Sunbreak Defense Stat Guide: How Does Defense Work? | Monster Hunter Rise

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Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise) - How Does Defense Work

This is a guide to the Defense stat in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise). Read on to know how defense works, how does elemental resistance work, and is it better to raise HP or defense.

How Does Defense Work

Reduces Damage Taken

Defense flat out reduces the damage you take from all enemy Large Monsters. This doesn't include ailment damages like poison which deals fixed damage but for the most part, if you wish to take less damage, up those defense stats.

How Does Elemental Defense Work

Increases or Decreases Damage Taken From Elemental Attacks

While Elemental Defense greatly reduces elemental attacks, it will not work against an enemy monster's physical attacks. Slotting fire resist gears against Rathalos will only weaken Rath's fire breath attacks while its tackles and other moves will still deal high damage. Avoid focusing on Elemental Defense unless your target monster utilizes a lot of elemental attacks.

High Elemental Defense Prevents Blight Status

Monster Hunter utilizes elemental defenses too by preventing elemental blights by having a high enough elemental defense to the corresponding element. Fireblight killing you through moxie? Get a high fire resistance gear to survive!

HP Vs. Defense Vs. Elemental Defense

HP Has Less Priority

MH Rise - Health and Stamina Bar.png

Unlike previous Monster Hunter Games, HP stat is now unimportant as a statbuild, or rather, it cannot be built anymore. Vitality boost which is a skill in the previous games has been removed and has been completely replaced by spiribirds. Make sure to gather some tempbuffers before heading into dangerous battles!

Spiribird Locations and Best Spiribird Routes

Raise HP in the Canteen

MH Rise - Yomogi and Palicoes with Dangos

Since Spiribirds takes a little bit of time to gather during quests, we highly suggest getting a meal from the Dango shop instead to raise your HP and Stamina. Make sure to always grab a Dango bite before heading to missions!

Dango List: Effects and How to Unlock

Defense Stat is Always a Priority

MH Rise - Gunlance Full Blast End in Guard Edge Combo

With the removal of Vitality Boost, your utmost focus in defensive builds should be the defense stat. Despite that, it is not imperative to get defense boost skills. Simply upgrading your armor should be enough for most hunts then get skills that boost your weapon's capability like Guard Up for tank weapons and more damage for weapons that wish to dish out damage.

Elemental Defense is Secondary

MH Rise - Magnamalo Hellfire Vortex

There will be tough fights where monsters use nasty elemental attacks. Despite having a high defense stat, some monsters will just pierce through your defenses and one-shot hunters easily. To get through this, building a high elemental resist for the monster's element should be considered to survive the monster's attacks.

Monster Hunter Rise Related Guides

Sunbreak Guides
New Silkbind Attacks and Switch Skills How to Switch Skill Swap
How to Get from MR 6 to MR 100 Fast Anomaly Research Level: How to Get Max Level Fast
Village Facility Guides
Room Guide: Things To Do Inside Your Room Training Area Guide
Canteen and Food Skills Gathering Hub Guide
Getting Started
Character Creation Guide List of Controls
Palico Guide Palamute Guide
Cohoot Guide List of Settings
Can I Change My Name? Can I Change Gender?
Hunter and Monster Stats
Explanation of Hunter Stats Monster Stats Explained
Attack and Elemental Attack Defense and Elemental Defense
Affinity and Negative Affinity Monster Size and Effects
Abnormal Status and Elemental Blight Guide Buff Duration: How Long Do Buffs Last?
Weapon and Armor-Related Guides
How to Rollback Weapons How to Forge Weapons and Armor
Damage Types: Difference Between Sever, Blunt, Projectile Damage How to Use Weapon and Armor Designs
How to Change Armor Pigment How to Hide Armor Pieces
How to Upgrade Kinsects How Does Sharpness Work?
Qurious Crafting:
Armor Augments
Chaotic Gore Magala Weapons Explained
Gameplay Features
Wirebug Moves and Controls Silkbind Attacks
How to Lock-On and Target Settings Switch Skills Guide
Wyvern Riding Guide Turf Wars
What is the Rampage? Hunter Rank (HR) Guide
Unchangeable Appearance Features How to Fast Travel
Fishing Guide Quest Completion Rewards
How to Carry Eggs Respawn Timers
Melding Pot Guide Solo and Offline Play Guide
Crafting List How to Use Photo Mode
List of Lottery Prizes How to Save the Game
Character Edit Vouchers
Online Play
Multiplayer and Co-op Guide Hunter Connect and Like Function
How to use the Chat Feature How to Use Gestures
Join Requests Guide How Does Difficulty Scaling Work?

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