DB or IG?

[Surazaku]

So I am looking for a fast paced weapon with good mobility and damage and as far as I can tell that narrows it down to these two weapons, so I have some things I need to know. First things first damage which weapon is pumps out the most damage? I want to contribute to the hunt as much as possible. Second in terms of difficulty which weapon is harder to use and master? And lastly which weapon contributes more to the hunt? As a bonus question can the kinsects be layered like the weapons or hidden all together?

[Molic One P.GR]

Go for Dual Blades. You can dart around like a shinobi instead of IG, buzzing around like a fly on the wall.

[Surazaku]

Originally posted by Big ROCK:

Go for Dual Blades. You can dart around like a shinobi instead of IG, buzzing around like a fly on the wall.

This sounds opinionated I was looking for actual information to help break this tie between the two weapons

[Molic One P.GR]

Mmm. It's subjective though. Damage wise, I would say DB, but complexity wise, I would say IG. Contribution is too subjective for me to say.
Or perhaps, try Bow. It meets all of your criterias

[Ortaign]

IG main here, DB is easier to use and master, you will probably end up pumping out more damage with DB right out the gate. To do serious damage with IG you're going to have to really know how to use the weapon properly, getting to the point where you're making a good contribution to the hunt is harder with IG than It Is with DB.

Kinsects can't be layered for whatever reason.

[mewlynx]

DB has higher damage potential but IG is easier to build for and has a bit of everything (good reach, good mobility, blunt damage from kinsect). One big thing DB has going for it is that it can 1 hit tenderize, whereas IG doesn't have that option.

[Giallombardo]

just try them both see what you like

[Surazaku]

Originally posted by Ortaign:

IG main here, DB is easier to use and master, you will probably end up pumping out more damage with DB right out the gate. To do serious damage with IG you're going to have to really know how to use the weapon properly, getting to the point where you're making a good contribution to the hunt is harder with IG than It Is with DB.

Kinsects can't be layered for whatever reason.

Ok this is my fault I should have put in more information, I have tried both weapons a bit there are things I like and hate for example I like the mobility both weapons give but I hate the fact the Dbs get animation locked more then most weapons and I hate having to maintain buffs all hunt long. That being said I also hate monsters I cant reach with dbs like Leginana and Rathalos does Glaive do a good job countering monsters like that? Also you are a IG main is this video accurate? Also as an IG main how bad is it to get and maintain the three buffs on quick monsters that dont sit around and let themselves be killed?

Also I dislike how DBs are locked in to using the kjaar weapons and nothing else and if you cant get those you are locked into the Silverlos armor to get crit element I head Glaive is more versatile






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtFS7D94vew

[Surazaku]

Originally posted by Kissaeläin:

just try them both see what you like

I have likes and dislikes with both, both have good mobility but Dbs get animation locked frequently and Glaive has to maintain 3 buffs all hunt and getting those buffs on fast monsters is super annoying I am told.

[Giallombardo]

Originally posted by Surazaku:

Originally posted by Ortaign:

IG main here, DB is easier to use and master, you will probably end up pumping out more damage with DB right out the gate. To do serious damage with IG you're going to have to really know how to use the weapon properly, getting to the point where you're making a good contribution to the hunt is harder with IG than It Is with DB.

Kinsects can't be layered for whatever reason.

Ok this is my fault I should have put in more information, I have tried both weapons a bit there are things I like and hate for example I like the mobility both weapons give but I hate the fact the Dbs get animation locked more then most weapons and I hate having to maintain buffs all hunt long. That being said I also hate monsters I cant reach with dbs like Leginana and Rathalos does Glaive do a good job countering monsters like that? Also you are a IG main is this video accurate? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtFS7D94vew

use lightbowgun then you won't have to maintain kinsect buff, it has good mobility, it bullets can raech flying monsters

and yes IG does not have problems with flying monsters

[Surazaku]

Originally posted by Kissaeläin:

Originally posted by Surazaku:

Ok this is my fault I should have put in more information, I have tried both weapons a bit there are things I like and hate for example I like the mobility both weapons give but I hate the fact the Dbs get animation locked more then most weapons and I hate having to maintain buffs all hunt long. That being said I also hate monsters I cant reach with dbs like Leginana and Rathalos does Glaive do a good job countering monsters like that? Also you are a IG main is this video accurate? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtFS7D94vew

use lightbowgun then you won't have to maintain kinsect buff, it has good mobility, it bullets can raech flying monsters

and yes IG does not have problems with flying monsters

Yeah thats a good suggestion but I dont really like ranged weapons I prefer melee combat.

[rina]

Fast paced weapon, good mobility and damage = Bow.

IG is overall better than DB, more reach, at least 2 mounts per hunt and you won't get locked into a long animation. It's harder to play with all the annoying micromanagement. DB has the potential to do way more damage tho.

[RedViper]

As an original DB main but then changed to IG when it was introduced I can tell you that they both have their pros and cons.

Originally posted by Surazaku:

First things first damage which weapon is pumps out the most damage?

DB deal the most damage, with the added benefit that with the right combo you can decrease the armor of certain body parts of the monster really easily. The IG can still do it but it's harder to weaken the armor.

However, it's easier to mount a monster using the IG and then you can make the monster trip and become vulnerable for a while, allowing your team mates to be able to do their strongest combos on the monster. Also the kinsect part of the IG have some utility in the form of being able to paralyze or sleep the monster, as well as extra damage like poison and blast (which is just a burst of damage every once in a while).

Originally posted by Surazaku:

Second in terms of difficulty which weapon is harder to use and master?

I would say that DB it's easier to learn and master, since IG are two weapons in one, the glaive itself and the kinsect. They are both upgraded independently and combined in whatever way you like. Also the IG has access to aerial attacks in a way that no other weapon can even compare (these are the attacks that make mounting easier).

Originally posted by Surazaku:

And lastly which weapon contributes more to the hunt?

That being said, every weapon contribute in their own way to any hunt. There are no good or bad weapons, just weapons that suit you.

Originally posted by Surazaku:

As a bonus question can the kinsects be layered like the weapons or hidden all together?

No, the kinsects cant be layered nor hidden.

[Surazaku]

Originally posted by RedViper:

As an original DB main but then changed to IG when it was introduced I can tell you that they both have their pros and cons.

Originally posted by Surazaku:

First things first damage which weapon is pumps out the most damage?

DB deal the most damage, with the added benefit that with the right combo you can decrease the armor of certain body parts of the monster really easily. The IG can still do it but it's harder to weaken the armor.

However, it's easier to mount a monster using the IG and then you can make the monster trip and become vulnerable for a while, allowing your team mates to be able to do their strongest combos on the monster. Also the kinsect part of the IG have some utility in the form of being able to paralyze or sleep the monster, as well as extra damage like poison and blast (which is just a burst of damage every once in a while).

Originally posted by Surazaku:

Second in terms of difficulty which weapon is harder to use and master?

I would say that DB it's easier to learn and master, since IG are two weapons in one, the glaive itself and the kinsect. They are both upgraded independently and combined in whatever way you like. Also the IG has access to aerial attacks in a way that no other weapon can even compare (these are the attacks that make mounting easier).

Originally posted by Surazaku:

And lastly which weapon contributes more to the hunt?

That being said, every weapon contribute in their own way to any hunt. There are no good or bad weapons, just weapons that suit you.

Originally posted by Surazaku:

As a bonus question can the kinsects be layered like the weapons or hidden all together?

No, the kinsects cant be layered nor hidden.

Dont you just use the insect to get buffs after that you put it on auto pilot to attack?

[Twice]

Originally posted by Surazaku:

Dont you just use the insect to get buffs after that you put it on auto pilot to attack?

Depends. There are sometimes where using a slower, more hard-hitting kinsect with elemental attack can be beneficial, mostly with the downward thrust from the air that marks the monster for a multi-hit passthrough for the Kinsect. Usually on fat, meaty targets like Bazel that are easy for the kinsect to pass through. It easily racks up an additional 200-400 damage, if not more. Think the best I've seen on a dive is 6-8x, 60-70 damage-ish.

A faster kinsect won't get as many hits in on the passthrough because it's too quick and ends the attack too soon. On the flipside, it'll get way more hits in through auto-attacks compared to the slower ones.

You can't really go wrong eitherway. The amount of time spent auto-attacking by the faster kinsects probably makes up for the burst-damage you get from the slower kinsects.

Faster kinsects are way easier to use when it comes to managing your buffs though.

[Dusklite]

I don't want to try to derail the whole DB vs IG discussion, but have you considered S&S?

I found that DB for me lacks flexibility (mostly because high damage moves keep you locked in the animation for too long) and IG can be a hassle just because of micromanaging your buffs. Don't get me wrong, I like and play both, but those are the main pain points with the weapons for me.

S&S doesn't have either, but does have very fast moves that are easily cancelled into an evade which allows for aggressive, fast play close to the monster (which you need since the range is comparable to DB). You also have a basic shield if you want (I almost never use it), high damage combos and easy access to item and slinger use without sheathing your weapon first.
You also have basic aerial moves for mounting, a fast CC after roll if you wish and a couple high damage moves and combos. And basic stunning capability on top.

I really never played S&S before Iceborne, but all the buffs and additions to the weapon class made it into one of my top 5 loved weapons.

If S&S isn't an option and it's between IG and DB, I can't really give any good advice that isn't basically just my opinion. IG might have an objectively better time against flyers than DB, but then again I've never got to very high-skill DB play so that might be incorrect.