MH Outlanders Weapon Tier List

Weapon tier list at a glance

This list ranks weapons for your Fated Adventurer, the only character who can use all eight. Other Adventurers are locked to one weapon each. You craft weapons from monster parts, so you never pull for one. Game8's list is our main ranking, because it is the newest and includes Charge Blade.

Rank	Game8	Gacha.gg	Day One Guides
SS	Heavy Bowgun	None	None
S	Long Sword, Great Sword, Charge Blade	Heavy Bowgun, Bow	Long Sword, Heavy Bowgun, Charge Blade
A	Hammer, Bow, Dual Blades	Dual Blades, Great Sword, Long Sword	Bow, Great Sword, Dual Blades
B	Lance	Lance, Hammer	Hammer, Lance

Why the lists disagree

The sources were built in different ways. Game8 updated its list on 31 October and scores damage, survivability, versatility and ease of use. Gacha.gg ranks weapons on how they played in the third closed beta, so Charge Blade is not on its list yet. It will be added once that weapon has been tested.

Day One Guides is a roundup of early launch lists, and its video warns those lists are only a day old. Its claim that both lists put Long Sword at the top does not match the two lists in this comparison, so treat that line with care. The lists do agree on the broad picture. Heavy Bowgun is near the top, and Lance is at or near the bottom.

Gacha.gg's largest difference is Bow, which it places in S because being ranged keeps it hitting while melee weapons chase the monster. Game8 places Bow in A because of positioning and stamina demands. Those points fit together, so your skill with the weapon may decide which ranking is right for you.

Game8 ratings for every weapon

Game8 gives each weapon a star rating out of five in four areas. Survivability counts defensive tools such as parries, guard points and range. Versatility covers how well a weapon works on-field or as an ally.

Weapon	Tier	Damage	Survivability	Versatility	Ease of use
Heavy Bowgun	SS	4	4	5	5
Long Sword	S	4	4	3	3
Charge Blade	S	5	4	2	2
Great Sword	S	5	3	1	4
Bow	A	2	3	4	3
Dual Blades	A	3	2	3	4
Hammer	A	4	1	2	4
Lance	B	2	4	2	2

Heavy Bowgun: best overall

Heavy Bowgun deals serious damage at range and adapts to any fight, while staying easy to learn. It was nerfed after the beta, but Game8 and Day One Guides both still rate it highly. Use Normal Ammo for steady damage and Slicing Ammo for cutting tails. Sticky Ammo, Cluster Bombs and Wyvern Ammo are useful, but Game8 says they are not as powerful as before.

Each bowgun carries its own ammo types and element, so preparation matters most. RageGamingVideos calls it a preparation weapon, because the hunt itself is simple once you pick the right gun. Bring one that matches the monster's weakness. Day One Guides also suggests it for small phone screens.

S tier: Long Sword, Great Sword and Charge Blade

Long Sword hits hard, parries and stays mobile. Its Foresight Slash has a forgiving parry window, and counters fill your Spirit Gauge. Gacha.gg notes that those counters are easier solo, because the monster stays on you. In multiplayer endgame hunts, it may chase someone else.

Great Sword offers excellent damage if you position well and time its charges. Its tackle keeps your charge through attacks, and True Charged Slash cannot be knocked out of. Gacha.gg calls it very safe for a Great Sword. Game8 gives it only one star for versatility.

Charge Blade is new at launch, and only your Fated Adventurer can use it. Axe Mode has a very high damage ceiling, and Game8 says it can take out entire bars of enemy health. It also has the steepest learning curve in the game, so RageGamingVideos warns of real upfront complexity. Day One Guides calls it great to master, but not great for your first hunt.

A tier: Bow and Dual Blades

Bow has a higher damage ceiling than Heavy Bowgun, according to Gacha.gg, but only if you hold the right distance. Game8 warns that poor stamina management can leave you unable to dodge. RageGamingVideos says it works best at close to medium range, even though it is a ranged weapon. Sidestep keeps your charge level, so the core loop is very mobile.

Dual Blades is the fastest weapon, and Gacha.gg calls it the best melee option. On paper it out-damages Heavy Bowgun, but you lose damage chasing the monster in a real hunt. It relies on combos and your Demon Gauge. Demon Mode also drains stamina while it is active.

Lower tiers: Hammer and Lance

Hammer is the only blunt weapon, which lets it break parts that others cannot. It cannot sever tails, and it largely depends on hitting the head. Its attacks are slow, and its charge resets if you are hit. Game8 calls it the only weapon that applies Stun, while Gacha.gg's beta notes say Heavy Bowgun stuns better. Which is true after the nerfs is to be confirmed.

Lance is the safest weapon, with Power Guard and counters, but it deals among the lowest damage. Game8 says it lacks supporting armor skills and has no evasive option. RageGamingVideos adds that it is easy to pick up but hard to master. Gacha.gg points players who want an evade Lance towards Ouyang Varen.

Best weapon for your playstyle

Rankings only go so far. Day One Guides says every weapon can clear the content, and that the lower tiers simply take longer. If a weapon feels good, play it.

You want	Pick	Why
The strongest easy option	Heavy Bowgun	Top of every list and simple in a hunt
A first weapon as a newcomer	Long Sword	Simple, mobile and has a forgiving parry
The highest ceiling	Charge Blade	Huge Axe Mode damage, with a hard learning curve
Big single hits	Great Sword	Hardest hits per swing
Speed	Dual Blades	Fastest weapon in the game
Safety in a tank role	Lance	Guards and counters, with low damage

What are players using?

Game8's reader poll shows what its readers are maining. Charge Blade leads with 80 votes, followed by Long Sword on 71 and Heavy Bowgun on 50. Bow has 36, Hammer 33, Dual Blades 28, Great Sword 25 and Lance 19. The poll is small, so treat it as a snapshot of interest rather than strength.

Can you change weapon later?

Yes. Your Fated Adventurer can switch at any time, as long as you craft the new weapon. Its element follows the weapon, so RageGamingVideos recommends forging new ones often. Six series weapons are not in the game yet: Sword and Shield, Hunting Horn, Gunlance, Switch Axe, Insect Glaive and Light Bowgun. Day One Guides says they are coming in later updates, and their dates are to be confirmed.