While close-range weapons are great, the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds* is an exceptional choice for those willing to master its intricacies. New players should be aware that the bow comes with a steep learning curve, making it essential to understand its mechanics thoroughly.
Recommended Videos Monster Hunter Wilds Bow Weapon Guide
Screenshot via The Escapist
Unlike other weapons in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, the bow demands careful attention to your stamina bar. Each attack you execute consumes stamina, with light attacks using less and charged attacks taking a significant toll on your stamina reserves.
To perform a simple attack, you can left-click on your mouse or press the R2/RT button on your controller. The bow also offers various combos, such as Dragon Piercer and Thousand Dragons. Here are the controls you can use while wielding a 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 | Y + B |
| 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 using the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, it's highly recommended to visit the training ground. This allows you to practice 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 greatest advantages is its ability to target a monster's weak points with precision. Utilize the Focus Fire: Hailstorm technique to shoot arrows that automatically lock onto these vulnerable areas. After focusing your sight, red spots will appear on the enemy, indicating weak points. Simply hold down Shift or R1/RB to lock onto these targets and maximize your damage output.
Use Coatings
Screenshot via The Escapist
Coatings are a crucial element of the bow in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. These special concoctions enhance your arrows without the need for crafting. Your character will generate coatings gradually as you hit enemies with regular arrows. Keep an eye on the blue bar in the bottom right corner to monitor your coating gauge.
To use coatings effectively, continue performing regular attacks until the gauge is full. Then, press R, Triangle, or Y to apply the coating to your arrows. Each bow can utilize two types of coatings from the following list:
- Power Coating – Increases the overall damage of your arrows.
- Pierce Coating – Allows you to pierce through armor using the Dragon Piercer ability.
- Close-Range Coating – Boosts your close-range damage.
- Paralysis Coating – Gradually inflicts Paralysis.
- Exhaust Coating – Gradually inflicts Stun and Exhaustion.
- Sleep Coating – Gradually inflicts Sleep.
- Poison Coating – Gradually inflicts Poison.
- Blast Coating – Gradually inflicts Blast.
Use Tracer Arrow
The Tracer Arrow is another valuable tool in your bow arsenal in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. This special arrow adheres to a monster for a limited time, causing subsequent arrows to home in on the tracer. It's particularly effective for creating weak spots on a monster. However, be mindful that using a Tracer Arrow consumes coating points, so use it strategically rather than continuously.
*Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
