What are the base skill you should aim for as of title update 4; for every weapon.

Legend:

- Regular
- NEW SKILL or positive modifier amount
- Negative modifier amount

Sword and Shield

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).

Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Dual Blades

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Elemental Defense UP (highest possible)
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Greatsword

Super Core [Must Have]​
  • Frostcraft +3
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Handicraft +5
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Guard UP +1

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Offensive Guard +3
  • Powder mantle +1

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)
​

Longsword

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Quick sheating +3
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).

Sacred Sheating - Extra core:
  • ​Frostcraft +3.
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3.

Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Lance

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Evade Extender +2
  • Guard UP +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3
  • Offensive Guard +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Gunlance

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Evade Extender +2
  • Guard UP +1
  • Embolden +3 OR Guard +5
  • Artillery +3
  • Load Shell +2
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7​
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3
  • Offensive Guard +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).

Shelling Main - Extra core:
  • Sneak Attack +3.
  • Redirection +2.
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3.
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Hammer

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Embolden +3 OR Evade Window +5
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Hunting Horn

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Embolden +3 OR Evade Window +5
  • Horn Maestro +1
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Switchaxe

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Rapid Morph +3
  • Evade Extender +2
  • Wind Mantle +1
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3​
  • Wind Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Charge Blade

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Evade Extender +2
  • Guard UP +1
  • Embolden +2 OR Guard +3
  • Rapid Morph +3
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7​
  • Offensive Guard +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).

Impact Phials - Additive Skills:
  • Artillery +3
  • Load Shell +2

SAED ONLY doesn't require affinity; so those skills can be skipped in favor of more elemental / raw damage.

Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

Insect Glaive

​Super Core [Must Have]
  • Embolden +3 OR Evade Window +5
  • Powder Mantle +1
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Razor Sharp OR P. Polish +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Wirebug Whisperer +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Powder Mantle +1 > +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Dragonhearth +5, Powder Mantle 1 > 0 on Dragon weapons if fits otherwise ⬇
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX, Dereliction +MAX, Strife +3 on fire,water,thunder and ice weapons (and dragon).
​
Status weapons - Extra core:
  • Buildup Boost +3.
  • Status Trigger +MAX.
  • Embolden +MAX or Evade Window + MAX.
  • Foray +3 and Chameleos Blessing +3 (if poison)

-

-

Light Bowgun

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Reload Speed +?
  • Recoild Down +?
  • Rapid Fire UP +3
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Spare Shot +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Powder Mantle +3 (pierce and shrapnel shot only)
  • Ballistic +3 or Ballistic +2 and Steadiness +3.
  • Spread UP, Pierce UP OR Normal UP +3 depending on what the bowgun shoots.

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX 
  • Strife +3 
  • Dereliction +MAX
  • ​Furious +MAX

Heavy Bowgun

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Reload Speed +?
  • Recoild Down +?
  • Evade Extender +3
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Spare Shot +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Powder Mantle +3 (pierce and shrapnel shot only)
  • Ballistic +3 or Ballistic +2 and Steadiness +3.
  • Spread UP, Pierce UP OR Normal UP +3 depending on what the bowgun shoots.

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Dragon conversion +3
  • Elemental Defense UP +MAX 
  • Strife +3 
  • Dereliction +MAX
  • ​Furious +MAX

Bow

Super Core [Must Have]
  • Bow Charge Plus +1 (a few bows already have max arrow level)
  • Ballistic +3
  • Evade Extender +3
  • Powder Mantle +3 
  • Intrepid Hearth +2
  • Spare Shot +3
  • Weakness Exploit +3
  • Critical Boost +3
  • Crit Eye +X (varies on weapon) and/or Bloodlust to reach 100% affinity on weak spots.

Raw weapons - Extra core:
  • Attack Boost +7
  • Spread UP, Pierce UP OR Normal UP +3 depending on what the bow shoots.
  • Stamina Surge +3 and Constitution +3 OR Berserk +2 and Strife +3

Elemental weapons - Extra core:
  • Elemental Exploit +1
  • Elemental ATK UP +5
  • Kushala Blessing +2 (for water and ice weapons)
  • Teostra Blessing +2 (for fire weapons)
  • Berserk +2
  • Strife +3​