The Bow is a versatile ranged weapon, effective at both close and long distances, and offers high mobility in Monster Hunter Wilds. See all the new moves for the Bow, how to use it, its controls, as well as the pre-launch update.

Bow Adjustments (December 19, 2024)

Improved Focus Strike and Rebalanced Damage

The Bow will be receiving some balance adjustments, particularly in its damage. The damage and responsiveness of Normal Attacks and Arch Shots will increase, while the power of the Tracer Shots will be decreased.

Additionally, an update was made to the Bow's Focus Strike. While charging the Focus Strike, instead of locking on to all of the wounds at once, they will now be locked on to one by one, with a short delay in between lock ons.

New Bow Moves and Mechanics

Tracer

Platform	Combo Input
PC	+
PS5	+
Xbox	+

Tracer is a new move that sticks a Tracer arrow in a monster, and it causes subsequent arrows to home in on it. This is very useful against aggressive monsters that like to move around often or if you want to target a specific body part.

Focus Fire: Hailstorm

Platform	Combo Input
PC	+
PS5	+
Xbox	+

Once you've applied a wound or a Tracer on a monster, you can use Focus Fire: Hailstorm to fire a barrage of arrows that will hone in on them. Doing this will deal increased damage to the monster so make sure to use this move whenever you can.

After using Focus Fire: Hailstorm on a monster, you'll automatically follow up with a Dragon Piercer so make sure you're positioned properly to maximize the damage of this attack.

Thousand Dragons

Platform	Combo Input
PC	+ +
PS5	+ +
Xbox	+ +

This move is an alternative to the Dragon Piercer. Instead of the usual pierce attack that goes through the entire body of a monster, this is a powerful spread shot that shoots more arrows than normal.

Arc Shots Apply Tracers

A new mechanic added to Arc Shots in this game is that it will now apply Tracers onto a target. Use this when a monster is staying still so you can detonate multiple Tracers with homing attacks or a Focus Fire: Hailstorm.

Trick Arrow Gauge

A gauge required to load Tracers and coatings. Landing attacks or successfully performing Discerning Dodge will fill the gauge. Loading a Tracer or coating will consume the gauge.

Coatings are No Longer Items

Select Coating	+ /
Apply Coating

Unlike previous games, coatings are no longer items that you need to craft and store in your pouch. Instead, it uses the new Trick Arrow Gauge to refill your selected coating.

Coatings will only apply to 8 shots now, but one gauge segment will refill your coatings to full. Just remember to constantly reapply your coatings, especially if you're used to having a higher amount of coatings from previous games.

How to Use a Bow

Bow Tips and Tricks
Take Note of Critical Distance Stamina Management Is Crucial Use Arc Shot to Apply Tracers Utilize Dashes to Charge Attacks Learn the Effects of Each Coating Type Prioritize the Bow Charge Plus Skill

Take Note of Critical Distance

Critical Distance is the effective range from your target where you deal the most damage. You can determine you're at Critical Distance when the reticle glows orange when aiming, but this can change depending on the Coating you've applied.

If the reticle isn't orange, it means that you're out of range and will do less damage to the monster with your arrows.

Critical Distance isn't an Indicator of Max Damage

Even if the reticle is orange, you may not be maximizing the damage of your attacks. For example, if you're using Power Shot or Thousand Dragons, you will want to be up close to the monster so that all your arrows hit, even if the reticle is orange when you're further away.

Stamina Management Is Crucial

Mastering Stamina management is crucial when wielding a Bow. Rapidly firing arrows and constantly dashing around can quickly drain your stamina if you're not careful. Make sure you always have extra Stamina in case you need to dodge away from an incoming attack.

Utilize Dashes to Charge Attacks

Instead of standing still and attacking, it's recommended to use a Charging Sidestep to increase your Bow's Charge Levels. This helps you constantly reposition and swiftly charge your attacks at the same time.

Just be mindful of your Stamina when doing this since you can quickly get exhausted and get hit by an attack if you're not careful.

Learn the Effects of Each Coating Type

Coating	Effect
Power	Increases arrow damage
Close-Range	Reduces arrow range but increases their damage
Pierce	Allows arrow to pierce
Poison	Arrows inflict poison
Paralysis	Arrows inflict paralysis
Sleep	Arrows inflict sleep
Blast	Arrows inflict blast
Exhaust	Arrows inflict stun/exhaust

Coatings are an important aspect of the bow that can increase damage or apply status effects depending on the coating used. It's recommended to learn which types of coating you should use against certain monsters, especially if they're weak to a specific ailment.

As a note, each Bow can only use specific coatings. Before crafting a new Bow, always check what coatings it can use since some Bows can become significantly worse if they can't use specific coatings.

Prioritize the Bow Charge Plus Skill

Skill	Effect
Bow Charge Plus	Increases max bow charge level by one.

Bows by default have 3 Charge Levels. Look to add the Bow Charge Plus Skill on your equipment to add a 4th Charge Level and drastically improve your damage output!

Bow Controls

Basic Bow Controls

Action	PC	PS5	Xbox
Charge ▼ Shoot	(Hold) ▼ (Release)	(Hold) ▼ (Release)	(Hold) ▼ (Release)
Aim / Focus	(Hold)	(Hold)	(Hold)
Quick Shot
Power Shot ▼ Power Volley	During Combo ▼	During Combo ▼	During Combo ▼
Arc Shot	+ +	+ +	+ +
Charging Sidestep ▼ Flying Swallow Shot	+ ▼	+ ▼	+ ▼
Dragon Piercer	+	+	+
Instant Dragon Piercer	During Combo +	During Combo +	During Combo +
Thousand Dragons	+ +	+ +	+ +
Select Coating	+ /	+ /	+ /
Apply Coating
Ready Tracer	+	+	+
Focus Fire: Hailstorm	+	+	+

Recommended Bow Combos

Bow Combos
Dragon Piercer Combo Thousand Dragons Combo Tracer Combo Arc Shot Combo

Dragon Piercer Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	Charged Shot ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ +
PS5	Charged Shot ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ +
Xbox	Charged Shot ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ +

This combo is best used against long monsters since the Dragon Piercer will travel the entire length of the monster. It can also be used against wide monsters, but it is harder to succesfully land since you need to fire at their sides and they can turn away and cause the move to end early.

Thousand Dragons Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	Charged Shot ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ + +
PS5	Charged Shot ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ + +
Xbox	Charged Shot ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ + +

This combo is best used against wide monsters or monsters with large weak spots. Just be careful when using this combo since you want to be up close the monster and Thousand Dragons has a long recovery animation.

Tracer Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	+ ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ + ▶︎
PS5	+ ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ + ▶︎
Xbox	+ ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ + ▶︎

This is a general combo that you want to use to target a monster's weak spot. The combination of the multiple spread shots and the Tracer's homing effect will send a barrage of arrows on the exact spot you want to focus on.

Arc Shot Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	+ + ▶︎ + ▶︎ + +
PS5	+ + ▶︎ + ▶︎ ▶︎ +
Xbox	+ + ▶︎ + ▶︎ ▶︎ +

This combo is best used once a monster has already been knocked down. Arc Shot will apply a bunch of Tracers on the monster and the full combo can easily be landed since the monster won't be moving around.

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

All Weapons and Guides

All Weapon Guides

All Weapon Types
Great Sword		Long Sword		Sword & Shield
Dual Blades		Hammer		Hunting Horn
Lance		Gunlance		Switch Axe
Charge Blade		Insect Glaive		Light Bowgun
Heavy Bowgun			Bow