Monster Hunter World: Heavy Bowgun

MHW Heavy Bowgun

Heavy Bowguns are the hard hitting long range weapons of Monster Hunter World which excel in dealing heavy amounts of damage from a relatively safe distance and in some cases they can even block incoming attacks from monsters that get too close.

This Guide is a breakdown of the strongest Heavy Bowguns of each material tree with a detailed list of the wide selection of ammunition along with their uses and functions.

Along with the above mentioned is an in depth look into the available mods and upgrades you can use to customize your Heavy Bowgun.

Also Read Below The Other Heavy Bowgun Guides

Heavy Bowgun Trees

Defender

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


  Weapon Name: Defender Heavy Bowgun V

  • Attack: 350
  • Materials Required: Immortal Dragon Scale x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 0

Ore

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


  Weapon Name: Iron Assault III

  • Attack: 150
  • Materials Required: Earth Crystal x2, Machalite Ore x2, Iron Ore x 5
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 0
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Steel Assault III

  • Attack: 225
  • Materials Required: Carbalite Ore x8, Dragonite Ore x5, Dragonvein Crystal x2
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Weapon Name: Chrome Assault II

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Elder Dragon Blood x2, Fucium Ore x13, Carbalite Ore x20, Firecell Stone x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 2

Nergigante

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Destruction’s Fusillade

  • Attack: 285
  • Materials Required: Xeno’jiiva Horn x2, Nergigante Horn+ x5, Nergigante Talon x5, Nergigante Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Water Element

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Aqua Assault III

  • Attack: 210
  • Materials Required: Monster Bone+ x2, Jyuratodus Fang x4, Coral Crystal x3, Gaju Whisker x3
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Water Cannon III

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Elder Dragon Blood x3, Jyuratodus Fin+ x6,  Jyuratodus Fang+ x5 Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Tzitzi-Ya-Ku

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Luminous Assault II

  • Attack: 210
  • Materials Required: Legiana Tail Webbing x2, Sharp Claw x3, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Photosphore x2, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Claw x3
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Arma Destroy III

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Daora Webbing x2, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Claw+ x5, Bird Wyvern Gem x1, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Photosphore+ x3
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Legiana

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Legia Shattercryst

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Daora Claw+ x2, Legiana Claw+ x5, Legiana Hide+ x3, Legiana Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: None
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Great Jagras

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Jagras Assault III

  • Attack: 210
  • Materials Required: Monster Bone+ x3, Great Jagras Scale x5, Great Jagras Claw x3, Great Jagras Mane x3
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Jagras Cannon II

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Monster Hardbone x4, Great Jagras Claw+ x6, Jagras Hide+ x6, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Claw+ x5
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Weapon Name: Gluttonous Fangcannon

  • Attack: 270
  • Materials Required: Vaal Hazak Talon x2, Great Jagras Claw+ x8, Great  Jagras Hide+ x6, Nova Crystal x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Anjanath

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Blazing Assault II

  • Attack: 225
  • Materials Required: Rathalos Marrow x1, Anjanath Fang x4, Anjanath Nose Bone x1, Anjanath Tail x1
  • Affinity: -20%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Gnashing Flammenkanone

  • Attack: 300
  • Materials Required: Teostra Mane x2, Anjanath Fang+ x6, Anjanath Nosebone+ x2, Anjanath Gem x1
  • Affinity: -20%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Bone

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Bone Shooter III

  • Attack: 195
  • Materials Required: Monster Bone M x2, Ancient Bone x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 1
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Heavy Shooter III

  • Attack: 240
  • Materials Required: Monster Keenbone x2, Monster Bone+ x2, Quality Bone x2
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Weapon Name: Power Shooter II

  • Attack: 270
  • Materials Required: Elder Dragon Bone x4, Monster Hardbone x6, Quality Bone x20, Dragonbone Relic x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Diablos

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Diablos Shooter II

  • Attack: 270
  • Materials Required: Monster Keenbone x4, Diablos Ridge x4, Diablos Tailcase x2, Diablos Marrow x1
  • Affinity: -20%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Weapon Name: Dual Threat

  • Attack: 300
  • Materials Required: Majestic Horn x3, Diablos Carapace x6, Diablos Ridge+ x5, Blos Medulla x1
  • Affinity: -20%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Weapon Name: Griffon Blazooka

  • Attack: 330
  • Materials Required: Xeno’jiiva Tail x2, Black Spiral Horn+ x3, Black Diablos Carapace x6, Dragonbone Relic x2
  • Affinity: -20%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Pukei-Pukei

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Blooming Shooter III

  • Attack: 210
  • Materials Required: Monster Bone+ x2, Pukei-Pukei Quill x4, Pukei-Pukei Sac x2, Poison Sac x2
  • Affinity: -0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Datura Blaster III

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Vaal Hazak Wing x2, Pukei-Pukei Sac+ x4, Pukei-Pukei Wing x6, Bird Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 2

Radobaan

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Spiked Shooter II

  • Attack: 210
  • Materials Required: Monster Bone+ x3, Wyvern Bonemass x3, Radobaan Oilshell x2, Radobaan Marrow x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Baan Roar III

  • Attack: 270
  • Materials Required: Elder Dragon Bone x5, Radobaan Carapace x6, Coma Sac x4, Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 0

Dodogama

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Gama Cannon II

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Fire Dragon Scale+ x4, Dodogama Jaw x4, Dodogama Tail x3, Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Tobi-kadachi

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Pulsar Shooter III

  • Attack: 210
  • Materials Required: Monster Bone+ x2, Tobi-Kadachi Electrode x2, Tobi-Kadachi Membrane x2, Warped Bone x2
  • Affinity: 10%
  • Deviation: None
  • Mod: 2
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Kadachi Lion III

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Nergigante Talon x2, Tobi-Kadachi Electrode+ x4 Tobi-Kadachi Claw+ x6, Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 15%
  • Deviation: None
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Dragonbone

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Dragon Bone Cannon III

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Elder Dragon Bone x10, Brutal Bone x4, Dragonbone Relic x2, Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Kirin

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Quickquiver

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Xeno’Jiiva Shell x4, Kirin Azure Horn x6, Kirin Thundertail x3, Novacrystal x2
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Zorah Magdaros

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Magda Gemitus II

  • Attack: 315
  • Materials Required: Xeno’jiiva Shell x4, Zorah Magdaros Ridge x2, Zorah Magdaros Pleura x2, Firecell Stone x3
  • Affinity: -20%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Black Steel

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Blacksteel Cannon II

  • Attack: 165
  • Materials Required: Firecell Stone x1, Fucium Ore x5, Carbalite Ore x10, Wyvern Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 0

Weapon Name: Teostra’s Flames

  • Attack: 270
  • Materials Required: Xeno’jiiva Soulscale x5, Teostra Horn+ x5, Teostra Claw+ x2, Teostra Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 0

Xeno’Jiiva

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Xeno Jiiqa

  • Attack: 255
  • Materials Required: Xeno’jiiva Claw x4, Xeno’jiiva Shell x6, Xeno’jiiva Tail x2, Xeno’jiiva Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 2

Deviljho

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernheart


Weapon Name: Dark Devourer

  • Attack: 345
  • Materials Required: Elder Dragon Blood x5, Deviljho Scalp x2, Deviljho Tallfang x5, Deviljho Gem x1
  • Affinity: -25%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 0

Lunastra

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo:Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Empress Cannon “Blaze”

  • Attack: 285
  • Materials Required: Research Commission Ticket x1, Lunastra Horn x2, Teostra Horn+ x3, Bazelgeuse Gem x1
  • Affinity: 20%
  • Deviation: Average
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Lunastra/Nergigante

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Empress Cannon “Ruin”

  • Attack: 300
  • Materials Required: Research Commission Ticket x1, Lunastra Wing x3, Nergigante Horn+ x3 Nergigante Gem x1
  • Affinity: 0%
  • Deviation: High
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 1

Lunastra/Xeno’Jiiva

Heavy Bowgun Special Ammo: Wyvernsnipe


Weapon Name: Empress Cannon “Styx”

  • Attack: 285
  • Materials Required: Research Commission Ticket x1, Lunastra Tail x2, Xeno’jiiva Horn x3, Xeno’jiiva Gem x1
  • Affinity: 10%
  • Deviation: Low
  • Mod: 3
  • Slot: 2

Standard Ammo

Standard ammunition is limited to a certain cap but can be crafted in the field as long as you have the required materials.

Normal Ammo

Mid-Close range single shot ammunition.

  • Normal Shot 1 – Low Damage and is Unlimited.
  • Normal Shot 2 – Average Damage crafted with Gunpowder 2 and Normal ammo 1.
  • Normal Shot 3 – High damage crafted with Gunpowder 3 Normal ammo 1.

Spread Ammo

Short range pellet burst attack much like a shotgun blast.

  • Spread Ammo 1 – Average Damage and Recoil crafted with Needle Berry.
  • Spread Ammo 2 – Moderate Damage crafted with Spread Ammo 1 and Gunpowder 2.
  • Spread Ammo 3 – High Damage higher Pellet count crafted with Spread ammo 1 and Gunpowder 3.

Piercing Ammo

Long range projectile that penetrates monsters dealing multiple instances of damage as it passes through.

  • Pierce Ammo 1 – Moderate Damage crafted with the Latch Berry.
  • Pierce Ammo 2 – High Damage crafted with Pierce ammo 1 and Gunpowder 2.
  • Pierce Ammo 3 – High Damage more Damage Instances crafted with Pierce ammo1 and Gunpowder 3.

Sticky Ammo

Projectile damage is unaffected by range and a delay before the lodged projectile explodes and possibly stun.

  • Sticky Ammo 1 – Moderate Damage crafted with Blastnut.
  • Sticky Ammo 2 – High Damage crafted with Sticky Ammo 1 and Gunpowder 2.
  • Sticky Ammo 3 – Very High Damage crafted with Sticky Ammo 1 and Gunpowder 3.

Cluster Bomb

Fired in an arc then fragments on impact releasing bombs that deal damage and can knock other players away.

  • Cluster Bomb 1 – High Damage with 3 Bombs crafted with a Bomberry.
  • Cluster Bomb 2 – High Damage with 4 Bombs crafted with Cluster Bomb 1 and Gunpowder 2.
  • Cluster Bomb 3 – Very High Damage with 5 Bombs crafted with Cluster Bomb 1 and Gunpowder 3.

Wyvern Ammo

Fires a point blank explosive shot that deals true damage after a charge up time.

  • Wyvern Ammo – A short range Heavy Attack with a slow charge up crafted with Dragonstrike Nut.

Slicing Ammo

A slow projectile with delayed multiple slashing damage instances that can sever tails.

  • Slicing Ammo – Moderate damage with slicing effects crafted with Slashberry.

Elemental Ammo

A medium range elemental projectile with a slight piercing effect against susceptible monsters to the particular element.

  • Fire Ammo – Fire Damage crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Fire Herb.
  • Water Ammo – Water Damage crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Flowfern.
  • Thunder Ammo – Thunder Damage crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Thunder Bug.
  • Freeze Ammo – Ice Damage crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Snow Herb.
  • Dragon Ammo – Dragon Damage with High elder seal crafted with Dragonfell Berry.

Status Effect Ammunition

Each shot that hits monsters builds a stacking debuff before it actually takes effect so some statuses may need more shots than the others.

  • Poison Ammo 1 – Low Chance of poison crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Toadstool.
  • Poison Ammo 2 – High Chance of poison crafted with Poison Ammo 1 and Catalyst.
  • Paralysis Ammo 1 – Low Chance of paralysis crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Parashroom.
  • Paralysis Ammo 2 – High Chance of paralysis crafted with Paralysis Ammo 1 and Catalyst.
  • Sleep Ammo 1 – Low Chance of Sleep crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Sleep Herb.
  • Sleep Ammo 2 – High Chance of Sleep crafted With Sleep Ammo 1 and Catalyst.
  • Exhaust Ammo 1 – Low Chance of Exhaustion crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Exciteshroom.
  • Exhaust Ammo 2 – High Chance of Exhaustion crafted with Exhaust Ammo 1 and Catalyst.

Support ammunition

These projectiles only affect allies and just go through monsters to prevent unwanted help for the monsters.

  • Recover Ammo 1 – Heals for a small amount crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Potion
  • Recover Ammo 2 – Heals for a moderate amount crafted with Recover Ammo 1 and Catalyst
  • Demon Ammo 1 – Gives a Boost to targets Damage crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Demondrug.
  • Armor Ammo 1 – Gives a Boost to targets Defence crafted with Normal Ammo 1 and Armorskin

Special Ammo

There are a lot of types of Heavy Bowguns which can only use one of the 2 variations of special ammunition.

Wyvernheart

Wyvernheart is a type of ammunition that recharges over time that allows the Heavy Bowgun to fire a barrage of bullets against your target.

Wyvernheart also has a short spool up time as you fire, which increases the damage from level 1 normal ammo increasing to level 2 and capping at normal ammo 3 at full windup.

It can be fired even if it is not fully charged allowing you to unload Wyvernheart on attack openings like the monster being downed or stunned.

Wyvernsnipe

Wyvernsnipe can only be used only when fully charged to unload a powerful single shot that penetrates its intended target, dealing multiple instances of damage as it goes through them.

Wyvernsnipe after a short delay will detonate an equal amount of explosions for each instance of damage that was pierced by the projectile.

Heavy Bowgun Mods

Recoil: Reduces knockback allowing to fire a follow through shot increasing overall increasing fire rate.

Reload: Reduces reload time of ammunition reducing vulnerability times while reloading and for some ammunition to be loaded even while walking.

Deviation: Reduces bullet drift for long range ammunition increasing long range accuracy

Close Range: Improves damage short range critical distance ammo types.

Long Range: Improves damage of long range critical distance ammo types.

Shield: Only available to the heavy bowgun, it can deflect light attacks to heavy attacks taking a portion of stamina and bleeding through small amounts of damage. You would only need to stop attacking to allow the shield to deflect the incoming attack.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Able to Load most level 3 ammunition which improves damage potential and overall ammo pool.
  • Able to Load Cluster Bombs that deals pure area damage.
  • The only Type of Bowgun that can use Wyvern Ammo that deals true damage.
  • Can be modified with an exclusive shield mod to deflect attacks.
  • Pre-equipped with special Wyvernheart or Wyvernsnipe ammo.

Cons

  • Slows down movement to a walking speed when the weapon is out.
  • Sheathing speed is quite slow which opens the Hunter to attacks from monsters.
  • Most ammo have slow reload speeds and above average deviation
  • Special ammo types are locked in and cannot be interchanged with other Heavy Bowguns.

Overview

Heavy Bowguns are capable of dishing out a lot of damage when it comes to long range assaults and hunters that have mastered using such a weapon can really make an impact in the field.

These weapons are not limited with just the standard bowgun ammunition, they are also capable of loading heavy artillery ammunition like Cluster Bombs and the powerful Wyvern Ammo.

Not only is the Heavy Bowgun good for dealing damage, with their special support ammunition that can increase the Defence or Offense of your allies and a way to quickly heal allies on death’s door.

Aside from bombardment and the constant heavy fire, they can also use different status ailment ammunition that can put any monster they face at a disadvantage.

Overall the Heavy Bowgun is a very versatile and reliable piece of equipment that may have a steep learning curve to master to its full potential but very straightforward and easy to use for any novice in Monster Hunter World.

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