which weapon do you guys recommend for beginner?

[Raiden - In Flames 🎵]

ive already read up on some articles but i still can't decide so i'm asking here instead.
im thinking about playing either hunting horn or bow with my friends tomorow. how do they fair and whats so special about them?

[Nineball H1]

I think they start you off with one of each type of weapon, so I would honestly just suggest going to the training area and trying them all out and seeing which ones you like the most.

[mewlynx]

Pick a weapon that seems cool to use and play around with it; if you don't like it, swap to something else.

If you were wanting to play it safe, sword and shield is very beginner friendly, lance has a straight forward playstyle, and longsword isn't too hard to learn.

[Raiden - In Flames 🎵]

alrighty thanks :3

[Chrysalis]

The hunting horn is a really advanced weapon that needs a lot of experience to be used effectively.

I wouldn't start with it, try simpler weapons, like Sword and Shield, Hammer or Longsword first.
After you learned the basics of the fighting system, you can switch to your desired weapon.

The hunting horn is a really unique weapon that can be very powerfull in the hands of an experienced hunter.
Many people say that it's just a support weapon, but that's not true, it can deal a lot of damage while buffing your comrades at the same time.

The bow is in my opinion the easiest range weapon to learn, because it does good damage while still allowing you to have a lot of mobility, which for example the heavy bow gun, which hits really hard, is missing. You can also buff your hunting companions with Bow via special coatings, which makes it also a support weapon.

All weapons in the game are viable, I would advice you to try every one of them and then you can decide which one suits you best.

[Rantzas]

For beginner weapons i wouldnt recommend Light and heavybowgun since while they are fun can be harder to hunt with at lower ranks compared to other weapons. At least imo.

[Lazy Dog Daddy]

I like to put weapons into 3 category ,

The safe one : because you're allowed to guard/block (anything using a shield)

The range one : name says it all (bow , hbg , lbg )

The advanced one : cant block or guard , have somewhat harder combo (everything else)

I would advise choosing 2 weapon types at the start , having 2 playstyles on hand will make it more fun down the road , i spent most of my time using a hbg , all while always having a lbg of the same rarity to switch on the fly .

[Liro Raériyo]

id suggest trying to slay a great jagras with each weapon, might help to try each weapon practically before making a decision

[Seacat]

Originally posted by Chrysalis:

The hunting horn is a really advanced weapon that needs a lot of experience to be used effectively.

I wouldn't start with it, try simpler weapons, like Sword and Shield, Hammer or Longsword first.
After you learned the basics of the fighting system, you can switch to your desired weapon.

The hunting horn is a really unique weapon that can be very powerfull in the hands of an experienced hunter.
Many people say that it's just a support weapon, but that's not true, it can deal a lot of damage while buffing your comrades at the same time.

The bow is in my opinion the easiest range weapon to learn, because it does good damage while still allowing you to have a lot of mobility, which for example the heavy bow gun, which hits really hard, is missing. You can also buff your hunting companions with Bow via special coatings, which makes it also a support weapon.

All weapons in the game are viable, I would advice you to try every one of them and then you can decide which one suits you best.

^ this, more or less

However, I'd argue the light bowgun is the easiest (and safest) ranged weapon to learn. The most difficult thing about it is customization and ammo management, but in terms of execution it's basically point, shoot and circle strafe. The Bow requires stamina management, since both your attacks and your ability to dodge are tied to your stamina bar, and playing bow often means being closer to the monster to deal maximum damage, making you a lot more vulnerable if you're not careful with your stamina

Also, there aren't any bow coatings that buff your teammates... I think you're thinking of bowgun ammo? There's demon ammo, armor ammo and healing ammo

Originally posted by Liro Raériyo:

id suggest trying to slay a great jagras with each weapon, might help to try each weapon practically before making a decision

this is also good advice lol

[JPM岩]

Sword and Shield, it has a little bit of everything

[Chrysalis]

Originally posted by Seacat:

Also, there aren't any bow coatings that buff your teammates... I think you're thinking of bowgun ammo? There's demon ammo, armor ammo and healing ammo

Oh, it seems I got that wrong then, thanks for pointing that out.

[lexilogo]

Originally posted by Chrysalis:

The hunting horn is a really advanced weapon that needs a lot of experience to be used effectively.

I wouldn't start with it, try simpler weapons, like Sword and Shield, Hammer or Longsword first.
After you learned the basics of the fighting system, you can switch to your desired weapon.

Nah, I disagree with this. Hunting Horn's melody system does take some time to understand but it's not like Longsword where the moveset is immediately unusual and will quickly get you killed when you don't understand it.

Sword & Shield, Dual Blades, Hammer, Lance, and Great Sword are probably the weapons I would hold up as the most beginner-friendly. However, no weapon, not even Charge Blade, is too complicated for a new player to pick up and learn to use, the skillfloor especially early in the game is low enough that you can learn as you go.

[Seacat]

Originally posted by lexilogo:

Nah, I disagree with this. Hunting Horn's melody system does take some time to understand but it's not like Longsword where the moveset is immediately unusual and will quickly get you killed when you don't understand it.

Sword & Shield, Dual Blades, Hammer, Lance, and Great Sword are probably the weapons I would hold up as the most beginner-friendly. However, no weapon, not even Charge Blade, is too complicated for a new player to pick up and learn to use, the skillfloor especially early in the game is low enough that you can learn as you go.

tbh the only unusual thing about the LS is foresight slash, I went unga bunga all the way through low rank with it playing it like it was still MH3 LS because I didn't know they added a new move lol

but anyway yeah, I strongly agree with the second half, low rank is super forgiving so if you really, really like any weapon in particular the best time to start learning it is probably now

[mewlynx]

Originally posted by lexilogo:

Originally posted by Chrysalis:

The hunting horn is a really advanced weapon that needs a lot of experience to be used effectively.

I wouldn't start with it, try simpler weapons, like Sword and Shield, Hammer or Longsword first.
After you learned the basics of the fighting system, you can switch to your desired weapon.

Nah, I disagree with this. Hunting Horn's melody system does take some time to understand but it's not like Longsword where the moveset is immediately unusual and will quickly get you killed when you don't understand it.

Sword & Shield, Dual Blades, Hammer, Lance, and Great Sword are probably the weapons I would hold up as the most beginner-friendly. However, no weapon, not even Charge Blade, is too complicated for a new player to pick up and learn to use, the skillfloor especially early in the game is low enough that you can learn as you go.

LS moveset isn't weird at all, it's extremely straight forward imo, and even if you aren't optimizing your combos, it's still effective. You can play a very defensive game even without utilizing foresight slash with the fade slash. Hunting Horn isn't a complicated weapon, moveset wise, but managing songs midhunt is probably hard for a newcomer, plus the slow nature of its attacks mean prediction plays a bigger role.

[IrisMachina]

sword and shield - fast attack, low animation commitment, decent damage contrary to what most people believe, easy to learn, has a strong airborne attack. can use items and slinger with weapon in hand, adaptable to any hunt. this weapon does everything.

lance - ability to cancel attacks into guard counter, can stick to monsters like glue, very aggressive weapon, damage depends on how well you stick to the monster, easy to learn, best defensive weapon in the game.

longsword - has good damage, decent speed, has i-frames in foresight slash, easy to learn, combos flow really well, long reach, precise attacks, very stylish.

hammer - easy to learn, good damage, very good at hit and run tactics, can stun monsters by repeated damage to the head, has strong sliding attack.

these are the weapon i consider to be good for beginners while still being effective throughout the whole game. all the range options can arguably be consider safer to play but aren't really that great in damage until you are well geared at endgame. all the other weapons work just fine throughout the whole game.

[lexilogo]

Originally posted by maelynx:

LS moveset isn't weird at all, it's extremely straight forward imo, and even if you aren't optimizing your combos, it's still effective. You can play a very defensive game even without utilizing foresight slash with the fade slash.

The main reason why I say it isn't just because of Foresight Slash and so on, but also because of Long Sword's basic lack of intuitiveness. (as in, when you press one button, your hunter does a lot of stuff new players may not expect)

I have seen LOTS of people try out Long Sword as their first weapon, then drop it. Long Sword's basic opening slash causing you to step forward and it attacking in a straight line, the fact that the weapon's mobility options are also both of its more complex moves, the Spirit Gauge mechanic, it all combines to make something that I have seen a lot of people drop.

It's not like S&S or Dual Blades where a single attack is short and quick, or like Hammer where you can choose to either commit to an attack or maintain your mobility. The lack of mobility and high-commitment attacks is generally the #1 obstacle stopping people from getting into MH's combat, and Long Sword has both of those traits in spades that's only negated after you learn Fade/Foresight Slash.

I have nothing against Long Sword, it's one of my favourite playstyles, I just think too many people seemingly think that because it's the most popular weapon in the game, it's a good idea to recommend it to new players as a really good beginner's weapon.

Also, I'd say Hunting Horn is in the middle of the complexity chart. Not as complex as stuff like Charge Blade, not as easy as S&S. That's also about where I'd say Long Sword lies too.