New OP Weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds: Corn Popper Mastery and Water Gun Secrets
In the wilds of Monster Hunter, unpredictability is a given. But when a cob of corn and a plastic water gun start outperforming traditionally revered weapons, even veterans raise an eyebrow. Monster Hunter Wilds recently threw a delightful curveball with the Flame Fate Festival update. While players expected minor gear tweaks and the usual event hunts, what they got instead were two remarkable additions: the Corn Popper Gunlance and the meme-turned-weapon Water Gun Gesture.
Yet what began as novelty soon unraveled as potential meta-changers. Underneath their playful aesthetics lie mechanics capable of rivaling the most optimized builds, provided you know how to wield them properly.
So grab your popcorn—literally—and let's explore what makes these weapons stand out, how to optimize them, and whether they're truly the kings of corn or just crunchy gimmicks.
The Corn Popper Gunlance: Not Just a Joke Weapon
First Impressions and Core Attributes
Don’t be fooled by the goofy visual: the Corn Popper Gunlance is a true powerhouse wrapped in kernels and whimsy. This weapon brings something to the table that no other Gunlance in Monster Hunter Wilds currently does—true “strong shelling” capabilities.
To grasp just how disruptive this is, let’s quickly run through shelling tiers:
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Slightly Weak Shelling → ~15% less damage than standard
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Normal Shelling → The baseline
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Slightly Strong Shelling → ~10% boost over standard
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Strong Shelling (Corn Popper) → ~10% boost over “slightly strong,” totaling ~20% over normal
That 20% increase isn’t a minor bump—it's the kind of jump that transforms playstyles.
A Unique Passive: Crackling Corn Popper
The weapon's defining trait, however, is its eponymous skill: Crackling Corn Popper. This activates only when both Wyvern Fire charges are expended, effectively turning your overheated Gunlance into a burning hot forge of destruction.
Damage Comparison (No Skills Applied):
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Pre-buff shell hit: ~48.8 damage
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Post-buff shell hit: ~64.1 damage
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Damage Increase: ~31.2%
In further tests using a slightly upgraded version, results hovered around a 32.5% increase. Taking the mean gives us an approximate 32% shelling damage bonus when Crackling Corn Popper is active—comparable to white sharpness for melee weapons.
And remember: shelling power scales at the end of the damage calculation, multiplying any existing attack boosts. That means Crackling Corn Popper can benefit immensely from raw attack stacking.
Best Playstyles for the Corn Popper Gunlance
Pure Shelling Mobility: Dodge, Shell, Repeat
This isn’t your average poke-and-burst weapon. You’re not here to dance with wormstake blasts or blade-to-face techniques. Shelling is your game, and that requires a different rhythm:
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Keep Wyvern Fire on cooldown.
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Focus on mobility-based shelling to avoid melee damage zones.
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Ignore melee hits and wormstake when possible.
Why? Because Crackling Corn Popper only works when your Wyvern Fire charges are down, and it only boosts shelling, not melee or wormstake hits.
This lends itself beautifully to a shell-only evade-reload loop, once popularized in older Gunlance metas but rarely optimal—until now.
The Evade + Auto Reload Combo
Brought into the spotlight by content creator CowSlayer, this unique loop relies on the following:
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Evade with no shells left
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Press the shelling button → triggers quick auto-reload
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Combo directly into Overhead Slam
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Full Burst
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Evade and repeat
Normally, an evade reload would lock you into a long animation. But emptying your shells beforehand triggers a faster reload, opening up this ultra-fluid cycle.
It’s the most effective loop for shelling-focused Gunlances, and with Corn Popper’s modifiers, it becomes both damage-efficient and exceptionally safe.
Optimizing Your Build: Stats, Skills & Strategy
Stack Raw Attack—Nothing Else Matters
Here’s a key reality:
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Shelling does not crit
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Sharpness doesn’t matter beyond not hitting red
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Elemental damage? Useless for shells.
What boosts shelling? Raw attack, full stop.
To make this build shine:
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Load up on Attack Boost, Offensive Guard, Artillery, and Load Shells
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Skip crit-based skills entirely
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Use talisman, armor, and decorations purely for boosting flat attack or shortening reload time
Use the Right Shelling Type
The Corn Popper runs wide shelling, which:
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Has slower reload
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Requires careful shell management
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Hits HARD in burst windows
So prioritize ammo efficiency, reload timing, and staying aggressive while Wyvern Fire is recharging.
Where the Corn Popper Shines—and Where It Doesn't
Monsters with Poor Hitzones
The Corn Popper shines against heavily armored or awkwardly angled monsters. If a monster’s weak spot is tough to hit with traditional weapons, shelling ignores that—it deals consistent damage regardless of monster anatomy.
Avoid Wormstake-Centric Matchups
On the flip side, if a monster offers long safe openings for wormstake full-blasts, the standard Guardian or Ardian Gunlance builds still outperform Corn Popper.
But for run-and-gun, hit-and-dash style fights, the Corn Popper carves out a new competitive niche.
Water Gun Gesture: Meme Weapon or Monster Slayer?
A Toy That Can Kill—Sort Of
Let’s be clear: The Water Gun Gesture is hilarious. But under that playful stream lies a bizarre truth—you can damage monsters with it, and technically kill them if you try hard enough.
Damage Mechanics Simplified
Here’s what testing revealed:
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No offensive stats affect it (not skills, food, consumables, or weapons)
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Each shot does 2 damage, unless you're fighting a water-immune monster—then it does 1 damage
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Firing rate: 3 shots per round → pump reload → repeat
Max Theoretical Output
If a monster lets you stand and spray like a garden hose for a full minute:
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You can shoot 81 times (2 damage each) → 162 damage/min
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Over 50 minutes, you’d hit 8,100 damage max
Problem? Most monsters don’t let you stand still that long—and most have more HP than that anyway.
Where the Water Gun Actually Works
Solo vs Multiplayer
In solo, the Water Gun has serious limits. Only low-rank monsters or certain small monsters are realistically killable with it. But in multiplayer, things get interesting.
Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t scale enemy HP linearly:
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4 players = ~2.4x monster health
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4 Water Gun users = 4x damage output
In a perfectly coordinated squad, you could dish out over 32,000 damage via Water Guns alone—enough to down mid-tier monsters.
No, you won’t be slaying tempered Gore Magala, but low-rank, high-value hunts suddenly become viable with coordinated teams.
The Takeaway: Gimmicks With Teeth
At first glance, both of these additions seemed like pure fan service—just silly inclusions meant to entertain. But as we've broken down:
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Corn Popper Gunlance is a legitimate alternate meta, suited for players who prefer shelling over melee and love tight movement loops.
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Water Gun Gesture is an eccentric but technically viable challenge build—a fun flex for experienced players or friends goofing off in co-op.
They might not dethrone the meta in raw numbers, but they open new doors for creative playstyles, which is what Monster Hunter is all about.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I activate Crackling Corn Popper skill?
Use both Wyvern Fire charges. Once they're depleted and on cooldown, the passive triggers automatically.
Does shelling scale with Affinity or Critical Boost?
No. Shelling does not benefit from crits at all. Focus entirely on raw attack and artillery skills.
Can the Corn Popper be used effectively in solo play?
Yes—especially against monsters with bad weak spots. It’s a safe and consistent solo option.
Does weapon sharpness matter for shelling?
Only when it drops into red, which nerfs damage. Anything above red is fine.
Can I kill monsters using only the Water Gun gesture?
Yes, but only lower-tier monsters. It’s possible in multiplayer with coordination, but not efficient.
Does the Water Gun benefit from food skills or buffs?
Nope. It’s completely unaffected by anything but your own movement and stamina-based skills.
How much damage does the Water Gun deal?
Usually 2 per hit, or 1 if the monster is water-resistant. The damage doesn't scale.
Is Corn Popper better than Guardian or Ardian Gunlances?
Depends on playstyle. If you focus purely on shelling, it can match or outperform them in certain fights.
What’s the best armor for Corn Popper builds?
Prioritize pieces that offer Attack Boost, Artillery, Load Shells, and Offensive Guard.
Why use the Corn Popper over meta sets?
If you're tired of melee-centric play and want mobility with simplicity, this is a refreshingly effective alternative.
Closing Thoughts: The Meta Evolves Through Playstyle
Monster Hunter Wilds thrives because it encourages experimentation. It rewards those willing to try something unconventional, like a cob of corn or a toy squirt gun. While the Corn Popper Gunlance won’t break the game wide open, it reshapes the meta just enough to feel meaningful. And the Water Gun Gesture? It's a laugh, a challenge, and maybe—just maybe—a weapon of legend in the hands of a mad hunter.
So load up your gear, charge that Corn Popper, and show those monsters who's really popping off in Wilds.
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