Monster Hunter's renowned for its diverse weapon roster and thrilling gameplay. But did you know even more weapons exist, absent from recent titles? Journey with us through the history of Monster Hunter weaponry.
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A History of Monster Hunter Weapons
Monster Hunter's legacy spans over two decades, beginning in 2004. A hallmark of the series is its varied weapon selection. Monster Hunter Wilds boasts fourteen distinct weapon types, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, movesets, and mechanics to master.
The evolution from the original Great Sword to its modern counterpart is dramatic, showcasing the series' growth. Furthermore, several older weapons, absent from Western releases, add to the rich history.
First Generation Weapons
These weapons debuted in the first Monster Hunter game and its variations. These OGs have endured, evolving with refined movesets and mechanics.
Great Sword
Arguably the franchise's most iconic weapon, the Great Sword's debut in 2004 cemented its place. Its high damage potential comes at the cost of mobility. While capable of devastating single hits, its attacks are slow, akin to a Gravios charging a hunter. The blade itself can also serve as a shield, though at the expense of stamina and sharpness.
Early iterations emphasized hit-and-run tactics and precise spacing. While combos existed, slow animations made extended chains less effective. Interestingly, the blade's center inflicted greater damage than the tip or hilt.
Monster Hunter 2 introduced the iconic Charged Slash—a multi-level charge attack culminating in a powerful swing. This remains a cornerstone of the weapon's appeal.
Subsequent games refined the charge mechanic, adding finishers and smoother combo transitions, despite retaining its deliberate pace. Monster Hunter World's shoulder tackle, for instance, allows for quicker access to charged attacks.
The Great Sword offers a low skill floor but a high skill ceiling. Mastering its timing and maximizing damage with the True Charged Slash separates exceptional users from the rest.
Sword and Shield
Embodying versatility, the Sword and Shield boasts a balanced approach. Lower single-hit damage is compensated by swift combos, blocking capabilities, high mobility, and utility. Initially considered a beginner weapon, its complexity has grown with each installment.
Early gameplay centered on rapid slashes and combos, leveraging its mobility. Monster Hunter 2 added the ability to use items while the weapon remained drawn.
Later games expanded its moveset: Monster Hunter 3 introduced shield bash combos; Monster Hunter 4, backsteps and jumps; and Monster Hunter World/Rise, Perfect Rush and aerial finishers.
Despite its short range and moderate damage, the Sword and Shield remains a jack-of-all-trades. Infinite combos, quick attacks, evasive backsteps, powerful finishers, and a reliable block make it a surprisingly deep weapon.
Hammer
One of two blunt weapons (incapable of cutting tails), Hammers excel at breaking parts, particularly heads. Post-Monster Hunter 2, they became synonymous with knockouts, stunning monsters with repeated headshots.
Early gameplay mirrored the Great Sword's hit-and-run style, but with surprisingly high mobility and the inability to block. Its charge mechanic uniquely allowed movement while charging.
Monster Hunter World/Rise significantly altered the Hammer, introducing the Big Bang and Spinning Bludgeon attacks, bolstering its offensive capabilities beyond its signature golf swing and Superpound.
Two modes, Strength and Courage, were added, each influencing charge attacks and effects. Effective Hammer use requires mastering mode switching and maintaining charge while moving.
The Hammer's objective is simple: target the head and induce knockouts. This seemingly straightforward goal requires skill and rewards players with devastating charged attacks and combo finishers.
Lance
The Lance embodies the adage "a good offense is a great defense." Its long reach allows for ranged attacks, while its large shield blocks most attacks, even some considered unguardable with proper skills. Despite limited mobility and attacks, its damage output is substantial.
Gameplay resembles boxing, prioritizing pokes from a safe distance. Core attacks include forward and upward thrusts, chainable up to three times. A counter mechanic enhances its defensive capabilities, alongside running charge and shield bash attacks for closing distance.
Often underestimated due to its less flashy animations, the Lance rewards players who stand their ground. It transforms the hunter into a tank, surpassing even the Gunlance in defensive prowess.
Light Bowgun
The Light Bowgun is a highly mobile ranged weapon, maintaining normal movement speed while drawn. Its faster reload speed, compared to its heavier counterpart, contributes to its ease of use and perceived safety.
Its mobility comes at the cost of firepower; ammunition selection is limited. Customization options, such as barrels, silencers, and scopes, allow for weapon tailoring.
The Light Bowgun compensates for its weaker damage with Rapid Fire capabilities for certain ammo types. This makes it surprisingly potent despite its limitations.
Monster Hunter 4's Critical Distance mechanic added depth, requiring precise positioning for maximum damage based on ammunition type. Monster Hunter World introduced Wyvernblast (ground-planted bombs) and a slide maneuver, enhancing its already mobile style.
The Light Bowgun has evolved beyond a mere "weaker" version of the Heavy Bowgun. Its simplicity has matured into a robust design, easier to master yet competitive in mechanics and specialized roles.
Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun, the premier ranged weapon of the first generation, boasts high damage and access to most special ammunition. Its offensive power is balanced by its reduced mobility; movement is restricted to walking while drawn.
While offering less mobility than the Light Bowgun, it provides greater ammunition flexibility. Customization options exist, including shields for defense.
Its design remained largely unchanged until Monster Hunter 3 introduced Siege Mode for continuous firing without reloading. Monster Hunter World added Wyvernheart (minigun) and Wyvernsnipe (powerful single-shot) special ammo types.
The Heavy Bowgun excels with powerful ammunition like Cluster and Crag, enabling rapid monster takedowns. While minor adjustments like dodge rolls and attachments have been added, its core identity remains: big gun, big bullets.
Dual Blades
The flashy Dual Blades prioritize speed and are exceptionally effective at inflicting status ailments and elemental damage due to their multi-hit attacks. Interestingly, despite being a first-generation weapon, they were only introduced in Western releases of the first game.
Their gameplay focuses on rapid, fluid combos. While individual attacks are weak, their speed and frequency accumulate significant damage.
Demon Mode, a damage-boosting state with enhanced attacks, is a key feature, though it drains stamina. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd/3 Ultimate introduced the Demon Gauge, filling upon successful attacks in Demon Mode, enabling access to the even more powerful Archdemon Mode.
Archdemon Mode provided access to Demon Mode moves without stamina drain, shifting gameplay away from cycling in and out of Demon Mode. The Demon Dash, a unique movement tool, was enhanced in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate with the Adept Hunter Style, granting a damage buff and improved dodging attacks.
While core gameplay remains consistent, refinements and additions have enhanced its aggressive playstyle. Archdemon Mode, in particular, revolutionized the weapon's potential.
Second Generation Weapons
Introduced in the second generation, these weapons are considered cousins to their first-generation counterparts, sharing functional similarities but boasting unique movesets and mechanics.
Long Sword
Known for fluid combos, high damage, and refined mechanics, the Long Sword, introduced in Monster Hunter 2, offers greater mobility and smoother combos than the Great Sword, while sacrificing blocking capabilities.
The Spirit Gauge, filling with successful attacks, activates the Spirit Combo, a powerful damage string. Monster Hunter 3 added Spirit Roundslash, a finisher that boosts the Spirit Gauge to three levels (white, yellow, red), each granting attack buffs.
Monster Hunter World introduced Spirit Thrust Helm Breaker and Foresight Slash, a parry attack chainable into the Spirit Combo and Roundslash. Iceborne's Iai Stance further enhances this, adding Iai Slash and Iai Spirit Slash, providing faster Spirit Gauge filling and another parry option.
The Long Sword remains combo-focused, but has evolved into a counter-based weapon, leveraging parries and counters to quickly reach its peak potential.
Hunting Horn
The support-oriented Hunting Horn, introduced in Monster Hunter 2, uses Recital to play notes, creating beneficial effects like attack/defense buffs and healing. It deals impact damage, prioritizing headshots for stuns, though its overall damage is lower than the Hammer.
Recital improvements throughout the series focused on seamless integration with combat. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate allowed note playing during attacks. Monster Hunter World enabled song queuing, activating multiple buffs simultaneously. Echo Notes, introduced in the expansion, provided area-based buffs after a specific attack.
Monster Hunter Rise significantly overhauled the weapon, simplifying note playing and automatic buff application. This simplification proved divisive, with some lamenting the loss of complexity while others appreciated the increased accessibility.
Gunlance
A hybrid of Lance and Bowgun, the Gunlance, introduced in the second generation, combines a lance with shelling capabilities. Unlike the Lance, its attacks are slashing, and it features finishers like Wyvern's Fire, a charged explosive attack.
Shelling types vary between Gunlances, influencing attack effectiveness. Monster Hunter 3 introduced a quick reload mechanic, enabling infinite combos, along with Full Burst and additional shell charging. Monster Hunter X added the Heat Gauge, influencing damage and introducing risk-reward mechanics.
Monster Hunter World added Wyrmstake Shot, a combo finisher involving an exploding stake. The Gunlance's unique reloading system and balancing act between shelling and physical attacks define its gameplay.
Bow
The agile Bow, introduced in Monster Hunter 2, excels in close-to-mid-range combat, utilizing mobility and combo-based attacks. It uses coatings to enhance damage or inflict elemental/status effects.
Its hit-and-run style prioritizes weak point targeting and multi-hit attacks for elemental damage. While early games featured Shot Types, impacting available attacks, Monster Hunter World unified the moveset, integrating Shot Types into the base attacks.
Monster Hunter Rise reintroduced Shot Types, tying them to charge levels. Monster Hunter World's changes fostered a more aggressive and combo-heavy ranged style, contrasting with the Bowgun's point-and-shoot approach.
Third and Fourth Generation Weapons
Introduced in Monster Hunter 3 and Monster Hunter 4, respectively, these weapons showcase unique morphing capabilities and mechanics.
Switch Axe
The Switch Axe, introduced in Monster Hunter 3, features Axe and Sword modes. Axe Mode offers range and mobility, with an infinite stamina-based combo. Sword Mode delivers higher damage, utilizing phials and the Elemental Discharge finisher.
The weapon's balance between modes is key. Monster Hunter World introduced Amped, empowering Sword Mode attacks. Monster Hunter Rise extended Amped to both modes, encouraging form switching for maximum damage.
The Switch Axe's form-swapping mechanics and explosive combat style make it a unique addition to the series.
Insect Glaive
The Insect Glaive, introduced in Monster Hunter 4, emphasizes aerial combat. It uses a Kinsect to collect essences (red, white, orange) for buffs, enhancing attack, mobility, and defense. Its mounting capabilities are a key feature.
While its base moveset is straightforward, its true potential lies in collecting all three essences for amplified buffs. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne added Descending Thrust, a much-needed air-to-ground finisher.
Monster Hunter Rise simplified Kinsect upgrades and introduced new Kinsect types (Normal, Assist, Powder, Speed), enhancing accessibility.
The Insect Glaive's core gameplay revolves around efficient essence collection, emphasizing aerial combat and buff management.
Charge Blade
The Charge Blade, another transforming weapon from Monster Hunter 4, uses Sword Mode to charge phials and Axe Mode to unleash Amped Elemental Discharge. Its versatility and powerful finishers are balanced by its high skill ceiling.
Mastering Guard Points is crucial for efficient phial charging and defense. Understanding attack transitions between modes and monster behavior is essential for maximizing its potential.
The Charge Blade's balanced offense and intricate mechanics make it a highly rewarding, albeit challenging, weapon.
Future Weapons?
While Monster Hunter Wilds features fourteen weapons, the series has a history of weapons absent from Western releases. Given its longevity, the introduction of new weapons or ports of existing ones is highly likely, adding further depth to the already engaging gameplay.
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