Monster Hunter Rise’s massive expansion, Sunbreak, draws nearer as we progress in the month of June. Despite feeling like it was days ago that this DLC was first announced, it feels like years waiting for it to release due to all the hype they’ve built up around it. On top of that, Capcom has confirmed that Sunbreak will make an appearance in the upcoming Capcom Showcase on June 13, effectively building up even more hype in a 16-second video.
While we wait for that day to come, I’d like to go over some info that was already given to us last year in more detail. The info in question is the new moves that were revealed for each weapon throughout the latter half of last month. Videos came out showing two new attacks for all 14 weapons, which’ll be linked as I explain the new moves shown within them (since the video only explained one new move for each weapon). Now, let’s get into it.
Sword and Shield
The first new move for the Sword & Shield is a Silkbind called Destroyer Oil. This Silkbind uses a wirebug to cover the sword in oil, which makes it easier to cause monsters to flinch.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Twin Blade Combo. It’s a combo that begins with a circular strike and ends with a forward thrust. This skill is recommended for Sword & Shield weapons with high elemental and status properties.
Switch Axe
The first new move for the Switch Axe is a Silkbind called Elemental Burst Counter. It’s an attack that compresses energy in the gauge, which can be released as an Elemental Burst. This attack doubles as a counter when the burst is released right as the monster attacks, which will transition the attack into a Power Finisher and give the Switch Axe an Amped State.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called 2-Staged Morph Slash Combo. It’s a combo attack that morphs the Switch Axe through its forms throughout the two stages. The Sword mode will deal increased damage during this attack, while the Axe mode will fill the gauge faster.
Heavy Bowgun
The first new move for the Heavy Bowgun is a Silkbind called Setting Sun. This causes a Wirebug to create a ring of Ironsilk, which decreases the velocity of shots fired through it. Multi-hit ammo shot through the ring will deal an increased amount of hits upon impact.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Crouching Shot. It’s a shooting style that, while rendering the user immobile, reduces recoil by allowing the Heavy Bowgun to shoot multiple times in quick succession. Overusing this style will overheat the weapon, making it unable to fire at all.
Insect Glaive
The first new move for the Insect Glaive is a Silkbind called Awakened Kinsect Attack. This attack uses all extracts while hurling the Kinsect forward for damage. The attack then uses a Wirebug to hurl the user towards the Kinsect, while extracting and marking the target, as well as performing a Vaulting Dance.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Kinsect Slash. This attack thrusts the user forward along with their Kinsect in mid-air. You can absorb red extract with it upon a successful hit, then perform an Enhanced Insect Spiker with other successful hits afterwards.
Hammer
The first new move for the Hammer is a Silkbind called Impact Burst. This Silkbind wraps the hammer in Ironsilk, creating vibrations on the hammer upon performing charged attacks. These vibrations will create shockwaves that make it easier to flinch monsters.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Spinning Bludgeon: Charge. This is a technique that stores built-in power from Spinning Bludgeons with a Charge Switch. The stored power can be unleashed to easily perform level 3 charge attacks.
Great Sword
The first new move for the Great Sword is a Silkbind called Strongarm Stance. It uses Ironsilk to reinforce your arms and the weapon. During the pose, you can fend off attacks. If used during charged attacks, it will function as a parry and allow you to unleash an attack after.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Surge Slash Combo. It’s a different combat style of the Great Sword, taking advantage of the weight of the weapon to deliver faster slash attacks and combos.
Hunting Horn
The first new move for the Hunting Horn is a Silkbind called Silkbind Shockwave. This Silkbind wraps the Hunting Horn in Ironsilk, and attacks performed with it will cause them to vibrate. The vibration will create shockwaves that deal increased stun, exhaust, and part damage.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Swing Combo. It’s a two-hit combo that can be performed to the left or to the right. It’s useful for shifting and repositioning.
Bow
The first new move for the Bow is a Silkbind called Butcher’s Bind. It’s an attack that lodges an arrow loaded with Ironsilk into the monster. The next arrow, if fired in the same spot, will deal severing damage.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Stake Thrust. It stabs an explosive stake into a monster, dealing extra damage on reaction to follow-up attacks depending on the arrow used.
Charge Blade
The first new move for the Charge Blade is a Silkbind called Ready Stance. It uses Ironsilk to bind the Sword and Axe forms together in a guarding stance. An attack on this stance lowers your guard reaction, allowing you to chain attacks in either form.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Phial Follow-Up: Firing Pin. This is a mechanic that generates elemental energy to build up on the body of the monster. That energy can be detonated with an Axe Mode attack and extends the time limit of the Elemental Boost.
Gunlance
The first new move for the Gunlance is a Silkbind called Bullet Barrage. It uses a Wirebug to assist in Blast Dashing towards the target, to unleash everything with abandon. Still a very amazing description. Before the attack, all your resources are automatically reloaded.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Erupting Cannon. This fires an explosive stake into the target. It also enhances slashing attacks temporarily.
Lance
The first new move for the Lance is a Silkbind called Skyward Thrust. It’s a Silkbind that launches the user in the air before they stab straight below them into the ground, dealing multiple hits.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Shield Tackle. You charge forward with your shield, which can be followed up with many attacks.
Long Sword
The first new move for the Long Sword is a Silkbind called Harvest Moon. It creates an Ironsilk ring that increases the user’s spirit, keeping the Spirit Gauge from depleting and increasing the amount of hits on successful counterattacks.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Sacred Sheathe Combo. This attack slowly sheathes your Long Sword before harnessing your spirit to unleash slash attacks. Getting hit before finishing the sheathe will decrease your gauge by one level and cancel the attack.
Light Bowgun
The first new move for the Light Bowgun is a Silkbind called Wyvern Counter. It’s an attack that allows you to retreat with a blast that causes massive recoil, halting your momentum with a Wirebug. It’s not strong but allows evasion and is capable of stopping breath attacks.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Critical Firepower. It’s a shooting style that increases the power of shots landed in the Critical Range at the risk of decreasing the distance where it’s possible. It also increases the recoil of shots.
Dual Blades
The first new move for Dual Blades is a Silkbind called Spiral Slash. It uses Wirebugs to launch you forward in a spiral, acting as a spinning drill upon contact. It can also be used in the air.
The second new move is a Switch Skill called Slide Slash Combo. It’s a fighting style that gives you the ability to attack while evading attacks at the same time.
Final Thoughts
That’s all of the new moves we know about at the moment. I’m particularly interested in the Greatsword’s Surge Slash Combo, since it makes fighting with the Greatsword way different than it usually is. I also really like everything they’ve given the Heavy Bowgun, as well as the other Gunner weapons (with the exception of the Light Bowgun’s Critical Firepower).
What do you think of all the new information they’ve shown off? What’s your favorite new move? What do you wish got better (and why is it Lance)? I’d love to hear your thoughts.