Monster Hunter's renowned for its diverse weapon arsenal and captivating gameplay. But did you know even more weapons exist, absent from recent titles? This exploration delves into the history of Monster Hunter weapons.
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A Weapon's Journey Through Monster Hunter History
Monster Hunter boasts a rich history, spanning over two decades since its 2004 debut. A key element is its diverse weapon selection. Monster Hunter Wilds offers fourteen distinct weapon types, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, movesets, and mechanics.
The evolution from the original Great Sword to its modern counterpart is dramatic, reflecting the game's advancements. Furthermore, several weapons from earlier games remain unreleased in Western markets. Let's examine Monster Hunter's weapon history.
First Generation Weapons
These weapons debuted in the original Monster Hunter and its variations. These foundational weapons have endured, evolving with enhanced movesets and mechanics.
Great Sword
The franchise's iconic Great Sword, introduced in 2004, is a powerhouse. Its high damage comes at the cost of slow attack and movement speeds, similar to a Gravios charging a hunter. The blade can also function as a shield, consuming stamina and sharpness.
Initially, gameplay revolved around hit-and-run tactics and precise spacing. While combos were possible, slow animations made extended attacks less efficient. A unique feature was increased damage when striking with the blade's center.
Monster Hunter 2 introduced the defining Charged Slash, a three-level charge attack culminating in a devastating swing. This remains a core element of the weapon's appeal.
Subsequent games built upon the charging mechanic, adding finishers and more efficient combo flows, despite maintaining its inherent slowness. Monster Hunter World's shoulder tackle allowed for quicker access to charged attacks after absorbing hits.
The Great Sword offers a low skill floor but a high skill ceiling. Mastery involves maximizing damage by utilizing True Charged Slashes in brief openings.
Sword and Shield
The versatile Sword and Shield boasts a balanced design. Lower single-hit damage is compensated by quick combos, blocking capabilities, high mobility, and utility. Initially considered a beginner weapon, its complexity has increased with added mechanics and attacks.
Early gameplay focused on rapid slashes, combos, and mobility. Monster Hunter 2 enabled item use while the weapon remained drawn.
Later iterations expanded the moveset, including the shield bash combo (Monster Hunter 3), backstep and jumping attacks (Monster Hunter 4), and Perfect Rush combo and aerial finishers (Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise).
Despite its short range and moderate damage, the Sword and Shield is a jack-of-all-trades. Infinite combos, quick attacks, backstep evasion, powerful finishers, and a blocking option make it a deceptively deep weapon.
Hammer
One of two blunt weapons (incapable of tail cuts), the Hammer excels at breaking parts, particularly heads. After Monster Hunter 2, it became renowned for its KO potential.
Its playstyle, like the Great Sword, is hit-and-run, but with surprisingly high mobility and no blocking capability. The charge mechanic uniquely allowed movement while charging.
The moveset remained largely unchanged until Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise, introducing the Big Bang and Spinning Bludgeon attacks, enhancing its offensive capabilities beyond its signature swing and Superpound.
The addition of Strength and Courage modes in later games added strategic depth, altering charge attacks and effects. Effective use requires mode switching based on monster matchups and maintaining charge while moving.
The Hammer's objective is simple: target the head and KO the monster. This requires skill, rewarding players with opportunities to utilize powerful charged attacks and combo finishers.
Lance
Embodying the principle "a good offense is a great defense," the Lance utilizes its range for attacks and its large shield for defense. The shield blocks most attacks, even some typically unguardable ones with proper skill setups. Despite its limited mobility and attacks, it delivers considerable damage.
Gameplay resembles an outboxer, using pokes from a safe distance. Main attacks include forward and upward thrusts (chainable up to three times). A Counter mechanic was added, along with running charge and shield bash attacks for closing distance.
Often underestimated due to its less flashy animations, the Lance rewards players for maintaining their ground. It transforms the hunter into a tank, exceeding the Gunlance in defensive capabilities.
Light Bowgun
A ranged weapon from the first generation, the Light Bowgun has appeared in every game. Its mobility and fast reload speed make it easier to handle than its heavier counterpart.
Its mobility sacrifices firepower, with limited ammunition options. Customization with attachments (long barrels, silencers, scopes) allows for tailored configurations.
While lacking the heavier Bowgun's ammunition variety and power, the Light Bowgun's Rapid Fire capability makes it competitive.
Monster Hunter 4 introduced "Critical Distance," adding depth to ranged combat by introducing optimal distances for maximum damage, varying by ammunition type.
Monster Hunter World introduced Wyvernblast (ground bombs), and a slide maneuver after shooting, enhancing its run-and-gun style.
The Light Bowgun has evolved beyond a weaker variant, offering ease of use without sacrificing mechanics or specialty.
Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun, a first-generation ranged weapon, delivers high damage and utilizes most special ammunition. Its size and weight, however, severely restrict mobility.
While the Light Bowgun prioritizes mobility, the Heavy Bowgun offers flexibility in ammunition types. Its slow movement is offset by the option to equip a shield.
Its design remained largely unchanged, serving as powerful artillery or support. Low mobility, however, can lead to downtime if the monster targets the wielder.
Monster Hunter 3 introduced Siege Mode for continuous firing without reloading. Monster Hunter World added Wyvernheart (minigun) and Wyvernsnipe (powerful single-shot) special ammo, independent of regular ammunition.
The Heavy Bowgun's strength lies in powerful ammunition like Cluster and Crag, enabling efficient monster takedowns. While minor changes have occurred, its core identity remains: powerful weaponry demands powerful ammunition.
Dual Blades
The flashy Dual Blades prioritize speed, excelling at inflicting status ailments and elemental damage due to their multi-hit attacks. Interestingly, despite being a first-generation weapon, it was only included in the Western release of the original Monster Hunter.
Speed and fluid combos define the Dual Blades, surpassing the Sword and Shield in pure offense. Individual attacks are weak, but rapid attacks accumulate significant damage.
Demon Mode enhances damage and access to more attacks, but drains stamina. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate introduced the Demon Gauge, filling with attacks in Demon Mode. A full gauge activates Archdemon Mode, providing enhanced attacks and evasion without stamina drain.
Further enhancements include the Demon Dash (movement tool), and in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, the Adept Hunter Style's perfect dodge, granting damage boosts and enhanced Demon Dash attacks.
While the core concept remains, refinements have enhanced its offensive capabilities. Archdemon Mode significantly altered gameplay, incentivizing sustained powered-up states.
Second Generation Weapons
Introduced in the second generation, these weapons are akin to their first-generation counterparts but with distinct movesets and mechanics.
Long Sword
The Long Sword is known for fluid combos, high damage, and advanced mechanics. Cosmetically similar to katanas among first-generation Great Swords, it became an official weapon type in Monster Hunter 2. While similar to the Great Sword in damage, it offers superior mobility and smoother combos, sacrificing blocking capabilities.
The Spirit Gauge, filled by landing attacks, enables the Spirit Combo, a powerful damage-dealing sequence.
Monster Hunter 3 added Spirit Gauge levels and the Spirit Roundslash finisher, boosting the gauge to three levels (white, yellow, red) for progressively stronger attack buffs.
Monster Hunter World added the Spirit Thrust Helm Breaker finisher and the Foresight Slash parry, enhancing combo flow. Iceborne introduced the Iai Stance (Iai Slash and Iai Spirit Slash), providing faster Spirit Gauge filling and another parry option.
The Long Sword's combo-oriented design has evolved into a counter-based style, integrating parries and counters to quickly reach peak effectiveness.
Hunting Horn
The support weapon, the Hunting Horn, introduced in Monster Hunter 2, utilizes Recital, a mechanic where combining different colored notes produces various beneficial effects (attack/defense buffs, healing).
Like the Hammer, it deals impact damage, targeting the head for stuns, but with lower overall damage due to its support capabilities.
Changes focused on improving Recital efficiency. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate allowed note playing during attacks. Monster Hunter World enabled song queuing, allowing simultaneous activation of multiple effects. Iceborne added Echo Notes, providing buffs when activating Recitals in specific areas.
Monster Hunter Rise overhauled the weapon, simplifying song activation and automatic buff application. This simplification proved divisive, with some criticizing the loss of complexity and others praising its accessibility.
Gunlance
A hybrid of Lance and Bowgun, introduced in the second generation, the Gunlance combines a shield and lance with explosive rounds (unlimited ammunition, replenished upon reloading).
Unlike the Lance's piercing attacks, the Gunlance primarily uses slashing attacks and features finishers like Wyvern's Fire (a charged explosive attack).
Shelling Abilities, varying by Gunlance, affect shelling-based attacks.
Monster Hunter 3 added a quick reload mechanic for infinite combos, the Full Burst downward slam, and the ability to charge extra shells for single attacks. Monster Hunter X introduced the Heat Gauge, affecting attack damage and potentially overheating the weapon.
Monster Hunter World added the Wyrmstake Shot finisher.
The Gunlance's unique reloading and unloading mechanics, along with the need to balance attacks to avoid overheating, make it a distinctive weapon.
Bow
The most agile ranged weapon, the Bow excels in close-to-mid-range combat, utilizing mobility and combos. It uses various Coatings to enhance damage or inflict elemental/status effects.
Hit-and-run tactics are key, focusing on weak points and multi-hit attacks for elemental damage.
Earlier games utilized Shot Types, but Monster Hunter World integrated them into the base moveset, offering universal combos. Close-Range Coating became infinite.
Monster Hunter Rise reintroduced Shot Types, tied to charge levels.
The Monster Hunter World overhaul enhanced its aggressive, combo-heavy style, differentiating it from Bowguns' point-and-shoot gameplay.
Third and Fourth Generation Weapons
Introduced in Monster Hunter 3 and Monster Hunter 4, these weapons include the Insect Glaive's unique buff system and two morphing weapons with transforming mechanics.
Switch Axe
The Switch Axe (Monster Hunter 3) features Axe Mode (mobile, long-range, infinite stamina-based combos) and Sword Mode (higher damage, quicker swings, Phial attacks, Elemental Discharge finisher).
Gameplay balances both modes. Monster Hunter World introduced Amped, empowering Sword Mode with its Phial and adding new transitions. Monster Hunter Rise extended Amped to both modes.
The Switch Axe's form-swapping mechanics and explosive combat style make it a unique addition.
Insect Glaive
The Insect Glaive (Monster Hunter 4) focuses on aerial combat, using a Kinsect to collect essences for buffs. It excels at mounting monsters.
The core gameplay revolves around collecting red, white, and orange essences for attack, mobility, and defense buffs.
While few major changes have occurred, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne added the Descending Thrust finisher. Monster Hunter Rise simplified Kinsect upgrades and introduced new Kinsect types.
The Insect Glaive's buff system and aerial attacks make it unique and accessible.
Charge Blade
The Charge Blade (Monster Hunter 4) is a transforming weapon with Sword Mode (for charging phials) and Axe Mode (for using charged phials with Amped Elemental Discharge). It's considered one of the most challenging weapons.
Guard Points are crucial for efficiently charging phials while defending. Different Phials affect gameplay. Mastery requires understanding both modes' transitions and monster behavior to maximize Guard Point usage.
The Charge Blade's versatility and mechanical depth make it a rewarding but difficult weapon to master.
Future Weapons?
While Monster Hunter Wilds features fourteen weapons, more exist, unreleased in Western markets. Given the series' longevity, future installments may introduce new weapons or port existing ones. The potential for further weapon additions enhances the already engaging gameplay.
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