Sunbreak Hammer Guide: Combos, Controls and Moveset

This is a guide to the Hammer, a weapon in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (MH Rise). Read on to learn about new Hammer controls and combos, how to use Hammer Charge Switch as well as details on Hammer Switch Skills.

All Hammer Guides
Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds

Hammer Balance Changes

Update 15.0

Hammer New Sunbreak Attack and Moves

Official Hammer Preview Video

Silkbind Attack: Impact Burst

Impact Burst is a new Silkbind Attack for the Hammer in Sunbreak.

Upon using this move, the Hammer will be wrapped in Ironsilk, making every charged attack produce shockwaves upon hitting the target.

The shockwaves will deal residual damage and make it easier to make monsters flinch.

Focus on Hitting Monster Heads

Since this new Silkbind Attack adds more hits to the weapon's attacks, it is recommended to focus on targeting and hitting a monster's head while Impact Burst is in effect to quickly flinch and stun it.

Lasts For a Minute

The effects of Impact Burst in the Sunbreak demo lasts for a solid minute. The cooldown of the Wirebug used by this move will also be finished right before the effect of Impact Burst dissipates, so you can easily and readily use it again.

Switch Skill: Spinning Bludgeon: Charge

Spinning Bludgeon: Charge is a new Switch Skill for the Hammer added in Sunbreak. This new move allows Spinning Bludgeon to be charged up to level 3 to deal more damage.

After doing this move, the charge is stored and will be unleashed at the next Charge Switch attack, allowing the use of successive charged attacks.

Silkbind Attack: Keeping Sway

Not introduced in any trailer, Keeping Sway is an additional Silkbind Attack added to the Sunbreak Expansion. It is a high mobility Switch Skill that allows you to reposition whilst keeping you Hammer's charge level. Definitely a quality-of-life change that makes the Hammer more fun to use.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Release Date and New Monsters

How Good is the Hammer?

Tier List Ranking

MHRise Ranking	→	Sunbreak Ranking
(S - A - B) 3 Level Tier		(SS - S - A) 3 Level Tier

The Hammer continues to do what it does best in the Sunbreak expansion: dishing out lots and lots of stun damage.

Like the Hunting Horn however, the Hammer cannot fully utilize the elemental damage meta present today. What's more, it usually just stays in the head making it a bad pick against Afflicted Monsters considering you have to pop Qurio spots around their bodies.

Weapon Tier List

Hammer Strengths

Can stun monsters High single-hit attack damage High mobility weapon Can counter with Water Strike

Can Stun Monsters

Hammers dishes out blunt damage which could trigger stuns to monsters when hit on the head enough!

High Single-Hit Damage

Like the Great Sword, the Hammer has high single-hit attack damage. This can be achieved when the weapon is fully charged!

High Mobility

Unlike the Great Sword though, the hunter can move freely while the Hammer is unsheathed. You can even charge while moving but this consumes stamina so be careful!

Counter with Water Strike

Water Strike is a great addition to the Hammer's arsenal, allowing it to block an attack followed by a counter with an Upswing!

Hammer Weaknesses

Reach is very short Cannot cut tails Has no guarding options

Very Short Reach

The Hammer has a very short reach that cannot reach the heads of some monsters like Anjanath and Jyuratodus. The aerial attacks that come with the Silkbind Attacks make up for this though!

Cannot Cut Tails

Because it outputs blunt damage and not cutting damage, the Hammer cannot cut tails. This is okay though as most Hammer users focus on the head - and only the head.

No Guarding Options

The Hammer also does not have guarding options but is mitigated by its high mobility. Take advantage of this and position yourself properly!

Hammer Controls

Controls		Action
PC Left Click → Left Click (x2)	PS Triangle → Triangle (x2)	Overhead Smash
Switch X → X (x2)	Xbox Y → Y (x2)
PC → → Left Click (x3)	PS → → Triangle (x3)	Upswing
Switch → → X (x3)	Xbox → → Y (x3)
PC Right Click	PS Circle	Side Smash
Switch A	Xbox B
PC MB4	PS R2	Charge
Switch zR	Xbox rt
PC Release while Charge Lv 1 MB4	PS Release while Charge Lv 1 R2	Charged Side Blow
Switch Release while Charge Lv 1 zR	Xbox Release while Charge Lv 1 rt
PC Release while Charge Lv 2 MB4	PS Release while Charge Lv 2 R2	Charged Upswing
Switch Release while Charge Lv 2 zR	Xbox Release while Charge Lv 2 RT
PC Release while Charge Lv 3 MB4	PS Release while Charge Lv 3 R2	Charged Big Bang
Switch Release while Charge Lv 3 zR	Xbox Release while Charge Lv 3 RT
PC Release while Charge Lv 3 + MB4	PS Release while Charge Lv 3 + R2	Spinning Bludgeon
Switch Release while Charge Lv 3 + zR	Xbox Release while Charge Lv 3 + RT
PC While charging Right Click	PS While charging Circle	Charge Switch
Switch While charging A	Xbox While charging B
PC MB4	PS R2	Guard
Switch zR	Xbox rt
PC + Middle Click + Left Click	PS + L2 + Triangle	Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon
Switch + zL + X	Xbox + LT + Y
PC + Middle Click + Right Click	PS + L2 + Circle	Impact Crater
Switch + zL + A	Xbox + LT + B

Useful Combos

Basic Combo
Overhead Smash I	Overhead Smash I	Upswing
X	X	X
Left Click	Left Click	Left Click
Triangle	Triangle	Triangle
Y	Y	Y

Charged Side Blow Combo
Charged Side Blow	Charged Follow-up	Overhead Smash I
Hold, zR	X	X
Hold, MB4	Left Click	Left Click
Hold, Triangle	Triangle	Triangle
Hold, RT	Y	Y

Monster Stunning Combo
Charged II Side Blow	Side Smash	Overhead Smash II	Upswing
Hold, zR	Hold, A	Hold, X	Hold, X
Hold, MB4	Hold, Right Click	Hold, Left Click	Hold, Left Click
Hold, R2	Hold, Circle	Hold, Triangle	Hold, Triangle
Hold, RT	Hold, B	Hold, Y	Hold, Y

Spinning Bludgeon Follow-Ups (release , , , or at charge level 3 while moving)
Charge	Spinning Bludgeon	Spinning Side Smash
Hold, zR	Hold, + L + zR	During first spin, X
Hold, MB4	Hold, CTRL + CTRL + MB4	During first spin, Left Click
Hold, R2	Hold, + L1 + R2	During first spin, Triangle
Hold, RT	Hold, + LB + RT	During first spin, Y
	↳	Spinning Follow-up 2nd to 3rd spin, X 2nd to 3rd spin, Left Click 2nd to 3rd spin, X 2nd to 3rd spin, X
	↳	Spinning Follow-up 4th to 5th spin, X 4th to 5th spin, Left Click 4th to 5th spin, X 4th to 5th spin, X

Hammer Silkbind Attacks

Impact Burst

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + B

The new Impact Burst Silkbind Attack can be used in the Sunbreak demo and replaces Impact Crater.

The weapon is wrapped with Ironsilk for one minute, adding shockwaves that deal additional damage to every attack with the Hammer. The effect is active as long as a blue flare is attached at the hunter.

This move makes it more easy to flinch monsters by solely hitting their heads and taking advantage of the additional hits produced by Impact Burst

Impact Burst costs one Wirebug charge and has a medium recovery speed.

Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon

Switch Controls	＋ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Triangle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + Y

Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon sends the hunter flying upwards while making a spinning attack. You can opt to charge the attack initially for more damage!

Dash Breaker

Switch Controls	＋ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Triangle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + Y

Dash Breaker sends the hunter rushing forward to attack. It has the bonus effect of negating all enemy damage while launching forward.

Impact Crater

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + B

Impact Crater is a Silkbind Attack that launches the hunter in the air then slamming the hammer downwards with great force, creating a crater on the ground.

Keeping Sway

Switch Controls	＋ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Triangle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + Y

A high mobility Switch Skill that allows you to reposition whilst keeping you Hammer's charge level. Definitely a quality-of-life change that makes the Hammer more fun to use.

Hammer Switch Skills

Switch Skills are unlocked with different conditions as you progress in the game. Base game MHRise provides Hunters with three (3) slots of Switch Skills, with the Sunbreak expansion adding two (2) more.

Note: Skills in red are exclusive to the Sunbreak expansion.

Switch Skills Guide: How to Unlock Switch Skills

Water Strike

Switched With
Side Smash
Description
Attack that allows you to absorb an enemy attack. Perform before getting hit to negate the damage. Can be followed-up by an upswing hammer attack.
Controls
Press (A) as you are about to be hit. If successful, press A or X to follow-up with an upswing. Press (Right Clck) as you are about to be hit. If successful, press Right Click or Left Click to follow-up with an upswing. Press (Circle) as you are about to be hit. If successful, press Circle or Triangle to follow-up with an upswing. (B) as you are about to be hit. If successful, press B or Y to follow-up with an upswing.

This Switch Skill unlocks a damage negation property in your Overhead Smash then you can follow up with an Upswing when successful. When you unlock this, use it immediately. The buff this Switch Skill gives is just too much to pass on.

Dash Breaker

Switched With
Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon
Description
Forward rush using Wirebugs. Enemy attack damage is negated while launching forward! Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Fast Wirebug Cost: 1
Controls
+ zL + X Hold zR to charge before launching the attack. + Middle Click + Left Click Hold MB4 to charge before launching the attack. + L2 + Triangle Hold R2 to charge before launching the attack. + LT + Y Hold RT to charge before launching the attack.

This move brings out a Wirebug and dashes you forward while side swinging. The main difference between Dash Breaker and Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon is the direction of attack: Dash Breaker dashes you forward while Silkbind Spinning Bludeon propels you upward. We suggest switching between them depending on the monster.

Charge Switch: Courage

Switched With
Charge Switch: Strength
Description
Decreases charging levels, but allows you to follow from one charge into another more quickly.
Controls
Press (A) while charging. Press again to disengage. Charge level increases to maximum when disengaged. Press (Right Clck) while charging. Press again to disengage. Charge level increases to maximum when disengaged. Press (Circle) while charging. Press again to disengage. Charge level increases to maximum when disengaged. Press (B) while charging. Press again to disengage. Charge level increases to maximum when disengaged.

This Switch Skill allows you to chain multiple charge attacks. When coupled with a Focus build, this could work but this also removes the second charge level and just brings you from Lvl 1 to Lvl 3 (but with the same charge time). This also enables you to get access to the powerful downswing attack by just hitting the hammer charges consecutively.

Keeping Sway

Switched With
Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon
Description
A quick evasion maneuver at a high speed. Maintains your charge level during the evade. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Fast Wirebug Cost: 1
Controls
Switch + zL + X Hold zR to charge before launching the attack. PC + Middle Click + Left Click Hold MB4 to charge before launching the attack. PlayStation + L2 + Triangle Hold R2 to charge before launching the attack. Xbox + LT + Y Hold RT to charge before launching the attack.

A high mobility Switch Skill that allows you to reposition whilst keeping you Hammer's charge level. Definitely a quality-of-life change that makes the Hammer more fun to use.

Spinning Bludgeon: Charge

Switched With
Spinning Bludgeon
Description
Stores released power and funnels it into the next Charge Switch attack. Power is build up when performing this move and charge level is maintained when executing a Charge Switch. Can be used to unleash a series of level 3 charged attacks!
Controls
Switch Hold + until Level 3 Charge. Spinning Bludgeon: Charge → Hold to charge → Press to Charge Switch PC Hold + until Level 3 Charge. Spinning Bludgeon: Charge → Hold to charge → Press to Charge Switch PlayStation Hold + until Level 3 Charge. Spinning Bludgeon: Charge → Hold to charge → Press to Charge Switch Xbox Hold + until Level 3 Charge. Spinning Bludgeon: Charge → Hold to charge → Press to Charge Switch

Allows Hunters to store charged energy then drop it in the next Charge Switch attack. This combo can be used to dish out a flurry of level 3 charged attacks for maximum damage!

Impact Burst

Switched With
Impact Crater
Description
Makes any charge attack vibrate, creating a shockwave that makes it easier to flinch monsters. Activate and it will last for 55s so combo this with Impact Crater via Skill Swap to deal maximum damage! Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Medium Wirebug Cost: 1
Controls
Switch + zL + A PC + Middle Click + Right Click PlayStation + L2 + Circle Xbox + LT + B

This silkbind attack rewards an ultra-offensive playstyle. While under the effects of Impact Burst, attacks will deal extra hits - quickly exhausting and stunning monsters in the process!

Hammer Attacks and Moves

Charge Mode Switch

Switch Controls	While charging, press A
PC Controls	While charging, press Right Click
PS Controls	While charging, press Circle
Xbox Controls	While charging, press B

The hammer gains an alternate charge attack for Monster Hunter Rise! It's a new move that switches the hammer's default spinning charge attack into one strong slam. To know the mode you currently have, refer to the color of the hammer icon on the right side of the sharpness gauge.

New Charge Mode	Default Charge Mode
Slam Attack	Spinning Attack

Spinning Jump Attack

Switch Controls	Slide on a slope while charging using zR
PC Controls	Slide on a slope while charging using MB4
Switch Controls	Slide on a slope while charging using R2
PC Controls	Slide on a slope while charging using RT

The Hammer's spinning jump attack makes its return in Monster Hunter Rise. It's a strong jump attack that can deal damage multiple times in a single move. Furthermore, it is also great against tall monsters since you can hit them from the jump's peak until you reach the ground.

Recommended Combos For the Hammer

Stun to Spinning Attack + Impact Crater

Switch Controls	While in Default Charge Mode, → → → → → → + X → A (x5) → zL + A
PC Controls	While in Default Charge Mode, → → → → → → + Left Click → Right Click (x5) → Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	While in Default Charge Mode, → → → → → → + Triangle → Circle (x5) → L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	While in Default Charge Mode, → → → → → → + Y → B (x5) → LT + B

This combo gives you the ability to combine a stun with a charged attack and finishing it off with a Silkbind Attack, specifically the Impact Crater.

Basic Stun Combo

Switch Controls	While in the New Charge Mode, () → → X (A) → X → X
PC Controls	While in the New Charge Mode, () → → Left Click (Right Click) → Left Click → Left Click
PS Controls	While in the New Charge Mode, () → → Triangle (Circle) → Triangle → Triangle
Xbox Controls	While in the New Charge Mode, () → → Y (B) → Y → Y

From a medium distance, this combo will let you do a slam attack and vertical hit combo which has a high chance of stunning the monster you are hitting.

Close Ranged Basic Combo

Switch Controls	→ → A → X → X
PC Controls	→ → Right Click → Left Click → Left Click
PS Controls	→ → Circle → Triangle → Triangle
Xbox Controls	→ → B → Y → Y

A close-ranged basic combo that does not use a charged attack but deals decent damage. It is ideal to use this when you are backed into a corner by a monster.

Tips on How to Use the Hammer

Aim for the head Make sure the Charge Attacks hit Counter using Water Strike and evade when needed An invincibility frame exists when changing from the new charge mode back to the default charge mode

Aim For the Head!

Take advantage of the blunt damage and always aim for the head to accumulate stun!

Make Sure the Charge Attack Hits

Hammers have one of the highest single-hit damage for any weapon so when you charge the Hammer, make sure it hits! It can charge up to 3 levels which can be stored while moving so reposition properly and make it count!

Counter Using Water Strike and Evade When Needed

Water Strike Switch Skill is the greatest addition to the Hammer so far. This allows the Hunter to negate an incoming attack and then counter with an upswing. When evasion is not available, use this to block incoming attacks! However, when it is too awkward to use Water Strike, just evade!

iFrame When Switching Between Charge Modes

When charge switching from the new mode to the default, there is an iFrame at the start. This could be used as an evasion technique during emergencies! Careful though, the iFrame is not very long so you need to time it as precisely as possible which should be at the start of the dash.

Changes from MHW: Iceborne

The first attack is a Side Smash Charging is easier to understand Charging type is now switchable Charged Upswing does not throw allies up anymore

The First Attack is a Side Smash

When pressing A, Right Click, Circle, or B, the attack is now a Side Smash. In Iceborne, you cannot attack with A, Right Click, Circle, or B as the first attack in a combo.

Charged Upswing Does Not Throw Allies Up

The Charged Upswing does not throw up allies in the air anymore! If you are a Hammer main and feels guilty for executing Charged Upswing beside allies, you can continue to do so (guilt-free!) in MH Rise!

Monster Hunter Rise Related Guides

Weapon Type Guides
Weapons and Weapon Types	Weapon Type Tier List	Builds for Each Weapon Type

Melee Weapon Guides

Melee Weapons
Great Sword Guide | Weapon Tree	Long Sword Guide | Weapon Tree	Sword and Shield Guide | Weapon Tree
Dual Blades Guide | Weapon Tree	Lance Guide | Weapon Tree	Gunlance Guide | Weapon Tree
Hammer Guide | Weapon Tree	Hunting Horn Guide | Weapon Tree | Melodies	Switch Axe Guide | Weapon Tree
Charge Blade Guide | Weapon Tree	Insect Glaive Guide | Weapon Tree | Kinsects

Ranged Weapon Guides

Ranged Weapons
Light Bowgun Guide | Weapon Tree	Heavy Bowgun Guide | Weapon Tree	Bow Guide | Weapon Tree