Making the best build for a weapon is essential for maximizing your performance in Monster Hunter Wilds (MHWilds). Learn the best armor and loadout for each weapon type, with builds catered for Low Rank and High Rank hunters!

All Builds in Monsters Hunter Wilds

Jump to a Weapon!
Great Sword	Long Sword	Sword & Shield	Dual Blades
Hammer	Hunting Horn	Lance	Gunlance
Switch Axe	Charge Blade	Insect Glaive	Bow
Light Bowgun		Heavy Bowgun

Great Sword Builds

Great Sword Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Great Sword Weapon Guide

Great Swords are huge weapons that boasts high one-strike damage to an enemy. It is also a weapon capable of blocking, so you can execute some offset attacks and power clashes here and there! The Great Sword will benefit mostly from a general increase in its Attack stat via various skills & quicker charge attacks via Focus. Make sure to have those in your skills when building this weapon!

Great Sword Builds and Best Armor

Long Sword Builds

Long Sword Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Long Sword Weapon Guide

The Long Sword is the ultimate counterattack weapon that has access to various countermoves that nullify even the strongest of monster moves - if you time them correctly. It is the definition of a high-risk & high reward gameplay with the returns more than compensates for the risk. The Long Sword benefits greatly from skills that increase attacks, but at the same time wants a bunch of critical skills here and there. It is simply one of the definitive best DPS weapons in the game.

Long Sword Builds and Best Armor

Sword and Shield Builds

Sword and Shield Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Sword and Shield Weapon Guide

The Sword and Shield continues to be a great choice for beginners, boasting a good balance between defense, offense, and mobility. The weapon also has a unique property of being able to use items while the weapon is unsheathed which can come clutch!

This weapon can benefit greatly when paired with skills that boost element, status, and KO damage.

Sword and Shield Builds and Best Armor

Dual Blades Builds

Dual Blades Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Dual Blades Weapon Guide

Known as the elemental king, the Dual Blades is a multi-hit weapon that boasts great mobility on top of damage! It is a DPS-oriented weapon and will usually require stamina management so keep that in mind when aiming for skills!

Noting the Dual Blades' reputation as the elemental king, it should work well with skills that improve elemental damage like Elemental Damage Up skills & Critical Element. However, it would require much stamina management skills like Stamina Surge and Constitution on the side.

Dual Blades Builds and Best Armor

Hammer Builds

Hammer Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Hammer Weapon Guide

The Hammer is the true definition of knockout, with its main purpose revolving around knocking out monsters by applying enough blunt damage on the monsters' heads.

With this in mind, the Hammer benefits greatly from skills that increase its general Attack stat and those that increase its KO capabilities like Slugger. Aim for those if you want to excel as a Hammer main!

Hammer Builds and Best Armor

Hunting Horn Builds

Hunting Horn Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Hunting Horn Weapon Guide

Although considered as one of the support weapons in the game, the Hunting Horn can dish out tons of damage while playing songs that provide buffs to your entire team. Make sure to weave the notes in your combo to maximize the damage dealt!

Like the Hammer, the Horn also benefits from general Attack stat increases and KO damage improvements. Horn Maestro is also a mandatory skill for the Horn which increases the effect duration of your buffs. It also primarily deals KO damage albeit not as consistent as the Hammer because the Horn hits less than its more mobile cousin.

Hunting Horn Builds and Best Armor

Lance Builds

Lance Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Lance Weapon Guide

The Lance is the premier defensive weapon in the game, capable of defending itself with its large shield. It can also counter-attack easily with its perfect guard and can stay in front of the monster most of the time.

Considering its reliance on its huge shield, the Lance benefits from skills that improve its guarding and counterattacking prowess like Guard and Offensive Guard. Put those on top of the general damage-increasing skills like Attack Boost and Crits and you are golden!

Lance Builds and Best Armor

Gunlance Builds

Gunlance Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Gunlance Weapon Guide

The Gunlance is the Lance's more explosive sibling thanks to its access to shells that explode when used against monsters. Unlike its sibling, it does not rely on consistent pokes but rather on swipes and the shells it unloads periodically.

With this in mind, the Gunlance benefits from skills that improve explosive power like Artillery! You also might want to slot in skills that manage its sharpness like Razor Sharp or Handicraft, mostly because shelling tends to go through your sharpness quite easily.

Gunlance Builds and Best Armor

Switch Axe Builds

Switch Axe Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Switch Axe Weapon Guide

The Switch Axe is composed of two things: the Sword and the Axe. Switching between the two is key to success with the Switch Axe with the two forms working with each other perfectly. The management between the two forms can be daunting but is extremely satisfying when mastered.

Considering the Switch Axe is an extremely mobile weapon, it benefits greatly from builds that contain Evade Extender and Rapid Morph. This ensures that your Hunter is nimble enough to play around the monster and deal damage from anywhere. In addition, you may also want to put in Power Prolonger to extend the duration of your Amped State on top of the general damage boosting skills like Attack Boost!

Switch Axe Builds and Best Armor

Charge Blade Builds

Charge Blade Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Charge Blade Weapon Guide

The Charge Blade is one of the more mechanic heavy weapons in Monster Hunter, with multiple mechanics to manage a big thing with this weapon. However, this is also one of the weapons with the higher skill ceiling so it is something worth investing in if you're up for a challenge.

The Charge Blade can benefit from general attack increasing skills like Attack Boost and more, but its phial explosions can also use Artillery. Moreover, it can also be an elemental weapon if it's using an Element Phial so elemental damage skills could also work.

Charge Blade Builds and Best Armor

Insect Glaive Builds

Insect Glaive Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Insect Glaive Weapon Guide

The Insect Glaive is the aerial attack king, with access to multiple aerial attacks that can reach any towering monster in the game. It is also a great elemental attacker especially when working with its Kinsect.

The weapon benefits greatly from skills that manage stamina like Constitution and damage-improving skills like Attack Boost. You should also consider building this weapon with an element or status as it can deal elemental and status damage quite nicely thanks to its decent attack frequency.

Insect Glaive Builds and Best Armor

Bow Builds

Bow Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Bow Weapon Guide

Considered one of the most offensive-oriented weapons in the game, the Bow can deal increased damage without sacrificing mobility. It also operates at a distance, so you can be safe while dealing tons of damage. In addition, it can also be a great elemental weapon mostly because the Bow can shoot a lot of arrows in a short span of time - making elemental application a breeze.

The Bow is also excellent at applying elemental damage, similar to the Dual Blades. It can attack frequently with its combos and can hit weak spots easily. Make sure to slot in stamina management skills like Constitution and Stamina Surge though as the weapon tends to go through your stamina bar quickly.

Bow Builds and Best Armor

Light Bowgun Builds

Light Bowgun Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Light Bowgun Weapon Guide

The Light Bowgun is considered the more mobile weapon of the two bowgun types, with it focusing more on supporting while dishing damage on the side. It can also be the best secondary weapon, especially if the LBG has access to more supportive ammo types like the Demon and Armor Ammos.

The skills for the LBG depend on the build and ammo it supports, but it can be mostly built as a hyper-attacker with elemental bullets. Depending on the ammo type it shoots, you may also need to put skills that improve Ammo Type Up skills. In addition, skills that improve stamina and evasion like Constitution and Evade Extender help to keep you safe and comfy.

Light Bowgun Builds and Best Armor

Heavy Bowgun Builds

Heavy Bowgun Build Guides
Low Rank Builds	High Rank Builds
Heavy Bowgun Weapon Guide

The Heavy Bowgun, as the name suggests, is the heavier cousin of the Light Bowgun. What it lacks in mobility though is compensated with immense firepower which enables it to deal huge damage from a distance! It may not be beginner-friendly though, but is insanely efficient when mastered.

Like the Light Bowgun, the skills for the HBG will depend on the ammo it supports. You will have to slot in skills that improve on the damage of a specific Ammo type via Ammo Type Up skills while also slotting in attack-oriented skills like Attack Boost and Critical skills!

Heavy Bowgun Builds and Best Armor

All Non-Meta Builds in Monster Hunter Wilds

Jump to a Build!
Immortal	Support	Gathering

The Immortal Build

The Immortal Build, as the name implies, prioritizes survivability above all else. Running this build makes you hard to kill thanks to your high defense, numerous resistances, and strengthened healing items.

Immortal Build

Support Build

The Support Build revolves around strengthening and healing your allies, allowing them to take down monsters faster without fear of fainting. Running this build makes you a backline player while your teammates deal most of the damage.

Support Build

Gathering Build

The Gathering Build strengthens your gathering prowess by increasing the amount of items you get while also putting you out of harm's way while gathering.

Gathering Build

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

Monster Hunter Wilds Walkthrough Wiki

Monster Hunter Wilds Wiki Contents
Weapons	Armor Sets
Monsters	Builds
Story Walkthrough	Artian Weapons
Maps and Locations	Items and Materials
Tips and Tricks	Endemic Life
Skills	Decorations
Talismans	Characters
Quests	Palico
Trophies	Cosmetics
Furniture	News and Game Info
Message Boards	-

Recommended Guides

Best Weapons Tier List	Secondary Weapons
Weapon Combos	Best Items to Bring
Armor Set Search	Endgame Guide
Unchangeable Features and Missables	Best Skills
Best Beginner Weapons	Easter Eggs and Secrets
Respawn Timers	Is MH Wilds Too Easy?
Best Meals and Food Effects	Best Status Effect
List of All Bugged Skills	Best Co-op Strategies
Weapon Popularity Tier List	How to Prepare for Title Update 1
Weapon Changes from the Beta	Weapon Changes from Rise and World