MHW: ICEBORNE
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Heavy Bowgun - Best Loadout Build & Skill Guide

MHW: ICEBORNE | Heavy Bowgun - Best Loadout Build & Skill Guide

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MHW: ICEBORNE | Heavy Bowgun - Best Loadout Build & Skill Guide - GameWith
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Read this Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Heavy Bowgun guide on the best loadout and armor build for this weapon. Includes recommended equipment, decorations, skills, & more!!!

Safijiiva Weapon Builds

Top Recommended Builds

Recommended Skills

Related Heavy Bowgun Articles

Check Out All Weapon Types Here!

Heavy Bowgun Safi Crested Build

Safi'Jiiva Blast HBG & Crested Armor Build

Safi
WeaponAugment
Decorations
Safi's Burstcannon
Close Range Up x 4
Shield x 1
Attack Increase 2
Defense Increase 1
Ironwall/Release Jewel 4
ArmorDecorations
Safi Crested Crown β + Ironwall/Release Jewel 4
Ironwall Jewel 1
Ironwall Jewel 1
Safi Crested Chest β +Ironwall/Release Jewel 4
Tenderizer Jewel 2
Safi Crested Vambraces β +Furor/Vitality Jewel 4
Tenderizer Jewel 2
Tenderizer Jewel 2
Safi Crested Belt β +Spread Jewel 3
Vitality Jewel 1
Safi Crested Boots β +Spread Jewel 3
Shield Jewel 2
Vitality Jewel 1
Fury Charm 4 -
Skills
Guard Lvl 5Resentment Lvl 5
Evade Window Lvl 3Weakness Exploit Lvl 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up Lvl 3Health Boost Lvl 3
Critical Boost Lvl 3Spread/Power Shots Lvl 2
Blight Resistance Lvl 2Guard Up Lvl 1
Dragonvein Awakening (Set Bonus)True Dragonvein Awakening (Set Bonus)

Recommended Weapon Skill Awakening

Skill No. Of Frames
Attack Increase V 3
Recoil Suppressor 1
Spread Capacity III 1

Points of Recommendations

  • True Dragonvein Awakening is good combo with Resentment
  • Damage will be continuous as you keep attacking with Resentment

Spread Heavy Bowgun Build

Safi'jiiva Burstcannon Spread Ammo Build

This set is inspired by the armor build originally shared by Team Darkside on Youtube.

HBG Spread Build Details

WeaponAugment
Decorations
Safi's Burstcannon
Close Range Up x 2
Shield x 3
Attack Increase 1
Affinity Increase 1
Defense Increase 1
Tenderizer/Protection Jewel 4
Spread Jewel 3
ArmorDecorations
Nargacuga Helm β + Tenderizer/Protection Jewel 4
Fortitude Jewel 1
Kirin Jacket α +Spread Jewel 3
Tenderizer Jewel 2
Nargacuga Braces β +Release/Vitality Jewel 4
Odogaron Coil β +Release/Vitality Jewel 4
Critical Jewel 2
Garuga Greaves β +Release/Vitality Jewel 4
Critical Jewel 2
Critical Jewel 2
Rocksteady Mantle+Attack Jewel 1
Attack Jewel 1
Impact Mantle+KO Jewel 2
KO Jewel 2
Ironside Charm 4 -
Skills
Critical Eye Lvl 7Guard Lvl 5
Health Boost Lvl 3Free Elem/Ammo Up Lvl 3
Critical Boost Lvl 3Weakness Exploit Lvl 3
Divine Blessing Lvl 3Spread/Power Shots Lvl 2
Stamina Surge Lvl 2Piercing Shots Lvl 1
Peak Performance Lvl 1Fortify Lvl 1
Peak Performance Lvl 1Fortify Lvl 1
True Razor Sharp/Spare Shot (Set Bonus)-

Recommended Weapon Skill Awakening

Skill No. Of Frames
Nargacuga Essence 1
Spread Capacity III 1
Recoil Suppressor 1
Attack Increase V 1
Slot Upgrade III 1

Points of Recommendations

  • Nargacuga set bonus allows chance not to spend ammo for more shots
  • Ammo skills increase damage dealt
  • Has Guard & Divine Blessing for defense

Iceborne: Heavy Bowgun Starting Builds

Recommended Iceborne Heavy Bowgun Starting Builds

When starting Iceborne, your fully skill-optimized loadout will be easier to use & more effective. There's no need to buy new gear for Iceborne if your build is solid.

Recommended Armor for Early Master Rank Guide Here!

Taroth Assualt Support Build For Heavy Bowgun

Weapon
Weapon Mod/s
Augmentation
Taroth Assault Support
Recoil Suppressor x 1
Close Range Up x 2
Affinity Increase
ArmorDecorations
Xeno'jiiva Headgear γElementaless Jewel 2
Attack Jewel 1
Attack Jewel 1
Drachen Mail αSpread Jewel 3
Drachen Vambraces αMighty Jewel 2
Mighty Jewel 2
Xeno'jiiva Spine γRelease Jewel 3
Attack Jewel 1
Xeno'jiiva Spurs γTrueshot Jewel 2
Expert Jewel 2
Expert Jewel 1
Awakening Charm III-
Skills
Critical Eye Lvl 6Attack Boost Lvl 4
Free Elem/Ammo Up Lvl 3Critical Eye Lvl 3
Maximum Might Lvl 3Blight Resistance Lvl 2
Spread/Power ShotsPower Prolonger Lvl 1
Non-elemental BoostRazor Sharp/Spare Shot
Elemental Airborne-

High Loading Capacity

This weapon can be loaded with 6 ammos. Due to its already high magazine size, you need not add a Capacity Up skill. Instead, an Attack Boost was added to increase the damage from the Heavy Bowgun's shots!

Pierce Build For Heavy Bowgun

High Penetration Build For Heavy Bowgun
Weapon
Weapon Mod/s
Augmentation
Decoration
Taroth Assault Blast
Recoil Suppressor x 1
Long Range Up x 2
Affinity Increase
Release Jewel 3
ArmorDecorations
Kaiser Crown γCritical Jewel 2
Critical Jewel 2
Kirin Jacket γExpert Jewel 1
Expert Jewel 1
Drachen Vambraces αTenderizer Jewel 2
Tenderizer Jewel 2
Kulve Taroth's Malice γPierce Jewel 3
Nergigante Greaves γMinds' Eye Jewel 2
Challenger Jewel 2
Attack Charm-
Skills
Attack Boost Lvl 7Critical Eye Lvl 6
Free Elem/Ammo Up Lvl 3Critical Eye Lvl 3
Weakness Exploit Lvl 3Piercing Shots
Mind's Eye/BallisticsAgitator Lvl 1

Penetration Focused Build

This build doubles down on the weapon's Penetration capabilities. Your Level 3 ammo can be loaded up to 10 times when Ammo Up is activated. You will also increase the damage you deal when hitting weak spots thanks to Weakness Exploit.

Spread Build For Heavy Bowgun

Spread Build For Heavy Bowgun
Weapon
Weapon Mod/s
Augmentation
Dark Devourer
Recoil Suppressor x 3
Attack Increase
ArmorDecorations
Xeno'jiiva Headgear γFlawless Jewel 2
Attack Jewel 1
Attack Jewel 1
Kirin Jacket γAttack Jewel 1
Vitality Jewel 1
Xeno'jiiva Claws γFlawless Jewel 2
Flawless Jewel 2
Vitality Jewel 1
Xeno'jiiva Spine γRelease Jewel 3
Attack Jewel 1
Nergigante Greaves γChallenger Jewel 2
Vitality Jewel 1
Challenger Charm II-
Skills
Attack Boost Lvl 7Agitator Lvl 3
Health Boost Lvl 3Blight Resistance Lvl 2
Power Prolonger Lvl 2Critical Eye Lvl 1
Special Ammo Boost Lvl 1Razor Sharp/Spare Shot

Spread Type Ammo Focus

This build focuses on the capabilities of the weapon's spread type ammo. Since the power of the spread ammos is dependent on your attack power, several skills that increase this stat such as Attack Boost have been added!

Best Used When Standing Ground

Since you will need to be close to the monster to be as effective as you can, you can use this build in conjunction with items such as Health Boosters to sustain yourself & tank a lot of damage!

No Need For Affinity Skills

Since your damage is not affected by affinity, there is no need to equip affinity raising skills.

Dark Devourer Piercing Build For Heavy Bowgun

Dark Devourer Piercing Build For Heavy Bowgun
Weapon
Weapon Mod/s
Augmentation
Dark Devourer
Recoil Suppressor x 2
Shield
Health Regen
Health Regen
ArmorDecorations
Xeno'jiiva Headgear γEvasion Jewel 2
Artillery Jewel 1
Artillery Jewel 1
Kirin Jacket γArtillery Jewel 1
Maintenance Jewel 1
Xeno'jiiva Claws γFlawless Jewel 2
Flawless Jewel 2
Vitality Jewel 1
Empress Coil γRelease Jewel 3
Nergigante Greaves γFlawless Jewel 2
Maintenance Jewel 1
Maintenance Jewel 1
KO Charm III-
Skills
Artillery Lvl 3Health Boost Lvl 3
Free Elem/Ammo Up Lvl 3Slugger Lvl 3
Peak Performance Lvl 3Evade Window Lvl 3
Tool Specialist Lvl 3Blight Resistance Lvl 2
Power Prolonger Lvl 2Critical Eye Lvl 1
Special Ammo BoostRazor Sharp/Spare Shot

Increase Your Clip Size

Since the weapon's magazine size is not that big, it is necessary for you to increase the magazine size of your weapon with the Free Elem / Ammo Up skill.

Take Advantage of Multiple Skills

Use your piercing rounds in conjunction with skills such as Artillery, Free Elem / Ammo Up, & Slugger to increase your DPS & even stun the monster!

Also Gives Sustain

This build will also provide some sustain as the shield on this weapon is not that big. The Tool Specialist, Evade Window and Health Boost skills are added to keep you up for longer during the fight!

Best Skills For Heavy Bowgun

Recommended Skills For Attacking

Skill Recommendation / Overview
Normal Shots
★★★

Required when using normal ammos
Spread / Power Shots
★★★

Required when using spread type ammos
Piercing Shots
★★★

Required when using piercing type ammos
Maximum Might
★★★

Increases affinity when stamina is full
Weakness Exploit
★★★

Increased affinity when hitting monster's weak spots
Critical Eye
★★★

Increases your affinity rate
Attack Boost
★★★

Increases your damage output
Critical Boost
★★★

Increases your damage dealt via critical attacks
Peak Performance
★★・

Grants an increase to damage when HP is full
Agitator
★★・

Increased damage when monster is enraged
Fortify
★★・

Increases attack and defense when you faint
Special Ammo Boost
★・・

Increases Bowgun's special ammo and Dragon Piercer power
Non-elemental Boost
★・・

Increases damage of non-elemental attacks

Recommended Supporting Skills

Skill Recommendation / Overview
Free Elem/Ammo Up
★★★

Draws out a percentage of hidden element, and increases clip size of certain ammo
Razor Sharp/Spare Shot
★★★

Halves sharpness loss, and has a chance not to expend coating or ammo
Mind's Eye/Ballistics
★★・

Prevents attacks from being deflected and shortens distance for ammos to reach max power
Evade Extender
★★・

Extends evasion distance
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Article Written by
MHW: ICEBORNE Strategy Team

MHW: ICEBORNE Strategy Team

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Anonymous 3

spread does benefit from affinity tho

Anonymous 2

For those wondering why the 2 set Nargacuga set has the set bonus, it is likely because the Safi HBG has Nargacuga essence on it.

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