The Lance in Monster Hunter Wilds offers unmatched defense and precision, making it a powerful weapon for both new and veteran hunters. In this guide, we’ll explore the best builds to enhance your offensive and defensive capabilities, ensuring you’re ready for any challenge. Whether you’re aiming for defensive mastery or raw damage output, these builds will help you dominate the battlefield.
Mastering the Lance: Combos, Defense, and Mobility in MH Wilds
The Lance has two primary combos, each consisting of three consecutive stab attacks: Y for a mid-level thrust (at hunter level) and B for a high thrust (targeting flying or large monsters). After completing either combo, you can access two follow-up moves:
- Triple Thrust (Y): A rapid three-hit attack, ideal when the enemy is stunned and there’s no risk of interruption.
- Charge Counter (B): A charged move that absorbs enemy attacks and delivers a powerful stab when released. If released as an enemy strikes, it becomes the stronger Double Counter-Thrust. This move can also be performed independently by holding RT and B.
The Lance also emphasizes defense with its shield, allowing you to block attacks. After a successful guard, you can execute three powerful counterattacks: Return Thrust (Y), Retribution Thrust (Y + B), and Payback Thrust (B), each dealing significant damage. You can also use the Guard Thrust, a quick but low-damage poke that’s extremely safe during a guard.
You can perform these moves through the Power Guard stance, activated by holding RT and A while in the Charge Counter state. Power Guard continuously drains stamina but automatically blocks enemy attacks. In this stance, Return Thrust (Y) is upgraded to the more powerful Leaping Thrust.
While Lance may appear slow and defensive, it’s not all about blocking. The Dash Attack (RT + Y + B) lets you rush forward with your shield raised, impaling anything in your path. This is useful for quickly closing the distance with a fast monster instead of relying on the Lance’s sluggish dodge. You can follow it up with a Finishing Thrust or a Reverse Attack, spinning around to strike behind you, handy when you overshoot.
Best Lances in MH Wilds
Looking for the best lance to take on monster hunts? With so many options available, it can be time-consuming to experiment with different weapons to find the perfect one. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top lances in Monster Hunter Wilds.
High Rank Builds
Frenzied Agitator Raw Lance
The Frenzied Agitator Raw Lance build in Monster Hunter Wilds is designed to maximize raw damage output by leveraging the Agitator skill, which enhances attack power and affinity when large monsters become enraged.
Recommended Weapon:
Skyscraper: An Artian weapon with 437 attack, three decoration slots, and customizable elemental attributes.
Key Skills to Prioritize:
- Agitator (Level 5): Increases attack by 20 and affinity by 15% during monster enragement.
- Weakness Exploit (Level 4): Enhances affinity when attacking monster weak points.
- Offensive Guard (Level 3): Boosts attack power after successfully blocking an attack.
- Guard (Level 2): Reduces stamina depletion when blocking.
- Critical Boost (Level 3): Increases damage dealt by critical hits.
- Antivirus (Level 3): Improves recovery rate from Frenzy infection.
- Resentment (Level 1): Boosts attack when health is below maximum.
- Burst (Level 1): Increases damage after a successful guard.
- Divine Blessing (Level 1): Provides a chance to reduce damage taken.
- Black Eclipse (Level 1): Enhances attack and affinity when afflicted by Frenzy.
- Evade Window (Level 1): Improves invincibility frames during evasion.
- Recovery Speed (Level 1): Accelerates health recovery.
- Flinch Free (Level 1): Prevents being knocked back by attacks.
- Coalescence (Level 1): Boosts attack after recovering from a status ailment.
Recommended Mantles:
- Corrupted Mantle: Increases damage output while afflicted by Frenzy, requiring continuous attacks to maintain its benefits.
- Mending Mantle: Provides passive healing over time, aiding in sustained combat.
This build is optimized for high raw damage, especially effective against Thunder-weak monsters like Rathalos and Uth Duna. However, it requires careful management of Frenzy infection and affinity adjustments to fully harness its potential.
Max Might Blast Lance
The Max Might Blast Lance build in Monster Hunter Wilds is designed to maximize raw damage output by leveraging the Maximum Might skill, which significantly boosts attack power when stamina is full, and incorporating Blast Element attacks for additional damage.
Recommended Weapon:
Artian Lance I: An Artian weapon with 391 attack, customizable elemental attributes, and three decoration slots.
Alternative Weapon:
Gravios Spear I: A weapon with 483 attack, Blast Element damage of 290, and a -15% affinity.
Key Skills to Prioritize:
- Maximum Might (Level 3): Increases attack power when stamina is full.
- Agitator (Level 3): Boosts attack and affinity when monsters are enraged.
- Weakness Exploit (Level 3): Enhances affinity when attacking monster weak points.
- Constitution (Level 3): Reduces stamina consumption during actions.
- Evade Extender (Level 3): Increases invincibility frames during evasion.
- Offensive Guard (Level 2): Boosts attack power after successfully blocking an attack.
- Guard (Level 2): Reduces stamina depletion when blocking.
- Critical Status (Level 2): Increases critical hit multiplier for status-inflicting attacks.
- Windproof (Level 2): Reduces the effect of wind pressure from monsters.
- Second Wind (Level 1): Provides an additional stamina bar, allowing for sustained combat.
- Resentment (Level 1): Boosts attack when health is below maximum.
- Scorcher (Level 1): Increases attack when health is above maximum.
- Ward of Wyveria (Level 1): Reduces damage taken from wyvern attacks.
- Intimidator (Level 1): Increases affinity when monsters are enraged.
Recommended Armor Loadout:
- Head: G. Fulgur Helm β with Mighty Jewel II.
- Chest: G. Rathalos Mail β with Mighty Jewel II and Sheath Jewel I.
- Arms: G. Fulgur Vambraces α with Physique Jewel I.
- Waist: G. Rathalos Coil α with Physique Jewel I.
- Legs: G. Rathalos Greaves β with Furor Jewel II.
- Charm: Leaping Charm III.
Weapon Decorations:
Artian Lance I: Guardian Jewel II x1, Crit Status Jewel II x1, Ironwall Jewel II x1.
Skill Summary:
- Maximum Might: 3
- Agitator: 3
- Weakness Exploit: 3
- Constitution: 3
- Evade Extender: 3
- Offensive Guard: 2
- Guard: 2
- Critical Status: 2
- Windproof: 2
- Second Wind: 1
- Resentment: 1
- Scorcher: 1
- Ward of Wyveria: 1
- Intimidator: 1
How to Obtain Artian Lance I:
Artian Lance I: Crafted using Artian materials, focusing on Blast Element infusion and balancing attack, affinity, and sharpness through reinforcements.
Alternative Weapon:
Gravios Spear I: Requires materials from Gravios, including Gravios Certificate S, Gravios Wing, Gravios Skull, and Gravios Pleura+.
How to Obtain Gravios Spear I:
Gravios Spear I: Crafted using Gravios materials, resulting in a Blast Element weapon with high attack and a -15% affinity.
Recommended Mantles:
- Corrupted Mantle: Increases damage output while afflicted by Frenzy, requiring continuous attacks to maintain its benefits.
- Mending Mantle: Provides passive healing over time, aiding in sustained combat.
This build is optimized for high raw damage, especially effective against Thunder-weak monsters like Rathalos and Uth Duna. However, it requires careful management of stamina to maintain Maximum Might and strategic play to compensate for any affinity drawbacks.
Burst WEX Lance
The Burst WEX Lance build in Monster Hunter Wilds focuses on maximizing burst damage by combining the Burst skill with Weakness Exploit (WEX). This setup allows for consistent high-damage output, especially when targeting monster weak points.
Recommended Weapon:
Gravios Spear I: A Lance with 483 attack, Blast Element damage of 290, and a -15% affinity.
Key Skills to Prioritize:
- Burst (Level 3): Increases damage dealt during burst attacks.
- Weakness Exploit (Level 3): Enhances affinity when attacking monster weak points.
- Offensive Guard (Level 2): Boosts attack power after successfully blocking an attack.
- Guard Up (Level 1): Allows blocking of unblockable attacks.
- Critical Boost (Level 3): Increases damage dealt by critical hits.
- Guard (Level 2): Reduces stamina depletion when blocking.
- Critical Status (Level 2): Increases critical hit multiplier for status-inflicting attacks.
- Windproof (Level 2): Reduces the effect of wind pressure from monsters.
- Second Wind (Level 1): Provides an additional stamina bar, allowing for sustained combat.
- Resentment (Level 1): Boosts attack when health is below maximum.
- Scorcher (Level 1): Increases attack when health is above maximum.
- Ward of Wyveria (Level 1): Reduces damage taken from wyvern attacks.
- Intimidator (Level 1): Increases affinity when monsters are enraged.
Recommended Armor Loadout:
- Head: G. Fulgur Helm β with Mighty Jewel II.
- Chest: G. Rathalos Mail β with Mighty Jewel II and Sheath Jewel I.
- Arms: G. Fulgur Vambraces α with Physique Jewel I.
- Waist: G. Rathalos Coil α with Physique Jewel I.
- Legs: G. Rathalos Greaves β with Furor Jewel II.
- Charm: Leaping Charm III.
Weapon Decorations:
Gravios Spear I: Guardian Jewel II x1, Crit Status Jewel II x1, Ironwall Jewel II x1.
Skill Summary:
- Burst: 3
- Weakness Exploit: 3
- Offensive Guard: 2
- Guard Up: 1
- Critical Boost: 3
- Guard: 2
- Critical Status: 2
- Windproof: 2
- Second Wind: 1
- Resentment: 1
- Scorcher: 1
- Ward of Wyveria: 1
- Intimidator: 1
How to Obtain Gravios Spear I:
Gravios Spear I: Crafted using Gravios materials, resulting in a Blast Element weapon with high attack and a -15% affinity.
Recommended Mantles:
- Corrupted Mantle: Increases damage output while afflicted by Frenzy, requiring continuous attacks to maintain its benefits.
- Mending Mantle: Provides passive healing over time, aiding in sustained combat.
This build is optimized for high burst damage, particularly effective against Thunder-weak monsters like Rathalos and Uth Duna. However, it requires careful management of stamina to maintain offensive skills and strategic play to compensate for any affinity drawbacks.
Low Rank Builds
WEX Flayer Evasion Lance
This build focuses on maximizing damage output through Weakness Exploit (WEX) and Flayer skills, while incorporating Evasion skills to enhance mobility and adaptability in combat.
Recommended Weapon:
Gravios Spear I: This weapon offers a balanced mix of attack power and Blast Element damage, making it effective against various monsters.
Key Skills to Prioritize:
- Weakness Exploit (Level 3): Increases affinity when attacking monster weak points, enhancing critical hit chances.
- Flayer (Level 3): Enhances damage when attacking monsters’ weak spots, synergizing with the Lance’s ability to target specific areas.
- Evasion (Level 2): Improves invincibility frames during evasion, allowing for better dodging and repositioning.
- Constitution (Level 1): Reduces stamina consumption during evasive maneuvers, enabling sustained mobility.
- Offensive Guard (Level 1): Boosts attack power after successfully blocking an attack, rewarding defensive playstyles.
Armor and Decorations:
- Head: G. Fulgur Helm β with Mighty Jewel II.
- Chest: G. Rathalos Mail β with Mighty Jewel II and Sheath Jewel I.
- Arms: G. Fulgur Vambraces α with Physique Jewel I.
- Waist: G. Rathalos Coil α with Physique Jewel I.
- Legs: G. Rathalos Greaves β with Furor Jewel II.
- Charm: Leaping Charm III.
Offensive Guarding Evade Lance
This build emphasizes a defensive playstyle, focusing on blocking and evading attacks while maintaining offensive pressure through skills like Offensive Guard.
Recommended Weapon:
Nu Osminog I: A Fire-element Lance with a respectable attack value, featuring Offensive Guard at Level 2, enhancing post-guard attack capabilities.
Key Skills to Prioritize:
- Guard (Level 3): Significantly reduces stamina depletion when blocking, essential for prolonged defensive engagements.
- Offensive Guard (Level 2): Provides a substantial attack boost after performing a perfectly timed guard, synergizing with the Lance’s defensive capabilities.
- Evade Extender (Level 3): Greatly increases the distance covered during evasive rolls, enhancing mobility and positioning.
- Attack Boost (Level 1): Increases overall attack power, contributing to higher damage output.
Armor and Decorations:
- Head: Hope Mask with Stun Resistance Jewel I.
- Chest: Hope Mail with Divine Blessing Jewel I.
- Arms: Doshaguma Braces with Evade Extender Jewel I.
- Waist: Doshaguma Coil with Evade Extender Jewel I.
- Legs: Doshaguma Greaves with Partbreaker Jewel I.
- Charm: Leaping Charm I.
Evade Guard Lance
Focusing on evasion and guard skills, this build enhances the hunter’s ability to avoid and mitigate damage while maintaining offensive capabilities.
Recommended Weapon:
Balahara Lance I: Provides a good balance of attack power and elemental damage, suitable for hunters seeking versatility.
Key Skills to Prioritize:
- Evade (Level 1): Improves invincibility frames during evasion, allowing for better dodging and repositioning.
- Guard (Level 1): Reduces stamina depletion when blocking, essential for prolonged defensive engagements.
- Offensive Guard (Level 1): Boosts attack power after successfully blocking an attack, rewarding defensive playstyles.
- Attack Boost (Level 1): Increases overall attack power, contributing to higher damage output.
Armor and Decorations:
- Head: Bone Helm I with Attack Jewel I.
- Chest: Bone Mail I with Attack Jewel I.
- Arms: Bone Vambraces I with Evade Jewel I.
- Waist: Bone Coil I with Evade Jewel I.
- Legs: Bone Greaves I with Guard Jewel I.
- Charm: Evade Charm I.
These builds offer hunters in Monster Hunter Wilds tailored approaches to combat, balancing offense and defense to suit various playstyles and hunting scenarios. By focusing on specific skills and equipment, hunters can optimize their Lance setup to effectively tackle the challenges presented by the game’s diverse array of monsters.
