Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List & Best Endgame Builds (2026 Meta)

The meta has shifted. With the release of Title Update 4 and the arrival of the calamity dragon Arkveld, the hierarchy of power in Monster Hunter Wilds has changed fundamentally.

Whether you are a speedrunner looking to shave seconds off your record or a casual hunter tired of timing out on investigations, choosing the right weapon is half the battle.

In this guide, we break down the definitive 2026 Weapon Tier List, provide the specific armor sets for the top meta builds, and show you how to skip the 50-hour grind to craft them using XMODhub.

Quick Summary (TL;DR)

• The King: Long Sword remains S-Tier due to its unmatched counter capabilities and consistent DPS.
• The DPS Monster: Heavy Bowgun (HBG) takes the crown for fastest clear times but requires heavy resource management.
• The Shortcut: These builds require rare drops like Arkveld Hearts. Use XMODhub’s Item Spawner to get them instantly.

Table of Contents

1. Editor’s View: Why I Switched Mains
2. The 2026 Weapon Tier List (Ranked)
3. S-Tier Build: The “Immortal” Long Sword
4. S-Tier Build: The “Artillery” Heavy Bowgun
5. How to Craft These Builds Instantly (No Grinding)
6. Fashion Hunter: How to Unlock All Layered Armor
7. Optimize Your Entire Library with XMODhub
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
9. Conclusion

Editor’s View

“I Loved the Lance, But the Timer Hated Me”

Catherine Hu | Monster Hunter Veteran

“I have been a Lance main since the PS2 era. I love the shield. But in Monster Hunter Wilds, the endgame anomalies like Rey Dau move too fast and hit too hard. I found myself blocking for 20 minutes and failing quests due to lack of DPS.

Reluctantly, I switched to the S-Tier Long Sword build below. The difference was night and day. I went from 25-minute struggles to sub-10-minute speedruns. Sometimes, you have to respect the meta to survive the Forbidden Lands. And yes, I used XMODhub to spawn the materials because I wasn’t going to farm Rathalos another 40 times for a new set.”

The 2026 Weapon Tier List (Ranked)

This list is based on Solo Clear Times, Ease of Use, and Survival Capabilities in the current Title Update 4 patch.

Tier	Weapon	Why it is here
S-Tier (Godly)	Long Sword (LS)	Infinite i-frames (counters). High consistent damage. The safest aggressive weapon.
S-Tier (Godly)	Heavy Bowgun (HBG)	Highest raw DPS in the game. Shield mods make it surprisingly tanky.
S-Tier (Godly)	Bow	Incredible elemental output. Requires high stamina management but melts monsters.
A-Tier (Strong)	Great Sword (GS)	Big numbers, but harder to land hits on fast Wilds monsters.
A-Tier (Strong)	Charge Blade (CB)	Complex but rewarding. SAED spam is still viable.
A-Tier (Strong)	Dual Blades (DB)	Best for status application, but short range is risky against flying enemies.
B-Tier (Solid)	Switch Axe, Insect Glaive	Fun and flashy, but lower damage ceilings than the top tier.
C-Tier (Niche)	Hunting Horn, Lance	Excellent for multiplayer support, but lacks solo kill pressure.

S-Tier Build: The “Immortal” Long Sword

This is currently the most popular build in the game. It offers 100% Affinity (Critical Hit Chance) and infinite sharpness maintenance.

• Weapon: Arkveld Calamity (Endgame Dragon Element)
• Helm: Guardian Rathalos Beta+
• Chest: Teostra Mail Gamma+
• Arms: Arkveld Vambraces Alpha+
• Waist: Odogaron Coil X
• Legs: Ingot Greaves Z

Key Skills to Maximize:

1. Critical Eye Lv 7 (For 100% Crit)
2. Quick Sheath Lv 3 (Mandatory for Iai Spirit Slash)
3. Weakness Exploit Lv 3
4. Critical Boost Lv 3
5. Master’s Touch (Prevents sharpness loss on crits)

S-Tier Build: The “Artillery” Heavy Bowgun

If you prefer to stand back and watch the world burn, this Spread/Pierce hybrid build is for you.

• Weapon: Vor Buster “Despair” (High Raw Attack)
• Helm: Dragoneyepatch X
• Chest: Diablos Mail Z
• Key Mods: 3x Shield, 1x Recoil Down, 1x Close Range Up

Why it breaks the game:

With 3 Shield Mods and the “Guard Up” skill, you are essentially a tank that shoots shotgun shells. You block the monster’s roar and instantly reply with 500 damage.

How to Craft These Builds Instantly (No Grinding)

Here is the reality check: Crafting the “Immortal” Long Sword set requires:

• 3x Arkveld Hearts (3% Drop Rate)
• 2x Guardian Rathalos Plates (2% Drop Rate)
• 5x Lethal Wyvern Gems (1% Drop Rate)
• 1,500,000 Zenny

Legitimately farming this could take 30 to 50 hours.

The Smart Solution: 

Use XMODhub to skip the RNG and build your set immediately.

• Download XMODhub and launch Monster Hunter Wilds.

• Go to the Inventory / Item Spawner tab.
• Search for “Arkveld Heart” and add 3 to your box.

• Toggle “Infinite Zenny” to pay for the crafting costs.
• Go to the Smithy and craft your S-Tier gear.

Result: You save 50 hours of grinding and get straight to the fun part—hunting with maximum power.

Fashion Hunter: How to Unlock All Layered Armor Instantly

For many, Monster Hunter is the true endgame. But looking good usually costs real money (DLC) or hundreds of hours grinding Event Quests.

If you want to mix and match the “Passion” Layered Set with the “Guild Palace” weapons without spending $30 on the Steam store or waiting for seasonal events, XMODhub has a hidden feature:

• Unlock All Layered Armor: Instantly access every cosmetic skin in the game.
• Transmog Any Weapon: Make your meta “Arkveld” sword look like a “Nargacuga” blade.
• Event Quest Unlocker: Access time-limited collaboration armor (like the Street Fighter or Witcher sets) even after the event has ended.

Don’t pay for textures already on your hard drive. Use XMODhub to unlock your wardrobe.

Optimize Your Entire Library with XMODhub

XMODhub is not just for Monster Hunter Wilds. Our all-in-one client supports the biggest performance-heavy hits on PC: 

• Black Myth: Wukong: Struggling with difficult bosses? Use our God Mode and Infinite Mana.
• Elden Ring: Make the Lands Between less punishing with Infinite Runes and 100% Drop Rate mods.
• Dragon’s Dogma 2: Manage your inventory weight and stamina effortlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the Long Sword difficult to learn?

A: It is easy to pick up but hard to master. The core mechanic is the “Foresight Slash” (Counter). We recommend using XMODhub’s “God Mode” while practicing your timing so you don’t get punished for mistakes.

Q: Can I use these builds in multiplayer?

A: Yes. These are legitimate armor combinations achievable in the game. Using XMODhub to acquire the materials does not make the armor “illegal.”

Q: Why is my damage lower than the guide says?

A: Make sure you have upgraded your armor with Armor Spheres and augmented your weapon. Use XMODhub’s Infinite Armor Spheres cheat to max out your defense instantly.

Conclusion

Monster Hunter Wilds is at its best when you feel powerful. While the grind is part of the tradition, the drop rates in 2026 can be disrespectful to your time.

By following this Tier List, you ensure you are using the most effective tools for the job. And by using XMODhub, you ensure you actually get to use those tools before the next game comes out.

[Download XMODhub & Build Your Dream Set]