Best Light Bowgun Builds for Iceborne 2023-2024

These are the best endgame builds for Light Bowguns in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (MHW:I). See the best Iceborne Light Bowgun builds of 2024, starter builds to help you progress through the Iceborne expansion, and the best Light Bowguns and skills of Iceborne's endgame meta.

Iceborne Light Bowgun Endgame Meta Builds

Endgame Fatalis All-Rounder Elemental LBG Build

Weapon		Decorations
Alatreon Dominator Attack: 338		Critical Jewel 2 x1 Expert Jewel 1 x1
Armor		Decorations
Head	Dragonhead Beta +	Blaze Jewel+ 4 x3
Armor	Dragonhide Beta +	Critical/Maintenance Jewel 4 x1 Expert Jewel+ 4 x2
Vambraces	Brachydios Braces Beta +	Evasion Jewel+ 4 x1 Shaver Jewel 3 x1
Waist	Dragonbarbs Beta +	Critical/Maintenance Jewel 4 x1 Tenderizer/Protection Jewel 4 x2
Legs	Dragonfeet Beta +	Release/Protection Jewel 4 x3
Charm	Challenger Charm V	None

Fatalis Build Skill List

Skills
Critical Eye 7	Agitator 7
Fire Attack 6	Divine Blessing 5
Evade Window 4	Stun Resistance 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3	Tool Specialist 2
Clutch Claw Boost 1	Fatalis Legend 4

Swap Blaze Jewels as necessary

	An Elemental LBG setup featuring the Alatreon LBG and the Fatalis Armor set. Just make sure to change your elemental deco according to your target's elemental weakness!

Sticky Light Bowgun Build

Weapon		Decorations
Ten Thousand Volts Attack: 403		Release/Protection Jewel 4 x1 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Brachydium Helm Beta +	Release/Protection Jewel 4 x2 Maintenance Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Brachydium Mail Beta +	Release/Protection Jewel 4 x1 KO Jewel 2 x1 Maintenance Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces	Brachydium Braces Beta +	KO Jewel 2 x2
Waist	Brachydium Faulds Beta +	Flawless/Medicine Jewel 4 x1 Maintenance Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Golden Hakama Beta +	Artillery Jewel+ 4 x1 Flawless/Medicine Jewel 4 x1
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Sticky Light Bowgun Build Skill List

Skills
Agitator 7	Artillery 5
Health Boost 3	Recovery Up 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Divine Blessing 3
Slugger 3	Peak Performance 3
Tool Specialist 3	Weakness Exploit 1
Razor Sharp/Spare Shot 3	Rajang's Rage 2
Brachydios Will 4

	Knock monsters out easily with this endgame LBG sticky build. Sticky ammo damage is maximized through Agitator and Artillery, while Ammo Up and Spare Shot provide much-needed improvements to ammo economy. Slugger is also added in to chain monster KOs a lot easier.

Iceborne Light Bowgun Meta Builds

Safi'jiiva Elemental Build

Safi'jiiva Elemental Build

Alatreon RF Ice and Fire Builld

Stormslinger Build

Weapon		Decorations
Alatreon Dominator Attack: 338		Tenderizer Jewel 2 x2 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Safi Crested Crown Beta +	Blaze Jewel+ 4 x1 Blaze Jewel 1 x2
Armor	Safi Crested Chest Beta +	Furor Jewel+ 4 x1 Furor Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces	Safi Crested Vambraces Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Furor Jewel 2 x2
Waist	Safi Crested Belt Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Blaze Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Safi Crested Boots Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1 Blaze Jewel 1 x1
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Safi'jiiva Elemental Build Skill List

Skills
Fire Attack 6	Resentment 5
Health Boost 3	Free Elem/Ammo Up 3
Critical Boost 3	Weakness Exploit 3
Evade Window 3	Blight Resistance 2
Razor Sharp/Spare Shot 1

Swap Blaze Jewels as necessary

	An aggressive elemental LBG build featuring the Alatreon Dominator and the Safi'jiiva armor set. Swap the elemental jewels with the respective elemental ammo you're bringing to the hunt!

Alatreon RF Ice and Fire Build (Rapid-Fire)

Safi'jiiva Elemental Build

Alatreon RF Ice and Fire Builld

Stormslinger Build

Weapon		Decorations
Alatreon Dominator Attack: 338		Frost Jewel 1 x2 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Safi Crested Crown Beta +	Blaze Jewel+ 4 x1 Blaze Jewel 1 x2
Armor	Safi Crested Chest Beta +	Blaze Jewel+ 4 x1 Resistor Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces	Escadora Armguards Beta +	Frost Jewel+ 4 x1 Mind's Eye Jewel 2 x1
Waist	Escadora Might Beta +	Frost Jewel+ 4 x1 Vitality Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Safi Crested Boots Beta +	Resistor/Attack Jewel 4 x1 Vitality Jewel 1 x2
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Alatreon RF Ice and Fire Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7	Fire Attack 6
Ice Attack 6	Health Boost 3
Dragon Resistance 3	Blight Resistance 3
Critical Boost 3	Evade Window 1
Mind's Eye/Ballistics 1	Razor Sharp/Spare Shot 1
Safi'jiiva Seal

	An Alatreon Counter setup featuring double Elemental Skill to counter both his fire active and ice active states.

Stormslinger Build (Thunder Ammo)

Safi'jiiva Elemental Build

Alatreon RF Ice and Fire Builld

Stormslinger Build

Weapon		Decorations
Adept Stormslinger Attack: 416		Attack Jewel+ 4 x1 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Safi Crested Crown Beta +	Furor Jewel+ 4 x1 Trueshot Jewel 1 x2
Armor	Safi Crested Chest Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Charger Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces	Safi Crested Vambraces Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Charger Jewel 2 x2
Waist	Safi Crested Belt Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Bolt Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Safi Crested Boots Beta +	Furor Jewel+ 4 x1 Furor Jewel 2 x1 Attack Jewel 1 x1
Charm	Shock Charm V	None

Stormslinger Build Skill List

Skills
Thunder Attack 6	Focus 3
Resentment 5	Health Boost 3
Special Ammo Boost 2	Blight Resistance 2
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Critical Boost 3
Evade Window 3	Safi'jiiva Seal

	A thunder elemental build for the late-to-endgame stage of Iceborne. Stormslinger is the best LBG for thunder ammo due to its naturally high ammo capacity. The gun's damage is imporved via Thunder Attack, Resentment (synergizes with Safi'jiiva's passive) and Critical Boost.

Iceborne Light Bowgun Progression Build

Starter

Early Game

Mid to Late Game

Starter Iceborne Build

Weapon		Decorations
Defender Light Bowgun V Attack: 286		--- ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Guild Cross Circlet Beta	Expert Jewel 1 x2 Vitality Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Rathalos Mail Beta	Protection Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces	Empress Vambraces Beta	Forceshot Jewel 3 x1 Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Waist	Odogaron Coil Beta	Critical Jewel 2 x1
Legs	Empress Greaves Beta	Critical Jewel 2 x2
Charm	Stun Charm III	None

Starter Iceborne Skill List

Skills
Critical Eye 4	Weakness Exploit 3
Divine Blessing 3	Health Boost 3
Stun Resistance 3	Critical Boost 3
Wide-Range 2	Normal Shots 1
Lunastra Favor 4

	A normal ammo build featuring the Defender LBG. It uses the Lunastra secret to make your ranged attacks hit for full damage much easier. To learn more about this, check our guide on Critical Distance!

What Is Critical Distance?

Early Iceborne Progression Build

Weapon		Decorations
Anja Buster ⅠV Attack: 299		--- ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Anja Helm Alpha +	Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Armor	Bone Mail Alpha +	Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces	Pukei Vambraces Alpha +	Blaze Jewel 1 x1
Waist	Lumu Coil Alpha +	Vitality Jewel 1 x2
Legs	Viper Kadachi Greaves Alpha +	Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Charm	Blaze Charm III	None

Early Iceborne Skill List

Skills
Fire Attack 6	Fire Resistance 1
Attack Boost 2	Health Boost 3
Peak Performance 2	Survival Expert 1
Divine Blessing 2	Windproof 1
Evade Window 1	Constitution 1
Weakness Exploit 3

	A fire element LBG setup. It's a great set to use if you want to rush the Iceborne quests since most Iceborne target monsters are weak to fire.

Mid-Late Iceborne Progression Build

Weapon		Decorations
Azure Soulscorcher Attack: 312		--- ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Acidic Glavenus Helm Alpha +	Vitality Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Lavasioth Mail Alpha +	Attack Jewel 1 x2
Vambraces	Kaiser Vambraces Alpha +	Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Waist	Shara Ishvalda Coil Alpha +	Release Jewel 3 x1 Mighty Jewel 2 x1
Legs	Kirin Leg Guards Alpha +	Attack Jewel 1 x1
Charm	Attack Charm III	None

Mid-Late Iceborne Progression Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 6	Weakness Exploit 3
Maximum Might 3	Free Elem/Ammo Up 3
Health Boost 3	Fire Attack 3
Critical Eye 2	Heat Guard 1

	A flaming ammo build to maximize the Azure Soulscorcher rapidfire.

Iceborne Best Light Bowguns and Skills

Best Light Bowguns

Weapon	Explanation
Alatreon Dominator [Atk] 338 | [Affinity] -20%	・High raw damage ・Recommended for most elemental ammo builds
Ten Thousand Volts [Atk] 403 | [Affinity] 0%	・Best choice for sticky ammo builds
Adept Stormslinger [Atk] 416 | [Affinity] 0%	・A niche, but powerful LBG for thunder-based LBG builds

Best Light Bowgun Skills

Skill	Explanation
Health Boost ( ★★★ )	Increases maximum health to increase your survival rate A must have for beginners
Elemental Attacks ( ★★★ )	LBGs, unlike their heavy counterparts, are amazing at dealing elemental damage through their ammo. Maximize their damage by investing in their ammo's corresponding elemental attack jewels.
Weakness Exploit ( ★★★ )	A meta staple that increases your affinity when striking a monster's weak spot. This also applies to weakspots created from Clutch Claw attacks.
Critical Boost ( ★★★ )	Increases the damage of critical hits. Best used when paired with Weakness Exploit
Critical Eye ( ★★★ )	Increases your Affinity
Mind's Eye/Ballistics ( ★★★ )	Improves an ammo's critical distance
True Razor Sharp/Spare Shot (★★)	Spare Shot gives us a chance to prevent ammo loss when shooting

MHW Related Guides

Best Builds

Best Endgame Builds and Weapon Progression Builds

Best Builds Per Weapons

Melee Weapons
Long Swords	Great Swords	Sword and Shield	Dual Blades
Hammer	Hunting Horn	Lance	Gunlance
Switch Axe	Charge Blade	Insect Glaive

Ranged Weapons
Bow	Light Bowgun
Heavy Bowgun

Best Counter Builds

Monster Counterbuilds
Fatalis	Alatreon