What is the best Monster Hunter Wilds Heavy Bowgun build? This heavier alternative to the Light Bowgun transforms hunters into a walking turret, capable of dealing damage at all ranges. It benefits from several new changes in Wilds, including unlimited ammo types that can keep you slinging lead for longer.
The Heavy Bowgun is one of the most straightforward Monster Hunter Wilds. Here's how to master this explosive weapon with the best build.
Best Monster Hunter Wilds Heavy Bowgun build
The best build for the Heavy Bowgun is:
- Primary Weapon: Gravios Gigahowl
- Secondary Weapon: Esperanza Rifle (Light Bowgun)
- Armor: Gravios Helm A (Helm), Gravios Mail A (Chest), Gravios Vambraces A (Arms), Gravios Coil A (Waist), Gravios Greaves A (Legs)
- Decorations: Bandolier Jewel (Primary & Secondary), Precise Jewel (Primary & Secondary), Guardian Jewel (Primary), Trueshot Jewel (Secondary), Ironwall Jewel (Armor), Protection Jewel (Armor)
- Talisman: Earplugs Charm (Lv. 3)
- Mantle: Mending Mantle
- Equipment Skills: Guard Up (Lv. 3), Ballistics (Lv. 3), Critical Eye (Lv. 1), Peak Performance (Lv. 5), Tremor Resistance (Lv. 3), Recovery Speed (Lv. 3), Flinch Free (Lv. 3)
The Gravios weapon and armor set were made for those that love wielding the Heavy Bowgun, so naturally the best Heavy Bowgun is the Gravios Gigahowl, which comes with Level 3 of the Guard Up skill. As the Heavy Bowgun automatically guards and has an easy-to-use perfect block, Guard Up greatly increases your defenses against the tougher monsters in the game.
The Gravios set has Tremor Resistance and the Flinch Flee skills, which keeps you on your feet alongside the Earplugs Charm. Five levels of Peak Performance also greatly improves your damage output if you stay at maximum health, and Mending Mantle then comes in handy as it can steadily heal you over time.
You still want to take some ranged-weapon themed Jewels, however, like the Bandolier Jewel which grants bonuses for every third and fourth shot. The rest of your armor decorations should be Jewels that further raise your defenses like the Ironwall Jewel.
The Heavy Bowgun is slow, so you can still get overwhelmed by enraged monsters, and to combat this we've chosen the Esperanza Rifle as the secondary weapon. A Light Bowgun is able to position you out of harm's way as it has a bit more utility. It also has a bonus to Recover Ammo, so if you're playing with friends, it's easier to keep them alive through healing.
How to use the Monster Hunter Wilds Heavy Bowgun
Like the MH Wilds Gunlance, the Heavy Bowgun has low mobility but high defense. Featuring two firing modes, Standard and Ignition, both include a weapon gauge that limits the amount of ammo you can expend in a single burst. You can only refill these gauges by dealing damage, making the Heavy Bowgun a great option for hunters with an aggressive playstyle.
Preparation is important for any hunt, but it's an essential step for the Heavy Bowgun thanks to its dependence on ammo. Normal Ammo, Pierce Ammo, and Spread Ammo are infinite, so you can always rely on them in a pinch, but they are limited in their power. Special ammo types must be replenished, but they are more powerful and versatile. You can switch between them by hitting the up or down directional keys.
The special ammo types at your disposal depend on which Heavy Bowgun you use. The attack in standard mode is typically a lightweight, rapid-fire move. You can Charge it to trigger a Counter Ignition, and true to its name, this powerful single burst doubles as an offset attack. If you time the shot to land just before a monster makes , you can knock it off-balance. Ignition mode also includes a Focus Blast attack to exploit wounds and weak points.
The Heavy Bowgun has auto-block as standard, but Guard is also available. This allows you to perform a Perfect Guard and trigger a power clash with a monster. If you're not confident, a sidestep can help you avoid a monster's charge, but be prepared to drop your aim and roll out of harm's way. These moments offer a great opportunity to reload, particularly if a monster is locked in an animation. Expect to rely on the Monster Hunter Wilds focus mode to hit your target, but stay light on your feet against hyper-aggressive monsters.
Finally, Heavy Bowguns often have skills that enhance specific ammo types, so to switch up your armor to synergize with those skills. Changing your elemental ammo to ensure it's effective against your target is the key to maximizing your damage. You can also use Tranq Ammo to capture monsters instead, which lets you beat the timer on a long hunt.
Monster Hunter Wilds Heavy Bowgun moveset
Here are all the moves and combos for the Heavy Bowgun:
- Fire: Fire your ammo.
- Aim: A dedicated focus mode for precision aim.
- Sidestep: A small hop in a specific direction.
- Evade: A quick roll that covers more distance than a Sidestep.
- Standard Attack (Normal Ammo): A rapid-fire but average attack that varies from Bowgun to Bowgun. Switch ammo to respond to different situations.
- Ignition Attack (Special Ammo): A slow but powerful attack that varies from Bowgun to Bowgun. Time it just before the monster attacks to perform an offset version of this attack.
- Ignition Counter: An offset variation of the Ignition Attack that lets you counter monsters and knock them off-balance.
- Focus Blast: A lengthy explosive shot. Inflict upon wounds or weak points for bonus damage.
- Reload: Manually reload the Heavy Bowgun's ammo stores.
- Auto-Guard: Automatically block monster attacks if you're not mid-animation.
- Guard: Bring up your gun to manually block incoming attacks. Time it correctly to perform a Perfect Guard.
Now that you've got to grips with the Heavy Bowgun, test your newfound skills against the MH Wilds Great Sword if you're after a close-range alternative.