Easiest Weapons For Beginners In Monster Hunter World

Summary

• Light Bowgun is great for shooter fans with long-range attacks & support abilities.
• Long Sword is a popular choice for samurai fantasies but beware of tripping teammates.
• Dual Blades prioritize speed and combos, making it perfect for beginners learning combos.

Monster Hunter World was a huge step forward for Capcom’s long-running franchise, offering numerous quality-of-life changes and a more expansive way to navigate through maps to chase down boss monsters. However, one thing it kept from previous Monster Hunter entries was its roster of 14 weapon types players can choose from.

While some of the new game mechanics in Monster Hunter World may change how players interact with these weapons compared to previous games, a handful of them are still as welcoming to beginners as ever. These six weapons in Monster Hunter World are a lot less complex than other weapons and might be the best way for newcomers to learn the ropes.

Updated December 18, 2024 by Blaise Santi: We’re merely months away from the next chapter of the Monster Hunter series with Monster Hunter Wilds. It’ll be sad to say goodbye to Monster Hunter World, but there’s still a brief opportunity for newcomers to dip their toes into the franchise before deciding to purchase the upcoming title.

With that in mind, here’s a more definitive look at ten of the fourteen unique weapon types in the game, with our recommendations for not only which ones are the easiest to learn, but also our recommendations for the best armor sets, skills, and specific weapons to try out!

1 Light Bowgun

The Weapon For Fortnite Or Resident Evil Fans

If players are accustomed to games like Monster Hunter, then the Light Bowgun might not be the best weapon to start with. However, if players are more a fan of shooter games, particularly third-person shooters, then the Light Bowgun might be the best entry point into Monster Hunter World. Compared to the Heavy Bowgun, this weapon is a great mix of long-range attacking with decent movement.

Though it might be difficult to share a similar experience as Blademaster hunters, Light Bowgun certainly makes for a completely different gameplay experience! Fans can mix and match different ammo types for a versatile hunt, and even support their allies from the sidelines with ammunition that can heal or increase defenses.

2 Long Sword

Just Watch Out For Tripping Your Teammates!

The Long Sword may not be as simplistic as other Blademaster weapons like Great Sword or Hammer, but it’s certainly a preferable choice for those who want to feel like samurai in Monster Hunter. This weapon is a healthy mix of up-close-and-personal swordsmanship with long-ranged capabilities, emphasizing combos and evasion to be a speedy and unpredictable hunter in battle.

However, the Long Sword is not without its downsides that can prove detrimental to newer hunters. Because of its long range and large hitbox, the Long Sword is frequently capable of tripping teammates, knocking them out of combos, and potentially leaving them open to vicious attacks. Thankfully, this isn’t a problem for solo hunters or those trying to complete the main story.

3 Bow

Monsters Are Much Less Scary From Far Away

As far as weapons in the Monster Hunter franchise go, Gunner weapons are notoriously more complicated than Blademaster weapons. They can be very useful for team battles, especially given how supportive they can be, but becoming a solo Gunner may feel like playing an entirely different game. However, the Bow is the easiest one to get into.

The Bow is a great entry point for early Gunners, as they’ll get used to moving around and avoiding the monsters as they fire off shots. It also has a much simpler mechanic regarding arrow coatings, which allow shots to deal specific types of damage to monsters. Overall, it’s the most agile of the Gunner weapons and even has options for close-range combat.

4 Insect Glaive

The Best Way To Hunt Is With A Sidekick

The Insect Glaive looks a lot more complicated than it really is in practice. The weapon features a large staff that players can utilize with rapid chain attacks, which makes it one of the fastest weapons in the game. However, what really makes the Insect Glaive unique is the Kinsect attached to the player’s arms.

By sending the Kinsect out, they can collect a monster’s essence and return it to the player, offering different boosts based on which monster part they latched onto. If you collect all three kinds of buffs (Orange, Red, and White), players will earn a triple buff, which makes them even more powerful as they launch into the air and attack monsters with combos.

5 Lance

More Like Monster Jousting

With the Lance, blocking is the name of the game. Players will be equipped with a massive lance and a massive shield, spending most of their time tanking monster attacks until they can find an opportunity to stab the enemy. This makes it a great weapon, especially for cooperative play online, as Lance users can draw a monster’s attention away from allies.

What’s most complicated about the Lance, aside from special abilities like back steps and charge attacks, is that players will want to take advantage of specific Armor abilities. However, paying attention to these may end up helping teach newcomers how much they can benefit from certain Armor skills compared to others.

6 Dual Blades

The Fast And Furious Weapon

When it comes to the weapons in Monster Hunter World, few have the brute speed of the Dual Blades. Although it may appear that the base attack of Dual Blades weapons is low, that’s because the weapon prioritizes the number of hits over time rather than raw strength. As a result, this weapon will teach players the value of combo attacks.

What makes Dual Blades an even easier weapon is that players don’t have to be too concerned with movement, as a combo attack will lock Dual Blade users in place. The weapon also has a Demon Mode and Archdemon Mode, which will power up hunters’ attacks after a certain amount of time. However, it can be tricky to pull off.

7 Sword And Shield

The Default For A Reason

There’s a reason why the Sword and Shield is the default weapon that players are equipped with at the start of every Monster Hunter game. The weapon contains a perfect balance of many other weapon types. Players get a small shield to get them used to blocking, and they have enough speed and attack to deal serious damage in solo hunts as well as during online play.

The Sword and Shield also has many quality-of-life attributes. For example, players can consume health items while the weapon is unsheathed, a quality shared by no other weapon. Its combos are easy enough to learn to make this one of the perfect starter weapons, even if some aspects of it aren’t exactly simplistic.

8 Great Sword

Slow And Steady Wins The Race

The Great Sword will be a very attractive weapon for players who love raw power. In terms of base attack, Great Swords boast the most strength. However, they lack speed, which can benefit many newcomers to the series. Oftentimes, the fast-paced action and intense combos can turn people off from the franchise as a whole.

Thankfully, there’s no need to worry about long combo chains when it comes to swinging the Great Sword. Though it may be a difficult weapon to master against higher-level monsters, like the Tigrex, it’ll make a great starting point for any hunter. Plus, it even has a blocking feature, though it won’t deflect strong attacks too well.

9 Hammer

Swing, Batter, Batter

If Monster Hunter World is the most accessible of Monster Hunter games, then newcomers to the series may just want a weapon that’s fun and easy to use. Introducing…the Hammer! This weapon may have the slow, brute strength swings of the Great Sword, but it also has the ability to combo and charge attacks, unleashing a fury of hits on enemy monsters.

A lot becomes simplified about Monster Hunter gameplay when using the Hammer. Cutting damage is replaced by impact damage, allowing players to have an easier time stunning monsters if they target heads. Suffice it to say, but with the Hammer, Monster Hunter Worlddoesn’t get simpler or more fun, especially for new players.