The History of Monster Hunter Weapons

Monster Hunter is renowned for its diverse weapon arsenal and captivating gameplay. But did you know even more weapons existed in earlier games, never making it to newer releases? This deep dive explores the rich history of Monster Hunter weapons.

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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 diverse 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 striking, showcasing significant gameplay refinements. Beyond these, several weapons from older games remain absent from Western releases. Let's delve into this fascinating history.

First Generation Weapons

These weapons debuted in the original Monster Hunter and its various versions. These foundational weapons have endured, evolving with enhanced movesets and mechanics.

Great Sword

Arguably the franchise's most iconic weapon, the Great Sword's debut in 2004 cemented its place in Monster Hunter history. Known for its immense power, its high damage comes at the cost of slow attack speed and movement. The massive blade can even serve as a shield, albeit at the expense of stamina and sharpness. Early gameplay centered on hit-and-run tactics and precise spacing. While combos were possible, the slow animations made extended chains less effective. A unique feature was that hitting a monster with the blade's center dealt more damage than the tip or hilt.

Monster Hunter 2 introduced the iconic Charged Slash, a multi-level charge attack culminating in a devastating swing. This move remains a cornerstone of the Great Sword's appeal. Subsequent games built upon this charging mechanic, adding more finishers and smoother combo transitions. Monster Hunter World, for example, added a shoulder tackle, allowing for quicker access to charged attacks.

The Great Sword offers a low skill floor but a high skill ceiling. Mastering the weapon involves maximizing damage output by executing True Charged Slashes in brief openings.

Sword and Shield

Embodying versatility, the Sword and Shield boasts a balanced approach. While individual strikes deal relatively low damage, it compensates with rapid combos, blocking capabilities, high mobility, and utility. Initially considered a beginner weapon, its complexity has increased with added mechanics and attacks. The original design emphasized quick slashes, combos, and mobility. Monster Hunter 2 allowed item usage while the weapon remained drawn.

Later iterations expanded the moveset. Monster Hunter 3 introduced shield bash combos, Monster Hunter 4 added backsteps and jumps, and Monster Hunter World/Rise brought the Perfect Rush and aerial finishers. Despite its shorter range and lower damage, the Sword and Shield remains a jack-of-all-trades, offering infinite combos, quick attacks, evasiveness, powerful finishers, and a reliable block.

Hammer

One of two blunt weapons (dealing impact, not slashing damage), Hammers excel at breaking monster parts, particularly heads. After Monster Hunter 2, the Hammer became synonymous with knockouts due to its ability to stun monsters with repeated head strikes. Its gameplay initially resembled the Great Sword's hit-and-run style, but with surprisingly high mobility and no blocking capability. The charge mechanic uniquely allowed movement while charging.

While the moveset remained largely consistent, Monster Hunter World/Rise brought significant changes with attacks like Big Bang and Spinning Bludgeon. These additions, along with "Strength" and "Courage" modes affecting charge attacks, added depth to the weapon's strategy.

The Hammer's objective is simple: target the head and stun the monster. This involves skillful timing and maximizing damage with charged attacks and combo finishers.

Lance

The Lance embodies the principle "a good offense is a good defense." Its long reach allows attacks from a distance, while its large shield blocks most attacks. With the right skills, even normally unblockable attacks can be defended. While its mobility is limited, its damage output is considerable.

Gameplay resembles an outboxer, poking at range while maintaining a guard. Core attacks are forward and upward thrusts, chainable up to three times. The counter mechanic, introduced later, further enhanced its defensive capabilities. Running charge and shield bash attacks aided in closing distance.

Often underestimated due to its less flashy animations, the Lance rewards players for standing their ground. It transforms the hunter into a formidable tank, offering superior defense compared to the Gunlance.

Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun is a highly mobile ranged weapon, maintaining normal movement speed while drawn. Its faster reload speed and mobility make it easier to handle and safer than its heavier counterpart. However, its ammunition selection is more limited.

Customization options, such as barrels, silencers, and scopes, allow for fine-tuning. The ability to rapid-fire certain ammo types compensates for its weaker damage output. Monster Hunter 4's "Critical Distance" mechanic added depth, making optimal range crucial for maximum damage. Monster Hunter World introduced Wyvernblast (planted bombs) and a slide maneuver, further enhancing its mobile, run-and-gun style.

The Light Bowgun has evolved beyond being a weaker version of the Heavy Bowgun, offering a distinct, accessible ranged experience.

Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun is the premier ranged weapon of the first generation. Its high damage and wide ammunition selection make it ideal for long-range bombardment. However, its size and weight severely restrict mobility, limiting movement to walking while drawn. Customization options are available, and shields can be equipped for defense.

Its core design remained consistent until Monster Hunter 3 introduced Siege Mode, allowing for continuous firing without reloading. Monster Hunter World added Wyvernheart (minigun) and Wyvernsnipe (high-power single shot) special ammo, requiring strategic ammunition management. Crafting stronger ammunition remains essential, adding a layer of strategic preparation.

The Heavy Bowgun's identity remains unchanged: powerful ammunition for devastating attacks.

Dual Blades

Known for their flashy combos and speed, Dual Blades excel at inflicting status ailments and elemental damage. Interestingly, despite being a first-generation weapon, they were only introduced in the Western release of the original Monster Hunter.

Focusing on speed and fluid combos, Dual Blades surpass Sword and Shield in raw offensive power. Individual attacks are weak, but their rapid succession delivers significant damage. Demon Mode increases damage and access to more attacks, but drains stamina. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd/3 Ultimate introduced the Demon Gauge, leading to Archdemon Mode, a powered-up state with stamina-free access to enhanced attacks.

The Demon Dash, a unique movement tool, further enhances mobility. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate's Adept Hunter Style tied perfect dodges to the Demon Dash, granting damage boosts. While the core remains the same, refinements have enhanced its aggressive playstyle.

Second Generation Weapons

Introduced in the second generation, these weapons are considered cousins to their first-generation counterparts, offering similar functionality but distinct movesets and mechanics.

Long Sword

The Long Sword is known for its fluid combos, high damage, and refined mechanics. While functionally similar to the Great Sword, it boasts greater mobility and smoother combos. The Spirit Gauge, a core mechanic, fills with successful attacks, enabling the Spirit Combo and its devastating finishers. Monster Hunter 3 expanded the Spirit Gauge, introducing the Spirit Roundslash finisher and tiered attack buffs.

Monster Hunter World added the Spirit Thrust Helm Breaker and the Foresight Slash (a parry). Iceborne introduced the Iai Stance, featuring Iai Slash and Iai Spirit Slash (another parry). The Long Sword’s design has evolved into a counter-based weapon, seamlessly integrating parries and counters into its fluid combos.

Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horn is a support weapon, utilizing Recital to play notes and trigger various buffs (attack, defense, healing). It deals impact damage, targeting the head for stuns. While similar to the Hammer, its overall damage is lower due to its buffing capabilities.

Changes primarily focused on refining the Recital mechanic. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate allowed note playing during attacks, improving fluidity. Monster Hunter World introduced queued songs and Echo Notes (finishers with additional buffs). Monster Hunter Rise significantly overhauled the weapon, simplifying note playing and buff activation, making it more accessible but also controversial due to reduced complexity.

Gunlance

A hybrid of Lance and Bowgun, the Gunlance combines a lance's shield and piercing attacks with the ability to fire explosive shells. Attacks are mainly slashing, unlike the Lance's piercing attacks. The Wyvern's Fire is a powerful charged shelling attack. Shelling types affect attack power and explosions.

Monster Hunter 3 added quick reload and Full Burst, creating an infinite combo. Monster Hunter X introduced the Heat Gauge, adding a risk/reward element to shelling usage. Monster Hunter World added the Wyrmstake Shot, a powerful impaling attack. The Gunlance demands a balance between attack and shelling management to maximize effectiveness.

Bow

The Bow is the most agile ranged weapon, excelling in close-to-mid-range combat. Its gameplay resembles a melee weapon, relying on combos and chargeable attacks. Coatings modify damage and inflict elemental/status effects.

Early games featured Shot Types, but Monster Hunter World integrated these into a universal moveset, enhancing combo potential. Monster Hunter Rise reintroduced Shot Types, tying them to charge levels. The Bow's design emphasizes aggressive, combo-heavy ranged combat.

Third and Fourth Generation Weapons

These weapons, introduced in Monster Hunter 3 and Monster Hunter 4, feature unique transformation mechanics, adding another layer of strategic depth.

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 design centers around balancing both modes.

Monster Hunter World introduced the Amped state, empowering Sword Mode attacks. Monster Hunter Rise extended the Amped state to both modes, encouraging fluid mode switching for maximum damage. The Switch Axe's form-swapping mechanics provide a unique and dynamic combat experience.

Insect Glaive

The Insect Glaive, introduced in Monster Hunter 4, specializes in aerial combat. It utilizes a Kinsect to collect essences (red, white, orange) providing attack, mobility, and defense buffs. The weapon excels at mounting monsters.

While the core gameplay remained largely unchanged, refinements focused on the Kinsect and buff system. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne added the Descending Thrust finisher. Monster Hunter Rise simplified Kinsect upgrades and introduced new Kinsect types.

Charge Blade

The Charge Blade, also introduced in Monster Hunter 4, is another transforming weapon with Sword and Axe modes. Sword Mode charges phials, while Axe Mode unleashes the Amped Elemental Discharge. It's known for its complexity and versatility.

Mastering Guard Points is crucial for efficient phial charging and defense. The weapon's fluid combos and transitions demand a deep understanding of both the weapon's mechanics and monster behavior. Its versatility and high skill ceiling make it a rewarding weapon to master.

The Future of Monster Hunter Weapons

While Monster Hunter Wilds features fourteen weapons, the series' history includes others not present in all Western releases. Given the series' longevity, the addition of new weapons or the return of older ones is highly likely, further enriching the already captivating gameplay.