There's a lot of customization in Monster Hunter Rise. With fourteen different types of weapons and dozens of equipables within each type, players can find themselves paralyzed by choice. Each weapon fits within a specific niche and playstyle. Knowing each one's strengths and weaknesses is key to creating the best loadout.

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For instance, take the Hammer: a heavy, short-range weapon that does big damage in a single blow. Certainly not the hardest to use. However, it'll take a little bit of thinking to really get the most out of the Hammer. Utilize the right skills and equipment to become a hard-hitting knockout machine.

5 Hammer Basics

The Hammer's biggest asset is raw power. A charged attack can dish out a lot of hurt in a single swing. Hammers are also surprisingly mobile. Unlike the similar Great Sword weapon, Hammers don't restrict players' movement while unsheathed. They can also charge up while moving.

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One of the most useful things Hammers can do is stunning monsters. Because they dish out so much blunt damage, an Overhead Smash to the head can put a monster down easily. On the other hand, Hammers can't cut tails. The short reach is also a downside, even if there are some aerial Silkbind attacks.

4 Skills For Hammer Users

The most important skill for the Hammer is Attack Boost. Self-explanatory: this skill increases Attack. There are plenty of Armor items that offer the skill, too. Building on attack damage is building on the Hammer's greatest strength.

Focus is a rarer skill that suits the Hammer. This skill speeds up charge time. Hammers rely on charged attacks more than almost any other weapon, so this is a no-brainer. Only four pieces of armor offer the skill, but one of them, the Bone Coil, can be acquired rather early in the game.

3 The Hammer's Best Switch Skills

Water Burst is one of the Hammer's best Switch Skills. This functions like a parry - pressing A right before a hit negates the damage and unleashes a powerful counter. Equip this as soon as it's unlocked. The other option, Side Swipe, simply doesn't compare.

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There are two Silkbind attacks for the Hammer. Dash Breaker and Spinning Bludgeon are both good. The former is a dash attack that pushes the player forward while the latter is an aerial attack. Since the Hammer is by no means an aerial weapon, Dash Breaker wins by a nose. However, switching between the two depending on the opponent is the best way to go.

2 Armor For Hammer Users

There are many Armor options for Hammer users at all levels. At the earliest levels, focus on getting the Attack Boost and Critical Eye skills. The Izuchi armor set has the latter covered. The materials come from Great Izuchis, one of the first large monsters players encounter.

For the late game, the Anjanath set reigns supreme. These armor pieces give Attack Boost, Focus, and Slugger - all skills that suit Hammers perfectly. The materials required only drop from the fearsome 5-star monster Anjanath, so it'll take a while to get a hold of this set.

1 The Best Hammers

The number of weapons to choose from in Monster Hunter Rise can be overwhelming. To start with the Hammer, choose the War Hammer I. The Hammers in the Ore weapon tree offer decent stats for very cheap. The War Hammer specifically comes with Attack Boost II, which is huge for the early game.

Later in the game, hunters can get their hands on the Sinister Hammer I. This weapon is special because it comes with Blast damage. The Attack Boost II and overall high power help too. It requires materials dropped by the game's mascot monster, Magnamalo.

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