Should I only use Cluster or Spread ammo for the HBG late game?

[SeeDee]

I'd like to use pierce since I don't wanna get close to the monsters but if it isn't viable I'll opt for cluster. For cluster, spread, and pierce, what armor and skills should I be looking to use?

[River Victor]

Pierce 3 before Iceborne is considerably weaker than Spread 3 and Cluster. Piece is weak unless that monster has big hit zones, like AT Xeno or Bazel. Or if you can get the shot to go through the long shaft of its body, which is very unlikely to happen unless you stay dead in front and play very high risk. There are only few monsters that are big to create many hit zones like that. I only know two. But this changes in Iceborne, as the Pierce S get slower trajectory and high tick counts and severe damage boost. Like 68 per first tick, and 35-50 per the subsequent ticks.

Cluster is the most powerful, but it has limited ammo and limited crowd control ability unless you're in group and continuously stagger the target. You can only hope that the target will die before you spend all Clust S. It's a heavy hitter, but can only carry you so far. It will also fade into obscurity in Iceborne, as you can now carry like 3 unit of the ingredients for Clust 3, so don't expect it to last through even one monster.

Spread 3 is the highest damage you can do solo, and also doesn't bother your teammates that much in multi. It requires probably highest skill to use, as you have to be in melee range. You can craft and combine a ton of the ammo to last through any monster. It shreds everything universally. The only trouble it has are tall monsters whose weak spots are out of reach like Joe. Not sure about the change.

Skills for Clust, stack as high attack as possible. Might seeds, drugs, etc. Peak performance, Agitator. Clust cannot crit, so no Max Might.

Pierce skills: Pierce Up, Weakness exploit, Non Elemental Boost (if your gun has no elem), Max Might, Crit Boost, Expert

Spread skills, same as Piece, but change to Spread Up.

[Endarion]

just go with spread

cluster will be nerfed in iceborne while spread is even more OP

[River Victor]

So... to sum it up, you can play Pierce like you want, but not now. Only in Iceborne. The tick damage is so severe that it surpasses Spread and play with less risk due to Scope that allows you good sniping distance.

[Endarion]

Originally posted by River Victor:

So... to sum it up, you can play Pierce like you want, but not now. Only in Iceborne. The tick damage is so severe that it surpasses Spread and play with less risk due to Scope that allows you good sniping distance.

less risk than this lol?
this thing does more damage than half of the weapons in the game with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ tank build that gives it a lance shield + guard 5+guard up lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSUldj6WfRo&t=566s

again spread has never been more op

[River Victor]

Originally posted by OutSeal:

Originally posted by River Victor:

So... to sum it up, you can play Pierce like you want, but not now. Only in Iceborne. The tick damage is so severe that it surpasses Spread and play with less risk due to Scope that allows you good sniping distance.

less risk than this lol?
this thing does more damage than half of the weapons in the game with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ tank build that gives it a lance shield + guard 5+guard up lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSUldj6WfRo&t=566s

again spread has never been more op

LOL. So smart, aren't you? If you're going to go full tank build, it's going to have less risk than everything, of course.

[Endarion]

Originally posted by River Victor:

Originally posted by OutSeal:

less risk than this lol?
this thing does more damage than half of the weapons in the game with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ tank build that gives it a lance shield + guard 5+guard up lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSUldj6WfRo&t=566s

again spread has never been more op

LOL. So smart, aren't you? If you're going to go full tank build, it's going to have less risk than everything, of course.

you didn't even read or watch the video did you?
the point is this still has an insade dps even with a tank build

[W+M1 Pyro]

normal3 is a solid choice too. it doesnt dish out the same dps of spread but it compensate with its max range. cluster is overkill as is as always been but dont use it mindlessly when playing in group of course. pierce viability depends more on the monster body than anything, if their body is slime and their weak points narrow (eg. legiana, kushala) its just tedious to use.

as for the skills of course you would want to use the ammo up skill relative to the ammo you are going to use (normal/pierce/spread up, artillery for sticky). minds eye (if you have it) is extremely helpfull to extend the maximum range at which ammo are effective (useless with spread ammo as its max range is not affected). since you lack of mobility you would want to have a strong shield, especially if you are going to main with spread ammo, so some ironwall an a shield (if you have it, pretty rare) jew will do. also if the hbg you are using cant carry any elemental ammo put on an elementless jew for a nice attack boost. then the usual, weakness exploit, ecc.. .

[River Victor]

So will Piece builds. The point is also the OP wants to play Pierce build.

Edit: I only need to read Guard 5 and Guard Up to laugh at the obvious about it having least risk.

[Fazl]

Range wise.. cluster and sticky are superior to pierce. The main fact is there is no "critcal distance" involved with them, so you dont need to line up a shot too much.

Can you play pierce if you want to? Sure go nuts! Still works .. might not be the best but, working with the "best buildz eva" mentality kinda seems sad to me. Regardless, it is viable if you so choose! Some beasts however.. pierce tends to have issues with since they are small. Yeah.. im talking about you KIRIN.

My experience lies in the demolition side of things.. It may not be your first preference.. but I shall leave my knowledge for you to use.. or discard.

Cluster bomb and sticky are nice to pair together, since they both cant crit.. and the Magna G - 2 Has both Cluster and sticky at decent levels, and.. more importantly.. Crowd control options.. sleep , para.. poison. All the good stuff.

As for skills, Id aim for Free ammo / ele lvl 3, since it gives you an extra Cluster in the clip .. which is important since you can para the target then launch 4 clusters before you reload.

Sticky needs artillery to do more damage and is also capable of knocking out targets stunning them for easy cluster + follow up. Perhaps you may choose some stagger boosting gear as well to help support the team?

Pure attack is all you need after all that. No affinity is required since the explosives cant crit.

I run with bombadier myself on my gloves + neck .. Since I can sleep + bomb a monster at the start of the fight with the Magna.

Just make sure to carry materials to make some cluster + sticky on the fly while out on the hunt, or alternatively take a far caster to fly to camp, restock and rearm. ( Reloading is a pain.. so.. select a different bowgun then your desired one to instantly reload all ammo! If you are at a camp )

[lexilogo]

For the record, Pierce is viable which is what the OP was asking. Clusters/Spread is the DPS-optimal way to play HBG but Pierce works too.

[Jenova]

As a bowgun main; Start off with the Deviljho HBG (sticky ammo 2-3 and cluster 2-3) Comes with sleep ammo so u get a free opener every hunt.
Then sadly u need to farm Kulve taroth for the LBG Support (normal ammo 2 build)
And the Glutton (spread shot 3 build) (Empress Shell "Styx" is superr good VS Kulve)
All these sets rock the xeno 3 piece. To farm AT xeno u can actually use your Pierce 3 build. Wait for his belly to turn red and pierce should make him crash down. (bring alot of farcasters because u will need to run back to camp n restock on ammo ALOT)

[Aoyama]

....

[CiD EviL]

If you are not using cheats when playing MP then play it however you want. Cluster Kelbi for the fun of it >:)