Tips on picking your starting weapon from the line-up of 14 possibilities in Monster Hunter Rise
What is the best weapon in Monster Hunter Rise?Monster Hunter Risefeatures 14 weapon types, all of which you have access to from the very start of the game. Within each weapon type there are multiple model sets and variants, however, including some new ones added with the Sunbreak DLC; so in truth, you’ll have dozens if not hundreds of weapons to choose from by the end of the game. As you progress you’ll be able to upgrade and customise them all in a dazzling (some might say overwhelming) array of ways.
On this page you’ll find an overview of the weapon types in Monster Hunter Rise and an idea of how they handle. There’s no single definitive best weapon in the game, but there are a number of strong contenders based on your playstyle, so read on for our notes on how each weapon performs.
Monster Hunter Rise weapons list
All weapon types in Monster Hunter Rise are wielded two-handed, whether it’s a complementary duo or one big piece of equipment. There are no sub-categories grouping weapons by type, though you’ll notice a few run along similar themes. Below is a list of all 14 weapons in Monster Hunter Rise, and an overview of how they work:
As we mentioned at the top of this guide, you have the most basic model of all 14 weapon types on hand from the very beginning. Furthermore, you can swap your equipped weapon any time you enter a camp, so you’re not locked in to any choice for very long. The safest starting selection is theSword and Shield— but, if you’re a fairly experienced melee player, that can get boring quite quickly.
My top recommendation when getting a feel for the game’s combat is to try theDual Bladeson for size. If, like me, you’d rather dodge than block then you don’t really lose all that much in terms of protection; and having that second blade equipped in your off-hand really speeds up combat. This is no small matter in a game series that’s somewhat notorious for featuring fights that drag on a bit; though of course if you enjoy that slower-paced combat, the Long Sword might fit the bill as a worthy substitute.
More generally, if you know what sort of weapon you like, I’d advise going for the most vanilla option of that type for your first few hunts while you get a feel for the combat, then branching out a little. If you’re a fan of swordplay, I’ve already recommended the Dual Blades (or Sword and Shield if you consider yourself a complete beginner). Fans of ranged combat might like to try theBow, while players who prefer a defensive-first approach to combat could start with theLanceand work from there.
There’s a mind-boggling amount of stuff to get to grips with in Monster Hunter Rise, but why not start by reading ourMonster Hunter Rise review? Elsewhere on the site, our Hardware Editor has put together a comprehensive guide to theMonster Hunter Rise system requirements, performance, and best settings for PC.
