Here are the best Lance Builds in Monster Hunter Now. Check out the best early game build, the best elemental Lance builds, and the best Lance build progression against large monsters in this guide!

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Best Lance Builds

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Early Game Build			Poison/Raw Build
Water Build		Fire Build		Thunder Build
Ice Build			Dragon Build

Early Game Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Blooming Lance	144	0%	100
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 2)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Barroth Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Offensive Guard Lv.1
Barroth Vambraces (Grade 2)	▸ Guard Lv.1
Leather Belt (Grade 2)	▸ Health Boost Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

Once you've unlocked the Lance, these are the armor pieces we recommend you forge and equip.

You can continue upgrading the Barroth Mail and Kulu Greaves to Grade 6, as they provide generally useful skills, such as Offensive Guard and Critical Eye. The Kulu Headpiece can also be upgraded to Grade 4 for another point of Critical Eye.

We do not recommend spending materials on upgrading the Leather Belt to a higher grade. The Barroth Vambraces, however, can be upgraded to Grade 6 for another point of Guard if it would help you in the long run.

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Poison/Raw Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Blooming Lance (At least Grade 5)	430	0%	250
Armor	Skills
Baan Helm (Grade 6)	▸ Guard Lv. 2
Barroth Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Offensive Guard Lv.2
Banbaro Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Offensive Guard Lv.2
Diablos Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Partbreaker Lv.1 ▸ Offensive Guard Lv.1
Baan Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Sleep Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Guard Lv. 1

Offensive Guard is a powerful skill for the Lance when used right, as it's a 40% attack boost, which scales well at higher grades. However, the set doesn't have Lock On, which can limit your ability to make high thrusts. You can swap in the Kulu Headpiece, Pukei Lagoon Hat, or Diablos Nero Coil to add the skill, but you'll need to compromise one of the other skills.

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Water Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Hana mo Hana Nare (at least Grade 5)	335	10%	230
Alternative: Aqua Horn (At least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Jyura Mail (Grade 3)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1 ▸ Last Stand Lv. 1
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv.2
Rath Heart Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.2
Jagras Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv.2

If Pink Rathian is not available, you can swap the Rath Heart Coil with the Barroth Coil for a single point of Guard. You can also replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Fire Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Flame Lance (At least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Anja Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Anja Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 1 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1
Baan Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Sleep Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Guard Lv. 1

The build doesn't have Lock On, but it can be added by replacing the waist with the Diablos Nero Coil. However, it will reduce the overall damage of the build, as you'll have to give up one point of Fire Attack.

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Thunder Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunderpierce (At least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Kadachi Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Zinogre Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Kadachi Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Baan Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Sleep Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Guard Lv. 1

You can replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Ice Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Glacial Lance (At least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Barioth Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Ice Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Ice Attack Lv. 1
Barioth Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Baan Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Sleep Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Guard Lv. 1

You can replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Dragon Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Grief Lance (at least Grade 5)	368	-30%	292
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Rath Heart Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 1 ▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1
Vangis Vambraces (Grade 5)	▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1 ▸ Peak Performance Lv. 1
Vangis Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 2 ▸ Tremor Resistance Lv. 1
Rath Heart Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 2 ▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1

You can replace the Kulu Headpiece with the Pukei Lagoon Hat if you have the materials.

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Best Skills for Lance

Recommended Skill to Equip

Skill	Explanation / Recommended Level
Elemental Attack	Stacking any Elemental Attack will yield the highest damage per skill point. Always aim to have as many points to this skill. Priority: ★★★
Offensive Guard	With the Lance's capability to quickly guard attacks, this skill should proc quite often and provide the 10-second attack buff. This skill gives a good percentage boost to your raw attack and will continuously be valuable at higher-grade Lances. Priority: ★★☆
Critical Eye	As critical hits amplify your raw and elemental attacks, affinity boosting skills are best paired with a decent amount of an elemental attack skill. Priority: ★★☆
Weakness Exploit	This skill is the more efficient affinity-providing skill. However, it only works when you hit a monster's weak point, which you will be most of the time. Priority: ★★☆
Guard	This skill lessens the impact and damage you receive from blocked hits. Take a couple of points of this skill if you frequently block attacks, especially the bigger hits, to give a bit more time to counter with an attack. Priority: ★☆☆
Evade Extender	One of the weaknesses of the Lance is its mobility. Evade Extender furthers the range of your dodges and will help you move through the battlefield more quickly. Priority: ★☆☆
Divine Blessing	Divine Blessing is the best defensive skill and will increase your effective health pool more than Health Boost as you use potions or passively regenerate health. Priority: ★☆☆

Lance Builds Against Monsters

Best Jyuratodus Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Lance	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 2)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Barroth Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Barroth Vambraces (Grade 2)	▸ Guard Lv. 1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 2)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1

This build features the early-game build with the Kadachi Coil replacing the Leather Belt for a point in Thunder Attack. Thunder Attack will add a hefty amount of damage to the equipped thunder-element Lance, which Jyuratodus is weak to.

Feel free to add more survivability by adding defensive skills such as Divine Blessing or Health Boost if you struggle to survive the hunt.

Best Anjanath Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Aqua Horn	182	0%	75
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 2)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Jyura Mail (Grade 3)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 1
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 3)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1
Jagras Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 1

As Anjanath is weak to the Water element, use a water-element Lance along with some points in Water Attack. Three points of Water attack will provide plenty of damage, so use the rest of the armor slots for defensive skills.

Lumu Coil is one the most efficient defensive piece of armor as it provides up to two points of Divine Blessing, which provides roughly 15-20% more effective health. The Lock-on on the headgear makes it easier to hit Anjanath's weak spots.

Best Rathian Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Lance	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Barroth Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Defense Boost Lv. 1 ▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Kadachi Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Barroth Vambraces (Grade 2)	▸ Guard Lv. 1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 2)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1

For the Rathian fight, use a thunder-element Lance and Tobi-Kadachi armor pieces for Thunder Attack. The rest of the armor pieces can be customized to your preference.

However, the Offensive Guard and Guard combination is a good combo for a more defensive but calculated playstyle that rewards you with bonus damage as you perfectly block attacks.

Best Legiana Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Blooming Lance	144	0%	100
Armor	Skills
Barroth Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Defense Boost Lv. 1 ▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Barroth Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1

Though Legiana is weak to fire, the only fire lance is available to craft after hunting Rathalos. Therefore, use a generic raw damage lance, as any other element will not work.

Status ailments should also work, so the Blooming Lance is a good all-rounder choice. Along with the Blooming Lance, equip some generic good equipment that boosts your non-elemental damage and gives a bit of survivability.

Best Diablos Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Glacial Lance	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Barroth Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Defense Boost Lv. 1 ▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Barroth Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1

Diablos is the first monster encounter that is weak to Ice. Unfortunately, at this point, only the Legiana Coil provides the Ice Attack skill. Those two points of Ice Attack are still valuable, so equip yourself with an ice-element Lance and the Legiana Coil.

Equip the Rathian Vambraces as it is a solid choice for efficient armor pieces that give the Lock On and Burst skills at Grade 4. This armor piece is a good choice to spend materials on to upgrade until Grade 6.

Best Rathalos Lance Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Lance	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Barroth Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Defense Boost Lv. 1 ▸ Offensive Guard Lv. 1
Kadachi Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 2)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1

There are no readily available dragon-element Lances at the point of this hunt, so hunt Rathalos with a thunder-element Lance along with some points in Thunder Attack.

Rathalos fights aggressively, so be on your toes and play defensively. The point in Evade Extender should help with repositioning yourself. As usual, get some points in Divine Blessing and Health Boost if you struggle to survive.

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