The best tools for a hunter are now within your reach.

The Monster Hunter Franchise has always had a reputation of difficulty associated with its name; Rise, the latest entry into the series, is no exception. 

Monster Hunter’s complexity can be attributed to one reason, the weapons. There are a total of fourteen weapons in Monster Hunter Rise, and all of them can be accessed by the player from the beginning.

Despite the multiple weapon options given to the player, Monster Hunter still manages to make every weapon feel distinct. It is a game where a simple switch in equipment has the potential of changing the gameplay drastically.

Unfortunately choosing just one out of fourteen can be a difficult task for anyone starting. 

So whether you’re a veteran looking for a new challenge or a beginner searching for your first weapon, here is a list of the ten best weapons in Monster Hunter Rise for playing alone.

10. Sword and Shield

The Sword and Shield

While not as extravagant as Monster Hunter’s other gigantic weapons, the sword and shield is a reliable weapon that has gotten even better with Rise.

Often the sword and shield is recommended to those starting for its ability to do quick and effective attacks. It is also the only weapon that allows the hunter to use items while their weapon is drawn.

The sword and shield also provide great utility, being that it is capable of doing both slashing and blunt damage. This means you can both cut monster parts with your sword and stun them with shield bashes.

Of course, having a shield means you are also able to block incoming attacks. In Monster Hunter Rise, the sword and shield has gained the ability to use guard points.

If you find other weapons too sluggish, or if you just want the ability to cut and stun, give this weapon a try.

What makes the Sword and Shield great:

• Beginner friendly.
• Mix of cutting and blunt damage.
• Quick attacks.

9. Switch Axe

The Switch Axe

While using the switch axe you will have the ability to switch between both a sword and an axe, hence the name. Though the concept of having two weapons in one might sound difficult, the switch axe is fairly easy to use.

The switch axe is an excellent weapon for dealing consistent damage. Thanks to the weapon’s long reach, you can hit monsters even if you stand back a fair distance away. 

Using this weapon will see you constantly switching from a hard-hitting sword to a mobile axe, all whilst in a devastating flurry of attacks.

What makes the Switch Axe great:

• Powerful attacks
• Long range.
• Fast combos.

8. Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horn

The hunting horn is one of the most beloved weapons in Monster Hunter. That is to say, people love having a hunting horn user on their team, but never seem to want to use it themselves.

As its name suggests, the hunting horn is a horn made for hunting. It is capable of playing music while smashing monsters. The music then either buffs or heals you and your allies, depending on what combo you use.

Its blunt-type attacks also allow you to stun monsters, which is never a bad thing.

Though this is a list focused on solo play, don’t forget that the hunting horn can buff all your stats and still deal a huge amount of damage.

What makes the Hunting Horn great:

• Buff and heal yourself and others.
• Good damage.
• Stunning capability.

7. Hammer

The Hammer

A small weapon that packs a lot of punch, that’s the hammer. 

Though it might have both short-range and slow attacks, the hammer makes it all up by packing some of the biggest damage numbers in all of Monster Hunter. This is thanks to the hammer’s ability to charge up attacks while moving around.

Being a hammer main means constantly moving, waiting for the right time to strike with a fully charged hammer, and then bam! The monster is stunned and now you have an even bigger opportunity to deal damage.

If bashing monster heads is your goal, then the hammer is for you.

What makes the Hammer great:

• Huge damage.
• Ability to inflict stuns.
• Easy to use.

6. Dual Blades

The Dual Blades

Dishing out quick cuts is the name of the game for dual blades. 

The dual blades are an amped-up version of a sword and shield that focus purely on offense. In the place of a shield is a second sword with which you can do even more damage.

Out of all the weapons in Monster Hunter, the dual blades push the fastest pace of action. With this weapon you will constantly be right in the monster's face, giving them a load of pain.

Choosing this weapon will require you to manage stamina effectively in exchange for damaging combo attacks.

What makes the Dual Blades great:

• Fast attack speed.
• Good mobility.
• High DPS.

5. Greatsword

The Great Sword

The greatsword takes the hammer’s requirement for patience and amps it up to eleven. Of course, this also comes with a bigger boost of damage.

Unlike the hammer, great sword users won’t be able to move at all while charging up attacks.

Using the greatsword by itself is a simple weapon. You charge up an attack and deal damage with a shortlist of combos. The hard part is landing anything.

As the slowest weapon in Monster Hunter, the great sword demands its players to learn monster behavior and attack patterns. In some ways, playing a great sword is the best way for someone to truly learn Monster Hunter.

What makes the Greatsword great:

• Biggest damage numbers.
• Long-range.
• Easy to use, difficult to master.

4. Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun

The heavy bowgun is a weapon that turns you from a hunter to a full-on tank. 

Among the three available ranged weapons, the heavy bowgun is the chunkiest and the strongest. Using the heavy bowgun sometimes feels like you move as slow as a greatsword, but what it lacks in mobility it makes up heavily in power.

In Monster Hunter Rise, the heavy bowgun also gains significant defensive upgrades to its kit. Now heavy bowgun users can counter monster attacks with 'counter shot' or simply move out of the way with the free silk bind glide.

What makes the Heavy Bowgun great:

• Ranged weapon.
• Defensive capabilities.
• Big damage.

3. Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun

The light bowgun is the perfect weapon to start with if you are looking to play a ranged weapon. It is very simple to use, yet deals a good amount of damage.

The play style of the light bow gun is to be on the constant move while peppering the monster with shots. To spice things up you can plant mines on the ground and set up traps.

You can also use a variety of ammo types which provide a good amount of utility to this weapon.

What makes the Light Bowgun great:

• High mobility.
• Ammo type variation.
• Easy to use.

2. Bow

The Bow

While the bow attacks slower than both of the bowgun options, it is by far flashier and more complex. It also deals far more damage, provided you learn to manage stamina.

Using a ranged weapon bears the risk of having a shorter health bar, but the bow eliminates that problem by mixing offense and defense. This makes it excellent for solo play.

Bows also have the option of having the highest effective range in the entire game with pierce type, this makes it perfect for beginners to use. 

Although there are multiple ways to use a bow, each bow type requires you to learn strict stamina management since dodging is your only defense.

What makes the Bow great:

• Extremely high mobility.
• Flashy.
• Multiple playstyles.
• Ranged weapon.

1. Longsword

The Long Sword

The long sword is Monster Hunter Rise’s premiere melee weapon. It’s so good that some people hate its mere existence. 

This weapon can do just about everything. It has long-range, high damage, and good mobility. It’s even pretty easy to learn.

Long sword users will have to learn how to manage a unique mechanic called spirit gauge, which increases the overall damage of the weapon with each level. The spirit gauge also allows you to do an incredibly flashy move known as the helmbreaker.

What bumps this relatively simple weapon up to enormous power levels is its ability to counterattack nearly all monster attacks. A good longsword player and a great one is separated by their ability to counter.

To truly master this weapon, you must first master the monsters. Learning behavior and attack patterns will turn you into a true samurai.

What makes the Longsword great:

• Long reach.
• Counters.
• Flashy.
• Easy to use, difficult to master.

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