Bowgun low damage

[4Dummies]

Hello so I never played Bowgun so I decide to give it a try and craft the Empress Shell "Styx" but im disappointed with the damage.
1 -2 -6-8 damages for the Bowgun... what am I doing wrong?

[Malfeasance]

Most likely standing too far away. Bowguns have low "ideal" damage range. Mind's Eye deco will help by expanding the range before damage drop off.

[Suzaku]

Make sure you're aiming for weak spots, as well. A shot won't even tickle if it's hitting an armored spot. And don't forget that most bowguns only have a few worthwhile shot types. See what the gun specializes in using, and use the best version of it when possible.

[Malfeasance]

You can get a better idea of what ammo types each weapon specializes in by hitting L3 or the equivalent PC bind when you're picking your weapon out of the box or at the smithy. Styx has rapid fire on lightning and water ammo, meaning it'll fire a full damage shot and then 2 reduced damage shots for the cost of one shot.

Lightning ammo is pretty weak against everything except Kulve Taroth, even lightning-weak monsters, but it's not terrible enough to outweigh the safety offered by it vs monsters like tempered/AT Kushala.

Also, elemental ammo stacks with up to 3 decorations or elemental damage up skills, so make sure you're using them for max damage. You can also use the Rathalos/Azure Rathalos 2 piece to get critical element. I personally use Blue Rath helm and chest with Kirin 2 piece legs with might charm, or Blue Rath helm and chest with awakening charm and Nerg gamma chest and waist, depending on what decos I want. This will give you an additional shot. Might not sound like much, but it does add up time saved between more spare shot procs and fewer reloads.

Also make sure you're modding enough recoil mods to get to average recoil so you can run and gun. I don't recall how many Styx needs; it's either 2 or 3.

[SniperWolfMGS]

Bowguns, like every other weapon, benefit from having the right skills equipped. I would suggest looking at some builds. High defence armor skills will only be a detriment for you.

[Smug Kot]

Bowguns its all about elemental damage, rapid fire and some niche builds using sticky/spread and "cutting" (forgot name) ammo.

[FinallyLoading]

Also Empress Shell Styx is Specialized in Slicing ammo and Elemental Rapid ammo with some seasoning with Status ammo.

With Recoil mods to alleviate the High recoil. Bowguns will usually use affinity alot if you aren't using explosives. As LBG your best choices are Normal 2 Rapids, Stickies, Elemental & Status, or the rare Spread ammo builds.

If you want to use HBG lower recoil and slow reload is better than high recoil and normal recoil.
That rule is opposite for LBG as they have lots of mobility compared to HBG which will make no difference with moving while reloading as they are slow in movement.

Empress Styx variant for Bowguns allow more flexibility of build paths due to the important skill "Spare Shot" is innate. However if you are using anything that isn't styx the Arms, Coil, and Leggings or the Helm, Arms, and Leggings for the "Y" variant of Xeno Jiiva is sufficient enough to slot in most, if not all the skills you need.

PS. Ciri's armor set is horrendous to use for bowguns unless you are focusing on Explosive builds or Clusters as all her skill focus in on Free element, Evade skills and "Spare shot"

[!?!]

Look at the recticle, if it's 2 circles, you're in range.
If it's just 1, you're out of range and your bullets will do no damage.

[McMurphy]

whats your builld= whats your main ammo? the empress shell styx has a build in spare shot you you can build for DMG + affinity, depents on your main ammo.