Best Heavy Bowgun Builds for Iceborne 2023-2024

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

Iceborne Heavy Bowgun Best Endgame Meta Build

Endgame Fatalis Scatter Build

Weapon		Decorations
Vor Buster Attack: 510		Jumping/Evasion Jewel 4 x1 Brace/Protection Jewel 4 x1
Armor		Decorations
Head	Dragonhead Beta +	Challenger Jewel+ 4 x3
Armor	Dragonhide Beta +	Mighty/Protection Jewel 4 x3
Vambraces	Dragonclaws Beta +	Challenger/Protection Jewel 4 x1 Mighty/Maintenance Jewel 4 x2
Waist	Dragonbarbs Beta +	Attack Jewel+ 4 x1 Spread Jewel 3 x2
Legs	Kulve Taroth's Wrath Beta +	Critical/Maintenance Jewel 4 x1 Maintenance Jewel 1 x2
Charm	Attack Charm V	None

Bowgun Modifications
Recoil Suppressor x3	Close Range Up x1
Shield x1

Fatalis Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7	Agitator 7
Maximum Might 5	Divine Blessing 5
Tool Specialist 5	Stun Resistance 3
Critical Boost 3	Weakness Exploit 3
Critical Eye 3	Spread/Power Shots 2
Evade Window 2	Evade Extender 1
Flinch Free 1	Fatalis Legend 4

	A damage oriented build utilizing the Spread Shot skill. Tool Specialist 5 is suggested for the temporal uptime abuse to allow you to be upclose and personal with your target. The build also boasts a 100% affinity rate on weak spots.

Iceborne Heavy Bowgun Meta Builds

Sticky Rajang Build

Sticky Rajang Build	Guard HBG Build	Velkhana Gamma Armor Build
Awakened Spread HBG Build	Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build

Weapon		Decorations
Demonlord Beastbuster Attack: 450		--- ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Brachydium Helm Beta +	Jumping/Release Jewel 4 x2 Ironwall Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Brachydium Mail Beta +	Jumping/Release Jewel 4 x1 Shield Jewel 2 x1 Sheath Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces	Brachydium Braces Alpha +	KO Jewel 2 x2
Waist	Brachydium Faulds Alpha +	KO Jewel 2 x1
Legs	Golden Hakama Beta +	Ironwall Jewel+ 4 x2
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Bowgun Modifications
Recoil Suppressor x2	Reload Assist x2
Shield x1

Sticky Rajang Build Skill List

Skills
Agitator 7	Artillery 5
Guard 5	Health Boost 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Evade Extender 3
Slugger 3	Weakness Exploit 1
Guard Up 1	Quick Sheath 1
Razor Sharp/Spare Shot 1	Brachydios Will 4

	A sticky/pierce HBG Build featuring the Rajang's Demonlord Beastbuster. A full set of guard skills for survivability as well Agitator for more damage and affinity. It also works great with sticky ammo skill and Wyvernsnipe better due to the addition of Artillery 5.

Guard HBG Build

Sticky Rajang Build	Guard HBG Build	Velkhana Gamma Armor Build
Awakened Spread HBG Build	Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build

Weapon		Decorations
Loyal Thunder Attack: 420		Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Golden Headdress Beta +	Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Expert Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Pride Mail Beta +	Expert Jewel+ 4 x1 Expert Jewel 1 x2
Vambraces	Golden Kote Beta +	Ironwall/Release Jewel 4 x1 Spread Jewel 3 x1
Waist	Shara Ishvalda Coil Beta +	Ironwall/Release Jewel 4 x1 Spread Jewel 3 x1
Legs	Garuga Greaves Beta +	Ironwall/Release Jewel 4 x1 Critical Jewel 2 x2
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Guard HBG Build Skill List

Skills
Health Boost 3	Critical Boost 3
Guard 5	Spread/Power Shots 2
Weakness Exploit 3	Resentment 1
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Critical Eye 7
Rajang's Rage 2	Razor Sharp/Spare Shot

	An HBG build focusing on Spread Ammo playstyle. Mind's Eye/Ballistics is a must for easier max damage (due to critical distance). a max Weakness Exploit and Critical Eye has been slotted in so focus on shooting those weakspots!

Velkhana Gamma Armor Build

Sticky Rajang Build	Guard HBG Build	Velkhana Gamma Armor Build
Awakened Spread HBG Build	Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build

Weapon		Decorations
Vor Buster Attack: 510		Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x2 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Rimeguard Helm Gamma +	Earplug/Protection Jewel 4 x1 Attack Jewel+ 4 x1 Attack Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Rimeguard Mail Gamma +	Attack Jewel+ 4 x1 Critical Jewel 2 x1 Vitality Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces	Rimeguard Vambraces Gamma +	Attack Jewel+ 4 x1 Sheath Jewel 1 x1
Waist	Dragonbarbs Beta +	Earplug/Maintenance Jewel 4 x3
Legs	Rimeguard Greaves Gamma +	Earplug/Protection Jewel 4 x1 Protection Jewel 1 x1
Charm	Challenger Charm V	None

Velkhana Gamma Armor Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7	Ice Attack 6
Earplugs 5	Agitator 5
Tool Specialist 3	Divine Blessing 3
Critical Draw 3	Quick Sheath 3
Peak Performance 3	Health Boost 3
Recovery Up 3	Coalescence 3
Critical Eye 2	Resuscitate 1
Velkhana Divinity

	An Armor set featuring on of the last elder dragon updates, the Arch-Tempered Velkhana's armor set. Quick Sheath, Divine Blessing 3, and Tool Specialist 3 are great QoL skills to improve the HBGs survivability. It's less focused on DPS and more for comfort so feel free to get this set if you want an easy hunting with the HBG.

Awakened Spread HBG Build

Sticky Rajang Build	Guard HBG Build	Velkhana Gamma Armor Build
Awakened Spread HBG Build	Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build

Weapon		Decorations
Safi's Burstcannon Attack: 375		Ironwall/Release Jewel 4 x1 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Brachydium Helm Alpha +	Critical Jewel 2 x2 Attack Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Golden Haori Beta +	Ironwall/Release Jewel 4 x1 Critical Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces	Rex Roar Braces Alpha +	Spread Jewel 3 x1
Waist	Golden Obi Beta +	Ironwall/Release Jewel 4 x1 Mind's Eye Jewel 2 x1 Attack Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Brachydium Greaves Beta +	Spread Jewel 3 x1 Attack Jewel 1 x2
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Awakened Ability
Spread Capacity III	Attack Increase V x4

Awakened Spread HBG Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 6	Guard 5
Maximum Might 5	Health Boost 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3	Spread/Power Shots 2
Mind's Eye/Ballistics	Rajang's Rage
Razor Sharp/Spare Shot

	A Spread build utilizing the Safi Burst Cannon from the Safi'Jiva weapons. WE focused on adding all the Ammo boosting/saving skills and damage skills to ensure all spread shots will count. Get upclose and personal and fire those spreadshots away!

Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build

Sticky Rajang Build	Guard HBG Build	Velkhana Gamma Armor Build
Awakened Spread HBG Build	Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build

Weapon		Decorations
Safi's Snipecannon Attack: 375		Pierce Jewel 3 x1 ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Brachydium Helm Beta +	Release/Maintenance Jewel 4 x2 Attack Jewel 1 x1
Armor	Golden Haori Beta +	Release/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Critical Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces	Buff Arms Alpha +	Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Waist	Golden Obi Beta +	Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1 Mind's Eye Jewel 2 x1 Attack Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Brachydium Greaves Beta +	Pierce Jewel 3 x1 Attack Jewel 1 x2
Charm	Razor Sharp Charm	None

Awakened Ability
Pierce Capacity III	Attack Increase V x4

Hi-Power Pierce HBG Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7	Maximum Might 5
Mind's Eye/Ballistics 1	Health Boost 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3	Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3	Piercing Shots 2
Razor Sharp/Spare Shot 1	Resuscitate 1
Tool Specialist 2	Rajang's Rage

	One more Safi build from us but this time, coming from the Safi's Snipercannon! As the weapon name suggests, this is a pierce centric build and it works extremely well against large monsters (large in size, not the large monsters we target in quests) as their size can maximize the damage of piercing shots.

Iceborne Heavy Bowgun Progression Builds

Starter

Early Game

Mid to Late-Game

Starter Iceborne Build

Weapon		Decorations
Defender Heavy Bowgun V Attack: 330		--- ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Dragonking Eyepatch Alpha	Pierce Jewel 3 x1
Armor	Empress Mail Alpha	Steadfast Jewel 1 x2
Vambraces	Xeno'jiiva Claws Alpha	Expert Jewel 1 x1
Waist	Damascus Coil Beta	Protection Jewel 1 x3
Legs	Empress Greaves Beta	Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1 Steadfast Jewel 1 x1
Charm	Master's Charm III	None

Starter Iceborne Skill List

Skills
Critical Eye 4	Weakness Exploit 3
Divine Blessing 3	Health Boost 3
Stun Resistance 3	Peak Performance 2
Piercing Shots 1	Critical Boost 1
Flinch Free 1	Focus 1
Lunastra Favor

	A Piercing build for the Defender HBG! Peak Performance is up so make sure to dodge those hits or chug potions when damaged to maximize your DPS.

Early Iceborne Progression Build

Weapon		Decorations
Gnashing Flammenkanone + Attack: 360		--- ---
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 flaming ammo setup to burn through most of Iceborne's early-game monsters. The majority of starting monsters in the expansion are weak to fire attacks, allowing you to breeze through to the mid-game with this build.

Mid-Late Iceborne Progression Build

Weapon		Decorations
Baleful Night Attack: 390		--- ---
Armor		Decorations
Head	Fulgur Helm Beta +	Release Jewel 3 x1 Elementless Jewel 2 x1
Armor	Esurient Mail Beta +	Pierce Jewel 3 x1 Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces	Artian Vambraces Alpha +	Expert Jewel 1 x2
Waist	Odogaron Coil Beta +	Critical Jewel 2 x1 Expert Jewel 1 x1
Legs	Death Garon Greaves Beta +	Critical Jewel 2 x1 Expert Jewel 1 x2
Charm	Health Charm III	None

Mid-Late Iceborne Progression Build Skill List

Skills
Piercing Shots 1	Weakness Exploit 3
Tool Specialist 3	Critical Eye 6
Health Boost 3	Critical Boost 3
Non-elemental Boost 1	Speed Eating 1
Free Elem/Ammo Up 3

	A mid-game setup for the HBG. We transition to an elementless setup at the turn of the mid-game. Make sure to wound your target part first to utilize the 100% affinity this build provides you!

Iceborne Best Heavy Bowguns and Skills

Best Heavy Bowguns

Weapon	Explanation
Vor Cannon [Atk] 435 | [Affinity] -20%	・High raw damage ・Recommended for all major ammo types
Demonlord Beastbuster [Atk] 450 | [Affinity] 0%	・Best choice for sticky ammo builds
Loyal Thunder [Atk] 420 | [Affinity] 0%	・Best choice for shield and spread ammo builds

Best Heavy Bowgun Skills

Skill	Explanation
Health Boost ( ★★★ )	Increases maximum health to increase your survival rate A must have for beginners
Piercing Shots ( ★★★ )	Vital for builds that use Pierce Ammo
Spread/Power Shots ( ★★★ )	Vital for builds that use Spread Ammo
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
Guard (★★)	Improves block efficiency and lessens stamina loss when guarding, perfect for spread ammo and other close-range HBG builds

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