The Lance is a defensive powerhouse that can block a multitude of attacks from the monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds. Check out the Lance's new moves, how to use it, its controls, and its pre-launch update in this guide!

Lance Adjustments (December 19, 2024)

Improved Combos and Defensive Capabilities

You can now guard while charging your Charge Counter, increasing your defensive capabilities. Additionally, you can now also chain into the Charge Counter from any other move.

Power Guard also received an update, allowing you to charge to higher levels faster if you successfully defend against powerful attacks. Lastly, Perfect Guard and Power Guard can now be chained into a new move, increasing your combo options.

This update aims to increase the blocking and movement capabilities of the Lance, while also improving its combo chaining capabilities.

New Lance Moves and Mechanics

Triple Thrust

Platform	Move Input
PC	Mid / High Thrust III ▶︎
PS5	Mid / High Thrust III ▶︎
Xbox	Mid / High Thrust III ▶︎

Triple Thrust is an extra attack that's used after the standard thrust combo. Press triangle one more time after Mid Thrust III to attack three times, ending with a High Thrust. This move can also be quickly cancelled into a Guard if need be.

Focus Strike: Victory Thrust

Platform	Move Input
PC	+
PS5	+
Xbox	+

Whenever a monster has been wounded, you can use this attack to deal extra damage to it with your shield. Hitting a wound with this attack will also start a charge attack that deals damage to multiple areas on the monster.

How to Use Lance

Fight Using Thrusts and Counters

The Lance is the premiere defensive weapon choice, being able to block nearly every attack in the game! This makes its playstyle inherently defensive, focusing on blocking and counter-attacking in between thrust attacks.

Use a Dash Attack to Close the Distance

One of the biggest downsides of the Lance is that it takes forever to sheathe. Whenever you're chasing monsters, it's recommended to use a Dash Attack to close the distance instead so that you don't have to constantly sheathe.

Utilize the Different Guard Types

Guard Type	Controls
Guard	| |
Power Guard	+ | + | +

When you're using a Lance, you should familiarize yourself with the different Guards it can perform so you know which one to use in the heat of battle. Mastering the different Guard types is the key to a strong Lance player.

For example, if you're about to get hit by an attack that a standard block can't defend against, you should use a Power Guard instead.

Lance Controls

Basic Controls

Action	PC	PS5	Xbox
Mid Thrust
High Thrust
Leaping Thrust	+	+	+
Wide Sweep	During Combo +	During Combo +	During Combo +
Guard ▼ Guard Dash ▼ Shield Attack	▼ + + ▼	▼ + + ▼	▼ + + ▼
Guard ▼ Guard Dash ▼ Leaping Thrust	▼ + + ▼	▼ + + ▼	▼ + + ▼
Power Guard	+	+	+
Dash Attack ▼ Dash Step/Turn ▼ Finishing Thrust	+ + ▼ + ▼ /	+ + ▼ + ▼ /	+ + ▼ + ▼ /
Return Thrust	After Successful Guard	After Successful Guard	After Successful Guard
Payback Thrust	After Successful Guard	After Successful Guard	After Successful Guard
Focus Strike: Victory Thrust	+	+	+

Recommended Lance Combos

Lance Combos
Basic Combo Into Triple Thrust Basic Combo Into Counter-Thrust Counters After Successful Guard

Basic Combo Into Triple Thrust

Platform	Combo Input
PC	▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎
PS5	▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎
Xbox	▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎

This is the standard combo that you'll use in most situations. Remember to weave in High Thrusts in case the part you're aiming for is higher up on the monster.

Basic Combo Into Counter-Thrust

Platform	Combo Input
PC	▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ (Hold)
PS5	▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ (Hold)
Xbox	▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ (Hold)

This is another basic combo that ends with you countering an attack instead of using Triple Thrust. Look to use this whenever the enemy is attacking so you can offset them.

Counters After Successful Guard

Platform	Combo Input
PC	▶︎ / / +
PS5	▶︎ / / +
Xbox	▶︎ / / +

After you successfully Guard against an attack, you can use either Circle, Triangle, or both buttons to counter the monster. If you use Triangle plus Circle after a Perfect Guard, you will do a powerful advancing attack instead.

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

All Weapons and Guides

All Weapon Guides

All Weapon Types
Great Sword		Long Sword		Sword & Shield
Dual Blades		Hammer		Hunting Horn
Lance		Gunlance		Switch Axe
Charge Blade		Insect Glaive		Light Bowgun
Heavy Bowgun			Bow