Monster Hunter Outlanders Best Weapon: Tier List

Stepping into the wild landscapes of Monster Hunter Outlanders means going up against powerful monsters, from ferocious leviathans to dangerous wyverns. But before you start hunting for rare materials or breaking monster parts, there's one important decision to make: what's the best weapon in Monster Hunter Outlanders for your playstyle?

Since the Main Character can equip every weapon type without worrying about elemental penalties, choosing your main weapon comes down to several factors, including practical DPS, motion values, survivability, and overall hunting efficiency.

Based on the weapon roster currently available in the CBT, this article provides an overview of each weapon's performance and overall tier rankings

Monster Hunter Outlanders Best Weapon Tier List

Before getting into the details, here's a quick look at how the weapon roster compares based on damage output, attack uptime, and ease of use during the CBT.

Tier	Weapon Types	Meta Summary
Tier 0	Heavy Bowgun, Bow, Charge Blade	Infinite uptime, effortless DPS, or game-breaking damage potential.
Tier 1	Dual Blades, Great Sword, Long Sword	High damage ceiling, top-tier melee DPS, great super-armor or parry mechanics.
Tier 2	Hammer, Lance	Safe defense or blunt utility, but hampered by lower damage output or lack of poise.

Charge Blade has one of the highest theoretical damage ceilings, particularly when using Axe Mode against endgame bosses. However, it comes with a relatively steep learning curve and was restricted to Fated Adventurer characters in certain beta builds.

 

Tier 0

In Monster Hunter Outlanders, maintaining consistent damage is a big part of what makes a weapon effective. Ranged weapons have an advantage here, as they can attack from a distance, spend less time chasing mobile monsters, and maintain relatively consistent DPS throughout a hunt.

Heavy Bowgun – The Strongest Overall Ranged Option

For players looking for reliable damage without having to constantly reposition, the Heavy Bowgun is one of the strongest choices for the Main Character.

While its theoretical damage ceiling may not always be the highest, HBG offers excellent practical DPS with relatively little execution difficulty. Its range also makes it easier to maintain damage against monsters that frequently move around the battlefield.

Ammo versatility: Normal Ammo provides consistent damage, while Slicing Ammo is particularly useful for cutting tails. Sticky and Cluster Ammo can also create opportunities for knockdowns, giving HBG some of the utility traditionally associated with blunt weapons.

Element synergy: Elemental HBG builds offer additional flexibility, with access to element-infused Sticky, Cluster, and Spread rounds. This makes it easier for the MC to take advantage of elemental weaknesses when choosing ammunition.

Bow – A High-Skill Ranged Powerhouse

Bow shares the top tier with Heavy Bowgun, offering excellent damage potential for players who are comfortable with its mechanics and positioning requirements.

High Damage Potential: When used at the right critical distance, Bow can deal impressive damage through Power Shots and close-range Spread Shots. With accurate aiming and good stamina management, its DPS can even surpass Heavy Bowgun in certain situations.

The Catch: Bow requires more attention to positioning and stamina management. Poor stamina control can limit your ability to dodge and maintain pressure, making it somewhat more demanding to use than HBG.

 

Tier 1

If you prefer fighting monsters up close and dealing damage directly, these weapons offer some of the strongest melee performance in the CBT. Each has its own strengths, whether it's sustained damage, powerful attacks, or defensive mechanics.

Dual Blades – The Melee DPS Leader

Dual Blades are arguably the strongest melee option when it comes to sustained DPS, especially when using an elemental build.

Relentless Aggression: DB offers excellent attack speed and mobility, allowing you to stay close to monsters and continuously attack their weak points. For players who enjoy fast-paced combat, it's a particularly rewarding choice.

Element is Key: Dual Blades benefit significantly from elemental damage, making elemental builds an important part of their overall damage potential.

The Downside: Mobile monsters can make it difficult to maintain consistent damage. If a monster frequently changes position, you'll spend more time chasing it, which can reduce your overall DPS compared to ranged weapons.

Great Sword – Built for Heavy Hits and Aggressive Play

Great Sword feels particularly satisfying in Outlanders, thanks to its Tackle and super armor mechanics. These abilities allow players to take a more aggressive approach rather than constantly avoiding incoming attacks.

Reliable Poise: You can use Tackle from neutral or immediately after certain slashes to withstand incoming attacks and move directly into the next charge level. This makes it easier to maintain offensive pressure during a hunt.

Super-Armored True Charge Slash: The updated True Charge Slash animation comes with super armor, allowing you to complete the attack without being interrupted by many incoming hits. This makes landing its powerful finishing blow more reliable, especially when fighting aggressive monsters.

Long Sword – A Reliable Counter-Based Weapon

Long Sword remains a popular choice thanks to its mobility, counter mechanics, and relatively smooth combo flow.

Forgiving Foresight Slash: Foresight Slash and Spirit Blade counters provide useful defensive windows, allowing you to avoid incoming attacks while building your Spirit Gauge toward red. Once you get comfortable with the timing, these mechanics make Long Sword both effective and enjoyable to use.

Aggro Dependency: Long Sword tends to perform best in solo hunts, where the monster's attention is more consistently focused on you. In multiplayer hunts or encounters against high-level Elder Dragons, split aggro can make it harder to land counters consistently and maintain a red Spirit Gauge.

 

Tier 2

These weapons are still capable of clearing the game's content, but they generally fall behind the higher-ranked options in terms of damage output or overall hunting efficiency. Some of their mechanics can also feel less forgiving compared to other weapons.

Hammer – Strong KO Potential, but Lacks Some Defensive Options

Hammer is traditionally known for its ability to stun monsters through blunt damage. However, Sticky Ammo on Bowguns can provide similar KO utility from a safer distance, making it harder for Hammer to stand out in this area.

Limited Protection During Big Attacks: Unlike Great Sword, Hammer's jumping smash and Impact Crater attacks lack the same level of super armor. This means you can get interrupted while charging or performing these moves, which makes finding the right opening particularly important. Since Hammer also relies heavily on head attacks to build up KO damage, positioning is a key part of using it effectively.

Lance – Excellent Defense, but Lower Damage Output

Lance offers some of the most reliable defensive options in the game, including Power Guard and Counter Thrust. Its improved mobility, particularly through faster Leaping Thrusts, also makes it easier to stay close to monsters while maintaining pressure.

The Trade-off: Despite its defensive strengths, Lance generally has lower damage output compared to several other melee options. It's a solid choice for players who value consistency and survivability, although it may take longer to clear hunts compared to higher-DPS weapons.

 

Conclusion

If you're looking for the strongest all-around weapon in Monster Hunter Outlanders, the Heavy Bowgun is our top recommendation based on its consistent damage output, flexible ammunition, and excellent damage uptime. However, Bow offers a higher skill-based damage ceiling, while Dual Blades remain the strongest choice for aggressive melee players.

The best weapon depends on your preferred combat style, but these rankings should give you a solid starting point for your next hunt.