Monster Hunter Rise keeps the tradition going with Lance’s counterpart, Gunlance, being a literal powerhouse by mixing fast thrust attacks with explosive bursts. In essence, the Gunlance is a spear that has a gun attached, able to mix things up when needed. With hellish attacks like the powerful Wyvern’s Fire and the new Silkbind attacks, this juggernaut is perfect for those that like the Lance’s playstyle, but want to spice things up a bit. Follow this guide below to see every detail about this destructive weapon.
Gunlance Guide and Overview
Gunlance in Monster Hunter Rise is as cool as it was in previous installments, and with the new Wirebug feature, some of its oldest problems are now partially fixed. Namely, mobility was one of the weapon’s biggest drawbacks, as it is very slow in both its attacks and movement as well. The addition of the Wirebug is something that helps this fact significantly, making it easier for players to jump into a hunt with the Gunlance.
At its core, and as you would expect, Gunlance’s gameplay is very similar to Lance’s. What makes the weapon feel different though, is two things. First, the most glaring difference, is that the Gunlance can use Shelling to shoot burst rounds in front of it, resulting to mini-explosions. This helps in a number of ways, like being able to deal more damage as a result, but requires some resource management which the Lance doesn’t really have. Second, the Gunlance has also a good variety of side and sweep attacks, not limiting itself only to thrust attacks. That said, they are not the best to use damage-wise, as they act more as a filler chain to better combos, usually resulting to burst shots.
While the Gunlance lacks the versatility of a Lance in regards to defensive mechanisms, as it doesn’t have counter moves, it does have a very strong shield. Guarding with a Gunlance is really efficient, compensating for the lack of more evasive maneuvers.
Lastly, Monster Hunter Rise brought back the weapon’s strongest attack, the Wyvern’s Fire, and alongside Burst Fire the weapon has some incredibly damaging moves. The constant need for reloading and cooling down though hinders them a bit, as you can’t really spam them frequently. Which means, you need to plan ahead and use them only when you are sure they are going to hit the target, preferably on a weak spot.
Gunlance Controls and Combos
- X = Lateral Thrust
- Left Stick+X = Lunging Upthrust
- A = Shelling
- Hold A = Charged Shelling
- X+A = Rising Slash
- ->X->A = Overhead Smash to Burst Fire
- ZR+X = Guard Thrust
- ZR+A = Reload
- After Attack ZR+A = Quick Reload
- ZR+X+A = Wyvern’s Fire
- ZR = Guard
- After Attack B = Step
Recommended Combos
- Loop Combo
- Step 1: Left Stick+X->X->X->ZR+A-> Jump to Step 2
- Step 2: X->X->X->ZR+A -> Repeat Step 2
- Burst Fire Combo
- Version 1: X+A->X->A
- Version 2: Left Stick+X->X->A
- Wyvern’s Fire Combo
- Version 1: X+A->X->X->A
- Version 2: Left Stick+X->X->X->A
Gunlance Silkbind Attacks
- ZL+X = Hail Cutter
- Perform a Rising Slash and then an Overhead Smash. Each usage reduces the cooldown time for Wyvern’s Fire.
- ZL+A = Guard Edge
- A well-timed guard regenerates your weapon’s sharpness, and can be followed up with various attacks.
Pros and Cons
- Pros
- High damage potential.
- Great defensive capabilities.
- Longer range than the Lance due to Shelling.
- Both attack types of the weapon can be enhanced, with Skills (Physical attack damage and Artillery).
- Cons
- Limited mobility.
- Resource hungry, in both Sharpness and Ammunition.
- Missing combos or high damage attacks like Wyvern’s Fire, leaves the hunter heavily vulnerable.
Monster Hunter Rise is set to release on March 26, for the Nintendo Switch. For more guides about the game, make sure to check our extensive list right here.
