The bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds* is an excellent choice for players looking to tackle monsters from a distance. However, it comes with a steep learning curve, making it essential for new players to grasp its mechanics thoroughly.
Monster Hunter Wilds Bow Weapon Guide
Unlike other weapons in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, using the bow demands careful attention to your stamina bar. Every attack you execute will consume stamina, with light attacks using less and charged attacks requiring more. To perform a simple attack, you can left-click on your mouse or press the R2/RT button on your controller. Additionally, mastering various combos like Dragon Piercer or Thousand Dragons can significantly enhance your gameplay. Below are the controls for using the bow:
| 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 | B + Y |
| 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 handling the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, it's highly recommended to practice in the training ground. Here, you can experiment with different combos and familiarize yourself with the controls before engaging in combat with monsters.
Related: Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Tier List (Best Weapons to Use)
Attack Monster’s Weak Spots
One of the bow's advantages is the ability to target a monster’s weak points more effectively. Utilizing Focus Fire: Hailstorm, you can shoot arrows that automatically lock onto these vulnerable areas. After focusing your sight, you'll notice red spots on the monster, indicating weak points. Simply hold down Shift or R1/RB to lock onto these targets and maximize your damage output.
Use Coatings
Coatings are a crucial element when using the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. These special concoctions can enhance your arrows' effectiveness without the need for crafting. As you hit enemies with regular arrows, your character will gradually generate coatings, indicated by the blue bar in the bottom right corner of your screen.
To use coatings effectively, continue performing regular attacks until the gauge is full. Then, press R, Triangle, or Y to apply the coatings to your arrows. Each bow can utilize two types of coatings, and here's a list of the available options:
- Power Coating – Increases the overall damage of your arrows.
- Pierce Coating – Enhances the Dragon Piercer ability, allowing arrows to pierce through armor.
- Close-Range Coating – Boosts damage when firing at close range.
- Paralysis Coating – Gradually inflicts Paralysis on the target.
- Exhaust Coating – Slowly causes Stun and Exhaustion.
- Sleep Coating – Gradually puts the monster to sleep.
- Poison Coating – Inflicts Poison over time.
- Blast Coating – Causes Blast damage over time.
Use Tracer Arrow
The Tracer Arrow is another valuable tool when using the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. This special arrow sticks to the monster for a limited time, allowing subsequent arrows to home in on the tracer. It's particularly useful for creating weak spots on the monster. However, be mindful that using the Tracer Arrow consumes coating points, so use it strategically.
Monster Hunter Wilds is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
