Not every weapon in Monster Hunter Outlanders performs equally well in combat. Each type has its own strengths: some deal more damage, others attack faster, and some have a few extra tricks up their sleeves. In this article, we take a look at the best weapons in the game and rank them in a tier list.
How This Tier List Works
This ranking is for the main character only. They're the only member of your party who can equip any weapon, while each Adventurer obtained through summons is tied to a specific weapon type and plays differently thanks to their unique moveset. So a weapon's position on this list doesn't tell you how strong an Adventurer using it will be.
We considered three things when assigning tiers:
- The damage a weapon can deal;
- Versatility, meaning how useful it is both when your main character takes the lead and when they fight as a teammate;
- Ease of use: attack range, attack speed, and how much effort it takes to get the most out of a weapon in an actual hunt.
Keep in mind that future balance patches, new armor skills, and new monsters could easily move any weapon up or down a couple of spots. The Heavy Bowgun, for example, has already been nerfed since the beta tests.
S Tier
Long Sword. A classic weapon that's easy to use: it hits hard without sacrificing mobility. It can't block, but it has Foresight Slash, a move with a very generous parry window. This lets you counter a monster's attacks without having to nail the timing of a Perfect Evade or Perfect Guard, making the Long Sword more forgiving than any other melee weapon. Counters also fill the Spirit Gauge faster, powering up your attacks. There is a downside, though: this approach works brilliantly in solo hunts, where the monster focuses on you. In difficult co-op hunts, it may spend all its time chasing someone else, leaving you with nothing to counter.
Heavy Bowgun. It was nerfed after the beta tests, but range still makes a huge difference in many dangerous fights. Most of your damage comes from Normal Ammo, while Slicing Ammo is there to sever a monster's tail. Sticky Ammo, Cluster Bombs, and Dragon shots are useful too, although they're no longer as powerful as they used to be. Special ammo is limited, but its supply replenishes over time and when you land hits. A Perfect Guard instantly reloads the selected ammo type, but it doesn't restore your entire supply of special shots. On top of that, each bowgun deals damage of a particular element, so choose one that matches the monster's elemental weakness.
Charge Blade. Only the main character can use this weapon. It has several modes for different situations, and Axe Mode has an enormous damage ceiling, capable of wiping out an entire chunk of a monster's health bar. It's harder to master than the Long Sword or Heavy Bowgun, although the learning curve is noticeably gentler than that of the Charge Blade in the mainline games. And when a monster is knocked down, the Charge Blade turns that opening into damage faster than any other weapon.
A Tier
Weapons in this tier demand more skill and preparation, but in capable hands they can absolutely keep up with S-tier picks.
Great Sword. The damage is excellent, but you'll need to master charged attacks and the shoulder tackle to bring it out. The weapon has built-in resistance to interruption, allowing you to power through an enemy attack and keep swinging. You can tackle from a standstill or directly out of an attack, while True Charged Slash has Super Armor, meaning a monster's hit won't interrupt it. A Perfect Evade lets you keep your sword drawn and continue charging your attack. The Great Sword is considerably slower than the Dual Blades and falls slightly behind them in damage.
Bow. A great option if you want good mobility alongside solid damage. Dodging also builds the Charge Gauge, so evasion is part of your offense here, not just a way to survive. In return, the Bow demands careful positioning and stamina management: run out of stamina at the wrong moment and you won't have anything left to dodge a monster's attack. Spread Shots and Power Shots also reach their full potential only at the right distance. Stay in that range, and the Bow's damage ceiling can actually exceed that of the Heavy Bowgun.
Dual Blades. Fast attacks and the series' signature flurries of blows. Each hit is weak on its own, but the sheer number of hits makes these blades excellent at dealing elemental damage, and elements matter a lot in Outlanders. The drawbacks are that you can't block, all your damage depends on maintaining combos and the Demon Gauge, and in real hunts you'll spend some of your time chasing the monster.
B Tier
These are decent weapons with strengths of their own, but they're harder to get the most out of and deal less damage than the weapons ranked above them.
Hammer. Its main job is to stun monsters by hitting them in the head. You can't block with it, but you can move while charging an attack. Its attacks are very slow, and getting hit resets your charge. The new jumping attack doesn't have Super Armor either, so a monster can easily knock you out of your swing. On top of that, you need to aim almost exclusively for the head, which isn't easy against mobile monsters or ones with wide-area attacks.
Lance. The safest weapon in the game: a powerful guard, counterattacks, and a lunging attack that quickly closes the distance. There's also a new spiraling thrust that turns as it strikes. The Lance isn't hard to learn, but its damage is among the lowest in the game. It's slow, too, even though its playstyle demands constant pressure and aggression.
Which Weapons Are Best for Co-op Hunts?
Your party doesn't need four hunters wielding S-tier weapons. It's better to split up the roles: one ranged fighter, one hunter with a blunt weapon or shield, and two flexible damage dealers. Here's what each brings to the team:
- Heavy Bowgun and Bow users target wings and backs and keep dealing damage while everyone else waits out dangerous attacks;
- Hammer and Charge Blade users stun monsters and break their parts;
- Long Sword and Dual Blades users sever tails and apply constant elemental pressure;
- Lance users stay close to the monster, block incoming attacks with their shield, and counterattack.
With a Heavy Bowgun, Bow, or Long Sword, you'll be useful in almost any party because you can attack hard-to-reach body parts without having to stand right in front of the monster's face.
Which Weapon Should You Pick First?
If you want melee combat that teaches you to manage your distance without punishing every mistake, pick the Long Sword. Prefer fighting from afar? Go with the Heavy Bowgun. Choose the Charge Blade only if you enjoy getting to grips with weapons that have multiple modes.
The Great Sword and Hammer make every hit feel more satisfying, but they demand a good understanding of monster behavior. The Bow is a good middle ground between range and mobility if you know how to manage your stamina. And if constant dodging gets on your nerves, consider the Lance: its shield lets you stand your ground.
Ultimately, a tier list helps narrow down your options, but it can't make the choice for you. A B-tier weapon you know how to use will bring you more value and enjoyment than an S-tier weapon you don't like. So before spending rare materials, try a couple of candidates in the training area. Happy hunting!
