As promised, Today’s list will feature the Heavy Bowgun in Iceborne! You can see the quick list are as below

• Solemn Reflection
• Teostra’s Fire Storm
• Mighting+
• Guttering Gasp
• Righteous Varka

If you are curious on a good build for Heavy Bowgun, check out the below:

• Silver Solhelm B+ | Windproof 2 (Free Elem, Free Elem)
• Silver Solmail B+ | Crit Boost 2 (Free Elem)
• Silver Solbraces B+ | Slinger Cap 3 (Ele Attack, WEX)
• Silver Solcoil B+ | Crit Boost 1, Windproof 1 (Crit Eye+, Crit Eye)
• Garuga Greaves B+ | Crit Eye 2 (Crit Eye+, WEX, WEX)
• Fire/Wat/Thun/Ice/Drag Attack Charm 5

As usual, you will need maximum Free Element for those shots to get the most out Bowgun. The set also come with Weakness Exploit and A boots for Element Attack.

This requires progression through Guiding Land to unlock the Silver Rathalos. Tribute to the Reddit post here for the current Iceborne builds

MHW Iceborne Heavy Bowgun Changes

In MHW Iceborne, Heavy Bowgun got a new mod call Special Scope. This mod will allow you to enter a new focus aiming mode and provide Super Critical Range. Within this range, the ammo will have greater power.

[gfycat data_id=”unacceptablebouncyhoneycreeper”]

The unique trait of this mode is the ability to see the Super Critical Range, which is often further than the normal Critical Range. At this position, your shot will deal higher damage compared to the traditional Critical Range

As a quick refresher, Critical Range is basically the distance that your ammo will deal the most damage. This is the same for all ranged weapons (Bow, Light Bowgun & Heavy Bowgun) We can now add-in the Slinger to this list, as you certainly cannot deal the highest Burst damage while aiming the Slinger from afar…

You can check my guide for Heavy Bowgun here 

Iceborne Best Heavy Bowgun List

Below is my personal list for the current best heavy bowgun in Iceborne. This mostly depend on the versatility of the ammo and sometimes the look of the weapon. Sadly, most heavy bowgun in ICeborne doesn’t have a fancy appearance compare to the melee counterpart.

Another change to all the Heavy Bowgun in Iceborne is that you can now equip five mod at a time compare to the previous three.

Baleful Night (Nargacuga Heavy Bowgun)

The bat-like monster can give you a quick boost as soon as you encounter him. The Baleful Night has all three levels of Piercing and Normal Ammo. Add in with Cluster Level 1 and 2, you got yourself a pretty well balance Heavy Bowgun.

Baleful Night Materials;

• Shadowpierce Fang x 2 – Breaking Nargacuga Claw
• Nargacuga Cutwing+ x 4 – Breaking Nargacuga Wing
• Nargacuga Hardfang x 4– Breaking Nargacuga Fang
• Pure Crystal x 1 – Obtain mostly in Guiding Land

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– 20% Affinity – None Deviation	– Low Damage – Limit Ammo Choice

Mighting+ (Zinogre Heavy Bowgun)

Zinogre is one of the first monsters you will encounter in the Guiding Land. This Lighting Wolf provides a cool looking Heavy Bowgun with a touch of Lighting.

As expected, the Zinogre Heavy Bowgun gives you a boost in Thunder Ammo. This also comes with 3 Shots of Wyvern and All three levels of Spread.

Mighting + Material

• Zinogre Hardhorn x3 – Breaking Zinogre Horn
• Zinogre Electrofur+ x4 – Obtain occasionally upon the hunt completion
• Fulgurbug x 5 – Mostly by breaking it’s back?
• Zinogre Skymerald x 1 – Zinogre’s gem

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– Spread All 3 level – Lighting ammo – Wyvern Capacity	– Low base damage (Better for the final version) – Cluster and Sticky are limited

Teostra’s Firestorm – Teostra Heavy Bowgun

If you are not sure which Heavy Bowgun to pick, the Teostra’s Firestorm can get you wrong!

With both Sticky and Cluster cover all three levels, you have yourself a cannon just like the shape of this Heavy Bowgun. Despite the lack in ammo capacity, this is compensated by high base damage (420)

Teostra’s Firestorm Material

• Teostra Hardhorn x 5 – Breaking Teostra horn
• Fire Dragon Hardclaw x 4– Breaking Claw
• Teostra Mane+ x 4- Breaking Head
• Large Elder Dragon Gem x 1 – Obtain randomly when hunting Elder Dragon

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– Strong Cluster &Sticky Ammo – High Wyvern Ammo capacity	– Hard to craft

Solemn Reflection – Shara Ishvalda Heavy Bowgun

This is another easy to pick Heavy Bowgun. Come with 450 Base Damage and two level 1 slot

• Ishvalda Tender Claw x 4 – Breaking claw
• Ishvalda Tenderscale x 6 – Carving or quest reward
• Ishvalda Tenderplate x 2 – First phase of Ishvalda
• Ishvalda Gem x 1 – Enough said.

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– Diversity range of Ammo – 2 x Level 1 Jewels Slot	– Hard to craft – Only 1 Wyvern

Righteous Varka – Velkhana Heavy Bowgun

If you love Sticky Ammo, this is your choice.

Right off the bat, this Heavy Bowgun is pretty generous with the ammo capacity. You have Piercing, Spread and Sticky cover all three levels. Next off is definitely the Ice Ammo.

With Deviation none, Velkhana Heavybowgun can give you some easier time aiming for that Sticky Shot.

Righteous Varka’s Material

• Ishvalda Tenderclaw x 3 – Breaking Ishvalda claw
• Velkhana Crowhorn x 4 – Breaking Velkhana Horn
• Velkhana Hardclaw x 4 – Breaking Velkhana Claw
• Velkhana Crystal – Velkhana Gem

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– High Ammo Capacity – Easy to use	– No Cluster Ammo

Rajang Blaster – Rajang Heavy Bowgun

The thunder Ape provides some of the best weapons in-game. While the base weapon can be crafted after some hunts. The final version will require the Tempered Rajang in Guiding Land. Below cover the base Heavy Bowgun only.

I will update this post with the final version soon enough.

Rajan Blaster’s Material

• Rajang Hardhorn x 1 – Breaking Rajang Horn
• Rajang Hardclaw x 1 – Break Rajang Claw
• Rajang Hardfang x 2 – Break Rajang Face
• Rajang Wildpelt x 2 – Obtain while carving or as quest reward.

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– Easy to Craft (Base Level) – Cluster & Sticky Ammo	– Ammo Capacity is somewhat limited

Hydros Laimos – Namielle Heavy Bowgun

Upgraded straight from Gemitus II The Namielle heavy bowgun supports both Water and Thunder.

Hydro Laimos’s Material

• Rajang Hardhorn x 1 – Breaking Rajang Horn
• Rajang Hardclaw x 1 – Break Rajang Claw
• Rajang Hardfang x 2 – Break Rajang Face
• Rajang Wildpelt x 2 – Obtain while carving or as a quest reward.

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– Has both Water and Thunder Ammo – Moderate Support for ammo types	– Only 420 Base Damage

The Guttering Gasp – Glavenus Heavy Bowgun

Another contender for a Sticky Ammo build. The Glavenus Heavybowgun start off with 435 Base Damage, Paralysis Level 2 and cover all three level of Sticky, Piercing and Normal.

Guttering Gasp’s Material

• Vaal Hazak Hardclaw x 2– Breaking the claw
• Acidic Glavenus Hardfang x 4 – Breaking Fang of Glavenus
• Acidic Glavenus Spineshell x 3 – Breaking back of Acidic Glavenus
• Glavenus Mantle x 1 – Glavenus’s gem.

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– Has both Water and Thunder Ammo – Moderate Support for ammo types	– Only 420 Base Damage

Fulguration’s Roar – Best Spread Heavy Bowgun?

Guttering Gasp’s Material

• Vaal Hazak Hardclaw x 2- Breaking the claw
• Acidic Glavenus Hardfang x 4 – Breaking Fang of Glavenus
• Acidic Glavenus Spineshell x 3 – Breaking back of Acidic Glavenus
• Glavenus Mantle x 1 – Glavenus’s gem

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– HIgh focus on Spread Ammo – Cluster for both level 1 and 2	– Minus Affinity

Endless Famine – Savage Deviljho Heavy Bowgun

This new subspace of Deviljho does have some cool looking weapon.

Savage Deviljho Heavy Bowgun comes with both Sticky and Cluster Level 2 and 3. Enough to put some serious damage to the monster.

The icing on the cake is the ability to put the monster to sleep effectively with Sleep level 1 and 2.

Endless Famine’s Material

• Vile Fang x 3 – Breaking that little fang
• Deviljho Ripper x 2 –
• Black Blood x 3 – Obtain randomly when complete Savage Deviljho hunt
• Deviljho Crook x 1 – It’s gem

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– High Base Damage – Spread, Sticky, Cluster level 3	– Minus Affinity

Atom Cannon – Brachydios Heavy Bowgun

Atom Cannon’s material

• Distilled Blast Fluid x 3 – Obtain from Seething Bazelgeuse
• Brachydios Crown x 3– Breaking Brachydios Head
• Fine Brachydios Ebonshell x 4 – Breaking Brachydios Back
• Brachydios Pallium x 1– Brachydios’s Gem

STRENGHT	WEAKNESS
– All Rounder – Look good	– Low Base Damage

Iceborne Starter Heavy Bowgun

This is reserved for PC Player! If you just starting out with Iceborne, below are some good starter Heavy Bowgun. These are both easy to craft as well as come with some balance ammo choice.

Conclusion

Picking the best Heavy Bowgun in MHW Iceborne entirely depends on your playstyle and build. For me, it also depends on the look of the weapon itself. Are you agree with this list? What is your current Heavy Bowgun? Drop a comment below!