Monster Hunter Rise Heavy Bowgun: Tips, Controls, Combos and Silkbind Attacks


Monster Hunter Rise offers 14 different weapons to hunt its slate of monsters with. Each has a slightly different playstyle, offering real depth and variety in the ways you approach a hunt. The Heavy Bowgun is a powerful ranged weapon as heavy on firepower as it is in the hand. For added flexibility, it can be loaded with Wyvernheart or Wyvernsnipe ammo depending on the situation you're facing.

To help you get the most out of this weapon we’ve put together this Monster Hunter Rise Heavy Bowgun guide. We’ll give you some tips on using the Heavy Bowgun, break down those all-important controls, highlight some choice combos to execute, and walkthrough the new Silkbind attacks available.

Read More: How to Sheathe your weapon in Monster Hunter Rise

Controls

  • ZL - Crosshairs
  • Hold ZR - Fire
  • A - Load Special Ammo
  • Hold X - Reload
  • Y - Sheathe Weapon
  • Hold L + X or B - Select Ammo
  • X + A - Melee Attack
  • ZL + X - Counter Shot
  • ZL + A - Free Silkbind Glide
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Combos

Unlike every other weapon - except for the Light Bowgun - the Heavy Bowgun doesn’t actually have any combos to learn (what a relief). It's a case of point and shoot. What else do you expect from a big choking gun?

Just make sure to manage your ammo effectively if you're to have any hope of bringing down those giant beasties!

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Tips

  • As you'd imagine for a ranged weapon, you'll want to steer clear of monsters to make the most of the heavy bowgun, but that doesn't mean it doesn't offer plenty of damage-dealing potential.
  • With the right attack buffs, you can take chunks off of a monster's health, but you will need to keep an eye on your ammo reserves.
  • Since the heavy bowgun is, ostensibly, a gun emplacement, movement while wielding it is slow, and it takes an age to sheath, too. Keep your distance so you don't need to move too quickly when an enemy gets too close.
  • The positive is that the shield mod will help block incoming attacks, making it worth its weight in gold.
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Silkbind Attacks

New to Monster Hunter Rise are Silkbind attacks. These will consume Wirebugs, and will deal damage indicated with blue circles. Build these up to tie down monsters and trigger mountable states.

Here are the Silkbind attacks for the Heavy Bowgun:

  • ZL + A - Free Silkbind Glide
  • ZL + X - Counter Shot
  • ZL + X - Counter Charger

Now here's a bit more info on how each works:

  • Free Silkbind Glide - Move around like a gale of destruction. Push the stick to control the direction you go in. Press the corresponding button to perform a close-range attack or quickly sheathe your weapon.
  • Counter Shot - A fierce counterattack. Stretch out a web of silk and take a stance to prepare for a powerful counterattack. The attack is activated if you get hit while in this stance.
  • Counter Charger - Can be switched out with Counter Shot. A parrying skill using Wirebugs. Absorbs an attack from a monster without taking any damage. Will shorten the amount of time needed for a Charged Shot.

That's all you need to know about this weapon. Visit our Monster Hunter Rise Walkthrough to find all of our guides in one handy place. 

For more articles like this, take a look at our Monster Hunter Rise and Guides page.