Monster Hunter World(MHW) features 14 different weapon types, with theHeavy Bowgunbeing one of them. In thisGuidewe’ll take a look at exactly how to use thisWeaponto its fullest, as well as show you some things you may not know about it. If you’re new to the game or you are a veteran of the franchise and just need a quick refresher, thisGuideis for you.
Heavy Bowgun Guide
The Heavy Bowgun is the artillery of ranged weapons. It specializes in high damage rounds at a range, and while it does not have the same special effects of theLight Bowgun, the Heavy Bowgun dishes out damage more reliably, breaks parts faster, and staggers monsters more easily. In other words you sacrifice mobility and flexibility for raw damage output.
Basic Combos
Like most ranged weapons the Heavy Bowgun does not have combos, but instead focuses on dealing it’s damage through bursts fired into the monster it is facing. And, just like most ranged weapons,
is aim and
is fire. However, the Heavy Bowguncan hipfire by simply pressing
, which has less accuracy.
Players can also press
to melee either while standing or jumping to deal a decent amount of damage. This isn’t particularly useful against monsters, but you can use it to set off traps around the environment.
Just like the Light Bowgun, players can cycle through their ammo types by pressing up or down on the D-Pad and then pressing
to load them up. And
is also the button used to reload. you’re able to see a list of ammo types below:
Special Attacks and Things of Interest
Each Heavy Bowgun has a special ammo type that is unique to that Bowgunand can be loaded by pressing
. These ammo types vary from gatling fire to a single sniper round, so you may need to try a few to find the one you like.This ammo will regenerate over time when not using, and in some cases you must let it regenerate all the way before firing it again, but not all.
Heavy Bowguns can be modified in your inventory with various things that have various effects. One example is theShieldthat allows you toBlockincoming damage while firing, making you much tankier and giving you more time to unload your rounds into the monster without fear of being sent flying. Be sure to check out what’s available and find the mod that best fits your style of play. you’re able to see a list of these below:
Final Tips
The difference between the Light Bowgun and the Heavy Bowgun are that the Heavy Bowgun moves slower and takes time to reload, but has less recoil and has a larger ammo capacity. If you play the Heavy Bowgun and it’s not quite right for you, try the Light version and see if you like it better.
Heavy Bowguns have an optimal range when firing, and firing from that range is key to maximum efficiency with this weapon.You will know you are within proper range when your cross hairs glow orange when aiming at the monster with
. Different Ammo types will also affect this range, so be sure to learn what these ranges are so you can position yourself accordingly.
Keep an eye on your special ammo Gaugeon the lower right-hand side of the screen. This will replenish over time, so don’t let it sit on full very long when you could be using the powerful attack that it does. Learn your Bowgun’s special ammo and anticipate where you need to be when it’s ready to fire.
Becoming familiar with the monster you are fighting can go a long way to improve your effectiveness in combat. Monsters have specific weaknesses and weak points and aiming for those is crucial, as is using the best ammo for the job. Learn what monsters are weak to and use that knowledge against them.
Although you may not think it possible,you can actually Mount monsters via the melee attack if done mid-air. While this isn’t something you will do all that often, it can be a lot of fun and everyone should do it at least once.
Lastly, one of the downsides of this weapon is thatyou must supply your own ammo, which means that you will have to farm for crafting materials regularly to keep yourself topped up. On the plus side you can set the game to auto-craft the ammo types you want, so that when you gather the corresponding materials it makes them automatically.
Be sure to check out our otherWeapon and Monster Guidesfor all your needs and if you have specific questions be sure to check out theMonster Hunter World Wiki. Good Luck Hunters! May the furs be with you!
