The Ranged weapons in Monster Hunter: Rise are incredibly versatile. Switching between shot types on the fly means it's possible to deal multiple types of damage, normal and elemental. It takes time to get used to micromanaging ammo, but with practice, the weapons can tackle nearly any situation.
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The Light Blowgun (LBG for short) is the smallest of the three ranged weapons. In online play, it's generally considered a support weapon that exists mostly to heal and afflict statuses. But, like every weapon, there are countless ways to build it. With the right loadout, the Light Blowgun can even conquer late-game solo hunts with ease.
8 Light Bowgun Basics
The Light Bowgun's biggest asset is its rate of fire. Its damage is the lowest of the three ranged weapons, so users should look more towards status-afflicting builds rather than DPS. Although it doesn't have a guard, evading attacks is easier thanks to its high mobility. It doesn't slow the player down when it's unsheathed.
The Light Bowgun has a special shot type - Wyvernblast. It acts as a landmine, detonating whenever a monster steps on it. Wyvernblast is quite powerful, but it has a long cooldown. Use it when there's a huge opening to make sure it's placed right. For instance, shoot one right in front of a limping monster.
7 Skills For Light Bowgun Users
When starting out with the Light Bowgun, look for armor with Normal/Rapid Up. This is a simple DPS increase to all normal Ammo shots. Later on, hunters may want to focus on other Ammo types like Pierce or Spread. These have their own skills, Pierce Up and Spread up respectively.
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Perhaps the most important skill is Ammo Up. With such a high rate of fire, the LBG chews through Ammo pretty fast. Increasing the magazine capacity means more time to do damage. Spare Shot is also useful, but it's luck-based, so it shouldn't be used as a substitute for Ammo Up.
6 The Best Switch Skills
The first Switch Skill unlocked for the LBG is Fanning Maneuver. It lets the player dodge quickly to the side, which is great for flanking, and it gives a short boost to attack. However, the original skill, Fanning Vault, comes out on top. That's because Vault allows the hunter to shoot Wyvernblast during the move.
The third and final Switch Skill is Elemental Reload. It makes reloading slower, but it increases the elemental damage of shots. Sounds decent, but don't fall for it. Elemental Ammo is not strong enough to build a whole loadout around. Stick with the original Reload.
5 Best Low-Rank Armor
Wroggi Vambraces
- Monster Bone M x1
- Malachite Ore x1
- Great Wroggi Brace x3
- Poison Sac x1
Tetranadon Mail
- Tetra Carapace x2
- Jumbo Bone x1
- Tetranadon Hide x1
- Icium x2
Wroggi Vambraces are the only way for low-rank players to access Ammo Up, so they're essential for the early stages of the game. The entire Tetranadon set is built around Ranged weapons, but the Mail is most crucial since it gives Normal/Rapid Up. The Tetranadon Braces give Special Ammo Boost, which is useful, but equipping them means skipping the Wroggi Vambraces.
4 Best High-Rank Armor
Pukei-Pukei Helm S
- Carbalite Ore x2
- Bird Wyvern Gem x1
- Pukei-Pukei Carapace x4
- Pukei-Pukei Sac+ x2
Shell-Studded Vest S
- Dreamshell x1
- Pearl Hide x2
- Novacrystal x1
- Somnacanth Scale+ x3
High-rank Pukei armor is one of the best places to get Spare Shot. The other skills are great, too, like Special Ammo Boost and Aim Booster. The whole set synergizes well with Poison ammo as well. Focusing on status effects is a completely valid way to build the LBG.
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The entire Shell-Studded S set is great for Ranged users. The Vest, specifically, has Normal/Rapid Up and Pierce Up. All of the equipment has beneficial skills, so craft whatever's available. Some of the materials are only available through the Argosy.
3 Best Low-Rank Weapons
Wind Thief L. Blowgun II
- Upgrade from Wind Thief L. Blowgun I
- Great Izuchi Pelt x3
- Great Wroggi Hide x3
- Izuchi Material x10 points
Khezu Syringe II
- Upgrade from Khezu Syringe I
- Dragonite Ore x3
- Tobi-Kadachi Electrode x2
- Khezu Material x10 pts
Great Izuchi is the very first Large Monster players hunt. Surprisingly, its equipment is among the best in the early-mid game, and its Light Blowgun is no exception. It's compatible with many types of ammo and it has good stats. The Izuchi Tree has two more upgrades after as well.
The Khezu Syringe is a bit harder to find. Upgrading it to the second rank means a potentially frustrating fight with Rank 4 monster Tobi-Kadachi. It's worth the trouble, though. Its reload is much faster than the Izuchi blowgun, and it looks way cooler too.
2 Best High-Rank Weapons
Sinister Bowgun I
- Magnamalo Scute x2
- Magnamalo Scale x4
- Magnamalo Shell x3
- Magnamalo Blade x2
Usurper's Crime I
- Upgrade from Sniper Shot
- Zinogre Shockfur x3
- Zinogre Shell x3
- Zinogre Horn x1
The Sinister Bowgun has a fast reload and huge capacities for Normal, Pierce, Spread, and Shrapnel Ammo. The Magnamalo weapon tree can easily carry hunters to the endgame, provided they can manage its nasty recoil. If it's too much, add a Silencer to the bowgun, or equip armor with Recoil Down.
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Zinogre's bowguns are a good alternative. They don't have the magazine sizes of the Magnamalo tree, but they have much less recoil. Usurper's Crime also has 10 Affinity, while Sinister Bowgun has none. Magnamalo weapons are focused on raw power, and Zinogre weapons lean a bit more towards mobility.
1 Best Solo Build
- Sinister Shadow Bolt
- Rakna Helm
- Rakna Mail
- Pukei-Pukei Braces S
- Rakna Coil
- Mosgharl Roots S
This build turns the Light Blowgun into a sawed-off shotgun. Rakna-Kadaki armor empowers Spread shots, which deal high damage at close range. The Sinister Shadow Bolt's recoil is mitigated by the Mosgharl Roots, and the Pukei Braces give a bit of free ammo. Don't forget to equip the Attack Boost III Rampage Skill for maximum damage.