Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Tier List: Full Comparison
I’ve been playing Monster Hunter Wilds since Beta 1 when Braal was the big bad on the map and Beta 2 when Chained Arkel was the next big challenge. Fast forward to the launch and now tempered Arkfeld is the monster of choice for speedrunners. I’ve tested every weapon against these beasts and in this post I’ll break down the tier list of all 14 weapons without Heroics. Although there are Heroics based times, this list is for no-Heroics.
Below I’ll have tables and lists with weapon times, strategies and my personal thoughts. I’ll also talk about how the Corrupted Mantle affects these speedruns and why some weapons outperform others. Every hunter has their preferences so I encourage fellow hunters to try out and see how these rankings change over time. My hope is this guide will help everyone – whether returning from the betas or new to the game – understand the current weapon landscape in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Insights on Weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds
I’ve had a ton of time with Monster Hunter Wilds and have a wealth of information on each weapon’s strengths and weaknesses. I found the Corrupted Mantle quickly became a key piece of equipment in top tier runs, providing extra affinity and unique damage triggers when fully charged. The synergy between the mantle and combo heavy weapons is really apparent especially with those that have repeated Triangle attacks.
Overall the weapons fall into 4 broad categories: lower performers (which are still very good), mid tier, high tier and top tier. Each group is close in performance with some being just seconds apart. In the next sections I’ll go into each group to see how they fare against tempered Arkfeld and what strategies got them to their current ranking. I think we can expect future patches, skill changes or changes to the Corrupted Mantle itself to shake things up big time. So these rankings are a snapshot of the current state. Keep an eye out for speedrunners pushing the limits everyday.
Time Records and Corrupted Mantle Usage
The Corrupted Mantle has completely changed speedrunning in Monster Hunter Wilds. It gives a small but useful affinity boost for 2 minutes but if you land enough attacks during that time a special state occurs. This state gives extra affinity and raw attack plus an extra damage proc for specific moves. The table below shows confirmed fastest no-Heroics times for each weapon against tempered Arkfeld and how well they use the Corrupted Mantle.
These times use various combos, offset counters and resource management. Some weapons rely more on the Corrupted Mantle for that extra damage while otherscapitalize on high raw hits.
| Weapon | Fastest Time (Approx) | Corrupted Mantle Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting Horn | 4:27 | Limited synergy; fewer repeated hits |
| Hammer | 3:45 | Not fully maximizing extra procs |
| Bow | 3:04 | Decent usage, overshadowed by heroics synergy in other runs |
| Dual Blades | 2:47 | Gains solid repeated-hit procs |
| Light Bow Gun | 2:45 | Quick repeated shots benefit mantle |
| Heavy Bow Gun | 2:44 | Powerful bursts, also repeats hits |
| Switch Axe | 2:36 | Strong repeated combos and counters |
| Gun Lance | 2:24 (tie) | Highly effective shell spam synergy |
| Sword & Shield | 2:24 (tie) | Rapid triangle combos + perfect guard |
| Lance | 2:20 | Poke spam and power guards work well |
| Great Sword | 2:06 | Huge chunk hits, triple proc on TCS |
| Long Sword | 1:57.67 | Crimson SIl spam reaps big mantle benefit |
| Insect Glaive | 1:57.05 | Downing the monster quickly with repeated aerial combos |
| Charge Blade | 1:55 | Power axe mode reaps multiple mantle procs |
These times are insane for tempered Arkfeld. There is usually only a small window of time between many of these weapons, especially once you optimize your run. Future updates might change these times but this is a good snapshot of how each weapon is performing right now.
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high-tier weapons
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The Corrupted Mantle synergy column gives you an idea why certain weapons are pulling ahead. Multi-hit combos get repeated bonus triggers while heavy-hitting builds get bigger single hits from the mantle’s raw boost. Generally speaking, repeated-hitting weapons ride the mantle’s bonus damage well while large-hitting weapons get the boosted attack and well timed combos.
Low Tier: A Closer Look at Hunting Horn, Hammer, and Bow
This category includes the three weapons that are currently at the bottom of the performance spectrum based on average times. Each of them has a lot of potential but haven’t reached top tier times without Heroics. There are many reasons why they are where they are: mantle synergy, internal combos or weapon design. Some are overshadowed by more consistent combos or synergy based weapons:
- Hunting Horn – 4:27 time, slowed down by tricky mantle synergy.
- Hammer – 3:45, triple upswing combos not fully maximizing the mantle’s extra procs.
- Bow – 3:04, quick repeated hits but true potential with Heroics (not included in main tier list).
Hunting Horn is slowed down by slower combo triggering and the mantle. Hammer’s big hits are big but the weapon overall focuses on triple charged slams that don’t trigger the extra damage as often as, for example, a flurry of lighter hits.
Bow did killer times below 3:05 without Heroics. The problem is that its previously powerful Tracer Arrow from the betas was nerfed and bow users often have to rely on normal shots, focus mode and well managed stamina. Overall these three weapons are better than many think and might break new records with further optimizations.
Mid Tier: Dual Blades, Light Bow Gun, Heavy Bow Gun, and Switch Axe
The mid tier includes four weapons that can clear the toughest monsters in around 2-3 minutes in Monster Hunter Wilds. They are well rounded in their combo, counter and repeated fire approach. Each has a niche that synergizes well with the Corrupted Mantle and all four are very close in time. Here is a table with their approximate fastest times (no Heroics) and a key strategy:
| Weapon | Fastest Time | Key Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Blades | 2:47 | Repeated flurry combos + gauge |
| Light Bow Gun | 2:45 | Dash-shoot loops, multi-hit procs |
| Heavy Bow Gun | 2:44 | Piercing shots, sustained damage |
| Switch Axe | 2:36 | Rapid full-release combos + saw counters |
Dual Blades’ 2:47 is thanks to the flurry of triangle combos that build and spend gauge quickly and produce many extra mantle procs. Light Bow Gun is 2:45 by dash shooting and resetting animations to keep a steady stream of multi-proc hits. Heavy Bow Gun is 2:44 by using piercing ammo or heavy bursts to overwhelm the monster in minimal time.
Switch Axe is 2:36 because of its improved full release in the final version of the game. Speedrunners use repeated ED1 + ED2 combos and sometimes a saw counter to keep the offense going. These weapons can’t be stopped when played optimally and show how close the mid tier is.
High Tier: Gun Lance, Sword and Shield, Lance, and Great Sword
These four weapons are the high performers under no-Heroics rules, around the 2 minute mark. Watching them in action shows how synergy with the Corrupted Mantle and precise counters or guard points lead to fast kills. They can stay on the monster and apply pressure non stop and that’s why they are in this top tier. Here’s a quick overview of each weapon’s approach to high tier:
Gun Lance: Shell spam and wide blast is its thing. Heroics approach dips below 2:00 but those runs are not included in this main ranking.* Lance: Poke spam into perfect guard or power guard for unstoppable offense and mantle procs.
Great Sword: Triple proc on true charge slash creates massive single hits. Tackle and offset usage keeps momentum high.
These four are the sweet spot for those who like a balance of defense, raw power and mantle synergy. Great Sword in particular hits like a freight train when true charge slash lines up. Lance, Gun Lance and Sword & Shield use rapid combos and parries to maximize uptime.
All four have different strategies but share one common thread: they never step away from tempered Arkfeld unless absolutely necessary. Their guarding or quick dodge responses combined with continuous combos puts them in near 2 minute territory.
Top Tier: Long Sword, Insect Glaive, and Charge Blade
This final tier shows times under 2 minutes, extremely aggressive playstyles. Each one has its own way of winning thanks to personal combos or Corrupted Mantle synergy. They feel unstoppable once momentum is established. Here is the no-Heroics times and a note on the key moves:
| Weapon | Fastest Time | Key Moves |
|---|---|---|
| Long Sword | 1:57.67 | Crimson SIl spam + parries |
| Insect Glaive | 1:57.05 | Aerial combos + new descending offset |
| Charge Blade | 1:55 | Power axe mode + repeated ED combos |
Long Sword is 1:57.67, thanks to Crimson SIl combos. Many thought Helm Breaker or full release from earlier betas would be the dominant approach but the final version is all about building red gauge and spamming Crimson SIl. Insect Glaive is 1:57.05 by a fraction of a second. Quick aerial combos and repeated bursts mixed with new descending offset usage produces near constant damage while refilling kinsect essence. Some runs use opening wounds to keep the monster pinned and create opportunities for powerful combos on weak spots.
Charge Blade takes the top spot with 1:55. Power axe mode and ED1 + ED2 loop spam is the main attraction. Occasional full combos for big elemental discharge if knockout or topple is guaranteed. The synergy with the mantle’s damage and the speedrunner’s timing has pushed Charge Blade to the top in no-Heroics.
Final Thoughts on Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Tier List
Before I end this, I want to note that these times are current patch Monster Hunter Wilds. Some gear skills are still broken or not fully implemented and the Corrupted Mantle might receive updates in a future patch. The meta might still evolve if they adjust base damage or add new monster content in an expansion.
Moving forward I will keep an eye on the speedrunning scene if they fix skill bugs or change the Corrupted Mantle’s behavior. A small patch might completely flip the tier list. At the end of the day I will continue to experiment with each weapon, push them to the limit and share my findings. I hope this helps you find your favorite weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds. Good luck on your hunts and remember to stay aggressive, watch your combos and refine your approach.
