Having the ability to pay heavy-hitting monsters back with the same coin makes many players gravitate towards the trusty hammer. There is something about bashing in giant skulls with a hammer three times our body weight that we just cannot get enough of! I still remember the first time I broke one of Mergigante’s over-size horns. One word: satisfying! Plus they are among the most powerful and tactful hunting tools. Since they’re able to successfully knock-out any monsters with a solid blow to the skull, it is like having an ailment weapon on you at all times. In MHW hammers have clearly been improved. The monsters react as if they have actually been slugged in the head with a steel mallet when you go Tiger Woods on them. For those just beginning the game, or those who have simply grown tired of slicing and dicing, and who are looking for more impact on their adventures, I put together a list of the most mighty, versatile, and impressive hammers currently available in Monster Hunter: World.
20. Water Basher III
The Water Basher III deals raw damage to any monster. It has unlocked Water elemental damage as well. Do not worry about the Free Element skill; focus instead on things like Handicraft, which will make this weapon reach white sharpness. One medium-sized decoration slot is what brings this weapon to the top of our ranking. Although, when compared to other entries in this list, I will say there are only specific situations where you would use this Water hammer. Maybe if you are a Pisces?
19. Malady’s Fist III
Unlike the Water Basher III, Malady’s Fist III has a well-rounded personality. The head of the hammer looks as if it is coming out of the mouth of the Great Girro monsters, whose parts were used to create this weapon. This trait goes well with its high Paralysis damage. Although its base raw damage is nothing to write about, it compensates by allowing you and your teammates to go all out on a paralyzed monster without fear of retaliation. To aid you in this endeavor, you should build Critical Status as well as the Handicraft skill in order to reach white sharpness. The 20% affinity boost on the Malady’s Fist III will take care of the rest.
18. Cocytus
Cocytus is a hammer that sports the highest Ice elemental damage in the list and is aptly-named with a surface cold as the rivers of the Underworld. The Ice element makes it an amazing weapon choice against Diablos, Lunastra, and others. It has a large decoration slot, which is a godsend considering building Handicraft is already necessary to lengthen the Cocytus’ poor blue sharpness bar. Accordingly this weapon looks like something you might find in Mr. Freeze’s garage.
17. Binder Mace
Binder Mace remains in the same raw damage league as Cocytus, but rather than the elemental damage, this brings Paralysis to the table along with a sizeable bonus to Defense. Thankfully it has a large decoration slot for building both Critical Status and Handicraft in order to maximize Paralysis potential. According to lore, this hammer-cage-thing is supposed to harness the electrical output of Thunderbugs. Gotta love renewable power sources.
16. Xeno Maph’agarna
I was just as surprised as anyone when I realized a Xeno’jiiva weapon would not make it into the top 15, but such are the times we live in. Although Xeno Maph’agarna has nice Dragon elemental damage output and two large decoration slots, as well as the potential for a lengthy white sharpness bar, the raw damage output on this hammer is much too low to compete with higher level hammers. It is really a shame, since this weapon looks as majestic as the rest of the Xeno’jiiva weapons.
15. Lightning Bash III
As if to add insult to injury, Lightning Bash III is just above Maph’agarna. It is one of the most lackluster, default-looking weapons with no remarkable or aesthetically pleasing features. So many beautiful Tobi-Kadachi slain, only to make … this. We guess you could say it is minimalist? All that said, the Lightning Bash III remains a powerful hammer in terms of base damage and includes unlocked Thunder elemental damage to make up for its boring aesthetics. It can also reach white sharpness which is always a welcome feature.
14. Baan Strike III
Within the same damage boundaries, Baan Strike III is quite the sleep-inducing mallet. Taking into account that hammers knock-out monsters, you might as well call this weapons Lorazepam Strike. Looking at this hammer, one might think its damage would be its most remarkable feature. It looks entirely metal, similar to the Radobaan it is crafted from. Regrettably this hammer will never reach white sharpness, but it does have decent added Defense. Which will at least protect you while landing some extra hits against your beastly opponent.
13. Anja Striker
Anja Striker is a weapon amazingly fit to maximize raw damage. This weapon would be even greater if Fire elemental damage was more useful, since it is in spades. Still, it remains a good option against Legiana or Kirin, and it may be your stepping-stone to farming those monsters for better weapons. Other than Fire being lackluster among the elements, other factors keeping this weapon from greatness include its poor sharpness potential, even with Handicraft, and will only achieve a decent blue bar. This weapon is 20% negative affinity, which you will make up for in your build.
12. Daora’s Colossus
A better combination of features is found on Daora’s Colossus, a beautifully designed hammer with a serpent motif. This hammer’s raw damage output does not compare to the Anja Striker, but its Ice damage is more useful since Diablos, Odogaron, and Lunastra are weak against its power. Instead of negative affinity, this hammer has 10% affinity bonus. This, along with a medium-sized decoration slot, allows you to focus your build such as Handicraft, which is necessary to reach white sharpness. Overall, Daora’s Colossu is the perfect example that the hard-hitting weapon is not always the most efficient one.
11. Barroth Breaker III
One thing I love about Barroth Break III is how it shows off the parts of the monster used to create it, something not found in most weapons. Specifically the Barroth claw uniquely makes up the body of the weapon. On the technical side, this weapon offers raw damage output and the possibility to build Elementless in order to further boost it. Although it has 10% negative affinity, it also has two decoration slots to help balance this. It even provides a small bonus to Defense! This hammer is a nice option if you have extra Barroth parts laying around.
10. Brazenbreak II
Brazenbreak II is a rough looking hammer with an Uragaan ore coating. It competes with the Anjanath Strike for the spot of best craft-able Fire damage mallet. Considering all features, this weapon comes out on top. While its Fire damage is not high, it deals a great amount of raw damage and does not have to contend with any negative affinity. Small note: this hammer will never reach white sharpness. However it can achieve a lengthy blue sharpness bar with the Handicraft skill. This feature allows you to skip over sharpening your hammer, which is sure to break your immersion. Why does a blunt weapon even need sharpeness!?
9. Kjarr Hammer Numb
No ranking of the best weapons in MHW will ever be complete without a couple relic weapons from Kulve Taroth. Hell, it is a feat they are not half the listing. In the case of the Kjarr Hammer Numb, it is easy to see why it made the list. Although its damage is not stellar, it has very high Paralysis damage unlocked by default. It also has the Critical skill to take it one step further. As if that was not impressive enough, this weapon has a 20% affinity bonus and can reach white sharpness with the Handicraft, so you will basically only ever land critical hits. Overall, this hammer is my choice for the best ailment hammer in the game.
8. Obliteration’s Footfall
Easily the most disturbing, most painful looking hammer to make it on this list, in the whole game. And in the history of Monster Hunter as a whole. Obliteration’s Footfall is an eldritch mallet crafted from Nergigante parts. It offers a high raw damage output with some Dragon damage and high-level Elderseal, which makes it a great option against most Elder Dragons. It cannot reach white sharpness, most likely because sharpening this thing would cost you a finger or two. However, its blue sharpness is highly durable. For added customization, it has a small decoration slot. Try it out, if you do not mind ever sleeping again.
7. Empress Mace Ruin
Lower on the abomination scale but higher in usefulness is the Empress Mace Ruin. This hammer marries the beautiful aquamarine color from Lunastra with intimidating spikes from Nergigante. It offers both decent raw damage and Blast elemental damage, effecting the victim with higher impact and more damage. However, this feature is not what earns this hammer a spot in the Top 10. What makes this weapon amazing is its default white sharpness, along with the Hasten Recovery skill. This will help create sustainable builds with something similar to Vaal Hazak armor. It has two medium-sized decoration slots to help with this! Overall a really appealing, versatile hammer that has found its way into many builds.
6. Buona Flora
Some people might not have expected a hammer made from the Pukei-Pukei monster to make it on this list, but the lotus flower of destruction is a worthy weapon. Buona Flora has decent raw damage, but, like the monster its petals come from, this flower will poison anything unlucky enough to come into contact with it. Its generous Poison damage will slowly add to your damage over time without any effort on your part. It also has a couple medium-sized decorations to help you build Critical Status or Handicraft, lengthening its blue sharpness, which stops you from tending to it during a fight. It may not be comparable in power but it deserves credit for being simple to craft.
5. Ragefire Magda Floga
The Ragefire Magda Floga is an oversized smoking pipe that harnesses the destructive potential of the colossal Zorach Magdaros. Not only does this weapon have a stellar raw damage output, but it has the highest Blast damage in the list and added Defense when needed. This hammer lacks versatility, however. It has 20% negative affinity, which needs to be taken into account when making your build. It is also an incredibly blunt weapon that cannot reach blue sharpness. It is viable with the Diablos armor set, thanks to the Bludgeoner skill, which makes weapons stronger as they lose sharpness. If you do not mind being limited to a specific build, well then definitely try this devastating hammer.
4. Pandemonium’s Root
At last, a weapon that makes sense to sharpen! The Pandemonium Root is an axe rather than a mallet. The developers consider this a hammer, however, so this list will as well. This Vaal Hazak weapon is arguably one of the more attractive options, as Vaal Hazak weapons tend to be. True to its origins, it has both great raw and Dragon elemental damage. It can also reach white sharpness with the Handicraft skill. Overall, this weapon is an amazing option for any hunter.
3. Devil’s Crush
This Deviljgo weapon looks absolutely menacing while somehow retaining a degree of practicality other weapons, such as the Obliteration’s Footfall, throw out the window. It has an amazing raw damage output, as well as Dragon damage. It also has a high-level Elderseal to further establish it as a great Elder-hunting weapon. It would possibly be higher on the list if it did not have 32% negative affinity, and while it can definitely reach white sharpness through Handicraft, it will also need Protective Polish if you want to avoid sharpening the weapons every five swings.
2. Diablos Shatterer II
Diablos Shatterer II is an impractical (the horns will get stuck, right?) yet intimidating weapon. The materials for this are provided from the Diablos monster, making it considerably easier to craft than the Devil’s Crush. It retains the same raw damage output, however. Even better, this weapon has access to the benefits of Elementless, which provides a boon to said damage. It is useful against all enemies, regardless of their elemental weaknesses. It provides some Defense, which is a welcome addition to any weapon. But it also suffers from 25% negative affinity and the same sharpness situation.
1. Taroth Hammer Sleep
In an unexpected twist of fate, an ailment weapon makes it to the first ranking! Nice damage, white sharpness by default, a high additional defense value… it really has it all! This hammer will put your enemies to sleep (as suggested by the name) after a couple swings, allowing you and your teammates to stop for a moment to heal, re-sharpen, and set some explosive charges around your prey. The Taroth Hammer Sleep is truly an amazing weapon that shines. It’s different than most of my other choices, mainly due to its flexibility in regard to builds. If you can get your hands on it you will never be in need of another hammer.
