While close-range weapons shine in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, the bow stands out as an exceptional choice for those willing to master its complexities. New players should take the time to grasp its unique mechanics due to its steep learning curve.
Recommended Videos Monster Hunter Wilds Bow Weapon Guide
Screenshot via The Escapist
Unlike other weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds, the bow demands careful management of your stamina bar. Every attack you execute depletes stamina, with light attacks consuming less and charged attacks draining a significant amount.
To execute a basic attack, simply left-click on your mouse or press the R2/RT button on your controller. For those looking to delve deeper, there are several combos to explore, such as Dragon Piercer and Thousand Dragons. Below are the controls you can utilize when wielding a bow:
| 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 | B + Y |
| 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 using the bow in Monster Hunter Wilds, it's highly recommended to spend some time in the training ground. This allows you to experiment with different combos and familiarize yourself with the controls before facing real challenges.
Related: Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List (Best Weapons to Use)
Attack Monster’s Weak Spots
A key advantage of the bow is its ability to target a monster's weak points more effectively. By utilizing Focus Fire: Hailstorm, you can fire arrows that automatically seek out these vulnerable areas. Once you've focused your aim, look for the red spots on the monster, and hold down Shift or R1/RB to lock onto these targets.
Use Coatings
Screenshot via The Escapist
Coatings are another crucial element of the bow in Monster Hunter Wilds. These special concoctions can be applied to your arrows, enhancing their effects. You don't need to craft them; your character will naturally generate coatings as you hit enemies with regular arrows. Keep an eye on the blue bar in the bottom right corner.
Your strategy should involve using regular attacks to fill the gauge. Once it's full, press R, Triangle, or Y to apply the coatings to your arrows. Each bow can utilize two types of coatings from the following list:
- Power Coating – Increases the overall damage of your arrows.
- Pierce Coating – Allows you to pierce through armor using the Dragon Piercer ability.
- Close-Range Coating – Boosts your close-range damage.
- Paralysis Coating – Gradually inflicts Paralysis.
- Exhaust Coating – Gradually inflicts Stun and Exhaustion.
- Sleep Coating – Gradually inflicts Sleep.
- Poison Coating – Gradually inflicts Poison.
- Blast Coating – Gradually inflicts Blast.
Use Tracer Arrow
The Tracer Arrow is another valuable tool when using the bow in Monster Hunter Wilds. This arrow sticks to a monster for a limited duration, causing subsequent arrows to home in on it. It's particularly effective for creating and exploiting weak points on a monster. However, be mindful that using a Tracer Arrow consumes coating points, so use it strategically.
Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
