Monster Hunter Rise is an action RPG video game that can be played on either Switch or PC. It was developed and published by Capcom and is the sixth and most recent mainline installment in the Monster Hunter series; serving as a sequel of sorts to the hugely successful Monster Hunter World.

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Like other games in the series, Monster Hunter Rise has the player slay a wide variety of monsters. Either alone or with friends, they'll venture out on quests equipped with one of 14 different weapon types, which mix and match swords, shields, staves, bows, and guns.

Updated January 21, 2022, by Tom Bowen: A lot's changed since Monster Hunter Rise was first released for the Switch back in March of 2021. For one thing, the game can now be played on PC as well, meaning that millions more people now have access to Capcom's fantastic action RPG. Perhaps more significant, however, are the regular updates that the developer makes to the game, which have completely reshaped the meta when it comes to the best classes in Monster Hunter Rise. This article has been updated to reflect some of these changes, as well as to provide readers with an idea of what the best weapons are for dishing out certain types of damage.

14 Lance

The Lance allows the player to attack from far away without being a ranged weapon. It is a long-distance weapon. This weapon also comes with a handy dandy little shield.

If the player likes tanking, the Lance is a decent option. It is slow and heavy but offers great damage output as well as nice counters and good guarding. Still, the weapon is sluggish and way more defensive than offensive.

13 Sword & Shield

The Sword and Shield are two weapons in one, kind of. It features a small, slick sword as well as a small, sturdy shield. The player can slice enemies up and block incoming attacks. They also have the power to bash, stunning monsters.

While there is good evasiveness here, there is low offensiveness. Plus, the reach is short with the Sword and Shield and the weapon pairing can be very difficult to master.

12 Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun is not only a ranged weapon but also a support one too. It uses special ammunition to act as a machine gun or a sniper rifle, though other types can even make it function like a cannon or even a shield.

Of course, the drawback with the Heavy Bowgun is the ridiculously low mobility. However, the blocking potential with this weapon is awesome, as is the high damage output. The player needs to be aware of managing their inventory space for all the ammo though.

11 Charge Blade

The Charge Blade has two modes: Sword and Shield and Heavy Axe. It can be charged up to unleash big damage after the blade phials power up from attacks.

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Although the strength of the Charge Blade is unmatched, it is slow. The two modes, Sword and Shield as well as Heavy Axe, are cool on the other hand. But without full charges, the damage potential is low. Additionally, the learning curve is steep.

10 Insect Glaive

The Insect Glaive is a quick and agile aerial-style weapon in the game. It allows the player to vault themselves and cling onto walls. The Kinsect is helpful too, and adorable.

In addition to being superb when it comes to evasion, the Insect Glaive is nice when it comes to managing stamina as well. Movement too; there is so much movement with this weapon. That being said, it gets complicated juggling between slashing and controlling the Kinsect.

9 Switch Axe

The Switch Axe is half-axe, half-sword. Regarding the axe part, it offers decent range and damage. As for the sword part, it offers fast attacks and elemental capabilities.

Even though the Switch Axe is difficult to master, it is crazy when mastered. The player cannot go wrong with either of the forms, sword or axe, as both are strong. But the best part of this weapon is the ability to become immune to flinching or getting knocked back.

8 Gunlance

The Gunlance is, straight up, a lance that is also a gun. It is legit walking artillery. Seriously, the Gunlance has the ability to stab monsters and then shoot them in the face with an explosive.

This weapon is easy to use, deals high damage, and allows the player to attack from a distance. Moreover, the Gunlance has the power to block incoming attacks if they even connect with the player. They might though, as using this weapon makes them real slow.

7 Great Sword

The Great Sword, obviously, is a great sword. This big blade is slow but strong. It can be charged up and even block incoming attacks.

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This is a simple weapon. The player charges up the Great Sword and releases it, inflicting extremely high amounts of damage. That is all there is to know. On top of that, they block when necessary as the weapon does slow down the player considerably.

6 Hammer

The Hammer is a monster's worst nightmare. It will knock them off their feet, literally. This weapon is huge and heavy. It is all about utilizing big combos and stunning the daylights out of monsters.

Weirdly, players will find they are quite mobile using the Hammer. Unfortunately, the reach is short, and it offers no guarding. But the damage output is intense. Seriously, the monster will get exhausted over and over while being on the receiving end.

5 Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horn is a bard's fantasy. It belts out tunes that buff the player and their allies. That is not all, this weapon is a weapon too.

Sure, the Hunting Horn is best used in multiplayer. But it is best used when the player is on their own too. They are able to attack monsters while buffing themselves simultaneously. It may not seem like it too, but this weapon deals a lot of damage too, even if using it is slow.

4 Dual Blades

The Dual Blades are, as the name suggests, two swords. It is an insanely fast (and light) weapon that takes advantage of combo attacks. There are two modes: Demon and Archdemon; the former offers higher damage while the ladder offers quicker attacking.

Perhaps the only downside about the Dual Blades is having to get up close and personal with the monsters. This means no blocking, just constant swinging. As long as the player manages their stamina well and does not get hit, they will be unstoppable.

3 Bow

The Bow is the classic ranged weapon that works best when completely wound up before letting arrows loose. Additionally, these arrows may be coated with Status Ailments such as poison and paralysis.

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Even though the Bow is undeniably strong and offers fantastic mobility, it requires skill to be used properly. This is because the player needs to worry about their stamina constantly to keep dishing out damage. On top of that, they need to be accurate while aiming or can otherwise forget about it.

2 Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun is a ranged weapon that unleashes many, many bullets. It uses special ammunition, allowing it to do things like set traps.

Maybe there is no guarding. And, maybe having to manage inventory to account for the ammo is annoying. But the Light Bowgun offers incredible mobility and amazing power. Moreover, it is easy to use and allows the player to run around while firing.

1 Long Sword

It should probably go without saying, but the Long Sword is a sword that is long. It deals accurate and fast strikes to monsters, racking up buffs along the way. This weapon uses something called a Spirit Gauge for combos.

Perfection is an understatement when describing the Long Sword. It is strong and easy to use. The weapon has long reach and counterattack abilities. While swinging it is a bit slow, the Long Sword hit so hard. The cherry on top is that the Spirit Gauge is not difficult to manage and therefore combos are pulled off over and over with ease.

Monster Hunter Rise is available for PC and Nintendo Switch.

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