The weapon makes the warrior in Monster Hunter Wilds. Whether you’ve mained a Sword and Shield in every game since Dark Souls or you just think the Insect Glaive is pretty, there’s a style and strat for everyone. As any aspiring musician who’s picked up a guitar knows, however, it takes practice to get anywhere good. The SoS Flare makes it possible for everyone hunter to triumph, so you can make anything work as a new player. That said, some weapons have steeper learning curves and can be more challenging and frustrating to learn. Others offer accessible combos and potent abilities that make them ideal for newcomers. Here are the best starting weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Sword and Shield
Sword and Shield is as constant a companion as your Palico. A beautifully balanced mix of offense and defense, this weapon may be the safe choice, but it’s a great choice, too. Its tactical flexability makes it one of the few weapons you can bring on any hunt without worry. Slash, block, clash, kill, carve. Whether you’ve mained the sword and board since Dark Souls or you’re just a fan of tanking dragon’s fire, it’s easy to love. Directional attack inputs are more responsive in Wilds as well.
Sword and Shield is one of the best starting weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds if you prize dependability. By allowing you to seamlessly shift between offense and defense, this weapon guarantees consistent success even if you’re just getting into the series. Plus you get to look like a knight.
Long Sword
Long Sword isn’t just for Sephiroth and Akira Kurosawa stans. It’s for anyone who can appreciate ludicrous combos, fluid movement, and high DPS. Poking through armored hide with 10′ of glinting steel, Long Sword keeps you at a (somewhat) safe distance during hunts. Faster than a Hammer and with better reach than a Sword and Shield, Long Sword is more aggressive than either. It’s easy enough to cheese your way to victory with combo spam, but those that take the time to learn will go even further.
Long Sword is one of the best starting weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds if you prize killer combos. With its focus on zooming around building combo strings, Long Sword is the Crazy Taxi of Monster Hunter. Get into its killer groove, and the monsters won’t know what hit them.
Bow
The adage about bringing knives to a gunfight also applies to teeth and Bows. The ability to stand on the safety of a nearby ridge, pelting enemies with arrows? That’s an advantage not even the Gunlance matches. With the addition of homing shots that draw follow-up arrows to the original mark, living out your Legolas fantasies is easier than ever. Unleashing a ceaseless volley of arrows upon your enemies without even needing to reload? It doesn’t get much better for beginners.
Bow is one of the best starting weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds if you prize safety and precision. Between the SoS Flare and the Bow, you can complete entire hunts without ever getting your hands dirty or losing HP. Even when you’re first learning the ropes, Bow is a fabulous tool for new hunters.
Hammer
There is no plan. There is only bonk. Hammer is all about one thing: smacking monsters in the head until they’re stunned, then smaking them some more. With slow wind-ups and long cooldowns, Hammer takes some getting used to. That said, the ability to consistently stun monsters is a big deal. Whether you’re partying it up in co-op or it’s just you and your Palico pal, having a Hammer ready to whomp anything in its path is always useful. You don’t get much more beginner friendly than this.
Hammer is one of the best starting weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds if you prize the direct approach. Run up to a monster’s head. Bonk it. Repeat. Sure, you could learn about elements, resistances, and skills, but why do that when you could just bonk? (No, but you probably should learn that stuff, too…)
Dual Blades
Anywhere you see someone dual-wielding knives, stabbing stocks go up. Dual Blades are all about speed: speedy knives and speedy movement. Darting in close and hitting your prey with a flurry of slices is the bread and butter of Dual Blades play. It’s the Monster Hunter equivalent of a rushdown character. Overwhelming the enemy with quick hits is the entire point. Like other weapons, Dual Blades offer plenty of depth to those interested in learning, but they’re easy to just pick up and play as well.
Dual Blades are one of the best starting weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds if you prize speed. The combination of fast attacks and high mobility means Dual Blade users are a constant threat, even when you aren’t linked up with friends. Get comfy dodging claws and fangs, and your reward will be skyhigh DPS.
