Light Bowgun Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds. MHW Light Bowgun Guide includes how to use, balance changes, attacks, combo, focus strike, wyvernblast, techniques, moves, and more!
All Weapon Types ListTable Of Contents
Light Bowgun - How To Use
Maintain Critical Range For Effective Shooting
| Shoot While Aiming For Precision |
|---|
Hold + |
In Monster Hunter Wilds, maintaining the Critical Range while using the Light Bowgun is crucial. Shooting outside this range reduces damage, so always check the aiming indicator to ensure you're within the right distance for maximum effectiveness.
▼ How To Identify Critical Range
| Too Far / Too Close | Critical Range | Out Of Range |
|---|---|---|
  |  |  |
Target Weakpoints For Higher Damage With Ammo
Monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds have different body parts with varying toughness, and targeting weak spots increases your damage output. While some ammo types, like Explosive Ammo or Spread Ammo, deal fixed damage regardless of the target, focusing on weakpoints for specific ammo types is key to maximizing your effectiveness.
Move With Burst Step After Shooting
| How To Do Burst Step |
|---|
Hold + + |
After shooting, move in sync with the monster's actions by using Burst Step. Adjusting your position by moving forward, backward, or sideways to maintain the critical range and avoid monster attacks. This position lets you stay at the ideal distance and adapt to the fight.
Master Rapid Fire Mode In Combat
| How To Switch Rapid Fire Mode |
|---|
The Light Bowgun features a 'Rapid Fire Mode' that consumes the Rapid Fire Gauge in the lower-right corner of the screen. While this mode increases recoil, it allows for more shots with compatible ammo, enabling you to deal more damage efficiently during hunts. Use it strategically to maximize your damage output.
Use Rapid Chaser Shot During Opportunities
| How To Do (During Rapid Fire Mode) |
|---|
Hold + |
During attack opportunities, such as when a monster is down, the 'Rapid Chaser Shot' is effective. Although it has high recoil and long action gaps, the shot's damage is significant, so make sure to take advantage of openings to deal more damage.
Recover Rapid Fire Gauge With Chaser Shot
| How To Do Chaser Shot |
|---|
Hold + |
The consumed Rapid Fire Gauge can be recovered through automatic generation in normal mode or by landing shots. Additionally, the regular 'Chaser Shot' is effective at charging the Rapid Fire Gauge, so it's recommended to use it actively after each shot to keep your gauge replenished.
Use Focus Blast On Wounds
| How To Do Focus Blast |
|---|
Hold +(Hold To Charge) |
When a monster has a wound, it's important to use Focus Blast to target and destroy it. You can use up to 3 shots, and holding R1 increases the power and range of the shot. Focus Blast can be reused after a time. Check the icon on the Rapid Fire Gauge in the lower-right corner to track your status.
Wounds GuideUse Special Ammo According To The Situation
| How To Use Special Ammo |
|---|
+ |
The special ammo 'Wyvernblast' allows you to place a bomb. It's effective during monster knockdown or when the monster is vulnerable, such as after an attack. You can detonate the bomb by shooting it or by monster's attacks and movements by leading them to it..
Understand Weapon Characteristics When Firing Ammo
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Rapid Fire Compatible | Types of ammo that fire 3 shots per 1 round of ammo. |
| Ammo Capacity | Number of rounds that can be loaded into the bowgun. |
| Reload Speed | Speed when reloading. |
| Recoil | Weapon kickback when firing a shot. |
| Deviation | Trajectory of the shot when fired. |
When using the Light Bowgun, it's important to understand its weapon performance when shooting. Since accurate and efficient shots are required to hit monsters, prioritizing weapon performance skills over damage-oriented skills is often recommended. This ensures better control over your shots and improves overall effectiveness during combat.
Adjust Shooting Performance & Mobility With Parts Upgrades
In previous games, enhancing and adding Light Bowgun parts allowed players to adjust weapon performance, such as reducing recoil or assisting with reload speed. In Monster Hunter Wilds, similar equipment slots have been observed, suggesting that players may be able to modify shooting performance and mobility to suit their playstyle.
Light Bowgun - Attack Combos & Moves
Basic Controls
Rapid Fire Mode
Chaser Shot
| How To Do |
|---|
Hold + |
After firing a shot, quickly follow up with a Chaser Shot. This action causes greater damage than the regular shot, and when aiming with L2 held down, the Rapid Fire Gauge will recover more quickly.
Rapid Fire Mode (Energy Mode On/Off)
| How To Do |
|---|
The Rapid Fire Mode consumes the yellow Rapid Fire Gauge in the bottom-right corner of the screen and increases the number of shots for rapid fire compatible ammo. However, be mindful that recoil increases during this mode. The Rapid Fire Guage can recover automatically during normal mode or by hitting with shots.
Rapid Chaser Shot
| How To Do (During Rapid Fire Mode) |
|---|
Hold + |
The Rapid Chaser Shot during Rapid Fire Mode delivers high damage but comes with increased recoil. It's best to use it during attack opportunities, such as when the monster is down, to maximize its effectiveness.
Burst Step (Sidestep Reload)
| How To Do (During Rapid Fire Mode) |
|---|
Hold + + |
The Burst Step during Rapid Fire Mode allows you to shoot while stepping in any direction. If there is no ammo loaded, the action transitions into a Sidestep Reload, enabling you to quickly prepare for the next shot. This combination of mobility and offense allows for efficient handling during battle, particularly when avoiding attacks or repositioning.
Focus Blast: Eagle Strike Shot
| How To Do |
|---|
Hold + (Hold To Charge) |
Focus Blast: Eagle Strike Shot uses high-damage ammo for breaking monster wounds. It can be fired up to 3 times, with increased power and range when holding the R1 button. The ammo can be reused after some time, so always keep an eye on the icon above the Rapid Fire Gauge in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Special Bullet: Wyvernblast
| How To Do |
|---|
+ |
Special Bullet: Wyvernblast allows the Hunter to place a bomb on the ground that can be detonated either by shooting it or by monster attacks. The ammo is limited to 1 show, down from previous titles, and it can be reused after a certain time has passed. This makes it a strategic tool for setting up explosive damage during monster openings or down times.
Light Bowgun - New Attack Overview
| Moves | Inputs |
|---|---|
| ▼Chaser Shot | Hold + |
| ▼Rapid Fire Mode | |
| ▼Rapid Chaser Shot | Hold + |
| ▼Burst Step (Sidestep Reload) | Hold + + |
| ▼Focus Blast: Eagle Strike Shot | Hold + |
Chaser Shot
| How To Do |
|---|
Hold + |
After firing a shot, quickly follow up with a Chaser Shot. This action causes greater damage than the regular shot, and when aiming with L2 held down, the Rapid Fire Gauge will recover more quickly.
Rapid Fire Mode
| How To Do |
|---|
The Rapid Fire Mode consumes the yellow Rapid Fire Gauge in the bottom-right corner of the screen and increases the number of shots for rapid fire compatible ammo. However, be mindful that recoil increases during this mode. The Rapid Fire Guage can recover automatically during normal mode or by hitting with shots.
Rapid Chaser Shot
| How To Do (During Rapid Fire Mode) |
|---|
Hold + |
The Rapid Chaser Shot during Rapid Fire Mode delivers high damage but comes with increased recoil. It's best to use it during attack opportunities, such as when the monster is down, to maximize its effectiveness.
Burst Step (Sidestep Reload)
| How To Do (During Rapid Fire Mode) |
|---|
Hold + + |
The Burst Step during Rapid Fire Mode allows you to shoot while stepping in any direction. If there is no ammo loaded, the action transitions into a Sidestep Reload, enabling you to quickly prepare for the next shot. This combination of mobility and offense allows for efficient handling during battle, particularly when avoiding attacks or repositioning.
Focus Blast: Eagle Strike Shot
| How To Do |
|---|
Hold +(Hold To Charge) |
Focus Blast: Eagle Strike Shot uses high-damage ammo for breaking monster wounds. It can be fired up to 3 times, with increased power and range when holding the R1 button. The ammo can be reused after some time, so always keep an eye on the icon above the Rapid Fire Gauge in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Related Links
Weapon Recommendation Guides
Weapon Type List
Weapon Tier ListWeapon Guide
 Great Sword |  Long Sword |  Sword & Shield |  Dual Blades |
 Hammer |  Hunting Horn |  Lance |  Gunlance |
 Switch Axe |  Charged Blade |  Insect Glaive |  Bow |
| Light Bowgun | Heavy Bowgun | ||
There are 14 types of weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. They are all familiar weapon types from the series, but new actions have been added, so you can enjoy an experience you've never had before.
