Best Skills for Bows

This is a guide about the best skills for Bows. Read on to know which skills to look out for when making a Bow build and why.

Offensive Skills

Critical Eye, Critical Boost, Weakness Exploit

Bows are excellent exploiters of monster weak spots. Amplify their damage by investing in Affinity skills such as Critical Eye, Critical Boost, and Weakness Exploit.

Agitator

The introduction of the Clutch Claw made the Agitator Skill a community staple when making builds. When active, Agitator grants hunters +20 attack and affinity by 10% at level five. (levels six and seven are unlocked via the Agitator Secret Skill.)

The Clutch Claw, specifically its Flinch Shot Attack, gave hunters the ability to enrage the monster whenever the opportunity presents itself. This gave hunters a way to maintain their Agitator's up-time.

Partbreaker

Partbreaker increases Part Damage by 30% at level three and compliments the Bow's playstyle well.

Partbreaker's damage increase does NOT reflect in floating damage numbers.

Spread/Power Shots

Spread/Power Shots is catered to hunters who prefer to get up close and personal and use the Bow's Power Shots and Thousand Dragons. This skill offers significant damage boosts for Power Shots and Thousand Dragons at level two.

Piercing Shots

Hunters who love using the Bow's Dragon Piercer Attack may consider adding Piercing Shots to their builds. Piercing shots greatly increase the damage of Dragon Piercer at level two and is definitely worth the mention.

Bow Charge Plus

Bow Charge Plus is a straight-forward skill that increases the maximum charge level of bows to three. The damage increase might not be as high as the other skills in list but it is still worth mentioning.

Defensive Skills

Evade Extender

Evade Extender is an amazing skill when paired with Bows.

Evade Extender greatly increases the covered distance at level three when evading. This includes the Bow's signature charging sidesteps when aiming.

Divine Blessing

Hunters who are looking for an extra layer of protection may consider using Divine Blessing. This skill reduces incoming damage by 50% from the attack that triggered it. Levels four and five are unlocked via the Divine Blessing Secret Skill.

Health Boost

It never hurts to pump up one's HP! Health Boost increases a hunter's Health by 50 at level three, making it a solid addition to any build - especially early on in the game.

Utility Skills

Stamina Skills

Bows are the most demanding weapons in terms of stamina consumption as almost all of its moveset relies on a certain amount of stamina to either perform or charge. Hunters who cannot afford to bring Dash Juice with them during hunts are recommended to invest in these Stamina Skills:

Marathon Runner

Marathon Runner reduces CONTINUOUS stamina depletion by 50% at level three. This affects sprinting and how long hunters can hold their bow's aim while charging.

Constitution

Constitution reduces FIXED stamina depletion by 50% at level five. This affects moves such as the Bow's Charging Sidesteps, Dodge Rolls, Power Shots, Clutch Claw Attacks, and Relocating when mounted.

Stamina Surge

Stamina Surge increases stamina recovery speed by 30% at level three. This allows hunters to get back into the fight quicker.

Earplugs

Earplugs is a great skill for hunters who find monster roars an issue. This skill offers complete protection from monster roars at level five and is worthy of consideration when making builds.

Monster Hunter World (MHW) Guides

All Skills

List of All Skills

Best Skills for Each Weapon

Recommendations for Other Weapons
Charge Blade	Dual Blades	Long Sword	Sword & Shield
Switch Axe	Insect Glaive	Hunting Horn	Great Sword
Lance	Gunlance	Hammer	Bow
Heavy Bowgun		Light Bowgun

Weapon Related Guides

Melee Weapons
Great Swords	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Great Sword for Each Element
	Best Great Sword for Iceborne
Long Swords	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Long Sword for Each Element
	Best Long Sword for Iceborne
Swords and Shields	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Sword and Shield for Each Element
	Best Sword and Shield for Iceborne
Dual Blades	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Dual Blades for Each Element
	Best Dual Blades for Iceborne
Hammers	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Hammer for Each Element
	Best Hammers for Iceborne
Hunting Horns	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Hunting Horn for Each Element
	Best Hunting Horn for Iceborne
	Hunting Horn Notes and Effects
Lances	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Lance for Each Element
	Best Lance for Iceborne
Gunlances	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Gunlance for Each Element
	Best Gunlance for Iceborne
Switch Axe	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Switch Axe for Each Element
	Best Switch Axe for Iceborne
Charge Blade	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Charge Blade for Each Element
	Best Charge Blades for Iceborne
Insect Glaive	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Insect Glaive for Each Element
	Best Insect Glaive for Iceborne

Kinsects
Kinsects	Kinsect Tree and Complete Kinsect List	Best and Recommended Kinsects

Ranged Weapons
Bows	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Bow for Each Element
Light Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Light Bowgun for Each Element
Heavy Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Heavy Bowgun for Each Element