The best early game gear in Monster Hunter Outlanders: a starting weapon and early armor build for all 8 weapon types, their skills, and when to upgrade.
BasicsWeapons
Here's the best early game gear for every weapon type in Monster Hunter Outlanders: which starting weapon and armor to craft, the skills they activate, and when to upgrade them.
These builds use weapons and armor that are unlocked by the time you finish Chapter 2 of the story. The stats are for the rarity you get when you first craft each item.
This build raises Fire damage with the Anjanath Set's set skill and armor skills. On top of that, Radiant Rathian Greaves I add Flash Draw and Chainmail Gloves I add Charge Enhancement, boosting your regular damage too.
The Great Girros Set boosts Thunder damage. Relentless Pursuit also raises your damage after a monster is staggered or suppressed, so this build is best for Luxheart or a Disruptor-type protagonist.
An early Long Sword build around the Great Jagras Set, which you can craft early and which has a skill made for the Long Sword (Spirit Bind Blade). The rest of the gear is easy to get early and adds skills that make the weapon feel better to use, like affinity and Stun Resistance.
An early build around Fire Dual Blades, which work well against early monsters and are easy to craft. The Kulu-Ya-Ku Greaves add Demonic Strength, which raises your damage in Demon Mode.
This early Lance build uses the Iron Lance, which gains Paralysis once upgraded, and Chainmail Gloves I for Charge Enhancement, a skill that helps the Lance from the start. The Barroth Set also gains Lance-friendly skills when upgraded, so you can use it for a long time.
Attacking weak points raises your affinity (Weakspot Exploit), and hitting broken parts adds extra hits (Weakspot Follow-Up). Bowguns are great at hitting weak points, so lock on and focus them for damage. The Fire weapon and the Anjanath Set armor keep your damage steady.
Built around the Jyuratodus Set, which boosts Water damage and pairs well with Pepper. Radiant Rathian Vambraces I also suit Pepper, who attacks powerfully while gliding. This bowgun's normal ammo is Spread Ammo, so Ammo Enhancement from Hunter's Coil I boosts most of your shots.
An early Bow build that focuses on steady play, thanks to Ballistics on Pukei Hood I. The Fire weapon and the Anjanath Set armor give it high damage too.
An early build with general damage skills that suit the Charge Blade. If you already know how to use the Charge Blade, you get the benefit of these skills without changing how you play.
An early build that raises blunt weapon damage with Intimidation from the Chainmail gear and raises affinity with the other pieces. The weapon doesn't need much elemental power, so this build uses a Paralysis weapon.
When to Upgrade Your Gear
Crafted gear can be upgraded to a higher rarity for better stats. Some pieces also gain an element or new skills along the way, so these are the upgrades worth doing first.
Upgrade Weapons That Gain an Element
The Lance and Hammer weapons above have no element when first crafted. Upgrading them gives them Paralysis.
The Barroth Set in the Lance build gains extra skills that suit the Lance once you upgrade it to its II version, so you can keep wearing it for a long time.
As you progress further in the story, stronger weapons and armor unlock. For builds that use them, and the point in the story they're unlocked, see the article below.
Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) I
17
Anja Helm I
Anja Mail I
Chainmail Gloves I
Anja Coil I
Radiant Rathian Greaves I
17
17
Bone Shotel I
Blazing Hatchets I
Iron Lance I
Bone Shooter I
17
Blazing Bow I
Girros Strongarm I
34
Carapace Sledge I