority: ★★★
Elemental Attack Fire | Water | Thunder | Ice | Dragon	Extra elemental damage is the best source of damage you can have fighting large monsters. The downside, of course, is having to craft and upgrade multiple weapons and armor for each element. Priority: ★★★
Attack Boost	This skill is recommended simply because it increases your attack power with no conditions. It's always worth having if you can. Priority: ★★☆
Peak Performance	With a ranged weapon, keeping the Peak Performance buff up for extra damage should be easier than other weapon types. Priority: ★★☆
Critical Eye	For the same reason as Attack Boost, Critical Eye would always be a good source of damage for more critical hits. Priority: ★☆☆
Health Boost	Increasing your HP pool makes you survive hunts and helps you save on potions. Priority: ★☆☆

Heavy Bowgun Builds Against Monsters

Best Jyuratodus Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Pulsar Shooter	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Kadachi Helm (Grade 2)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1
Jagras Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Rising Tide Lv.1
Kadachi Vambraces (Grade 2)	▸ Evade Extender Lv.1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 2)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

When fighting Jyuratodus for the first time, use the Pulsar Shooter to exploit its thunder weakness. You can use this thunder build early in the game until you get enough materials for the best one.

▴Best Thunder HBG Build▴

Best Anjanath Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Jagras Assault	135	0%	38
Armor	Skills
Kadachi Helm (Grade 2)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 3)	▸ Recoil Down Lv.1
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 3)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv.1
Jagras Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1

At this point in the game, you can farm for equipment optimized to take down Anjanath for the first time. This build will help you through your first Anjanath fight.

▴Best Water HBG Build▴

Best Rathian Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Pulsar Shooter	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Kadachi Helm (Grade 2)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Recoil Down Lv.1
Kadachi Vambraces (Grade 3)	▸ Evade Extender Lv.1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv.1
Anja Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Peak Performance Lv.1

The Pulsar Shooter built with Kadachi armor is still optimized for your first Rathian fight. You can easily take it down with this build.

Best Legiana Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Blazing Assault	260	0%	117
Armor	Skills
Anja Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Lumu Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Recoil Down Lv.1
Anja Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Fire Attack Lv.1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv.1
Anja Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Peak Performance Lv.1

With enough Anjanath materials, you can use this build for your first Legiana fight. This will be enough to take it down with ease.

▴Best Fire HBG Build▴

Best Diablos Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Shattercryst	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Kadachi Helm (Grade 2)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Recoil Down Lv.1
Legiana Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Reload Speed Lv.1
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv.2
Legiana Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Reload Speed Lv.1

Legiana equipment is ideal against your first fight with Diablos. With Ice as it's weakness, this build can take it down with ease.

▴Best Ice HBG Build▴

Best Rathalos Heavy Bowgun Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Pulsar Shooter (at least Grade 4)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Kadachi Helm (Grade 2)	▸ Reload Speed Lv. 1
Lumu Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Recoil Down Lv.1
Legiana Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Reload Speed Lv.1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv.2
Legiana Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Reload Speed Lv.1

Upgrade your Pulsar Shooter to take down Rathalos in your first fight with it. This will be easy, since the range of the HBG will allow you to deal damage even when the King of the Skies is flying.

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Hammer		Light Bowgun		Bow
Lance		Dual Blades		Charge Blade
Gunlance			Heavy Bowgun