Monster Hunter World Weapons Tier List 2023 (Complete Guide)

Monster Hunter World has been out for three years and it still remains one of the best games that you can play in the action role-playing genre. One of the best things about the series is the flexibility that it offers within the gameplay and that means tons of different weapons to use too.
Unsurprisingly, the game has fourteen different types of weapons that you can use and they all come with variations even within the subtypes. Of course, not all weapons are created equal, so it can take a lot of time to find the one that is perfect for your playstyle.
Fortunately for you, we’ve created a thorough Monster Hunter World weapons tier list that explains everything that you’ll need to know about them! Keep in mind though, that certain weapons are good for co-operative gameplay but not very useful in solo – so we’ll be listing both of them separately.
So, let’s get started and save your time.
Note: Tier lists are altered every once in a while, due to different update patches and expansions being released for the game. This one is based on our personal experience and the current votes of hardcore players, so it might change later. And of course, you can still have fun even with one of the low-tier weapons because this is not a competitive game. Some of them are just better.
Weapon Tier Level | MHW Best Solo Weapons | MHW Best Co-op Weapons |
---|---|---|
Monster Hunter World S-Tier Weapons | 1. Charge Blade 2. Greatsword | 1. Hammer 2. Hunting Horn |
Monster Hunter World A-Tier Weapons | 1. Hammer 2. Longsword | 1. Bow 2. Heavy Bowgun 3. Lance & Gunlance 4. Charge Blade 5. Greatsword |
Monster Hunter World B-Tier Weapons | 1. Sword and Shield 2. Switch Axe 3. Insect Glaive 4. Dual Blades | 1. Light Bowgun 2. Longsword |
Monster Hunter World C-Tier Weapons | 1. Bow 2. Lance & Gunlance | 1. Insect Glaive 2. Switch Axe 3. Dual Blades |
Monster Hunter World D-Tier Weapons | 1. Hunting Horn 2. Light Bowgun 3. Heavy Bowgun | 1. Sword and Shield |
Monster Hunter World S-Tier Weapons
The Best S-Tier Solo Weapons
1. Charge Blade
The Charge Blade is very useful because it allows you to have the versatility of a sword but the heavyweight potential of charged attacks at the same time. And of course, the combos and attacks look really cool as well while you’re at it.
2. Greatsword
The Greatsword is always a welcome addition to any offensive build. You get an all-rounder type of experience which allows you to mix medium and heavy attacks as you please. And when it comes to defensiveness, most players find it suitable for the task.
The Best Co-Op S-Tier Weapons
1. Hammer
Every team needs to be coordinated, or at least something close to that. This means different players fill different roles. That, of course, calls for the ‘tank’ role in the team and that’s what you get with the Hammer weapon and its skillset. It’s extremely strong as you would expect and has combos with a lot of weight – which is both fun and helpful to have by your side.
2. Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horn is an interesting weapon that allows you to buff your team with the horn aspect of the weapon, while it’s pretty powerful in general too once you begin using it as a weapon on your enemies. Despite being something with multiple purposes, it acts as a heavyweight weapon which is a big advantage.
Monster Hunter World A-Tier Weapons
The Best Solo A-Tier Weapons
1. Hammer
The Hammer weapon, as it goes without saying, is a tank weapon. The only con here is that it feels a bit too heavy for players who aren’t all about the power – but for those who prefer to play that way, it’s as good as it gets. You will need good timing and planned attacks to do well with it, since the window of recovery is smaller here than swords.
2. Longsword
The Longsword is meant for players who like to poke around a bit before they go in for the kill. It’s not long-range and it’s not mid-range – giving you just the right mixture of safety and offense.
The Best Co-Op A-Tier Weapons
1. Bow
Every team needs to have a player that can tackle the enemy from a distance, which keeps them safe and agile compared to those who are attacking the enemy head-on. The bow is very useful for team players and is rather fun to use as a weapon in general too.
2. Heavy Bowgun
Same as the Bow, this weapon is the heavy gun version and allows you to basically be a tank of long-ranged support.
3. Lance & Gunlance
If you played solo for a long time before you finally moved onto co-operative multiplayer, you might find it a bit weird that this weapon type is this high up in the list. But it’s actually very useful for team-playing that allows you to act as a support player who changes the directions of the monsters for the tanks to attack them.
4. Charge Blade
The Charge Blade is very self-explanatory and acts as an all-rounder weapon that is between mid and high damage weapon types. If your team aids you, you can lead a lot of damage through the charged combos.
5. Greatsword
The Greatsword is something common for most role-playing games, especially Dark Souls – which is a comparison I make often for the weapon type. If you’re not a fan of heavy weapons, you can get this sword and you will still contribute a lot to your team as an offensive player. And the combos are cooler too since the weight of the weapon allows it to swing more.
Monster Hunter World B-Tier Weapons
The Best Solo B-Tier Weapons
1. Sword and Shield
It’s definitely not as effective as some of the other weapons in the game, but it’s great for new players who wish to take a tour of the game and understand how things work.
It offers you defense and offense at the same time so you can take turns between attacking and defending yourself. It should just be noted that as you become more familiar with the game, you should switch to something else.
Ironically, it’s also a great weapon for veteran players because they can make use of the duality of this weapon to their advantage.
2. Switch Axe
The Switch Axe isn’t as useful as some of the other swords on this list, but it’s significantly more useful in solo gameplay than it is in co-op. The combos are pretty cool and the damage is decent too, which makes it one of the all-rounder weapons that allow both agility and offense.
3. Insect Glaive
The Insect Glaive is very fun to use and is especially recommended for people who like to look cool while they hunt down giant monsters. It has a lot of combos and is pretty cool for aerial attacks – which is not something that many weapons offer. It’s just a bit hard to master due to its complexity.
4. Dual Blades
The Dual Blades are weaker than the single swords, but that does not mean it’s useless. If you have the patience of learning how to be useful with it, you can pull off some really cool moves that damage your opponents just enough to win.
The Best Co-Op B-Tier Weapons
1. Light Bowgun
This weapon is the same as the Heavy Bowgun which is rated higher on the list. The point is the same – you can be a support player from a distance while the rest of your team fights around. However, this one packs less of a punch, and the ammunition, while more incapacity, is less effective.
2. Longsword
The Longsword is quite similar to the Greatsword, but its point is to have more range without being too far away – which works if you’re a player that gets panicky. But if not, you’d be better off using something more specific. That’s not to say that it’s a useless weapon, it’s just not very helpful compared to the Greatsword or Hammer.
Monster Hunter World C-Tier Weapons
The Best Solo C-Tier Weapons
1. Bow
The Bow is a long-ranged weapon, which is a very different way to play the game compared to the usual sword fighting. But if you have the patience for it, you can easily get used to it and it’s a really nice way to mix up how your playstyle works.
2. Lance & Gunlance
Both of these weapon types are fun to use but are very complex. You might find it difficult to adjust to their playstyle since it’s a mixture of long and mid ranged weapons, making it difficult to deal with monsters that aren’t as big as a building.
The Best Co-Op C-Tier Weapons
1. Insect Glaive
The Insect Glaive is a bit of a complex weapon in general but it’s easier to use in co-op than in single-player. What you do here is have your teammates attack the monster and then use some of the aerial combos as support.
2. Switch Axe
The Switch Axe is something that can be compared to the aforementioned Long Sword, but it’s worse because it lacks the range provided by it, while it also lacks the power of the Hammer. It’s a middle-point that you don’t really need to use unless you just really like axes.
3. Dual Blades
The Dual Blades are pretty cool and have some really fun combos to execute. But the enjoyment comes at the cost of having lower damage compared to the single swords. So, it’s not a bad option but it’s meant for experienced players.
Monster Hunter World D-Tier Weapons
The Best Solo D-Tier Weapons
1. Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horn in single-player is quite useless because this is essentially a co-op weapon that won’t help you out very much when playing by yourself. Especially since one of its features is to buff your teammates.
2. Light Bowgun
The Light Bowgun is usable enough and you can still kill monsters with it – but it takes too long and is just generally not as effective as using a different weapon. However, if this is your idea of fun – no judgement from us!
3. Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun is the same as the Light one on this list, the only difference is that it deals more damage and can handle explosive ammunition. Although it has less ammo capacity as a result.
The Best Co-Op D-Tier Weapons List
1. Sword and Shield
The Sword and Shield in co-op has about the same use in co-op as it does in solo – which is to protect yourself. Naturally, it’s not much of an advantage in playing as a team as you’re supposed to protect your friends and be protected by them – not solely protect yourself with a shield.
Ironically enough, the two cases where it’s useful to have this weapon in co-op is if you were either someone new just trying to learn how the game works – or someone who is an expert and knows how to make great use of anything.
That’s it for our guide for Monster Hunter World: Weapons Tier List! We hope that you found the weapon perfectly suited for your playstyle and hope to see you in the next article. Don’t forget to ask any questions if you have some in mind.
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