The Best Weapons In Monster Hunter: World

In Monster Hunter: World, the most successful hunters are the ones who tailor their gear to the monster they wish to take down. If a player is facing a flying monster, it makes much more sense to bring a ranged weapon than a melee weapon. It’s also important to use weapons that have elemental advantages over the target monster. While a fire-based sword might have better DPS than an ice-based weapon, it becomes useless if facing a monster that is resistant to fire.

For this reason, there are very few weapons that are used in a majority or even a plurality of battles. Instead, the best players train with a specific weapon type and ensure they have a variety of weapons of that type for each situation. The weapon selection in Monster Hunter: World is very diverse, and players can rest assured that they’ll still have a great time with the game even if they aren’t min-maxing their weapons and loadout for every single fight.

Updated on September 22, 2025, by Evan Regan: The wait for additional content for Monster Hunter Wilds has been a long one, so players are flocking back to Monster Hunter: World to pass the time. While updates have long since ceased for Capcom’s previous Monster Hunter hit—and even Monster Hunter Rise has been sunset in favor of the latest series entry—there are still lots of tweaks happening in the game’s meta as players continue to experiment. This list has been updated to align with the current weapon meta in Monster Hunter: World, offering players all the info they need when choosing what weapon to specialize in before their next hunt.

Hunting Horn

Stuns Monsters With Repeated Hits

• Damage Type: Blunt
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: Support

The Hunting Horn is one of the strangest weapons in the game, but players shouldn’t underestimate its efficiency. Those who know what they’re doing can single-handedly fill the support role of any party. Not only does this weapon play music to buff the party or debilitate enemies, but it can also hit for top-tier damage. A good wallop from a Hunting Horn can stun monsters, allowing other members of the team with more lethal weapons to swoop in for the kill.

Players should stock up on some great melodies that are pertinent to the class and the type of monster they’re hunting down. Trying to fight a monster solo with the Hunting Horn is extremely challenging. However, this weapon becomes way more valuable in a party where their fellow players rely on them for buffs, cures, and everything else along the same lines. This weapon class is recommended for players who are fairly adept with the series’ gameplay. Newcomers might find the Hunting Horn too convoluted to use if they aren’t familiar with how Monster Hunter: World’s combat system works, especially when they try to learn the various “songs” they can play with this weapon.

Notable Hunting Horns

• Denden Doomsounder: Has the highest damage of any Hunting Horn.
• Lightbreak Timbre: Deals blast damage.
• The Rasping Ballad: Paralysis effect can be a boon against tough and/or aggressive monsters.
• Ogrebite: A tough weapon with hidden sleep damage.
• Ruinous Desolation: An excellent Hunting Horn with a high-level Elderseal.

Hammer

Designed To Smash And Flatten Enemies

• Damage Type: Blunt
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: Tank & DPS

Most people would expect a large hammer to be somewhat unwieldy in battle, but that is not the case here. In fact, the Hammer in Monster Hunter: World is incredibly fast and can stun monsters with successive hits. Along with this, users can charge up their Hammer’s hits to deal even more damage when the enemy is vulnerable. There’s nothing more satisfying than smacking a monster that has been giving players a tough time right in the head and watching it fall.

Weapons that are slow or cumbersome may not be every player’s weapon of choice in Monster Hunter: World, especially if they’re already struggling to dodge the attacks of the monsters they’re hunting. However, with enough practice, the Hammer becomes one of the most satisfying weapons players can use in the game to smash their prey to smithereens.

Notable Hammers

• Juicy Well-Done Hammer: This hilariously named Hammer deals additional fire damage.
• Safi’s Venomcrusher: True to its name, this powerful Hammer dishes out some serious poison damage.
• Safi’s Shattercrusher: The blast damage of this Hammer is a force to be reckoned with.
• Mane Malice Rajang: A tough Hammer with high thunder damage.
• Lightbreak Hammer: An explosive Hammer that can stop any enemy in its tracks.

Lance

Perfect For Counter-Attacks After Using The Shield For Defense

• Damage Type: Cut
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: Tank & DPS

Not only does the Lance have a long reach, but it also boasts a shield that the player can use to great effect. This combination of solid offense and great range makes the Lance an excellent weapon for Monster Hunter: World players to get acquainted with sooner rather than later. The Lance is the perfect weapon for players who want to land precise strikes while ensuring that they don’t take too much damage themselves.

The Lance has a tricky moveset to nail down, but it’s very satisfying once players understand the basics of its combat system. Staying just out of a tough monster’s reach and poking and prodding them to death is infinitely enjoyable. Players who master the Lance’s moveset will get hooked quickly and will soon be flexing their skills in the toughest hunts.

Notable Lances

• Great Demon Lance: The hardest-hitting Lance in the game.
• Lightbreak Lance: A powerful Lance that deals blast damage.
• Demonlord Rajang: The thunder damage inflicted by this Lance can shock even the toughest monsters.
• Backbite: A cool-looking Lance that inflicts sleep damage.
• Ruinous Perdition: An upgrade on Perdition’s Hand that is more than worth the cost.

Sword & Shield

A Swift Weapon With Great Recovery

• Damage Type: Cut & Blunt
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: DPS

At a glance, the Sword & Shield seems like a pretty boring weapon choice. It’s the most “standard” option in the game’s arsenal, and might seem like a safe choice reserved for newcomers to the Monster Hunter ​​​​​​series. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Masters of this weapon type can dish out a ton of DPS in record time.

The Sword & Shield is one of the most versatile weapon types in the game, and new players should definitely look into this weapon if they find Monster Hunter: World’s other movesets a bit too complicated. The Sword & Shield is a jack of all trades, although players who want to master more specific aspects of the combat system should check out other weapons instead.

Notable Swords & Shields

• Banned Rajang Club: The best “Sword” in the game in terms of sheer damage.
• Lightbreak Sword: A powerful Sword & Shield that deals immense blast damage.
• Demonlord Mace: A thunderous mace (in the place of a sword) that is effective against enemies weak to this element.
• Rajang Club: A mighty club instead of a sword that hits for high thunder damage.
• Stonebite: A unique-looking Sword & Shield that deals decent sleep damage.

Gunlance

• Damage Type: Cut & Special
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: Tank

A combination of a gun and a lance, the Gunlance is capable of dealing impressive damage and is great for defensive play. The lance is designed for keeping the enemy at bay with its blocking ability and dealing damage at a range. The gun aspect is a powerful shotgun blast that damages the enemy at close range. Players can build around either aspect of the weapon or switch between melee and ranged attacks on the fly; the Gunlance can be successful either way.

The reason it ranks lower here is that the player’s mobility is seriously compromised when using this weapon, and they must rely on armor and tanking to get by. It also requires the player to get up close and personal to get the full effect of their gun blasts, which is dangerous in many cases, although savvy Gunlance players will quickly get the hang of timing these attacks so that they can escape safely.

Notable Gunlances

• Safi’s Shatterbuster: A great normal shell Gunlance.
• Xeno Hemta +: An excellent long-shell Gunlance.
• Lightbreak Gunlance: A brilliant wide shell Gunlance.
• Flamebite: Despite the name, this Gunlance actually deals valuable sleep damage.
• Queen’s Panoply: A poisonous Gunlance that looks pretty great to boot.

Insect Glaive

Unique Combination Allows For An Unorthodox Moveset

• Damage Type: Slash
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: DPS & Support

The Insect Glaive is an interesting weapon type. It is used in a fast and fluid fashion, giving the player lots of mobility in combat. At any point, the player can launch themselves into the air and then use an air dash to move around in midair, often staying completely out of range of any monster attacks.

Skilled players can use the Insect Glaive to dodge sweeping attacks and land on monsters’ backs to get in mounted hits. They also have the ability to deploy Kinsects, which collect essences from monsters for mid-fight buffs to either defense, attack, healing, or speed, depending on which monster body part the Kinsect targets. The attack boost is particularly important, as it unlocks the Insect Glaive’s advanced moveset, including a longer air dash that spins the weapon around the player, which can hit a monster multiple times for damage if they line up their dash just right. It requires lots of practice and lots of strikes to take down a monster, but it can make for some fun and visually stunning gameplay.

Notable Insect Glaives

• Safi’s Shatterspear: A tried-and-tested Insect Glaive beloved by the fanbase.
• Lightbreak Press: An excellent Insect Glaive that truly shines with the right build.
• Datura Storm II: A highly poisonous Insect Glaive that’s perfect for support characters.
• Metalmangler: A powerful Insect Glaive with both Blunt Boost and thunder damage.
• Demonlord Cudgel: High thunder damage and great affinity make this Insect Glaive a blast to use.

Switch Axe

Switch Between An Axe And A Sword To Suit Any Situation

• Damage Type: Cut
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: DPS

Switch Axes are adaptable weapons that can transform from an axe to a sword with the press of a button. The axes give players greater range and striking power, while the sword is faster and delivers better finishers, including an Elemental Discharge. This power to switch between weapon types makes the Switch Axe popular with players who don’t like to trade out their weapons between hunts.

Typically, players will fight in axe mode to build up the sword’s phial, then switch to sword mode when an opportunity arises for dealing good damage or an elemental strike. However, once in sword mode, the phial will deplete, and when it gets too low, players will be forced to switch back to the axe. The only reason the Switch Axe doesn’t rank higher is that it’s a complicated weapon to use, and many players often forget to switch modes in the heat of battle.

Notable Switch Axes

• Safi’s Shatteraxe: A Switch Axe that is favored by many.
• Lightbreak Axe: A powerful Switch Axe that’s highly accessible.
• Taroth Axe “Paralysis”: A downright broken Switch Axe, with its massive 550 Paralysis.
• Undying Light: A fun Switch Axe with high thunder damage.
• Demonlord Edge: High thunder damage and affinity make this a great Switch Axe to use.

Heavy Bowgun

Makes Up For Its Lack Of Mobility With High Firepower

• Damage Type: Shot (Ammo)
• Weapon Type: Ranged
• Suited Build: DPS

Heavy Bowguns are beastly in combat, boasting serious damage and long-range capabilities. They’re perfect for staggering enemies, knocking off monster parts, or putting dents in a monster’s armor. Another nice perk is the ability to modify the weapon to suit the player’s needs, such as by reducing its reload time.

However, with all this immense power comes a degree of vulnerability as well. These heavy weapons significantly compromise the player’s mobility and put them at risk when the enemy attacks or closes the distance. They’re extremely useful in co-op, but dangerous when hunting solo, although some late-game builds can be structured to provide more defensive options.

Notable Heavy Bowguns

• Safi Burstcannon: The best Heavy Bowgun for Spread Ammo.
• Safi Snipecannon: The best Heavy Bowgun for Pierce Ammo.
• Demonlord Beastbuster: The best Heavy Bowgun for both Normal and Sticky Ammo.
• Rajang Destroyer: A great Heavy Bowgun that uses Wyvernheart Special Ammo.
• Albadash: An excellent Heavy Bowgun that pairs really well with Pierce Ammo.

Great Sword

Punishing Attacks Come At The Cost Of Slow Movement

• Damage Type: Cut & Blunt
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: DPS

Great Swords are the heavy hitters of Monster Hunter: World, capable of dishing out the most damage in the game in the right hands. With their long range and high damage, these weapons are exceptional at knocking down big foes or obliterating little ones. They’re great for players who want to make their hits count.

The downside to Great Swords is that they’re heavy—really heavy—which limits their user’s mobility. Considering they also have terrible blocking power, players end up relying on carefully timed dodges and a bit of tanking to go along with precise attacks to get through more difficult hunts.

Notable Great Swords

• Black Fatalis Blade: A Great Sword that hits like a truck, albeit at the cost of an affinity penalty.
• Lightbreak Blade: A powerful Great Sword with immense blast damage.
• Safi’s Splitter: A great all-rounder and arguably the third-best Great Sword in the game.
• Great Demon Rod: A Great Sword with incredibly high damage that will serve many players well.
• Ultra Wyvern Jawblade: A Great Sword that will blast enemies to pieces.

Charge Blade

Morphs Between A Sword & Shield And An Axe

• Damage Type: Cut
• Weapon Type: Melee
• Suited Build: Tank

Like the Switch Axe, Charge Blades are capable of transforming from a sword and shield mode to an axe mode. The sword and shield mode gives the player greater mobility and lots of defense, while the axe mode delivers crushing blows with a long reach.

Charge Blades outrank Switch Axes here because, when the player fights with the sword and shield, they build up charges that are stored in the weapon in phials (just like the Switch Axe). When the player switches to the axe, they unleash that charge for an explosive effect. For players who learn the combos and flow of combat, this weapon type can be beastly. However, Charge Blades are, by far, the most complicated weapons in Monster Hunter: World. The balance of charging the weapon with sword attacks and knowing when in a combo to switch to axe mode to deliver the most powerful blow takes hours of practice. Not to mention, players can instead infuse those phials into the Charge Blade’s shield, dealing elemental damage any time they block an attack and completely changing the weapon’s playstyle in the process.

Notable Charge Blades

• Kjarr Strongarm “King”https://gamerant.com/”Water”https://gamerant.com/”Spark”https://gamerant.com/”Ice”https://gamerant.com/”Decay”: A host of Kjarr Charge Blades that were heavily buffed in Iceborne.
• Lightbreak Charge Blade: A powerful Charge Blade with immense blast damage.
• Safi’s Shattershield: Another powerful Safi’Jiva weapon that absolutely decimates monsters.
• Rajang Beastblade Ikazuchi: The Impact Elemental Phial makes this a must-have Charge Blade.
• Luna Eostre: A combination of poison damage and Impact Phial works out pretty well for this Charge Blade.