While close-range weapons are formidable in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, the bow stands out as an exceptional choice, offering a unique and rewarding playstyle. However, mastering this weapon comes with a steep learning curve, making it essential for new players to grasp its mechanics fully.
Recommended Videos Monster Hunter Wilds Bow Weapon Guide
Screenshot via The Escapist
The bow in Monster Hunter Wilds demands meticulous attention to your stamina bar, as each attack consumes stamina. Light attacks are less demanding, but charged attacks significantly deplete your stamina, necessitating careful management.
To execute a simple attack, you can left-click on your mouse or press the R2/RT button on your controller. For those eager to explore more advanced techniques, the bow offers various combos such as Dragon Piercer or Thousand Dragons. Here are the controls for using a bow effectively:
| Combo | PC | PlayStation | Xbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Attack | Left-click | R2 | RT |
| Charged | Hold left-click | Hold R2 | Hold RT |
| Aim / Focus | Hold right-click | Hold L2 | Hold LT |
| Quick Shot | F | O | B |
| Power Shot | F + F | O + O | B + B |
| Arc Shot | Right-click + Left-click + F | L2 + R2 + O | LT + RT + B |
| Charging Sidestep | Right-click + R | L2 + X | LT + A |
| Dragon Piercer | R + F | Triangle + O | Y + B |
| Thousand Dragons | Right-click + R + F | R2 + Triangle + O | RT + Y + B |
| Select Coating | Ctrl + arrow up or down | L1 + Triangle or X | LB + Y or A |
| Apply Coating | R | Triangle | Y |
| Ready Tracer | Left-click + E | L2 + R2 + Square | LT + RT + X |
| Focus Fire: Hailstorm | Right-click + Shift | L2 + Hold R1 | LT + Hold RB |
If you're new to the bow, I highly recommend spending time in the training ground within Monster Hunter Wilds. This space allows you to experiment with combos and familiarize yourself with the controls before confronting a monster in battle.
Related: Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List (Best Weapons to Use)
Attack Monster's Weak Spots
One of the bow's greatest strengths is its ability to target a monster's weak points with precision. Utilize the Focus Fire: Hailstorm technique to launch arrows that automatically seek out these vulnerabilities. Once you've focused your sight, red spots will appear on the enemy, indicating where to aim. Simply hold down Shift or R1/RB to lock onto these targets and maximize your damage output.
Use Coatings
Screenshot via The Escapist
Coatings are a crucial feature of the bow in Monster Hunter Wilds. These special concoctions can enhance your arrows without the need for crafting; your character generates coatings automatically as you land regular hits on enemies. Keep an eye on the blue bar in the bottom right corner of your screen to monitor your coating gauge.
To utilize coatings effectively, continue with regular attacks until the gauge is full. Then, press R, Triangle, or Y to apply the coatings to your arrows. Each bow can only equip two types of coatings at a time, and here's a breakdown of the available options:
- Power Coating – Increases the overall damage of your arrows.
- Pierce Coating – Enhances the Dragon Piercer ability to penetrate through armor.
- Close-Range Coating – Boosts your damage at close range.
- Paralysis Coating – Gradually inflicts Paralysis.
- Exhaust Coating – Slowly inflicts Stun and Exhaustion.
- Sleep Coating – Gradually inflicts Sleep.
- Poison Coating – Slowly inflicts Poison.
- Blast Coating – Gradually inflicts Blast.
Use Tracer Arrow
The Tracer Arrow is another invaluable tool in your arsenal when using the bow in Monster Hunter Wilds. This special arrow adheres to a monster for a short duration, causing subsequent arrows to home in on the tracer. This technique is particularly effective for targeting and creating weak spots on a monster. Be mindful, however, as using a Tracer Arrow consumes some of your coating points, so use it strategically rather than excessively.
Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
