Haven't played HBG in a while.

[Kashra Fall]

Is Pierce 3 still king for damage (Disregarding cluster mind you) Because the hidden gambit (Nargacuga line.) is 8 piercing shots with literally no recoil and a good reload speed. I tested it out against the wagon in training and two sets of pierce 3 with power barrel+two range modifiers was 2k damage. Pretty good stuff, is there something better?

[Zplayer96]

Gotta get back to using bow again, it makes the game a cakewalk once you master it

[JebKerman]

erm... while I wasn't big into HBG prior to Iceborne but, my understanding was that pierce was pretty crap for damage in the base game, and Iceborne improved it greatly.

I'm partial to the Tobi-Kadachi Piece gun myself, though they're extremely comparable as Pierce + Wyvernsnipe options, Legiana's is still there if you want Pierce + Wyvernheart and is I think uncontested for that configuation.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by JebKerman:

erm... while I wasn't big into HBG prior to Iceborne but, my understanding was that pierce was pretty crap for damage in the base game, and Iceborne improved it greatly.

I'm partial to the Tobi-Kadachi Piece gun myself, though they're extremely comparable as Pierce + Wyvernsnipe options.

Pierce was never really bad damage, it was the main goto for damage if you angled the shot right. A proper angled shot from front to back is pretty hefty damage numbers, but now with the power barrel+ranged increase it is even heftier. If you tack on the special scope, it is 30+to weakened parts, which doesn't sound like a lot until you realize with a decent recoil, it can fire as fast as you can click. The Hidden Gambit has no deviation either, so no aim correction, it's a nasty weapon.

[JebKerman]

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

Pierce was never really bad damage, it was the main goto for damage if you angled the shot right. A proper angled shot from front to back is pretty hefty damage numbers, but now with the power barrel+ranged increase it is even heftier. If you tack on the special scope, it is 30+to weakened parts, which doesn't sound like a lot until you realize with a decent recoil, it can fire as fast as you can click. The Hidden Gambit has no deviation either, so no aim correction, it's a nasty weapon.

Yeah that was the impression I was getting when I started using it for around a month prior to Iceborne, less the damage was bad, and more it was the only ammo type that required effort to get good numbers with. Had a lot of fun with Baan Roar as a Snipe+Pierce gun.

I think the main thing Tobi's gun has going for it over Narga's is that it has access to Para ammo as well.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by JebKerman:

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

Pierce was never really bad damage, it was the main goto for damage if you angled the shot right. A proper angled shot from front to back is pretty hefty damage numbers, but now with the power barrel+ranged increase it is even heftier. If you tack on the special scope, it is 30+to weakened parts, which doesn't sound like a lot until you realize with a decent recoil, it can fire as fast as you can click. The Hidden Gambit has no deviation either, so no aim correction, it's a nasty weapon.

Yeah that was the impression I was getting when I started using it for around a month prior to Iceborne, less the damage was bad, and more it was the only ammo type that required effort to get good numbers with. Had a lot of fun with Baan Roar as a Snipe+Pierce gun.

I think the main thing Tobi's gun has going for it over Narga's is that it has access to Para ammo as well.

True, true, but the exhaust lvl 2 ammo for the narga is nice. With the xeno set I can get anywhere from 8-14 shots before having to reload, so it doesn't cost me lots of ammo, which is nice. I am still completely on the fence about the wyvernsnipe+ mod. I still think regular wyvern snipe is more damage, but directed damage isn't a bad thing either. It just isn't as satisfying as laying down with a monster's tail/head in your sight and seeing it pierce/explode so much.

[DaBa]

Unless they nerfed the ♥♥♥♥ out of Zinogre HBG, spread is still much better than pierce will ever be.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by DaBa:

Unless they nerfed the ♥♥♥♥ out of Zinogre HBG, spread is still much better than pierce will ever be.

So apparently spread is the king of DPS, pierce is the king/safest way of ranged DPS. So pierce is more of a play in group thing, but if you're solo, spread is the way to go. In a group I tear things/parts to pieces from a distance, the bigger the monster, the more the chipping. I can see spread being amazing in solo though (Never really used it.) but wouldn't a light bowgun with good spread2 be better due to mobility?

[DaBa]

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

Originally posted by DaBa:

Unless they nerfed the ♥♥♥♥ out of Zinogre HBG, spread is still much better than pierce will ever be.

So apparently spread is the king of DPS, pierce is the king/safest way of ranged DPS. So pierce is more of a play in group thing, but if you're solo, spread is the way to go. In a group I tear things/parts to pieces from a distance, the bigger the monster, the more the chipping. I can see spread being amazing in solo though (Never really used it.) but wouldn't a light bowgun with good spread2 be better due to mobility?

It all depends on how well coordinated the group is. But in general I found that If you play spread HBGs. then there's no problem with the monster moving around too much. I played some Spread HBG with groups on the console, and I didn't find it problematic. Quite the opposite, it was much easier and faster, why? If you play a pierce HBG and keep your distance, whenever monster targets you, it will run away from all the melee hunters to you, losing tons of DPS in the process. By playing spread, I can keep close and minimize Monster running all over the place, making everybody's life easier.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by DaBa:

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

So apparently spread is the king of DPS, pierce is the king/safest way of ranged DPS. So pierce is more of a play in group thing, but if you're solo, spread is the way to go. In a group I tear things/parts to pieces from a distance, the bigger the monster, the more the chipping. I can see spread being amazing in solo though (Never really used it.) but wouldn't a light bowgun with good spread2 be better due to mobility?

It all depends on how well coordinated the group is. If you play with 3 other Spread HBGs. then there's no problem with the monster moving around too much. I played some Spread HBG with groups on the console, and I didn't find it problematic. Quite the opposite, it was much easier and faster, why? If you play a pierce HBG and keep your distance, whenever monster targets you, it will run away from all the melee hunters to you, losing tons of DPS in the process. By playing spread, I can keep close and minimize Monster running all over the place, making everybody's life easier.

Hmm, fair point. I might have to look into some spread guns to compare.

[Seamus]

Last I checked, the king for HBG damage is the zinogre HBG with special scope spamming spread 3.

[DaBa]

Originally posted by Seamus:

Last I checked, the king for HBG damage is the zinogre HBG with special scope spamming spread 3.

Yeah, it is and by a pretty big margin. I personally haven't used the scope since I found it too annoying, even though it lost me a lot of damage. I also run Guard with it for ♥♥♥♥♥ and giggles, it was a true casual, autopilot weapon. You just point and keep shooting without dodging any attacks.

[cruste]

have you tested both gambit and legiana?
which one is your fav?
i love the donnerkanone and the legiana gun.

[AUSTR-ALIENS]

I've been using the Legiana HBG for probably most of my time in MHW, and I've just now unlocked the Narga tree, meaning a trek through a Jyura bowgun before I can actually make Hidden Gambit. As powerful as Wyvernsnipe is, I just find it so much more satisfying to unload a gatling gun into a monster even if it's less DPS. So I'll likely end up taking both Legiana and Narga HBGs to their final tier so I have options for pierce. And by the sounds of it I'll be getting the Zinogre HBG for spread.

I certainly enjoy how HBGs have been changed in this generation. Before, I hadn't even touched them since giving them a try in Tri. And it was only in Gen U when I took up the LBG (Narga one, obviously) and found that fun. Haven't really tried LBG in World, but I get the feeling I'd feel the loss of the HBG shield a lot since my dodge timing is garbage.

[JebKerman]

Originally posted by AUSTR-ALIENS:

I certainly enjoy how HBGs have been changed in this generation. Before, I hadn't even touched them since giving them a try in Tri. And it was only in Gen U when I took up the LBG (Narga one, obviously) and found that fun. Haven't really tried LBG in World, but I get the feeling I'd feel the loss of the HBG shield a lot since my dodge timing is garbage.

I've only dabbled in LBG but, if you opt for pierce, LBG's natural agility and the range of pierce makes for a very fun combination. Throw on 2 or 3 evade reloads, and you can dance around the monster all day. There's also Rapid Fire Sticky, which I've not tried yet but sounds hilarious.

[MoonlightChimera]

Guard Zinogre HBG has been doing me quite well. With 5 mod slots you get a lot of room. You can go for full damage with some guard or a more cozy build with high damage.