Hey guys! Ready to become an unstoppable force in Monster Hunter Rise with the Lance? This weapon is all about defense and precision, turning you into a veritable wall against even the fiercest monsters. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the best Lance builds for the endgame, so you can dominate every hunt. Let's get started!

Why Choose the Lance?

The Lance might not be the flashiest weapon, but it's incredibly reliable and effective. Here’s why you should consider picking it up:

• Unmatched Defense: The Lance has the best blocking ability in the game, allowing you to absorb almost any attack without flinching. This makes you incredibly resilient and able to stay in the fight longer.
• Precise Offense: While not dealing the highest damage per hit, the Lance's attacks are precise and consistent. You can target weak points with ease and maintain a steady stream of damage.
• Mobility: With skills like Evade Extender and Evade Window, the Lance becomes surprisingly mobile. You can quickly reposition, dodge attacks, and stay on the offensive.
• Counter-Attacking: The Lance excels at counter-attacking. By timing your blocks and counters correctly, you can turn the monster's own attacks against it, dealing massive damage.

Now that you know why the Lance is awesome, let's get into the builds!

Understanding Key Skills for Lance Builds

Before we jump into specific builds, it’s important to understand the key skills that make a Lance build shine. These skills will significantly enhance your survivability, damage output, and overall effectiveness.

• Guard: This skill is essential for any Lance build. It reduces the knockback and stamina consumption when blocking, allowing you to maintain your defenses for longer. At higher levels, you can block even the most powerful attacks without being staggered.
• Guard Up: Another crucial defensive skill, Guard Up allows you to block unblockable attacks, such as Teostra's supernova or Bazelgeuse's explosions. Without this skill, you'll be forced to dodge these attacks, which can be difficult and risky.
• Offensive Guard: This skill boosts your attack power after a successful guard. It rewards aggressive play and turns your defense into offense, increasing your damage output significantly.
• Weakness Exploit: This skill increases your affinity (critical hit chance) when attacking a monster's weak points. Since the Lance is all about precision, you'll be targeting weak points frequently, making this skill highly effective.
• Critical Eye: Similar to Weakness Exploit, Critical Eye increases your overall affinity. This is a great way to boost your damage output, especially if you're not always hitting weak points.
• Critical Boost: This skill increases the damage of your critical hits. When combined with Weakness Exploit and Critical Eye, you can achieve very high critical hit rates and deal massive damage.
• Attack Boost: A straightforward skill that increases your raw attack power. This is a solid choice for any build, as it directly boosts your damage output.
• Evade Extender: This skill increases the distance you travel when evading. It enhances your mobility and allows you to reposition quickly, making it easier to dodge attacks and stay on the offensive. It's vital for a more aggressive Lance playstyle.
• Evade Window: This skill increases the invulnerability window during your evades, making it easier to dodge attacks with precise timing. It provides a safety net and allows you to be more aggressive without being punished as harshly for mistimed dodges.
• Stamina Surge: Stamina management is crucial for the Lance, as blocking and evading consume stamina. Stamina Surge increases your stamina recovery rate, allowing you to maintain your defenses and offense for longer periods.
• Wirebug Whisperer: The Lance relies on Wirebug moves for both offense and defense. Wirebug Whisperer reduces the Wirebug cooldown time, allowing you to use these moves more frequently.

Endgame Lance Builds

Alright, let's get into the fun part: the builds! These builds are designed for the endgame, so they require access to high-rank materials and decorations. Feel free to tweak them to suit your playstyle and available gear.

1. The Stalwart Defender Build

This build focuses on maximizing your defenses, making you virtually unkillable. It's perfect for players who prefer a more cautious and methodical playstyle.

• Weapon: Daora's Fang (Kushala Daora Lance)
• Head: Kaiser Crown (Teostra Head)
• Chest: Vaik Mail S
• Arms: Kaiser Vambraces (Teostra Arms)
• Waist: Anjanath Coil S
• Legs: Arc Greaves S
• Charm: Guard +2 or better

Skills:

• Guard 5
• Guard Up 3
• Offensive Guard 3
• Critical Eye 4
• Weakness Exploit 3
• Critical Boost 1
• Attack Boost 4
• Evade Extender 1

Explanation:

This build is all about maximizing your defenses while still maintaining decent damage output. Guard 5 and Guard Up 3 make you nearly impervious to attacks, while Offensive Guard 3 boosts your attack power after a successful block. Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Critical Boost ensure that your attacks hit hard, and Attack Boost adds some extra punch. Daora's Fang is chosen for its high defense value and decent raw damage. The Kaiser pieces give Crit Eye and Weakness Exploit, crucial for damage optimization.

Playstyle:

With this build, you'll be able to block almost any attack without flinching, allowing you to stay in the fight and maintain a steady stream of damage. Use your counter-thrusts and shield charges to punish the monster's attacks, and don't be afraid to get up close and personal. Your survivability is so high that you can afford to be aggressive.

2. The Aggressive Counter-Attacker Build

This build is for players who like to be proactive and turn the monster's attacks against it. It focuses on maximizing your counter-attacking abilities and dealing massive damage with precise timing.

• Weapon: Tigrex Lance
• Head: Diablos Helm S
• Chest: Rathalos Mail S
• Arms: Diablos Vambraces S
• Waist: Anjanath Coil S
• Legs: Skalda Crura S
• Charm: Offensive Guard +2 or better

Skills:

• Offensive Guard 3
• Guard 5
• Weakness Exploit 3
• Critical Eye 4
• Critical Boost 3
• Attack Boost 4
• Handicraft 2
• Protective Polish 1

Explanation:

This build focuses on maximizing your damage output through offensive skills while maintaining a strong defense. Offensive Guard 3 boosts your attack power after a successful block, and Weakness Exploit, Critical Eye, and Critical Boost ensure that your attacks hit hard. The Tigrex Lance is chosen for its high raw damage and affinity. Diablos pieces provide the raw damage buffs needed, while Rathalos Mail contributes to Weakness Exploit.

Playstyle:

With this build, you'll be constantly looking for opportunities to counter-attack the monster's attacks. Use your guard to absorb blows, and then immediately follow up with a counter-thrust or shield charge. The goal is to deal as much damage as possible in a short amount of time, so be aggressive and don't be afraid to take risks.

3. The Mobile Evader Build

This build is for players who prefer a more agile and evasive playstyle. It focuses on maximizing your mobility and allowing you to dodge attacks with ease.

• Weapon: Nargacuga Lance
• Head: Zinogre Helm S
• Chest: Rathalos Mail S
• Arms: Rakna-Kadaki Vambraces S
• Waist: Anjanath Coil S
• Legs: Skalda Crura S
• Charm: Evade Window +2 or better

Skills:

• Evade Extender 3
• Evade Window 5
• Weakness Exploit 3
• Critical Eye 4
• Critical Boost 3
• Attack Boost 4
• Stamina Surge 2
• Wirebug Whisperer 1

Explanation:

This build focuses on maximizing your mobility and evasion skills. Evade Extender 3 and Evade Window 5 make you incredibly difficult to hit, while Weakness Exploit, Critical Eye, and Critical Boost ensure that your attacks still hit hard. The Nargacuga Lance is chosen for its high affinity and sharpness. Zinogre Helm and Rathalos Mail contribute to the critical hit rate and Weakness Exploit.

Playstyle:

With this build, you'll be constantly moving and dodging attacks, using your Lance's mobility to stay one step ahead of the monster. Use your evades to reposition and create openings for attacks, and don't be afraid to get up close and personal. This build requires precise timing and good reflexes, but it's incredibly rewarding once you master it.

General Tips for Lance Users

Before you go out and start hunting, here are a few general tips to keep in mind when playing the Lance:

• Master the Counter-Thrust: The counter-thrust is your bread and butter. Practice timing your blocks and counters to maximize your damage output.
• Use the Shield Charge: The shield charge is a great way to close the distance and deal damage. Use it to initiate attacks or to reposition quickly.
• Target Weak Points: The Lance is all about precision, so focus on targeting the monster's weak points. This will significantly increase your damage output.
• Manage Your Stamina: Blocking and evading consume stamina, so be mindful of your stamina levels. Use skills like Stamina Surge to help manage your stamina.
• Experiment with Silkbind Attacks: The Lance has several powerful Silkbind attacks that can be used for both offense and defense. Experiment with them to find what works best for you.

Conclusion

The Lance is a powerful and versatile weapon that can be incredibly effective in Monster Hunter Rise. Whether you prefer a defensive, aggressive, or evasive playstyle, there's a Lance build that's perfect for you. So grab your Lance, hone your skills, and get ready to dominate the hunt!

Happy hunting, and may your blocks be strong and your counters swift!