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Monster Hunter World (MHW)

Best Builds for Bow (Base Game)

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These are the best builds for the Bow in Monster Hunter World (MHW) Base Game. Read on to learn all the best armor sets to use for the Bow and the best skills to help you progress!

List of Contents

Guardian Armor and Defender Weapon

Defender Armor

One way to get through the Base Game quickly is by utilizing the Guardian Armor set and Defender Weapon.

The armor set is given to all players from the start of the game and has good defense and survival skills. Keep this armor upgraded and you should be able to take the hits of monsters all the way to Iceborne.

The Defender Weapon can be crafted from the Smithy and can be fully upgraded with ease. It packs enough damage to get you through Base Game and hunt the early Iceborne monsters to get you started on the DLC.

Not Recommended To Use For Endgame

Note that if you want to interact with some of the Base Game endgame content, like Extreme Behemoth or Arch Tempered Kulve Taroth, it will be better to craft an Iceborne build than use the Guardian Armor set and Defender Weapon.

Beginner's Guide | How to Play MHW

Monster Hunter World Best Bow Skills

Skill Description Priority
Health Boost Increases health. High
Bow Charge Plus Increases max bow charge level by one. High
Constitution Reduces stamina depletion when performing stamina-draining moves such as evading, etc. High
Specific Element Attack Increases specific element attack power. High
Critical Element (Set Bonus) Increases elemental damage (fire, water, thunder, ice, dragon) when landing critical hits. High
Weakness Exploit Increases the affinity of attacks that exploit a monster weak spot. High
Normal Shots Increases the attack power of normal ammo and normal arrows. Medium
Spread/Power Shots Increases the attack power of spread ammo, power shot arrows, and Thousand Dragons. Medium

Look for Skills When Forging Armor

Look at the skills when forging

As you progress through the ranks, you will find yourself crafting gear to match the level of monsters you fight. As such, players building towards the endgame should keep these skills in mind when forging gear.

Best Skills for Each Weapon

Monster Hunter World Best Bow Builds

General Bow Build

▼ Bow Builds ▼
General Bow Build Thunder Bow Build Water Bow Build
Fire Bow Build Ice Bow Build Dragon Bow Build

Build

Weapon Decorations / Augments
Anja Arch III
Attack: 240 Affinity: -20% Element: Fire 390		 ---
Affinity Increase
Armor Decorations
Head Rath Soul Helm Beta Specific Element Attack Jewel 1 x2
Torso Rathalos Mail Beta Specific Element Attack Jewel 1 x1
Arms Kushala Grip Beta Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Waist Empress Coil Gamma Physique Jewel 2 x1
Legs Empress Greaves Beta Physique Jewel 2 x1
Mighty Bow Jewel 2 x1
Charm Fitness Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Health Boost Lv3 Evade Window Lv4
Specific Element Attack Lv3 Weakness Exploit Lv3
Constitution Lv5 Critical Boost Lv1
Bow Charge Plus Lv1 Critical Element (Set Bonus)
Stamina Cap Up (Set Bonus)

Thunder Bow Build

▼ Bow Builds ▼
General Bow Build Thunder Bow Build Water Bow Build
Fire Bow Build Ice Bow Build Dragon Bow Build

Build

Weapon Decorations / Augments
Taroth Arrow "Thunder"
Attack: 228 Affinity: 10% Element: Thunder 360		 Spread Jewel 3 x1
Affinity Increase
Armor Decorations
Head Rath Soul Helm Beta Bolt Jewel 1 x2
Torso Rathalos Mail Beta Bolt Jewel 1 x1
Arms Drachen Greaves Alpha Critical Jewel 2 x1
Mighty Bow Jewel 2 x1
Waist Kulve Taroth's Malic Gamma Release Jewel 3 x1
Legs Kirin Leg Guards Beta Expert Jewel 1 x2
Charm Fitness Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Critical Eye Lv4 Thunder Attack Lv3
Free Elem/Ammo Up Lv3 Constitution Lv3
Critical Boost Lv3 Weakness Exploit Lv3
Attack Boost Lv1 Spread/Power Shots Lv1
Bow Charge Plus Lv1 Critical Element (Set Bonus)

Water Bow Build

▼ Bow Builds ▼
General Bow Build Thunder Bow Build Water Bow Build
Fire Bow Build Ice Bow Build Dragon Bow Build

Build

Weapon Decorations / Augments
Kjarr Bow "Water"
Attack: 240 Affinity: 10% Element: Water 300		 ---
Affinity Increase
Armor Decorations
Head Gala Suit Top Hat Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Stream Jewel 1 x2
Torso Drachen Mail Alpha Forceshot Jewel 3 x1
Arms Drachen Greaves Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x2
Waist Xeno'jiiva Spine Gamma Spread Jewel 3 x1
Stream Jewel 1 x1
Legs Nergigante Greaves Gamma Mighty Bow Jewel 2 x1
Challenger Jewel 2 x1
Charm Fitness Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Attack Boost Lv4 Critical Eye Lv3
Water Attack Lv3 Critical Boost Lv3
Weakness Exploit Lv3 Constitution Lv3
Normal Shots Lv1 Spread/Power Shots Lv1
Bow Charge Plus Lv1 Agitator Lv1
Elemental Airborne (Set Bonus)

Fire Bow Build

▼ Bow Builds ▼
General Bow Build Thunder Bow Build Water Bow Build
Fire Bow Build Ice Bow Build Dragon Bow Build

Build

Weapon Decorations / Augments
Anja Arch III
Attack: 240 Affinity: -20% Element: Fire 390		 ---
Affinity Increase x3
Armor Decorations
Head Rath Soul Helm Beta Blaze Jewel 1 x2
Torso Rathalos Mail Beta Blaze Jewel 1 x1
Arms Drachen Greaves Alpha Mighty Bow Jewel 2 x1
Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Waist Zorah Spine Gamma Spread Jewel 3 x1
Critical Jewel 2 x1
Legs Kaiser Greaves Gamma Forceshot Jewel 3 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Charm Fitness Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Critical Eye Lv6 Fire Attack Lv3
Weakness Exploit Lv3 Constitution Lv3
Critical Boost Lv2 Bombardier Lv2
Attack Boost Lv1 Normal Shots Lv1
Spread/Power Shots Lv1 Bow Charge Plus Lv1
Critical Element (Set Bonus)

Ice Bow Build

▼ Bow Builds ▼
General Bow Build Thunder Bow Build Water Bow Build
Fire Bow Build Ice Bow Build Dragon Bow Build

Build

Weapon Decorations / Augments
Kjarr Bow "Stream"
Attack: 204 Affinity: 10% Element: Ice 330		 ---
Affinity Increase
Armor Decorations
Head Gala Suit Top Hat Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Frost Jewel 1 x2
Torso Drachen Mail Alpha Forceshot Jewel 3 x1
Arms Drachen Greaves Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x2
Waist Xeno'jiiva Spine Gamma Spread Jewel 3 x1
Frost Jewel 1 x1
Legs Nergigante Greaves Gamma Mighty Bow Jewel 2 x1
Challenger Jewel 2 x1
Charm Fitness Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Attack Boost Lv4 Critical Eye Lv3
Ice Attack Lv3 Critical Boost Lv3
Weakness Exploit Lv3 Constitution Lv3
Normal Shots Lv1 Spread/Power Shots Lv1
Bow Charge Plus Lv1 Agitator Lv1
Elemental Airborne (Set Bonus)

Dragon Bow Build

▼ Bow Builds ▼
General Bow Build Thunder Bow Build Water Bow Build
Fire Bow Build Ice Bow Build Dragon Bow Build

Build

Weapon Decorations / Augments
Kjarr Bow "Decay"
Attack: 240 Affinity: 10% Element: Dragon 240		 ---
Affinity Increase
Armor Decorations
Head Gala Suit Top Hat Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Dragon Jewel 1 x2
Torso Drachen Mail Alpha Forceshot Jewel 3 x1
Arms Drachen Greaves Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x2
Waist Xeno'jiiva Spine Gamma Spread Jewel 3 x1
Dragon Jewel 1 x1
Legs Nergigante Greaves Gamma Mighty Bow Jewel 2 x1
Challenger Jewel 2 x1
Charm Fitness Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Attack Boost Lv4 Critical Eye Lv3
Dragon Attack Lv3 Critical Boost Lv3
Weakness Exploit Lv3 Constitution Lv3
Normal Shots Lv1 Spread/Power Shots Lv1
Bow Charge Plus Lv1 Agitator Lv1
Elemental Airborne (Set Bonus)

Monster Hunter World (MHW) Related Guides

Best Builds (Base Game)

Best Builds Banner.png
Base Game End Game Builds

Best Builds Per Weapon

Weapons
Long Sword Icon.jpegLong Swords Great Sword Icon.jpegGreat Swords Sword & Shield Icon.jpegSword and Shield Dual Blades Icon.jpegDual Blades
Hammer Icon.jpegHammer Hunting Horn Icon.jpegHunting Horn Lance Icon.jpegLance Gunlance Icon.jpegGunlance
Switch Axe Icon.jpegSwitch Axe Charge Blade Icon.jpegCharge Blade Insect Glaive Icon.jpegInsect Glaive Bow Icon.jpegBow
Light Bowgun Icon.jpegLight Bowgun Heavy Bowgun Icon.jpegHeavy Bowgun

Comment

2 Anonymous Anonymous almost 3 years

I mean she is? You can hunt her in events and special assignments

1 Anonymous Anonymous about 3 years

lunastra isnt base game...

Post (2 Comments)

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