Welcome back, Riders! Whether you’re just getting started or looking to optimize your combat strategies, understanding how each weapon works in Monster Hunter Stories 2 is essential. While the battle system is user-friendly at its core, several weapon-specific mechanics are easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention. This guide breaks down each of the six weapon types and their unique systems so you can choose the right tool for every hunt.

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Weapon Categories: Slash, Blunt, and Pierce

There are six weapon types in the game, divided into three damage categories:

• Slash: Sword & Shield, Greatsword
• Blunt: Hammer, Hunting Horn
• Pierce: Bow, Gunlance

You can equip three weapons at once, so it’s wise to carry one from each category. During battle, switch weapons via the X button or through the Skills > Swap Weapon menu. Weapon effectiveness is shown in combat—look for icons that indicate which damage type works best on each monster.

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Slash Weapons

Sword & Shield

• Difficulty: Easy
• Gauge Dependency: None

This is the most beginner-friendly weapon. All Sword & Shield skills use the Kinship Gauge. Simply build up your meter with basic attacks and use skills when you have enough gauge. Some later skills offer blocks or parries, but the core playstyle is straightforward and reliable.

Greatsword

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Gauge Dependency: Charge Meter (2 blocks)

The Greatsword relies on charging its own meter. You build it using Charge Attacks, and then consume it using Charged Moves. Key things to remember:

• Skills require a specific number of charge blocks.
• If you overcharge (e.g., reach 2 blocks), you can’t use 1-block skills—you must use the 2-block one.
• Sequence matters: Charge > Charge again > Use skill.

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Blunt Weapons

Hammer

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Gauge Dependency: Charge Meter (3 blocks)

The Hammer works like the Greatsword but uses a 3-block charge system. You fill it by:

• Winning Head-to-Head encounters
• Scoring Double Attacks
• Winning Clashes

Skills become available as you meet their charge requirements. Like Greatsword, you must match the exact charge level required to use a skill. The Hammer is especially useful for part breaking.

Hunting Horn

• Difficulty: Easy
• Gauge Dependency: None

The Horn is a support weapon with no additional meters to manage. It uses the Kinship Gauge for all skills. Hunting Horns offer buffs, heals, and other utility options depending on their song list:

• Healing and status cures
• Attack and defense buffs
• Team-wide enhancements

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Pierce Weapons

Bow

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Gauge Dependency: Charge Move

Bows require a turn to charge before accessing their most powerful moves:

• Spread Shot: AoE damage
• Pierce Shot: High part-breaking potential
• Rapid Fire: Multi-hit single target

Some skills apply coatings like Sleep, Poison, or Paralysis and use the Kinship Gauge, but can be enhanced by charging. After a charged attack, there’s a chance to trigger a Power Shot for bonus damage.

Pros:

• Flexible damage coverage
• Elemental utility with coatings

Cons:

• Requires setup (charging wastes a turn)
• Status effects can be unreliable

Gunlance

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Gauge Dependency: Shell Meter (up to 8 shells)

The Gunlance has a unique shelling system, gaining shells through:

• Ending turns
• Winning Head-to-Heads or Clashes
• Landing critical hits

Gunlance skills require shells rather than kinship. Skills scale in cost from 2 to 8 shells:

• You can use any skill at or below your current shell count (unlike other weapons with charge restrictions)
• Gunlance is flexible and doesn’t lock out low-cost moves if overcharged

Bonus: With a full Kinship Gauge, instead of mounting, you can unleash Wyvern’s Fire, a powerful AoE attack that doesn’t consume shells.

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Weapon Tips

• Bring one of each damage type to be prepared for all monster weaknesses.
• Check effectiveness icons during battle to know which weapon to use.
• Prioritize kinship and charge building early in battle to unlock advanced moves sooner.
• Don’t overlook status skills or buffs from bows and horns—they can turn the tide in long fights.

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Final Thoughts

Each weapon in Monster Hunter Stories 2 brings a different rhythm and strategy to battle. Whether you prefer the raw power of the Greatsword, the explosive control of the Gunlance, or the supportive playstyle of the Hunting Horn, there’s a weapon to suit every Rider. Understanding how to charge, swap, and maximize each one is the key to mastering combat and taking down even the toughest monsters.