Monster Hunter Rise is well-known for having large, fantastical weapons that are used by the hunters to bring down big, scary creatures. Most of these weapons involve the hunter getting up close and personal with the monsters, but there are actually a couple that use the opposite tactic.
Available to the player for use are the Heavy Bowgun and the Light Bowgun. Forget about the former though. The latter is like a huge crossbow that is also a little machinegun. It does not even need combos, all this weapon knows is to shoot on sight.
The Light Bowgun is a ranged weapon that is the embodiment of Rapid Fire. Instead of incorporating defensive options in the slightest, this weapon just leans all the way into offense. The Light Bowgun is fast, shoots out countless bullets, and sets traps.
How To Play Light Bowgun
• ZL - Crosshairs
• ZR - Fire
• ZR > B - Step
• ZR > B > B - Slide
• X (hold) - Reload
• Y - Sheathe
• L (hold) > X/B - Select Ammo
Compared to the other weapon types in the game, the Light Bowgun is simple. The player aims by holding down the ZL button, which prompts Crosshairs. They fire the weapon (via the action literally called "Fire") using the ZR button. If the player presses the B button (the Forward Dodge action) right after firing, they will take a step and subsequently reduce their recoil time. After taking a step, pressing the B button again will allow the player to do a slide.
Whenever the player runs out of ammunition, the ZR button becomes Reload. Or, they could hold the X button (to reload anytime). Additionally, the Y button is Sheathe (and should be set to Manual over Automatic). To use a particular kind of ammunition, the player can Select Ammo by holding down the L button and the X or B buttons.
Wyvernblasts And Melee Attacks
Besides the basic attack (Crosshairs/Fire), the Light Bowgun can set explosive rounds. A Wyvernblast is placed when the player presses the A button. The explosive rounds laid out are detonated when attacked (or disappear eventually if not). This ammunition, in particular, replenishes over time too. Moreover, they can Step and Slide following a Wyvernblast (just like after firing).
There's another tool in the player's arsenal too, albeit lackluster. They can do a Melee Attack by mashing the X button and the A button. The hunter will swing the Light Bowgun. However, this move becomes better when used to detonate Wyvernblasts.
• A - Wyvernblast
• X + A - Melee
Aim Carefully And Keep A Distance
If the player cannot aim the Light Bowgun accurately and locate monsters quickly, they will fail in combat. This is why altering the camera settings is important. The Camera Speed and Gunner Reticle Speed should both be fast; hopefully, the player can handle it.
Since the weapon is purely ranged (forget about using Melee Attacks directly on monsters), they should keep a bit of a distance. Some types of Ammo allow more distance between the monster and the hunter, so it depends. That being said, Close Range means more damage whereas Out of Range means less damage (or straight-up misses). The player should stay Close Range as much as possible or fall back to Safe Distance when necessary.
Silkbind Glide And Fanning Vault
Silkbind Glide is, obviously, a Silkbind Attack. The hunter rushes forward when the player presses the ZL button and the X button. Following the surge, if they hit the ZR button the hunter will do a severing (close-range) attack. Afterward, attacking again will execute an automatic reload.
Another Silkbind Attack is the Fanning Vault. The hunter utilizes the Wirebug to vault forward While midair, the player can fire, reload, or place a Wyvernblast below them. Following the move, they are free to fire, reload, or place a Wyvernblast again. This is the ZL button and the A button.
• ZL + X - Silkbind Glide
• ZL + A - Fanning Vault
The Switch Skills
The Light Bowgun gets two Switch Skills. The player will unlock Elemental Reload and Fanning Maneuver. Elemental Reload replaces Reload and Fanning Maneuver replaces Fanning Vault. Both moves may or may not be swapped in and out.
Elemental Reload upgrades Reload. While the reloading speed becomes slower, it allows the hunter to increase the damage output of elemental shots. (The player should be using Elemental Ammo anyways.) Fanning Maneuver improves Fanning Vault. The hunter will instead strafe sideways the Wirebug while firing. And, attack power goes up for a moment!
Some Tips And Tricks
The Light Bowgun is mobile, allowing the hunter to run around the battlefield while firing countless bullets at monsters. However, the weapon offers no guarding possibilities or even counterattacks. Either the player evades incoming attacks or perishes.
But the offense is unreal. Thanks to Rapid Fire, the Light Bowgun can dish out three Ammo in a single shot. There are plenty of Status Effect kinds of ammunition too as well as Cluster Bombs and Sticky Ammo. As long as they manage their inventory well and do not stop firing, the player will keep up with their teammates during combat (or even surpass them!)