Gunlance

Discover the explosive power of the Gunlance in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate! Learn its versatile melee and shelling attacks, pros and cons, and essential usage tips to dominate your hunts.

Alright, so you're looking at the Gunlance, huh? It's a super cool weapon that lets you get up close and personal like a Lance, but also blow things up with shells. It's perfect if you like a mix of melee and explosive damage, and honestly, who doesn't love a good explosion? The Gunlance has this awesome move called Wyvern Fire that hits like a truck, especially great for waking up sleeping monsters. Talk about a dramatic entrance!

Pros:

• It's really versatile – you can stab and shoot explosions.
• Wyvern Fire is seriously powerful.
• You've got a bunch of combos, and you can usually shell after most attacks.
• No need to worry about bringing ammo with you.
• Its shield is pretty tough.

Cons:

• Shelling eats up your sharpness way faster than melee attacks, so keep those Whetstones handy!
• Putting your weapon away takes a while, and you move pretty slow when it's out.
• You trade your forward roll for a little hop.

Melee Attacks:

Attack	Controls
Directional thrust	X, can be chained twice
Overhead Slam	After performing two thrusts, press X
Guard	R
Guard Poke	Press X while holding R, can be chained three times
Rising Slash	X+A, can be followed up with two directional thrusts
Back/sidestep	B

Shelling Attacks:

Attacks	Controls
Fire a shell	A
Single reload	After firing a shell, press A
Full reload	Press A after doing a back/sidestep
Fire a charged shot	R+A
Run-in shot	Hold R while moving forward, then press A
Wyvern Fire	R+X+A, has a very long cooldown, consumes sharpness

Usage Tips:

So, unlike those Gunner weapons where you can swap ammo types, your Gunlance has fixed shell types. You've got Normal Shot, which is great for a full burst and a decent Wyvern Fire. Then there's Spread Shot, which shines with its charged shot. And finally, Long Shot, which has the most powerful Wyvern Fire and good damage on its charged and full bursts. The type you use most will really help decide which Gunlances you want to craft.

The Gunlance is a pretty defensive weapon, moving slower than a Lance but hitting hard with those shells. Don't be afraid to block up and wait for the perfect moment. When you're up close, try to stick to the 'rule of threes' like with the Lance – triple poke, then hop back. It’s a solid rhythm.

Important! Remember that sleeping monsters take triple damage on the first hit. So, your Wyvern Fire is absolutely perfect for waking them up and dealing a ton of damage right off the bat!

Recommended Skills:

• Artillery Master is awesome because it cuts down the cooldown on Wyvern Fire and makes your shells hit harder. If you're shelling a lot, this is a must-have.
• As always, Guard+1/+2 and Guard Up are fantastic for when you need to play defensively.
• And if you prefer dodging, Evasion+1/+2 and Evasion Distance Up are great skills to have.