Best Overpowered Builds In Monster Hunter World

Key Takeaways

• The longevity of Monster Hunter World has led to a strong online community for marathon hunting.
• Hardcore players create fun and powerful armor sets, enhancing gameplay and hunts.
• Specialized armor sets like utilizing the Clutch Claw or specific weapon types offer unique gameplay experiences.

It’s been nearly four years since the release of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne in 2019 and even longer since the base game debuted on PS4 and Xbox One in 2018. Like with any Monster Hunter game, the title’s longevity has allowed for a strong online community to dominate servers, banding together for marathon hunting against terrifying creatures.

In the years after the game’s release, there has been plenty of time for hardcore players to create the perfect armor sets to enhance both their in-game strength and their real-world fun. These six builds, which can be obtained by only the very best hunters in Monster Hunter World, are not only the strongest in the game but will allow for some entertaining hunts.

Updated on October 20, 2024, by Blaise Santi: Monster Hunter fans around the world are anxious to get started on the next chapter in the long-running action RPG franchise: Monster Hunter Wilds, set for release in February 2025. Until then, seasoned players may find there’s not much left to do in Monster Hunter World or its DLC expansion, Iceborne, after sinking hundreds upon hundreds of hours into it. Nevertheless, there’s always fun to be had in the world of Monster Hunter, especially if players dedicate their time to crafting these extremely fun, extremely overpowered armor sets instead of waiting around doing nothing until Monster Hunter Wilds comes out. Don’t worry, we have everything you need to know to build these exciting sets in the tables below!

13 Clutch Claw Heavy Bowgun

Preferred Weapon: Vor Buster

Many newbies to Monster Hunter World, even those familiar with other entries in the series, may be curious to learn about the Clutch Claw. This unique item in World can allow hunters of any weapon type to attach to a monster’s side and force them to move in certain directions. A useful tactic for aiding teammates online, a weapon like the Heavy Bowgun can have a lot of fun with Clutch Claw.

This set seeks to take advantage of the Clutch Claw, with level 7 Attack Boost, Earplugs to resist monster roars, and Agitator to attract the attention of monsters. It’s also a simple set made mostly out of Velkhana armor, with the exception being the Frostfang Barioth armor for the waist piece. For HBG users not used to moving around, this Clutch Claw set offers a lot of unexpected fun.

12 Fire And Ice Dual Blades

Preferred Weapon: Fire And Ice

Fire and Ice are very unique weapons in the Monster Hunter franchise, featuring both elemental damage with Ice and status effects with Blast. The combo of these two can make Dual Blade users a serious threat in terms of elemental damage, and this set featuring Master Rank Kushala Daora and Teostra armor sets only brings out the best of these weapons.

For starters, level 5 Handicraft takes the mediocre Sharpness of Fire and Ice up to white level, and both armor sets give enough Ice and Blast Attack buffs to significantly boost the Dual Blades. Adding in skills like Critical Eye via Decorations is also a great way to make sure these Dual Blades are getting the most out of every hit.

11 Immortal Lance

Preferred Weapon: Empress Lance “Styx”

Lance users are already used to being pretty much immortal with their immense Guard skills, but this mixed set of Lunastra and Vaal Hazak armor ups the ante. In place of typical Lance skills, this set prioritizes health-related skills like Health Boost and Recovery Up through its Decorations, but with enough points towards Guard and Evade Extender to support multiple Lance playstyles.

This build pairs especially well with Lunastra weapons, like the Empress Lance “Styx,” which boasts a lot of Blast, 10% affinity, and white Sharpness. It even has two level-3 Decoration slots, which can be utilized to boost Guard or Evasion skills depending on which one players have more fun with, but either way, they’ll be nearly impossible for Master Rank monsters to kill.

10 Raging Brachydios Great Sword

Preferred Weapon: Lightbreak Blade

When taking advantage of Blast weapons, it’s good to use a weapon that’s catered to packing a big punch. That’s why this Brachydios Great Sword set is among one of the most thrilling in Monster Hunter World. It prioritizes the right skills for Great Sword, from Attack Up to Earplugs, with additional points in Focus and Health Boost.

What especially makes this a fun set for online play with the best hunters is the Agitator Skill, which draws a monster’s attention away from other hunters and onto the player with the skill. This can allow Great Sword users to spend most of their time landing explosive hits on monsters while teammates go nuts with long-ranged weapons or even Insect Glaive or Hunting Horn buffs.

9 Slugger Hammer

Preferred Weapon: Safi’s Shattercrusher

The Hammer is a weapon that’s especially made for stunning monsters, which is achieved by hitting them repeatedly in the head until they see stars. It can be a useful technique for online parties, making the monster incapacitated to allow for a free-for-all. That’s why this set makes the most of the Hammer’s specialties, with Skills like Weakness Exploit, Flinch Free, and Attack Up.

This build also equips Hammer users with Slugger, a Skill which makes stunning monsters easier to achieve. The only downside is that players will have to overcome both the Raging Brachydios and Frostfang Barioth in order to acquire the materials to craft. Still, it’ll be worth it if only to allow players the opportunity to make hunts all the more brutal.

8 Fatalis Armor Switch Axe

Preferred Weapon: True Fatalis End

The Fatalis is no easy battle for hunters of any skill level, but acquiring four of its Beta+ Armor set pieces will allow Switch Axe users to make this incredibly fun build. With the right amount of Armor and Weapon Decorations, as well as Charms, this set can have up to 14 skills. A lot of them are useful for any weapon type, including Attack Boost, Handicraft, Critical Eye, and Divine Blessing.

This Armor build also comes with the unique skill Fatalis Legend, which is acquired from having at least two of the Beta+ or Alpha+ pieces, granting the additional skill Razor Sharp. The Skill Power Prolonger is especially useful for weapons like Switch Axe, as it’ll increase the time of buffs acquired when the weapon is in its Sword Form.

7 Awakened Paralysis Hunting Horn

Preferred Weapon: Safi’s Bindhorn

The Raging Brachydios Armor set makes an appearance again with the Hunting Horn set. The Hunting Horn, compared to most other weapons, is usually meant for support, but this build particularly makes it a hunting powerhouse with Skills like Attack Boost, Weakness Exploit, and Maximum Might, though it also keeps the typical Horn Maestro for boosting song buffs.

However, this set also contains pieces from the Furious Rajang, one of the toughest non-Elder Dragons in the franchise. Overall, Hunting Horn users with this set will find themselves dealing massive amounts of damage while also surviving devastating blows, giving them the opportunity to support players online and, most importantly, have fun doing it.

6 Offensive Sword And Shield

Preferred Weapon: Safi’s Shatterfang

The Sword and Shield is notably one of the more basic weapon types in the Monster Hunter franchise, but it’s a favorite of many hardcore players due to its versatility. Thankfully, even inexperienced players will get a kick out of this offensive SnS set, consisting of Armor pieces derived from Teostra, Kirin, and Yian Garuga materials.

With the benefit of skills like Blast Attack, players with Blast Sword and Shield weapons will have a lot of fun fighting monsters, which will be easier with additional skills like Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Master’s Touch, the latter of which will retain sharpness whenever a player gets a critical hit against a monster. Simply put, SnS users will be happy with this set.

5 Imperial Saber Longer Sword

Preferred Weapon: Imperial Shimmer

The Long Sword can be a tricky weapon to use since it has a long reach and can easily knock fellow players on their feet if they come into contact with it. Therefore, on solo hunts, Long Sword users want an Armor set that will let them continually fight with few interruptions. That’s where this mixed set, paired with the Teostra Long Sword, comes in handy.

Among this armor build’s skills include Tremor Resistance, Earplugs, Weakness Exploit, and for extra damage with the Imperial Saber, Blast Attack. Additionally, players can equip this set with a Handicraft Charm if they also want increased sharpness. While players will be especially susceptible to Ice attacks, the Blast weapons will even make those fun hunts.

4 Safi’Jiiva Insect Glaive

Preferred Weapon: Safi’s Bindspear

Insect Glaive users have the benefit of lots to look for in a good Armor set, thanks to the uniqueness and versatility of the weapon. This Armor set, which utilizes the Safi’Jiiva branded Insect Glaive, is among the best, and like quite a few of the best Monster Hunter World builds, it also takes from Teostra armor to make the most of its blast weapon.

This set also has plenty of other Skills that make it quite overpowered, from an Attack Boost that can rise to Level 7 if worn with an appropriate Attack Charm. There’s also Critical Eye, Agitator, and Latent Power, which are all great skills for any Insect Glaive set. Unlike the Long Sword, however, Glaive users don’t have to worry about disrupting online comrades.

3 Diablos Charge Blade

Preferred Weapon: Diablos Tyrannis II

Of all the monsters in Monster Hunter World to derive a weapon from, Diablos is probably one of the hardest to conquer. For hunters who have already done the hard work of obtaining the Diablos Tyrannis II, the fully upgraded Charge Blade, they’ll get a lot out of this intimidating Armor set, comprised of many Elder Dragon Armor set pieces.

Adding in a Handicraft charm, which will increase standard Sharpness for the quite dull Diablos Tyrannis, Charge Blade users will have a lot of fun with us. Other skills like Artillery, Focus, Guard, and Capacity Boost all specifically benefit Charge Blade users, so when combined with this immensely powerful weapon, Diablos will no longer feel like a threat.

2 Blast Bow

Preferred Weapon: Safi’s Shatterbow

What sets this overpowered set apart from many others is that it’s entirely composed of weapons and armor from the Safi’Jiiva, an Elder Dragon exclusive to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. This means that players will have to fight that monster a lot to gather all the material for five Armor pieces, as well as its fully-upgraded Bow, the Safi’s Shatterbow.

Once this laborious task is complete, Bow users will have an incredibly useful set on their hands. After including charms, decorations, and mantles, this set has many reliable skills for Bow users, such as Bow Charge Plus, Evade Window, Resentment, and Spread/Power Shots. It’ll make even a ranged weapon user feel in the action.

1 Immortal Any Weapon

Preferred Weapon: Any Safi’Jiiva Weapon

The ultimate goal of any hardcore Monster Hunter player is to eventually find an Armor build that makes them virtually indestructible during hunts. In Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, that’ll be this set, composed mostly of Fatalis Armor pieces. However, it boasts positive resistance to all elements except for Fire and over 1304 defense, including Decorations.

Other skills will also do good to keep hunters from dying, such as Divine Blessing, Defense Boost, Recovery Up, and Recovery Speed. With this set equipped and basic knowledge of literally any weapon type in the game, it’d actually be a much more impressive feat to still cart three times in a single hunt, given just how overpowered it is.