Monster Hunter Weapons

3 min read 13-12-2024

Monster Hunter's diverse weapon roster is a cornerstone of its engaging gameplay. Each weapon offers a unique playstyle, demanding different strategies and skillsets to master. This guide provides a concise overview of the fourteen weapon types, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right tool for the hunt.

The Fourteen Weapon Types

Choosing your main weapon in Monster Hunter is a significant decision, shaping your entire hunting experience. Understanding the nuances of each weapon type is crucial for success. Here's a breakdown:

1. Great Sword: Powerhouse of Destruction

The Great Sword delivers devastating blows, capable of staggering even the largest monsters. However, its slow attack speed makes it vulnerable during combos, requiring precise timing and positioning. Strengths: High damage output, strong stagger potential. Weaknesses: Slow attack speed, large attack windup.

2. Sword and Shield: Balanced and Versatile

A classic choice for beginners, the Sword and Shield provides a blend of offense and defense. Its shield grants protection, allowing for aggressive yet cautious playstyles. Strengths: Balanced offense and defense, versatile moveset. Weaknesses: Lower damage output compared to some other weapons.

3. Dual Blades: Rapid-Fire Fury

These fast-paced blades prioritize speed and agility. Their relentless attacks build up damage quickly, making them ideal for exploiting monster weaknesses. Strengths: High attack speed, ability to inflict elemental damage quickly. Weaknesses: Low defense, requires precise timing and stamina management.

4. Long Sword: Elegant and Precise

The Long Sword blends speed and power, utilizing a Spirit Gauge to enhance attacks. Mastering its counter attacks is key to maximizing its potential. Strengths: High damage potential, counter attacks for significant damage and defensive capabilities. Weaknesses: Requires precise timing and positioning for effective counter attacks.

5. Hammer: Blunt Force Trauma

The Hammer specializes in blunt damage, stunning monsters with powerful blows to the head. Its slow attacks require precise timing, but the reward is significant. Strengths: High stun potential, significant damage. Weaknesses: Slow attack speed, vulnerable during windup.

6. Hunting Horn: Support and Offense

The Hunting Horn is unique, offering both offensive and supportive capabilities. Playing melodies buffs the hunter and their allies, while its attacks inflict considerable damage. Strengths: Buffs for hunter and teammates, good damage. Weaknesses: Requires knowledge of melodies and their effects, can be challenging to master.

7. Lance: Impenetrable Defense

The Lance excels at defense, offering unwavering protection with its shield. Its pokes and stabs deliver consistent damage while maintaining a strong defensive posture. Strengths: High defense, consistent damage output. Weaknesses: Low mobility, slower attack speed.

8. Gunlance: Explosive Power

Combining the lance's defensive capabilities with shelling attacks, the Gunlance is a versatile weapon. Its shelling adds explosive damage to its already solid poking attacks. Strengths: High defense, explosive shelling damage. Weaknesses: Relatively slow attack speed, requires precise shelling timing.

9. Switch Axe: Axe Mode and Sword Mode

The Switch Axe transitions seamlessly between axe and sword modes, offering a diverse range of attacks. Its phial system adds explosive burst damage. Strengths: Versatile attack styles, high damage potential. Weaknesses: Requires understanding of mode switching, can be complex to master.

10. Charge Blade: Powerful and Versatile

The Charge Blade boasts devastating charged attacks, capable of dealing massive damage. Its unique phial system adds elemental or explosive effects to its attacks. Strengths: Massive damage output, high versatility, defensive options. Weaknesses: Can be complex to master, relatively slow attack speed.

11. Insect Glaive: Aerial Acrobatics

The Insect Glaive allows for aerial combat, combining agile movement with powerful attacks. Using its Kinsect, the hunter can collect extracts to enhance their abilities. Strengths: High mobility, aerial attacks. Weaknesses: Requires precise timing and kinsect management.

12. Light Bowgun: Rapid-Fire Precision

The Light Bowgun emphasizes rapid-fire attacks, utilizing a vast array of ammo types. Its high mobility allows for flanking and hit-and-run tactics. Strengths: High mobility, various ammo types. Weaknesses: Lower damage output per shot compared to the Heavy Bowgun.

13. Heavy Bowgun: Raw Power and Blast

The Heavy Bowgun prioritizes power over speed, unleashing devastating shots that can easily stagger even the toughest monsters. Strengths: High damage output per shot, wide variety of ammo types. Weaknesses: Lower mobility than the Light Bowgun, longer reload times.

14. Bow: Precise and Ranged

The Bow offers precise ranged combat, demanding accurate aim and timing. Its charge shots deal significant damage, making it a potent weapon in skilled hands. Strengths: Ranged attacks, powerful charged shots. Weaknesses: Requires precise aiming and stamina management, vulnerable at close range.

This overview should serve as a starting point for your journey into the world of Monster Hunter weapons. Remember that practice and experimentation are crucial to mastering any weapon and finding the one that best suits your playstyle. Happy Hunting!