Fatalis will be the final update to MHW Iceborne after one year of support from Capcom. Before that, let revisit the meta and make sure you equip yourself with the best charms and weapons available!

This is the latest Hammer Builds Guide (Alatreon & Frostfang Barioth Meta, also known as 14.0 Meta)

MHW Iceborne Hammer Guide

The Hammer has been my second favorite weapon after the Sword and Shield. Despite it’s slow attack speed, I found Hammer is one of the easiest weapons to play in MHW.

As Hammer main, your job is always to stay in the head of the monster and make sure every hit increases the stun meter of that monster. While bigger monsters can typically be stunned 2 or 3 times per hunt, other monsters can be stunned up to 5 times. Despite this, most meta builds only focus on damage.

If you prefer more stun over more damage, make sure to check out Slugger Secret – a new skill in Iceborne which can give you more chance to knock out the monster. Slugger Secret come from Diablos Armor Set and also from the Frostfang Barioth armor set just came out recently

Your best combo to use with the Hammer

• Super Charge 3 >> Clutch Claw >> Finish with a Clutch Claw attack

This is basically what you doing all time during the fight. You can mix in the Quick Launch Hammer attack (Charge Level 2) for a sneaky stun.

For a more detail on how to play as Hammer main, check out my guide here. This guide cover MHW Hammer early to mid Master Rank.

MHW Hammer Build – Meta Armor Set

Below are some general Armor of the current meta.

Raging Brachydios + Teostra Armor

The current meta is Agitator + Master Touch. This is basically the easiest armor set for you to pick up as well.

Full Safi’jiiva Armor Set

True Dragonvein Awakening turn out to be a huge DPS boost in MHW. However, the HP Drain will force you to stay on the aggressive side, with Hammer slow attack speed, this can be a turn down for most players as you have a chance to die before that sweet recovery kick in.

Safi’jiiva Armor + Raging Brachydios Armor

For Dragonvein Awakening + Agitator Secret. This set is all about offensive. You will need to max out Agitator, Attack Boost.

MHW Hammer Builds

MHW Meta changed with every big monster update, and the latest one is Alatreon – The Black Dragon. This monster has a big focus on the elemental weapons and has been the topic for many discussions since it’s release.

Of course, the latest meta revolves around Alatreon. Come with this is also the Frostfang Barioth – a “colder” variant of Barioth.

If you are going to fight Fatalis, then the first thing to do is to defeat Alatreon in the Assigned Mission. We have all learn the lesson – Drop all your lovely Blast Weapons

Kjárr Hammer “Ice” is your best bet to beat Alatreon in the Special Assignment Quest. In this quest, Alatreon starts in Fire Active mode, making Ice Hammer is your best option here.

The best Hammer for this job is Kjárr Hammer “Ice” – which comes with Critical Element. You can use either Safi’jiiva Armor + Brachydium Armor combination, or going with the classic Brachydium + Teostra Armor

Kjárr “Ice “Anti Alatreon Hammer Build [Master Touch + Agitator Secret]

This build is an all rounder in both elemental and raw damage. Maxed out Weakness Exploit and Critical Boost will let you trigger Master Touch all the time. Critical Element from K j á rr Hammer is enough to get past Alatreon elemental damage check, you can add more HP by using Health Boosts on those level 1 slot.

You can check out this gameplay follow a similar build from youtube user LionHart

Kjárr “Ice “Anti Alatreon Hammer Build [Dragonvein Awakening + Agitator Secret]

This build maxed out the Elemental Damage to counter Alatreon’s elemental damage check. However, it’s generally harder to play compared to the first build as you will need to continually attack Alatreon to trigger Draonvein Awakening recovery. You can augment the Hammer with HP regen, but it does not sync with Dragonvein Awakening.

Hard to find jewel in the above builds

• Challenger Jewel 4
• Furor Jewel 2
• Expert Jewel 1
• Attack Jewel 4
• Hard Dragon Res Jewel 4

Hammer Meta Builds

Already beat Alatreon and looking for some meta builds? Here you go

MHW Iceborne Hammer Build #1 – Lightbreak Hammer

After Raging Brachydios, Lightbreak weapons becomes the meta for a while (until Alatreon comes by with the Elemental Damage Check)

Lightbreak Hammer provides you a solid 1560 Damage with 270 Blast Base element. You can pair this with the standard Master Touch build (3 pieces of Teostra Armors)

The Raging Brachy Armor set also provides you a bonus to Agitator with Agitator Secret. This give you a +28 Attack and 20% Affinity at Level 7 – a powerful addition to the Bong Family

Why Phoenix Jewel 3? Phoenix Jewel 3 gives you Coalescence – which is basically another Attack Boost level 4 whenever you recover from elemental blight (Burned/Water Blight…) This increase your DPS significantly when facing monsters like Rathalos or Namielle

MHW Iceborne Hammer Build #2 – Safi’s Shattercrusher

Safi’s Shattercrusher is still pretty powerful in this meta. It’s has lower sharpness compare to Lightbreak Hammer, but is compensated by the damage boost in Awakening Skills.

This Hammer build does not have any difference with the first build, aside from using the Safi’s Shattercrusher.

You still use 3 pieces of Teostra Armor and 2 pieces of Raging Brachydios Armor.

MHW Iceborne Hammer Build #3- Safi’s Dreamcrusher

This unique build is a tribute to Reddit user T3hPhish. This build is all about QoL (Quality of Life) skill, you got Speed Eating, Sharpening and Recovery Up maxed out to get the most out of Guiding Lands runs.

The ability to trigger sleep and then wake up the monster with a level 3 Charge is the icing on the cake.

Two pieces of Fellshroud armors are used for the Super Recovery skills – which give you an advantage during long hunt.

Best Hammer Build MHW Iceborne

The current best hammer build is definitely the Lightbreak Hammer build. Despite the intimidating look of Ragin Brachydios, this monster can easily be farmed with a decent team and you will get yourself this hammer in notime.

Compare to the Safi’jiiva siege, it’s still easier, and can be solo if you already have a good Ice Hammer (Frostfang Barioth Hammer)

If you are looking for Fatalis Update, then beating Alatreon will be your priority, with that said, a K jarr Hammer Ice build is your best option.

MHW Best Weapons Series

Top Hammer in MHW Iceborne [Alatreon Meta]

Best Longsword in MHW Iceborne [Alatreon Meta]