Plenty of people are getting into Monster Hunter Rise now, no doubt thanks to the amazing presentation for the expansion DLC. It can be a bit scary to play because, from the start, there’s so much to keep note of, like what the many facilities do and how to change and use skills. It gets easier as time goes on, trust me. But before then, let’s talk about the most fun part: finding the right weapon to hunt with.
There are, at the moment, 14 types of weapons that vary from each other. While some of them have similarities, their overall playstyle and capabilities are different enough to justify using any of them over the others if the one weapon suits you. If you need help figuring out which weapon that would be, then this post here is for you, whether you’re playing Monster Hunter Rise or any Monster Hunter game really (after Monster Hunter 4 at least). Admittedly, this was supposed to be a tier list for all the weapons, but I think Gaijin Hunter said it best on his ranking video: all of the weapons are S tier. So let’s get into why he’s right and what makes each weapon awesome.
The first 11 weapons will be Blademaster weapons. Using them increases your defense against physical attacks, and you’ll need to maintain their sharpness with Whetstones to keep dealing damage and making sure your attacks don’t get deflected. If that sounds good, check out any of these weapons, starting with the Great Sword.
See Related Articles
- Here’s What Was In The Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Digital Event (03.15.2022)
- Things to Love About Monster Hunter Rise
- 9 Monsters That Should Return in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Great Sword
The Great Sword is the most iconic weapon of the Monster Hunter franchise. It can do other things, like guard yourself and stun monsters, if used properly. But its biggest use by far is charging up your attacks and timing the release to deal a huge chunk of damage at one time. This is especially useful for cutting off the tails of certain monsters. This weapon is best for patient and mostly grounded players that like to deal lots of damage at once with heavy attacks. So if that’s something you’re into, give the Great Sword a shot.
Longsword
The Longsword is a weapon with a relatively high skill ceiling, especially for newer players. Everything it’s capable of can be confusing at first (parts of it still are for me honestly), but once you’re used to utilizing its long range and timing your counters and invincibility frames, it’ll almost feel like you’re untouchable. Use the Longsword if you want a long range weapon with speed, power, and rewards for situational awareness.
Sword and Shield
The Sword and Shield, while lacking in range, make up for it with the ability to deal a great amount of damage in a short period of time. The shield can also be used in different ways, either by guarding yourself or stunning monsters. It also has the very unique ability to let you use items with the weapon drawn (normally, you have to put your weapon away to use items). Use this weapon if you like mobility, versatility, and fast attacks.
Dual Blades
Dual Blades deal the least damage with one hit out of all the weapons, but the attacks and combos you can perform with it are so plentiful and quick that it doesn’t even matter. The ability to attack quickly and slide just as quickly out of the way of incoming attacks, with the weapon’s Demon and Archdemon modes, makes this weapon best suited for players that are all about pushing forward and not giving the monster any room to breathe. Use this weapon if you like to perform quick movements and constantly rack up damage.
Lance
The Lance is a weapon that gives you a means of dealing damage in different ways from a range, while having a shield for defense against monster attacks. With it being a weapon that makes you move slowly, you have to play really carefully to get the most out of what it has to offer. Use this weapon if you prefer a more defensive and safe playstyle.
Gunlance
You’d think that this is just Lance with a gun, and you’d be sorta right. The attacks are similar, but what makes the Gunlance different is that the range is a bit shorter. However, it makes up for it by being extended with shell shots that can be fired and incorporated into your combos in different ways. The Gunlance is for players that want to take on the tank role, being defensive while also being able to punish the monster with lots of explosions.
Hammer
The Hammer is a weapon that’s unique from all the weapons shown so far. The attacks and capabilities of this weapon are meant solely for stunning a monster by focusing your attacks on the head and making it see stars. Even without attacking the head, this weapon does a great amount of physical damage, thanks to the many ways you can charge up attacks. Use this weapon if you want big damage, decent mobility, and are appealed by the idea of knocking a monster into dizziness.
Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horn also has the ability to stun monsters with attacks. But the focus of it is the support role, with the Hunting Horn’s melodies being able to cause various buffs and effects such as damage boosting, health recovery, and sonic waves. Use the Hunting Horn if you prefer to attack the monster while supporting your teammates.
Switch Axe
The Switch Axe, as the name implies, allows you to switch between what’s essentially two different weapons. You have the axe mode when you want to attack with range and charge up your sword mode’s gauge, and you have sword mode when you want to use your gauge for quick and devastating hits. If you want something that can adapt to various situations, then a Switch Axe is for you.
Charge Blade
The Charge Blade also has two forms, and they compliment each other greatly. Attacking in the sword mode allows you to fill up phials, while attacking in the axe mode spends those phials to perform devastating attacks or increase the sword mode’s power. You pretty much have to use the phials though, or else the sword will become overcharged and bounce off the monster. Use this weapon if you’re down for managing your resources and being rewarded with a great deal of power for it.
Insect Glaive
The Insect Glaive is, as of writing this, the newest Monster Hunter weapon, coming out in Monster Hunter 4. History lesson aside, this weapon can do so much with its decent range, nimble movements with its attacks, great aerial mobility, and the ability to boost yourself with Extracts from your partner Kinsect. Use this weapon if you’re interested in being able to attack from a variety of positions.
Now, we’re on the Gunner weapons. Unlike Blademaster weapons, you don’t have to worry about weapon sharpness. What you do need to worry about though, is maintaining your use of ammunition. You also get an increase in elemental attack resistance by using these next three weapons. If that sounds okay with you, keep reading; if not, then you’re practically done here, but make sure you go to the end.
Light Bowgun
The Light Bowgun is a gunner weapon that lets you rack up damage over time by shooting ammo from a distance. You have a lot of mobility with them (if you’re shooting certain ammo from certain Light Bowguns at least) and they’re great for supporting your team by inflicting a variety of status conditions on the monster one after another. Use this gunner weapon if you like high versatility and mobility with your shooting.
Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun is more than what it sounds like, which is just a Bowgun but heavier (even though it’s absolutely that). With that heaviness comes ways to deal a great amount of damage with the special shots that come with it. If you don’t mind the tradeoff of lower mobility, use the Heavy Bowgun if you want a gunner weapon that focuses on dealing raw damage.
Bow
Rather than using bullets as ammo like the other two, the Bow lets you deal different status effects through coatings that can be applied to your arrows. These arrows can also be used for melee attacks so you can apply the status effect without having to waste the coating. Charging arrows requires stamina though, so make sure your bar is plentiful before firing away. The Bow, in my opinion, is the perfect balance between power, speed, and versatility, so if that sounds like it’s up your alley, give Bow a go.
And that’s all the weapons. Like I said, they’re all different in terms of playstyle and overall capabilities. However, as I’ve also said, similarities can be found between a number of them. While it’s great to find a weapon that suits your overall playstyle, I highly recommend trying out different weapons throughout your playthrough. Think of this as a way to help you figure out where to start.
Monster Hunter Rise is available on Nintendo Switch devices and PC via Steam. Make sure to pick it up and practice in time for the massive expansion, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, which will be releasing on June 30 this year. Happy hunting!