Gunlance Guide: Controls and Combos

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!

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.

Shells can be charged to deal more damage. Their damage also scales based on grade and ammo type and not with attack. They also can't crit and don't have elemental properties. A breakdown of the different ammo types can be found below.

Gunlance Ammo Types

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. Long Gunlances have more range and powerful charged shells.

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

Gunlance Combos

Burst Fire Combo

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. It's also possible to follow up the combo to finish with the Wyrmstake Cannon.

Perfect Evade Burst Fire

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

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

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

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.

Best Gunlance Builds

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