Monster Hunter Rise Gunlance Builds

by Jhon Lennon 36 views

Alright hunters, let's talk about the Gunlance in Monster Hunter Rise! If you're looking to add some serious boom to your hunting style, you've come to the right place, guys. The Gunlance is a weapon that's all about close-quarters combat, but with a twist – it packs a punch like no other, literally! We're talking about shells, wyrmstake blasts, and a whole lot of explosions that can stagger even the most colossal monsters. But to truly master this beast of a weapon, you need the right build. A good build isn't just about slapping on the strongest armor and weapons; it's about synergy, understanding the monster you're facing, and optimizing your skills to maximize your damage output and survivability. In this guide, we're going to dive deep into some of the best MH Rise Gunlance builds that will have you dominating the hunt, whether you're a seasoned veteran or just picking up the Gunlance for the first time. Get ready to learn about the different types of Gunlances, essential skills, and how to put together a loadout that makes you feel like an unstoppable force.

Understanding Gunlance Types: Which Shell Will You Fire?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of builds, it's crucial to understand the three main types of Gunlances in Monster Hunter Rise: Normal, Long, and Wide. Each type influences how your shelling damage works, and choosing the right one for your build is paramount. Normal Gunlances have a balanced shelling level, meaning they excel at all shelling types, including the powerful charged shelling. This is your go-to if you want a versatile option that performs well across the board. Long Gunlances, on the other hand, have a higher shelling level and are optimized for Charged Shelling. This means you'll want to focus on skills that boost this specific attack, as it deals significant damage. Think of it as a sniper rifle of the Gunlance world, albeit a very loud one! Finally, Wide Gunlances have the highest shelling level and are best suited for Wide Sweep shelling and poking attacks. They deliver a broad blast that can hit multiple parts of a monster, making them great for applying consistent damage. Understanding these nuances will allow you to tailor your skills and gear towards the strengths of your chosen Gunlance, ensuring you're not just swinging around a glorified stick, but a precisely engineered instrument of destruction. When you're crafting your perfect MH Rise Gunlance build, always consider which shelling type best suits your playstyle and the monster's weaknesses. Are you a fan of the explosive charged shots, or do you prefer the consistent barrage of wide sweeps? Your preference here will dictate your skill priorities and weapon choice significantly.

The Art of Shelling: Beyond Physical Prowess

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the Gunlance, especially for newcomers, is that its damage isn't solely reliant on physical attacks. The shelling damage is fixed based on your Gunlance's shelling level and your Artillery skill. This means that even if your monster's hitzone has very high physical defense, your shells will still connect with their true damage potential. This is a game-changer, guys! It allows you to deal consistent damage even on parts of a monster that are normally resistant to your physical strikes. The Artillery skill is therefore arguably the most important skill for any Gunlance user. It directly increases the damage of your shells, and its level 3 bonus is a massive boost. Beyond Artillery, skills like Capacity Boost are also essential. This skill increases the number of shells you can fire before reloading, meaning more explosions and more damage. Think about it: if you can fire one more shell per clip, that's a significant chunk of extra damage over the course of a hunt. Then there's Focus, which speeds up your charge time for Charged Shelling on Normal and Long Gunlances. Faster charging means more opportunities to unleash those devastating blasts. And of course, we can't forget about the fundamental combat skills. Attack Boost increases your raw attack power, which benefits both your physical attacks and the base damage of your shells. Weakness Exploit is crucial for maximizing critical hits on weak points, and Critical Boost further amplifies that critical damage. Don't underestimate the power of these core offensive skills; they complement your shelling perfectly. For survivability, Guard skills are invaluable. Guard allows you to block attacks more effectively, and with Guard Up, you can even block normally unblockable attacks. This opens up new offensive windows and drastically reduces the punishment you take. When constructing your MH Rise Gunlance build, remember that a balance of shelling enhancement skills and core combat skills is key to unlocking the weapon's true potential.

Essential Skills for Your MH Rise Gunlance Build

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of what makes a Monster Hunter Rise Gunlance build truly shine. We've touched on a few key skills, but let's break them down and add some more that are absolutely vital for unleashing explosive devastation. First and foremost, Artillery. I cannot stress this enough, guys. Artillery level 3 is non-negotiable for any serious Gunlance user. It directly boosts your shelling damage, and the difference is staggering. If you see an Artillery charm or armor piece, snag it! Next up is Capacity Boost. This skill grants you an extra shell, meaning more frequent shelling and significantly higher damage output over time. More shells mean more explosions, and who doesn't love more explosions? For those of you rocking Normal or Long Gunlances, Focus is your best friend. It speeds up the charging animation for Charged Shelling, allowing you to get those powerful blasts off more frequently. A faster charge means more damage dealt and less downtime. Now, let's talk about general offensive skills that complement your shelling. Attack Boost is always a solid choice, increasing your raw attack, which in turn boosts both your physical hits and the base damage of your shells. Weakness Exploit is crucial for capitalizing on monster weak points, granting a significant affinity boost when attacking them. Pair this with Critical Boost to further amplify your critical hit damage. Remember, while shelling is fixed damage, your physical attacks still benefit immensely from these crit skills. For survivability, which is often overlooked but critical for sustained offense, Guard is your go-to. Guard level 1, 3, or 5 can make a huge difference in how much knockback and stamina you lose when blocking. And if you're facing monsters that have unblockable attacks, Guard Up is a lifesaver, allowing you to block normally impenetrable blows. Don't forget about Evade Extender. While the Gunlance isn't the most mobile weapon, Evade Extender makes its hops and dodges cover more distance, helping you reposition effectively and avoid devastating attacks. Finally, consider Earplugs. If you can negate monster roars, you can often get in free attacks or uninterrupted shelling. It's a comfort skill that can drastically improve your damage uptime. When building your MH Rise Gunlance build, prioritize Artillery, Capacity Boost, and skills that synergize with your chosen Gunlance type, then layer in general offensive and defensive skills to round out your loadout.

Weapon Choices: The Foundation of Your Blast Radius

When constructing the perfect MH Rise Gunlance build, the weapon you choose is absolutely foundational. It dictates your shelling type, your raw attack power, your sharpness, and often, your innate elemental damage or status effects. For Normal type Gunlances, weapons that offer high raw attack and good sharpness are generally preferred. The Rathalos Gunlance line (Wyvern's Wrath) often stands out due to its high raw damage and decent elemental affinity. Another strong contender is the Valstrax Gunlance (Dragon's Roar), especially in the late game, offering significant dragon element and good raw. For Long type Gunlances, you'll want weapons that emphasize raw damage and shelling power, as they excel at Charged Shelling. The Almudron Gunlance (Great Muddy Gunlance) can be a solid choice for its high raw and good sharpness. The Rookslayer Gunlance (from the Royal Ludroth line) is also a viable option, especially early on. For Wide type Gunlances, weapons that boast high raw damage and shelling are king. The Glaive Ignis (from the Rathian line) is a fantastic Wide Gunlance, offering a good balance of raw and fire element. The Chameleos Gunlance (Chameleon's Calamity) can also be excellent for its poison build-up and respectable raw. Don't forget about the Raging Brachydios Gunlance (Dios Strongarm/Slayer) if you're playing through Iceborne content, as it's a powerhouse of raw damage. When selecting your weapon, always consider the monster you're hunting. If it's weak to fire, an elemental Gunlance like the Glaive Ignis might be superior. If it's resistant to everything but has a weak spot for physical damage, a high-raw option becomes more attractive. Also, pay attention to sharpness. A Gunlance with low sharpness will require more maintenance skills like Handicraft or Razor Sharp, which might detract from other essential skills. Always check the shelling type and level – this is your primary indicator of how the weapon will perform with your skills. A good MH Rise Gunlance build starts with the right boomstick!

Putting It All Together: Sample Gunlance Builds

Now that we've covered the essentials, let's look at some example MH Rise Gunlance builds to give you a practical starting point. Remember, these are flexible, and you should always adapt them based on your available decorations, charms, and the specific monster you're facing.

Build 1: The All-Rounder (Normal Gunlance)

This build focuses on maximizing versatility and core Gunlance skills. It's great for tackling a wide variety of monsters.

  • Weapon: Rathalos Gunlance (Wyvern's Wrath III) or a similar high-raw Normal type.
  • Armor: Mix and match pieces from Rathalos, Damascus, Uragaan, and Kaiser to get the following skills:
    • Artillery 3: Absolutely mandatory for shell damage.
    • Capacity Boost 1: Extra shell = more boom.
    • Focus 3: Faster charging for Charged Shelling.
    • Weakness Exploit 3: Maximize damage on weak spots.
    • Attack Boost 4+: Further raw damage increase.
    • Guard 1-3: Essential for blocking and countering.
    • Handicraft/Protective Polish: To maintain sharpness.
  • Talisman: Aim for a good Artillery or Attack talisman to help fill skill gaps.

Build 2: The Charged Shelling Specialist (Long Gunlance)

This build is all about unleashing devastating Charged Shells, making it ideal for monsters with good openings.

  • Weapon: Almudron Gunlance (Great Muddy Gunlance) or another high-raw Long type.
  • Armor: Prioritize armor with skills that boost shelling and charge speed.
    • Artillery 3: Non-negotiable.
    • Capacity Boost 1: More shells, more power.
    • Focus 3: Crucial for rapid Charged Shelling.
    • Artillery Secret (if available via endgame armor like Zorah Magdaros): Pushes Artillery to level 5 for insane shell damage.
    • Weakness Exploit 3 & Critical Boost 1-3: To enhance physical hits.
    • Guard 1-3: For survivability.
  • Talisman: A strong Focus or Artillery talisman is highly beneficial.

Build 3: The Wide Sweep Annihilator (Wide Gunlance)

This build leverages the broad impact of Wide Gunlances, perfect for consistent damage and hitting multiple monster parts.

  • Weapon: Glaive Ignis (Rathian Gunlance) or a high-raw Wide type.
  • Armor: Focus on raw attack and shelling efficiency.
    • Artillery 3: The core of your shell damage.
    • Capacity Boost 1: Maximize shell count.
    • Weakness Exploit 3: Increase critical hits on physical attacks.
    • Attack Boost 4+: Boost raw damage.
    • Guard 1-3: For blocking capabilities.
    • Evade Extender 1-2: For better repositioning.
  • Talisman: Look for Attack Boost or Artillery talismans.

These are just starting points, guys! Experiment with different armor pieces, decorations, and charms. The beauty of Monster Hunter Rise is the sheer depth of customization. Don't be afraid to mix and match to find what feels best for your playstyle and what works most effectively against the beasts you hunt. Happy hunting, and may your explosions be legendary!

Mastering the Gunlance: Tips for Explosive Success

So you've got your MH Rise Gunlance build sorted, your weapon is sharpened, and you're ready to cause some serious mayhem. But building the best loadout is only half the battle, right? To truly master the Gunlance, you need to understand its unique playstyle and how to maximize its potential in the heat of combat. First off, learn your shelling types. As we discussed, Normal, Long, and Wide Gunlances have different strengths. Normal excels at Charged Shelling, Long is the king of Charged Shelling, and Wide is great for Wide Sweep and pokes. Know which type your weapon is and lean into its strengths. For Normal and Long, mastering the Charged Shelling timing is key. It's a powerful attack, but it leaves you vulnerable, so look for openings after the monster attacks or during specific animations. Don't just spam it wildly; be deliberate. Embrace the guard. The Gunlance's shield is not just for show! Use it to block attacks and immediately follow up with a Hail Mary (the upward thrust into an explosion) or a quick shelling attack. This is a core part of the Gunlance's offensive pressure. Practice blocking and then immediately retaliating; it's incredibly satisfying and effective. Understand monster tells. Like any weapon in Monster Hunter, knowing when the monster is about to attack is crucial. This allows you to block effectively, dodge precisely, or even find an opening for a powerful Charged Shell. Pay attention to their wind-ups, their roars, and their movements. Wyrmstake Blast is your friend. This powerful piercing attack embeds a stake into the monster, which then explodes after a short delay. It deals significant damage, especially when enhanced by Artillery. Aim to land it on weak points for maximum effect. Remember, it doesn't interrupt your other combos, so you can often lay it down during other attacks. Manage your sharpness. Gunlance attacks, especially physical ones, can chew through sharpness quickly. Keep an eye on your sharpness gauge and use skills like Protective Polish or Decorations to maintain it. A dull weapon drastically reduces your damage output. Don't neglect your physical attacks. While shelling is a huge part of the Gunlance's damage, your physical thrusts and sweeps still matter, especially with crit-focused builds. Combine your pokes and slashes with shelling for a balanced offensive approach. Environmental advantages. Use the environment to your advantage! Blast barrels, ledge-hops for aerial attacks, and utilizing verticality can all contribute to your hunt's success. Finally, practice, practice, practice! The Gunlance has a steep learning curve for some, but the payoff is immense. Spend time in the training area, learn the combos, and get a feel for the weapon's weight and timing. With the right MH Rise Gunlance build and dedicated practice, you'll be a force to be reckoned with, leaving a trail of explosions and defeated monsters in your wake!