While close-range weapons excel in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, the bow stands out as an exceptional choice for seasoned players. Mastering the bow requires understanding its mechanics and overcoming its steep learning curve, making it ideal for those willing to invest time in honing their skills.
Monster Hunter Wilds Bow Weapon Guide
Unlike other weapons in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, using the bow demands careful attention to your stamina bar. Each attack depletes your stamina, with light attacks consuming less and charged attacks requiring a significant amount. To execute a simple attack, press the left mouse button or the R2/RT button on your controller. The bow also offers various combos like Dragon Piercer and Thousand Dragons, which can be mastered through practice. Here are the essential controls for wielding the 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 using the bow, it's highly recommended to visit the training ground first. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the controls and practice various combos before facing real monsters.
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 with precision. By using Focus Fire: Hailstorm, you can shoot arrows that automatically lock onto these vulnerable spots. After focusing your sight, red markers will appear on the monster, signaling where to aim. Simply hold down Shift or R1/RB to lock onto these targets for maximum damage.
Use Coatings
Coatings are another crucial aspect of using the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. These special concoctions can be applied to your arrows without crafting; they are generated as you hit enemies with regular attacks. Monitor the blue coating gauge in the bottom right corner of your screen. Once full, you can press R, Triangle, or Y to apply a coating. Each bow supports up to two types of coatings, which include:
- Power Coating – Increases the overall damage of your arrows.
- Pierce Coating – Enhances the Dragon Piercer ability to pierce through armor.
- Close-Range Coating – Boosts damage at close range.
- Paralysis Coating – Gradually inflicts Paralysis on the target.
- Exhaust Coating – Gradually inflicts Stun and Exhaustion.
- Sleep Coating – Slowly induces Sleep.
- Poison Coating – Gradually inflicts Poison.
- Blast Coating – Gradually inflicts Blast damage.
Use Tracer Arrow
The Tracer Arrow is another valuable tool in your bow arsenal. When fired, it sticks to a monster for a limited time, causing subsequent arrows to home in on the tracer. This feature is particularly useful for creating and exploiting weak spots. However, using a Tracer Arrow consumes coating points, so use it strategically.
Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
