Monster Hunter World (MHW)

Best Heavy Bowguns | Recommended Heavy Bowguns

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This is a guide to Game8's recommended Heavy Bowguns in Monster Hunter World (MHW) and MHW Iceborne! Read on to find out which Heavy Bowguns we think are the best and our explanations as to why!

Best Heavy Bowgun: Monster Hunter World

Pierce Ammo

Taroth Assault "Support"
 Taroth Assault "Support" Bowgun Image
Rarity Attack Affinity Dev.
8 270 20 None
Def. Slots Mods
20 ③ーー 1
Special Ammo Wyvernheart
Rapid Fire None
Auto Reload None

Ammo Type Lvl 1 Lvl 2 Lvl 3
Normal Ammo 5 4 3
Piercing Ammo 10 8 6
Spread Ammo - - -
Sticky Ammo 2 - -
Cluster Ammo - - -
Recover Ammo 1 1
Poison Ammo 3 -
Paralysis Ammo 2 1
Sleep Ammo 2 -
Exhaust Ammo - 4
Flaming Ammo 5
Water Ammo -
Freeze Ammo -
Thunder Ammo -
Dragon Ammo 1
Slicing Ammo 1
Wyvern Ammo 1
Demon Ammo 1
Armor Ammo 3
Tranq Ammo

The Taroth Assault Support was regarded as the best Heavy Bowgun for Pierce Ammo Pre-Iceborne Expansion. Its great stats across the board and generous clip sizes for all Pierce Ammo levels made it easy for hunters to build around it.

Spread Ammo

Taroth Assault "Glutton"
 Taroth Assault "Glutton" Bowgun Image
Rarity Attack Affinity Dev.
7 270 10 Average
Def. Slots Mods
20 ーーー 2
Special Ammo Wyvernsnipe
Rapid Fire None
Auto Reload Lv1 Exhaust Ammo

Ammo Type Lvl 1 Lvl 2 Lvl 3
Normal Ammo 5 4 -
Piercing Ammo 5 - -
Spread Ammo 10 6 6
Sticky Ammo - - -
Cluster Ammo - - -
Recover Ammo 1 1
Poison Ammo - -
Paralysis Ammo 2 -
Sleep Ammo - -
Exhaust Ammo 1 -
Flaming Ammo -
Water Ammo -
Freeze Ammo -
Thunder Ammo -
Dragon Ammo -
Slicing Ammo -
Wyvern Ammo 1
Demon Ammo 1
Armor Ammo 3
Tranq Ammo

The Taroth Assault Glutton took the top spot as the best Spread Ammo Heavy Bowgun Pre-Iceborne Expansion because of its amazing stats across the board and generous clip sizes for all Spread Ammo levels.

Sticky & Cluster Bomb

Two Heavy Bowguns share the title of Best Sticky & Cluster Bombers Pre-Iceborne Expansion. These are the Dark Devourer and Magda Gemitus II.

Dark Devourer
 Dark Devourer Bowgun Image
Rarity Attack Affinity Dev.
7 345 -25 High
Def. Mods Augments Slots
- 3 2 ーーー
Special Ammo Wyvernheart
Rapid Fire None
Auto Reload None

Ammo Type Lvl 1 Lvl 2 Lvl 3
Normal Ammo 9 8 5
Piercing Ammo - - 4
Spread Ammo - - 4
Sticky Ammo - 4 4
Cluster Ammo - 2 2
Recover Ammo - -
Poison Ammo - 7
Paralysis Ammo - -
Sleep Ammo 7 4
Exhaust Ammo 9 8
Flaming Ammo -
Water Ammo -
Freeze Ammo -
Thunder Ammo -
Dragon Ammo 3
Slicing Ammo 3
Wyvern Ammo 1
Demon Ammo 4
Armor Ammo -
Tranq Ammo 4

The Dark Devourer takes the top spot for its high attack rating of 345 and amazing clip sizes for Sticky Ammo and Cluster Bombs. This Heavy Bowgun can also use Sleep Ammo, allowing hunters to create opportunities for Sleep Bombing or resetting a fight.

Magda Gemitus ⅠⅠ
 Magda Gemitus ⅠⅠ Bowgun Image
Rarity Attack Affinity Dev.
7 315 -20 High
Def. Mods Augments Slots
20 3 2 ②ーー
Special Ammo Wyvernsnipe
Rapid Fire None
Auto Reload None

Ammo Type Lvl 1 Lvl 2 Lvl 3
Normal Ammo 9 8 5
Piercing Ammo - - 4
Spread Ammo - - 4
Sticky Ammo - 4 4
Cluster Ammo - 2 2
Recover Ammo 3 -
Poison Ammo - 7
Paralysis Ammo - 5
Sleep Ammo - 4
Exhaust Ammo 9 8
Flaming Ammo 9
Water Ammo -
Freeze Ammo -
Thunder Ammo -
Dragon Ammo 3
Slicing Ammo -
Wyvern Ammo 1
Demon Ammo -
Armor Ammo 3
Tranq Ammo 4

Even though the Magda Gemitus II has 30 less attack than the Dark Devourer, this Heavy Bowgun has 20 defense bonus, one level two slot, and same clip sizes for Sticky Ammo and Cluster Bombs. Magda Gemitus II also uses not only Sleep Ammo, but Paralysis Ammo as well.

These factors compensate for the decrease in base attack rating, earning it a seat at the top alongside the Dark Devourer.

Best Heavy Bowgun: MHW Iceborne

Pierce Ammo & Spread Ammo

Vor Buster
 Vor Buster Bowgun Image
Rarity Attack Affinity Dev.
12 510 -20 High
Def. Mods Augments Slots
- 5 - ④④ー
Special Ammo Wyvernsnipe
Rapid Fire None
Auto Reload Lv1 Paralysis Ammo, Dragon Ammo

Ammo Type Lvl 1 Lvl 2 Lvl 3
Normal Ammo 10 9 8
Piercing Ammo 10 9 8
Spread Ammo 10 9 8
Sticky Ammo 4 3 3
Cluster Ammo 1 1 1
Recover Ammo 10 -
Poison Ammo 10 -
Paralysis Ammo 1 -
Sleep Ammo 10 -
Exhaust Ammo 10 -
Flaming Ammo -
Water Ammo -
Freeze Ammo -
Thunder Ammo -
Dragon Ammo 1
Slicing Ammo 3
Wyvern Ammo 1
Demon Ammo -
Armor Ammo -
Tranq Ammo 3

The Vor Buster arrived with the Final Free Update for MHW: Iceborne and blew the other Pierce and Spread Ammo Heavy Bowguns out of the water with its amazing stats across the board and insanely high clip sizes for both Pierce Ammo and Spread Ammo levels.

Hunters who can build around the Vor Buster with the right skills, augments, and bowgun mods will quickly realize how effective this Heavy Bowgun is in almost every hunt.

Sticky & Cluster Bomb

Demonlord Beastbuster
 Demonlord Beastbuster Bowgun Image
Rarity Attack Affinity Dev.
12 450 10 Low
Def. Mods Augments Slots
- 5 - ーーー
Special Ammo Wyvernsnipe
Rapid Fire None
Auto Reload Lv3 Spread Ammo, Lv2 Exhaust Ammo

Ammo Type Lvl 1 Lvl 2 Lvl 3
Normal Ammo 7 - 8
Piercing Ammo - - -
Spread Ammo 7 - 2
Sticky Ammo 4 - 4
Cluster Ammo 3 - 2
Recover Ammo - -
Poison Ammo - -
Paralysis Ammo 3 2
Sleep Ammo - 2
Exhaust Ammo - 2
Flaming Ammo -
Water Ammo -
Freeze Ammo -
Thunder Ammo 5
Dragon Ammo -
Slicing Ammo -
Wyvern Ammo 1
Demon Ammo 3
Armor Ammo 3
Tranq Ammo 4

The Demonlord Beastbuster takes the top spot as the best Sticky and Cluster Bombing Heavy Bowgun for MHW: Iceborne.

While the Vor Buster has higher base attack, the Demonlord Beastbuster has better base recoil and reload speed for Sticky Ammo. This makes the Demonlord Beastbuster the more efficient Sticky and Cluster Bomber.

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