Monster Hunter Rise gives gamers the chance to slay mighty beasts and craft awesome gear with the materials they gather. There's a satisfying feeling of progression as players hunt increasingly epic monsters with weapons and armor that just get more and more stylish and badass. Monster Hunter Rise features 14 returning weapon types for players to try out, all of which have been revamped to synergize with the gameplay elements introduced in this newest entry in the series. Few of the weapons are as originally unique as the Gunlance.

The Gunlance has always been known as a weapon that is capable of both devastating offense and ironclad defense. In the Monster Hunter Rise demo that was released ahead of the game's launch, players were able to see that the capabilities of the Gunlance have reached a whole new level. With the addition of Silkbind attacks and Wirebug movement, the Gunlance not only becomes more impenetrable but also more versatile. This guide will set hunters on the right path towards mastering everything this weapon type has to offer.

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The basic commands for the Gunlance are as follows:

• X - Lateral Thrust
• A - Shelling
• Hold A - Charged Shelling
• X+A - Rising Slash
• ZR+X - Guard Thrust
• ZR+A - Reload
• ZR+X+A - Wyvern’s Fire
• ZR - Guard

The Gunlance has the ability to attack from a guarded position, making it a great weapon choice for players who seem to always get smacked around when they get up close and personal with a monster. A hunter can ensure that their shield is always pointed in the right direction by locking on to the opposing monster. But the most unique aspect of the Gunlance is its Shelling capabilities. Shelling attacks deal non-elemental damage and are effective against armored monster parts that deflect most other physical attacks. The Gunlance can only load so many shells at a time though, so reloading will eventually be necessary.

Wyvern's Fire is one of the most powerful attacks a Gunlance wielder can perform. After a long charge-up time, the Gunlance unleashes a huge explosive attack. Because of the charging time, this technique is best used when a monster is downed or otherwise immobile. Wyvern's Fire also has a long cooldown period after use, so it can't be relied upon for every situation.

Some useful combos for the Gunlance are as follows:

• Basic Combo

(Left Stick)+X > X > X > A

• Burst Fire Combo

X+A > X > A

• Strong Combo

X+A > X > X > ZR+X+A

The "Burst Fire Combo" ends with a large blast that uses all the currently loaded shells in a Gunlance at once. A player who wants to make the most of this technique will make sure to always keep their weapon fully loaded. The "Strong Combo" ends with a Wyvern's Fire if it's not currently on cooldown. This combo dishes out a lot of damage in an efficient manner, but is time-consuming and should only be used if there's a long opening such as when the monster is caught in a Shock Trap.

The Wyrmstake Cannon is another ultimate attack that the Gunlance can use in addition to Wyvern's Fire. The attack fires a blade in melee range that will inflict damage to a monster multiple times before triggering a high-damage explosion. After use, the Wyrmstake Cannon can be readied again by simply performing a standard Reload action. There are three ways to use Wyrmstake Cannon:

• Press A after two Shelling attacks
• Press (Left Stick down)+A after a Charged Shelling attack
• Perform one of the following combos:

X+A > X+AX+A > X > X > X or A

Silkbind attacks are a fun new addition to Monster Hunter Rise. Hunters are equipped with a Wirebug, which is represented by a number of Wirebug symbols at the bottom of the screen. Silkbind attacks can be executed by pressing either ZL+X or ZL+A and consuming either one or two Wirebugs, depending on the attack. These Wirebugs will then become available again after a short period of time.

There are a number of Silkbind attacks that become available to players as they progress through Monster Hunter Rise. They will be able to mix and match however they choose to create a loadout that best suits their individual tastes and strategy. The following Silkbind attacks are the initial options for Gunlance users:

• Hail Cutter - Perform a Rising Slash and then an Overhead Smash. Can be chained into a Burst Fire or a Wyrmstake Cannon combo. Each usage of this Silkbind attack reduces the cooldown time for Wyvern’s Fire. Costs 2 Wirebug Gauges.
• Guard Edge - A perfect guard that regenerates weapon sharpness if a monster’s attack connects, and can be followed up with various attacks. Costs 1 Wirebug Gauge.

There are many other weapons to collect and techniques to master, not to mention a broad selection of quests and monsters to try them out on. With additional free content already on the way, dedicated hunters should take the time to learn as much as possible about the ways of hunting in the latest game in the legendary franchise.

Monster Hunter Rise is available now on Nintendo Switch, with a PC release planned for early 2022.

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