The Gunlance is a melee weapon in Monster Hunter Now. In this guide, you'll learn how to use the Gunlance, how to unlock it, as well as the recommended combos and tips on how to play the Gunlance!
| All Gunlance Guides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full List | How to Use | Builds (Coming Soon) |
List of Contents
- Basic Information
- Controls
- Combos
- Tips on How to Use
- How to Unlock
- Related Guides
Gunlance Basic Information
Released June 13, 2024
The Gunlance is a new weapon type added as part of the Dancing in the Tempest Summer update. It's available starting June 13, 2024, at 12 midnight UTC.
Dancing in the Tempest Update
Unleash Explosive Shells
The Gunlance's main claim to fame is its ability to fire ammo at monsters while being able to thrust and guard like a Lance. Shelling and the Wyrmstake Cannon also ignore armor, making them ideal for tougher monsters.
Powerful Wyvern's Fire
Wyvern's Fire is a popular Gunlance move that heats up the weapon and releases a powerful explosion, dealing massive damage to monsters. In Monster Hunter Now, it's the special skill of the Gunlance.
Gunlance Controls
List of Controls
| Touch Screen Controls | Hunter Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe | Evade |
| Tap | Shelling |
| Tap x3 | Shelling to Wyrmstake Cannon |
| Hold | Guard -> Charged Shelling |
| Tap (with no ammo) | Quick Reload |
| Hold then swipe down | Reload (includes Wyrmstake) |
| Swipe up | Lateral Thrust |
| Hold then swipe up | Rising Slash |
| Swipe up during Rising Slash | Overhead Smash |
| Tap after Overhead Smash | Burst Fire/Full Burst |
| SP Skill Button Tap (When Full) | Wyvern's Fire |
Gunlance Combos
Burst Fire Combo
| Burst Fire Combo |
|---|
| ① Rising Slash (Swipe Up while Guarding) ② Overhead Smash (Swipe Up) ③ Burst Fire (Tap) |
In general, a lot of the damage for Normal and Long Gunlances will come from the Burst Fire or Full Burst since it unloads all your ammo. Being able to execute it often is key to maximizing damage.
Perfect Evade Burst Fire
| Perfect Evade Burst Fire Combo |
|---|
| ① Perfect Evade (Swipe) ② Overhead Smash (Swipe Up) ③ Burst Fire (Tap) |
After doing a perfect evade, you can flick upwards to immediately do an Overhead Smash followed by a Burst Fire. This is a great way to fire all your shells at once if you know the monster's movements well.
Burst Fire to Wyrmstake Combo
| Burst Fire to Wyrmstake Combo |
|---|
| ① Rising Slash (Swipe Up while Guarding) ② Overhead Smash (Swipe Up) ③ Burst Fire (Tap) ④ Wide Sweep (Swipe Up) ⑤ Wyrmstake Cannon (Tap) |
This combo is a powerful way to use everything your Gunlance has in the fastest possible way. This allows you to fire the Wyrmstake Shot without having to fire shells twice first.
Poke Shelling Combo
| Poke Shelling Combo |
|---|
| ① Lateral Thrust (Swipe Up) ② Shelling (Tap) ③ Repeat from ① or Reload (Tap) |
This combo involves repeatedly thrusting the Gunlance and immediately firing a shell after every thrust. It plays similarly to Lances with added shelling, making it a safe way to use Wide Gunlances. However, due to the slower release of ammo, it isn't optimal for dealing a lot of damage.
Tips on How to Use the Gunlance
Know Your Ammo Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Normal | Has the most shells (5). Best for Burst Fire. |
| Long | Has 3 shells with longer range. Generally balanced. |
| Wide | Only has 2 stronger shells. Best for thrusting and shelling-focused builds. |
Gunlances have three types of shells, each with their own advantages over the others. Knowing how to maximize each type of ammo is key to mastering the Gunlance.
Normal Gunlances have the most shells, so it's best to use multiple Burst Fires to unload them all quickly. Wide Gunlances are best for a poke-shelling type of playstyle and are generally a safe option. Long Gunlances are more balanced with its main advantage being their range.
Use Wyvern's Fire When Possible
Wyvern's Fire is one of the most powerful moves of the Gunlance, so it's best to fire it off whenever you have an opening. Note that this actually hits 3 times, so it's not always the best option against sleeping monsters.
Learn the Different Reloads
Shelling contributes a lot to the damage output of Gunlances so it's important to know the differences of the two reloads to always have ammo available.
Quick Reload doesn't reload the Wyrmstake Shot and is only performed when you're out of ammo. The normal Reload has a longer animation, but it reloads all shells and the Wyrmstake and is best used if you need to reload early.
Aim to Have Artillery
The Artillery Skill is a must-have for Gunlances thanks to the additional damage to the shells. It's also the only way to increase ammo, making it worthwhile to have on builds.
Artillery Skill Effects
How to Unlock Gunlance
Unlocked After Pre-Season Story 3-1
Assuming the unlock conditions of the new weapon are similar to the previous update, the Gunlance should be available upon reaching Chapter 3 of the Pre-Season Story.
All Chapters and Quests List
Monster Hunter Now Related Guides
Best Weapons Tier List
List of All Weapons and Guides
| Close-Ranged Weapons | |
|---|---|
 Sword and Shield Guide | List |  Great Sword Guide | List |
 Long Sword Guide | List |  Hammer Guide | List |
 Dual Blades Guide | List |  Lance Guide | List |
 Charge Blade Guide | List |  Gunlance Guide | List |
| Long-Ranged Weapons | |
 Bow Guide | List |  Light Bowgun Guide | List |
