The History of Monster Hunter Weapons

Monster Hunter's renowned for its diverse weapon selection and captivating gameplay. But did you know even more weapons existed in earlier games, absent from newer releases? This exploration delves into the history of Monster Hunter weapons.

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A Look Back at Monster Hunter Weapon Types

Monster Hunter boasts a rich history, spanning over two decades since its 2004 debut. A key element is its varied weapon arsenal. Monster Hunter Wilds offers fourteen distinct weapon types, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, move sets, 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 installments remain unreleased in Western markets. Let's examine the evolution of Monster Hunter weapons.

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

Arguably the franchise's most iconic weapon, the Great Sword's debut in 2004 cemented its legacy. Its high damage potential comes at the cost of slow attack and movement speed. The massive blade can even serve as a shield, though at the expense of stamina and sharpness.

Early gameplay focused on hit-and-run tactics and precise spacing. While combos were possible, slow animations made extended chaining less effective. Interestingly, 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 powerful swing. This remains a core element of the weapon's appeal.

Subsequent games refined the charge mechanic, adding finishers and smoother combo transitions, despite maintaining its deliberate pace. Monster Hunter World's shoulder tackle allowed for quicker access to charged attacks.

The Great Sword offers a low skill floor but a high skill ceiling. Mastery lies in maximizing damage output through precise timing of True Charged Slashes.

Sword and Shield

Embodying versatility, the Sword and Shield provides a balanced approach. While individual strikes deal moderate damage, rapid combos, blocking capabilities, mobility, and utility compensate. Initially considered a beginner weapon, its complexity has grown with added mechanics.

Early gameplay centered on quick slashes, combos, and high mobility. Monster Hunter 2 allowed item usage while the weapon remained drawn.

Later installments expanded the moveset, notably with shield bash combos (Monster Hunter 3), backsteps and jumps (Monster Hunter 4), and Perfect Rush/aerial finishers (Monster Hunter World/Rise).

Despite its shorter range and lower damage compared to other weapons, the Sword and Shield remains a jack-of-all-trades. Its infinite combo potential, quick attacks, evasiveness, strong finishers, and blocking ability make it a surprisingly deep weapon.

Hammer

One of two blunt weapons (dealing impact, not slashing damage), the Hammer excels at breaking monster parts, particularly heads. Post-Monster Hunter 2, it became renowned for its KO potential.

Its gameplay resembled the Great Sword's hit-and-run style, but with surprisingly high mobility for its size and the inability to block. The charge mechanic uniquely allowed movement during charging.

The moveset remained largely consistent until Monster Hunter World and Rise, which introduced Big Bang and Spinning Bludgeon attacks. These additions enhanced offensive capabilities beyond the traditional golf swing and Superpound.

Two modes, Strength and Courage, were added, each impacting charge attacks and effects. Effective Hammer use requires strategic mode switching based on the monster and maintaining charge while moving.

The Hammer's objective is straightforward: target the head for KOs. While challenging, this approach rewards players with opportunities for devastating charged attacks and combo finishers.

Lance

The Lance embodies the principle that "a good offense is a great defense." Its long reach allows for ranged attacks, while its substantial shield blocks most attacks. Skillful use can even negate seemingly unblockable hits. Despite limited movement while drawn, it delivers considerable damage.

Gameplay resembles an outboxer's strategy: poking from a distance while maintaining guard. Core attacks include forward and upward thrusts, chainable up to three times. A counter mechanic was added across the series, along with running charge and shield bash attacks for closing distance.

Often perceived as "boring" due to less flashy animations, the Lance's design is unique. It rewards players for standing their ground, unlike weapons emphasizing evasion. While the Gunlance offers similar defensive capabilities, the Lance's defensive prowess is unmatched.

Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun is a highly mobile ranged weapon present in every game. Its smaller size allows for faster reload speeds, sheathing, and dodging.

The trade-off for mobility is reduced firepower compared to its heavier counterpart, with a more limited ammunition selection. Customization options, such as barrels, silencers, and scopes, allow for weapon tailoring.

Unlike the Heavy Bowgun's stronger ammunition, the Light Bowgun's ability to Rapid Fire specific ammo types gives it an edge despite lower damage.

Monster Hunter 4 introduced "Critical Distance," adding depth to ranged combat by optimizing damage at specific ranges based on ammunition type.

Monster Hunter World introduced Wyvernblast (planting detonating bombs) and a slide maneuver after shooting, enhancing its run-and-gun style.

The Light Bowgun has evolved beyond a "weaker" Heavy Bowgun, offering ease of use without sacrificing mechanics or specialty.

Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun, a first-generation ranged weapon, delivers high damage and utilizes special ammunition. Its size and weight, however, significantly restrict mobility.

While the Light Bowgun prioritizes mobility, the Heavy Bowgun offers versatility through its broader ammunition selection. Its slow movement speed (walking only while drawn) is a significant drawback. Customization options are available, and a shield can be equipped for defense.

Its design remained largely consistent, serving as a powerful artillery or support weapon. Low mobility, however, can lead to increased downtime if the monster focuses its attacks.

Monster Hunter 3 introduced Siege Mode, allowing for continuous firing without reloading. Monster Hunter World added Wyvernheart (minigun-like) and Wyvernsnipe (high-damage single shot) special ammo, independent of inventory ammunition.

Ammunition management is crucial, as stronger shells require crafting. The Heavy Bowgun's core identity remains unchanged: powerful ammunition for devastating attacks.

Dual Blades

Known for their flashy style, the Dual Blades prioritize speed and are exceptionally effective at inflicting status ailments and elemental damage due to their multi-hit attacks. Interestingly, while a first-generation weapon, they were only introduced in the Western release of the original Monster Hunter.

Their gameplay focuses on rapid, fluid combos. While individual attacks are weak, the sheer speed results in substantial damage.

Demon Mode, a temporary state boosting damage and access to additional attacks, is a key mechanic. Stamina drains continuously while in Demon Mode.

Subsequent releases refined this, introducing the Demon Gauge in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. A filled gauge activates Archdemon Mode, providing powered-up attacks and evasive maneuvers without stamina drain.

Demon Dash, a unique movement tool, allows for rapid traversal. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate's Adept Hunter Style linked perfect dodges to Demon Dash, granting damage and movement buffs.

While the core concept remains consistent, refinements have enhanced its offensive capabilities. Archdemon Mode significantly altered gameplay, encouraging sustained use rather than cycling in and out of Demon Mode.

Second Generation Weapons

Introduced in the second generation, these weapons can be seen as counterparts to the first generation, offering similar functionality but with distinct movesets and mechanics.

Long Sword

The Long Sword is praised for its fluid combos, high damage, and refined mechanics. While visually similar to katanas among the first generation's Great Swords, it received its own moveset in Monster Hunter 2. It shares the Great Sword's high damage but boasts superior mobility and more fluid combos. Blocking is absent.

The Spirit Gauge is a central mechanic, filling with successful attacks. A full gauge activates the Spirit Combo, a powerful attack string.

Monster Hunter 3 added Spirit Roundslash, a finisher increasing the Spirit Gauge to three levels (white, yellow, red), each granting progressively stronger attack buffs.

Monster Hunter World's popularity surge was partly due to a new finisher (Spirit Thrust Helm Breaker) and the introduction of Foresight Slash, a parry attack usable with or without a Spirit Gauge.

Iceborne added Iai Stance, featuring Iai Slash and Iai Spirit Slash, offering faster Spirit Gauge filling and another parry attack.

The Long Sword's combo-oriented design evolved into a more counter-based style with the addition of parries and counters, streamlining the path to maximizing the weapon's potential.

Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horn is a support weapon, introduced in Monster Hunter 2. Its unique Recital mechanic allows playing notes to trigger various beneficial effects (attack/defense buffs, healing).

Like the Hammer, it deals impact damage, primarily targeting the head for stuns. However, its damage output is generally lower than the Hammer due to its support capabilities.

Changes focused on refining the Recital mechanic until Monster Hunter Rise's overhaul. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate allowed note playing during attacks, improving fluidity.

Monster Hunter World introduced song queuing, allowing simultaneous activation of multiple effects. Echo Notes (in Iceborne) provided buffs based on recital performance in specific areas.

Monster Rise simplified Recital, requiring only double-pressing a button, halving the song list, and automating buffs. This change, while making the weapon more accessible, was divisive, with some criticizing the loss of complexity.

Gunlance

A hybrid of Lance and Bowgun, the Gunlance (introduced in the second generation) combines a large shield and piercing lance with explosive shelling. While it uses ammunition, it's unlimited and replenished upon reloading.

Visually similar to the Lance, its attacks are primarily slashing, not piercing. Wyvern's Fire, a chargeable explosive attack, serves as a powerful finisher.

Shelling types vary between Gunlances, affecting the explosions' power. Monster Hunter 3 enhanced its aggressive style with a quick reload mechanic, enabling infinite combos and a new Full Burst attack. Additional shells could be charged for single attacks.

Monster Hunter X introduced the Heat Gauge, impacting attack damage based on shell usage. Overheating temporarily disables the gauge.

Monster Hunter World added Wyrmstake Shot, an impaling explosive finisher. The Gunlance's unique reloading and shelling mechanics distinguish it, requiring balanced attack strategies to avoid overheating.

Bow

The Bow, the most agile ranged weapon, excels in close-to-mid-range combat, utilizing mobility and combos. It functions similarly to melee weapons, employing charge attacks for increased arrow count.

Its hit-and-run style prioritizes weak point targeting and multi-hit attacks for elemental damage. Coatings enhance damage or inflict elemental/status effects.

While combos have been expanded, Shot Types (in older games) were simplified in later installments. Monster Hunter World unified the moveset, integrating Shot Types into base attacks and making Close-Range Coating infinite.

Monster Hunter Rise reintroduced Shot Types, tying them to charge levels. The Monster Hunter World overhaul emphasized aggressive, combo-heavy ranged gameplay, differentiating it from Bowguns' point-and-shoot style.

Third and Fourth Generation Weapons

These weapons debuted in Monster Hunter 3 and 4, respectively. Besides the Insect Glaive's unique buff system, they feature morphing mechanics, adding another layer of complexity.

Switch Axe

The Switch Axe (Monster Hunter 3) offers two modes: Axe Mode (mobile, long-range, infinite stamina-based combo) and Sword Mode (higher damage, phial-based attacks, Elemental Discharge finisher).

Gameplay revolves around balancing both modes. Axe Mode provides mobility and range, while Sword Mode delivers higher damage.

While the core design remains consistent, morphing capabilities improved across iterations. Monster Hunter World introduced Amped state, empowering Sword Mode attacks and adding new transitions.

Monster Hunter Rise extended Amped to both modes, encouraging switching between forms for maximum damage. Its form-swapping and explosive combat style make it a unique addition.

Insect Glaive

The Insect Glaive (Monster Hunter 4) focuses on aerial combat, utilizing a Kinsect (controlled insect) to gather essences for buffs. It excels at mounting monsters.

The Kinsect collects red, white, and orange essences, buffing attack, mobility, and defense, respectively. Collecting all three grants stronger, non-resetting buffs.

Beyond additional attacks and finishers, significant changes focused on the upgrade system. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne added Descending Thrust, a much-needed air-to-ground finisher.

Monster Hunter Rise simplified Kinsect upgrades, tying them to weapon level. New Kinsect types (Normal, Assist, Powder, Speed) were introduced.

Gameplay centers on efficient essence collection for optimal buff states. The inefficient gold upgrade system (requiring excessive materials) was addressed in later releases.

Charge Blade

The Charge Blade (Monster Hunter 4), another transforming weapon, offers Sword Mode (phial charging) and Axe Mode (phial discharge). It's known for its versatility and powerful finishers but is considered one of the most challenging weapons.

Guard Points are crucial for efficient phial charging. Phial types vary between Charge Blades, affecting attacks. The weapon's fluidity requires understanding its transitions and monster behavior to maximize Guard Point usage.

Mastery requires understanding transitions and optimizing Guard Point usage for maximum efficiency. Its balanced offense and complex mechanics make it rewarding to master.

Future Weapon Possibilities?

While Monster Hunter Wilds features fourteen weapons, more exist in previous installments, particularly in Japanese releases. The series' longevity suggests the potential for new weapons or ports of existing ones in future games. The addition of new weapons would further enhance the already engaging gameplay.

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