Monster Hunter Outlanders: Best Weapons Ranked (All 14 Types)

The right weapon in Monster Hunter Outlanders doesn't exist — but the right weapon for you absolutely does.

With 14 weapon types ranging from the approachable Sword & Shield to the mechanical labyrinth of the Charge Blade, Outlanders gives you more combat identity choices than almost any other action RPG. This tier list is based on solo performance, co-op utility, skill ceiling return, and endgame viability after extensive testing across all 14 types.

All 14 weapon types in Monster Hunter Outlanders ranked by performance, utility, and skill ceiling.

The Full Tier List

S-Tier Deep Dive

The Greatsword is the most satisfying weapon in Outlanders for a specific type of player: patient, positional, willing to read a monster for three seconds before committing to a True Charge Slash that deals more damage than most weapons do in a full combo. The new follow-up window after True Charge Slash is the best addition to the weapon since Iceborne — it rewards perfect positioning with a chain hit that can exceed 2,000 damage against wounded parts on Elder Dragons.

The Long Sword remains the most versatile weapon in the game. Its Spirit Gauge progression within a hunt, the i-frame counters (Foresight Slash, Iai Slash, Iai Spirit Slash), and the new Resonance mechanic in co-op make it excellent in every context. The skill ceiling is real — a beginner and an expert playing Long Sword look like different weapons — but the floor is low enough that beginners make meaningful progress quickly.

Switch Axe has the best burst damage window in Outlanders when its Zero Sum Discharge connects fully in Sword Mode. In endgame co-op against Elder Dragons, a fully optimized Switch Axe player landing a ZSD sequence can deal 15-25% of the monster's total HP in a single chain. Finding those windows requires coordination with teammates, which is why it's S-tier in co-op and A-tier in solo.

Top 3 Beginner Picks

Top 3 Endgame Picks

Why B-Tier Isn't Bad

B-tier weapons in Outlanders are not weak — they have specialized strengths that make them mandatory in certain contexts. The Hunting Horn is the best co-op support weapon, providing Attack Up L, Earplugs, and Wind Pressure Negation simultaneously in late-game builds. Any serious Elder Dragon lobby benefits from one. The Lance has the highest raw damage-per-hit of any cutting weapon when used correctly, and its counter-charge mechanic can stagger monsters out of attack chains.

The Light Bowgun deserves particular mention: its status infliction capability (Paralysis, Sleep, Poison) makes it the best support weapon for co-op teams hunting Elder Dragons. A Sleep LBG putting an Elder Dragon to sleep so the Greatsword player wakes it with a True Charge Slash is one of the most satisfying co-op sequences in Outlanders.

Multiplayer vs Solo Weapon Choice

Solo play rewards weapons with built-in survivability and consistent damage output: Long Sword, Greatsword, and Bow handle solo content excellently because they have strong i-frames, repositioning tools, or ranged safety. Co-op opens up weapons that require monster setup (Switch Axe ZSD, Charge Blade SAED) because teammates provide stagger windows and status setups. Don't feel locked into one weapon for both contexts — many veteran hunters maintain two sets.

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