It's not too far-fetched to assume that the Monster Hunter franchise is at its most popular at the moment. Not only is there an upcoming fil🅰m adaptation, but a Monster Hunter game has also become available on all three big gaming platforms for the first time in the form of Monster Hunter World (MHW). As a r𝓀esult, the number of players has also increased but not all of them are veterans.
Now, since you're here, you're probably on the other side of that spectrum, meaning a newbie. That or❀ you c♉ould be a veteran player looking to spit on our choice of for being too subjective—that's also alright; just spit respectfully. Anyway, if you're a newbie, worry not because there are weapons that can essentially act as the easy mode of the video game. Consequently, there are also those that add an extra layer of difficulty in an already challenging game. We'll be presenting each so you can decide which to avoid and which to pick.
Updated April 26th, 2021 by Sid Natividad: MHW weapon difficulty has remained more or less the same despite expansions like Iceborne shaking things up. Of course, there are weapons left we haven't included in this MHW hardest weapon and easiest weapon category. So in the spirit of inclusivity, here are all the weapons based on how easy or hard it is for casual players.
14 ꦆ Hunting Horn (Hard) ✅
The Hunting Horn is one of the best support 🐈weapons in the game that can also double as a damage dealer for others. It's also one of the most unpopular weapons in the game presumably because of how it doesn't have the same appeal as other more direct weapons. If the Longsword or Greatsworꦆd are the athletes, then the Hunting Horn is the one on the bleachers.
Not to mention the Hunting Horn is also a complicated machine or instrument. It has the dangers involved in using a Hammer (si🦩nce it deals max damage when hitting the head) but even then, that weapon is the better option for blunt damage. The build options are also more varied since there are lots of other factors involved with each Hunting Horn co⭕mpared to other weapons where only the damage is the metric.
13 🅘 Gunlance (Easy) 🦋
Gunlances are pretty simple when it comes to the core gameplay. It gives players two options: do they want to shell shock some monsters to death? Or do they wanꦓt to poke them as they do with other melee weapons? Either option is viable and easy to perform in the game. Then again, the best way to deal damage with a Gunlance is relying on the former method or the shells.
That's because shells do consistent damage no matter which monster body part gets hit. Following that style of play makes the content a bit easier. It also compensates well for the Gunlance's weight and lack of mobility. Furthermore, maximizing the shelling gameplay is easy as it only reꦉquires the Artillery skill and a Feline bombardier.
12 ☂ Light Bowgun (Ha꧅rd)
The Light Bowgun might look like a nice alternative to the Heavy Bowgun as it provides more mobility but it also suffers from the same beginner problem: the ammo economy. The whole thing is a resource hog where playersꦗ need to put as much work into ensuring their ammo supply both in and out of hunts as much as they need to prepare for the monster hunting.
That aspect of resource management is best left to players who aren't on their first playthrough for the game as it can be easy to waste resources trying things out with the ammo. That's about the hardest aspect of the Light Bowgun. When it comes to gameplay, it's usually just🌳 point-and-shoot. That is until you run out of ammo and regret not preparing beforehand.
11 💙 𒐪 Switch Axe (Easy)
Think of the Switch Axe as an easier version of the most complex weapon in the game✤ (Charged Blade). The playstyle it grants is pretty straightforward. Players only have to worry about attacking the monster. The weapon's move sets are also few and easy enough to memorize whether in sword or axe m൩ode.
Hence, most players only have to attack and attack while also being careful with monsters trying to interrupt their attack. It strikes a nice balance between Sword and Shield ♛and Charged Blade bಞut the lack of a defensive melee option might be a bit fiddly at first. Once players have overcome that, the Switch Axe becomes a cool weapon.
10 H꧂eavy Bowgu🌸n (Hard)
If you're new to the franchise, you might be surprised at the sight of firearms-- fully automatic firearms even! That's Monster Hunter for you. If you think they look out of place and are too advanced, then follow your gut and stay away from them. One of them, the Heavy Bowgun in particular, is something you probably shouldn't be to﷽uching right away.
Depending on the ammunition or playstyle you want, the Heavy Bowgun can either be a machine gun, a cannon, or a sniper rifl🦂e. What makes it tedious for new players is its reliance on many different types and tiers of ammunition. The Bowguns' ammo economy often gets in the way of pure novice fun. Not to mention the Heavy Bowgun will slay not only the monster but also your mobility and it can make the game feel slower than usual.
9 🌳 Sword And Shield (Easy)
Now we're moving on to one of the best novice weapons in the game. The Sword and Shield is pretty straightforward y🃏et also allows for basic utility for all hunters. It's simple to use and has a training wheel in the form of the shield where you have more room for mistakes compared to other weapons. Even the game itself says the Sword and Shield is a beginner weapon.
However, that doesn't diminish its efficiency when it comes to hunting bigger late monsters in the game. You can still use it for endgame and still win the most difficult🍌 fights. Often, the Sword and Shield's strength lies in its practicality. Unlike two-handed weapons, the Sword and Shield doesn't need to be sheathed whenever you want to use your other tools. That means faster-paced fights and more mobility for you which is always welcome in a game like Monster Hunter World.
8 Hammer (Hard) ꦿ
As its name implies, the Hammer is an uncomplicated and even blunt (in many 🀅ways) weapon. So why should newbies avoid it? Simply because picking the Hammer as a weapon pretty much locks you in a specific class role, one that involves getting married to the monster's head—its most dangerous body part. Since the Hammer is a blunt weapon, it's inefficient against other body parts such as the tail or the wings (though you can still attack those but for l🦹esser damage).
Instead, you'll have t🎃o confine yourself to bashing the monster's skull in order to do the most damage with the Hammer. You're essentially exposing yourself to more danger that way since you can't block with the hammer and it makes you slower. To compensate for the dangers you'll be facing, the Hammer has an increased chance of staggering or stunning the monster. Still, it's a high-risk, high-reward weapon type, one that's reserved for the toughest hunters.
7 😼 Lance (Easy)
Think of the𝕴 Lance as the Sword and Shield but less practical and more sturdy. It's suitable for players who love to turtle behind their shields and poke the monster into submission instead of relying on dodging to survive. In that regard, Lance users are the tanks of Monster Hunter World since they can survive some of the toughest attack moves.
The catch is that the lance can be ⛄quite cumbersome to use. The sheathing animation is a lot slower compared to other melee weapons since, well, it's a lance. Thankfully, you won't have to sheathe your lance too much in a fight because of t🌊he shield and the obscenely long melee range of this weapon.
6 ꦯ Insect Glaive (Hard)
The Insect Glaive may look like a nice and flashy starter weapon but don't be fooled. Many newbies have made the mistake of picking and sticking with the Insect Glaive only to come out as a subpar damage-per-second♏ (DPS) hunter who mostly just performs "helicopter" maneuvers in fights and doesn't really do any substantial damage.
That's because the strength of the Insect Glaive lies not in its aerial attacks or moves but in how you manage the Kinsect. It's the large beetle you send to different monster parts to extract its essences. Different body parts yield different essences which can provide different buffs. It's a lot of micromanagement for a melee weapon and plenty of ♚things could go wrong in your Kinsect's mini-escapades which require a lot of practice. Just pick other melee weapons if you're new and want to have fun while being competitive.
5 🐼 Bow (Easy) 🌟
The Bow, in stark contrast to the Bowguns of Monster Hunter World is♛ one of the most stress-free weapons you can use in the game. Unlike its gunpower-based counterparts, the Bow's ammunition is functionally unlimited. You can still have plenty of ammo variety with the bow, however, thanks to coatings. Plus, you'll be more mobile than other ranged hunters.
The downside is that there's no melee attack (not even a shove) for the Bow. That means you have to work on keeping your distance from the monster—easier saidꦦ than done. Regardless, you can't go wrong with the bow. It's easy to learn yet hard to master, making it perfect for both beginners and advanced players alike. Rest assured, you can take it to late game with ease if you're the one-weapon hunter type.
