When diving into *Monster Hunter Wilds* as a solo player, choosing the right weapon is crucial to ensure you can handle the challenges ahead without relying on a team. Here are our top five weapon picks that excel in solo play, each with unique strengths that allow you to tackle hunts effectively on your own.
Best Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons for Solo Play
Switch Axe
The Switch Axe demands time, planning, and patience to master, but it rewards you with exceptional versatility and power. Unlike the Charge Blade, it offers more potent combos in both its axe and sword forms. In axe form, you can unleash the wild swing, delivering continuous high-damage attacks. Switching to sword form provides access to more intricate combos, including the traditional burst attack and heavy-hitting chain attacks that can push damage into the hundreds, even with low-level versions of the weapon.
Hammer
The Hammer is not only ideal for beginners but also a top choice for solo players due to its high damage output. This weapon excels in breaking weak points and knocking monsters down, making it easier to focus your attacks on vulnerable areas and create wounds. Investing in ailment branches like sleep or paralysis can control monster behavior while still delivering substantial damage. The hammer's focused strike is particularly effective at breaking wounds, leading to faster hunts and more crafting materials.
Great Sword
The Great Sword is a powerhouse that excels in a few key areas. While it limits your mobility, it compensates with its ability to act as a shield against incoming attacks. The weapon's regular slash and overhead strike are effective, but the charged attack is where it truly shines. With three levels of charge, mastering the timing to reach the highest level can be challenging but rewarding, as even the basic and first-level charged attacks deal significant damage.
Lance
The Lance in *Monster Hunter Wilds* has evolved significantly, offering more than just defensive capabilities. It boasts the game's most powerful guard and thrust attacks, which can lead into multi-hit combos and increased mobility. A new guarding skill uses stamina to block attacks more effectively, and a ramming attack adds to its offensive potential. While the Lance's damage output may be lower compared to weapons like the Great Sword, its enhanced features make it a formidable choice for solo play.
Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun stands out in solo play due to its higher damage output and larger ammo capacity compared to the Light Bowgun. Its burst mode, despite a cooldown, delivers significant damage, making it a valuable asset. Additionally, the Heavy Bowgun's versatility allows you to equip various ammo types, including standard, piercing, and status ailment rounds. This flexibility, combined with the ability to attack from a distance, makes it an excellent choice for solo hunters.