Monster Hunter Risebrings back the same types of weapons that seasoned veterans of the series are used to. That means the massive cornet which is also a giant guitar is back.
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While other hunters are running out stabbing monsters with huge spears or cutting them with big swords, this hunteris smacking monsters around with the Hunting Horn. It may seem weak, but this weapon is incredibly unique and actually extremely powerful.
The Hunting Horn is a musical instrument that the hunter uses to buff themselves and others before being slammed into the monsters' heads. While it does not seem like it, this weapon does not exceed just in multiplayer but in single-player too. The playstyle is not slow or choppy too; the player can actively engage in combat with monsters without skipping a beat to perform melodies that grant boosts in abilities.
How To Play Hunting Horn
• X - Left Swing
• A - Right Swing
• X + A - Backwards Strike
The Hunting Horn can be smacked into monsters. By pressing the X button, the player does a Left Swing; and by pressing the A button, they do a Right Swing. Together, mashing the X button and the A button executes a BackwardsStrike.
• L + X - Forward Smash
• L + A - Crush
• L + A + X - Overhead Smash
There's more. If the player tilts the L stick and smashes the X button, they will do a Forward Smash. Doing the same but swapping out the X button for the A button leads to a Crush instead. And combined (tilting the L stick plus hitting the X button and A button) makes the hunter do an Overhead Smash.
• L + X > A - Kick Up The Horn
• L + X > X + A - Spinning Attack
The Forward Smash may be followed up with the move Kick Up The Horn with the A button. Or, the player will initiate a Spinning Attack mashing the X button and the A button instead.
Take To The Stage
• ZR - Perform
Besides using the Hunter Horn to beat the crud out of monsters, the player can actually play it.
Perform is an action performed by holding down the ZR button. The hunter jams out, buffing themselves. They need to hit the notes, of course, but it is not a difficult feat nor does it take long at all.
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• ZR + X - Magnificent Trio
On top of this,Magnificent Trio can be used instead of, or as well. By following up Perform with hitting the X button, three notes are played at once making the hunter's movement speed go up and preventing monsters from deflecting their attacks. This means all the buffs granted from the notes already played go active. It is a move that also features a multi-hit attack.
• ZR + X > ZR - Infernal Melody
Another action is Infernal Melody, achievable by the player hitting the ZR button after a Magnificent Trio if the gauge is full. (It fills up through landing attacks.) This increases not only the player's attack but their teammates too.
Best Combos For Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horns features three different notes: Blue (the X button), Red (the A button), and Green (the X and A buttons together). Each has a different effect when played twice. Two Blues? Defense Up! Two Reds? Attack Up! Two Greens? Health Recovery!
It goes deeper too. There are many different kinds of Hunting Horns available in the game, and each offers a unique set of melodies. For example, some combine Attack and Defense buffs. Others offer barriers, prevent environmental damage, sharpen, increase Elemental Damage, improve stamina, and more. One of them even has a special attack!
These melodies may be intertwined into attacks too. The player can execute a Crush then Perform then attack, or in the air do a Left Swing or a Right Swing then attack some more after landing before ending with a Perform. If they want to activate all the default buffs plus deal massive damage, then Crush into Left Swing into Right Swing into Magnificent Trio. For even more damage, Magnificent Trio into Infernal Melody into Earthshaker.
• L + A > ZR
• X/A > X/A > X/A > ZR
• L + A > X > A > ZR + X
• ZR + X, ZR, ZL + A
Slide Beat And Earthshaker
One of the Silkbind Attacks for the Hunting Horn is the Slide Beat. The Hunter utilizes the Wirebug to boost themselves forward into a Spinning Attack. They cannot be knocked back duringtoo.
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Another Silkbind Attack for this weapon is the Earthshaker. Using two parts of the Wirebug Gauge, the hunter throws out a bladed into the monsterlaced up with Ironsilk; immediately after, they rip a sonic boom into the affected body part for massive damage.
• ZL + X - Slide Beat
• ZL + A - Earthshaker
The Switch Skills
The Hunting Horn gets three Switch Skills (when the player eventually gets to that part of the game).The player will unlock Bead of Resonance, Melodic Slap, and Melody Mode: Echo.Bead of Resonance replaces Earthshaker, Melodic Slapreplaces Overhead Smash, and Melody Mode: Echo replaces Melody Mode: Performance. All three are optional replacements.
That being said, Melody Mode: Echo is a must-have. Instead of relying on using attacks (two at a time) to activate buffs, the player can immediately select which melody to play (one at a time). Regarding Melodic Slap though, the damage dealt is less than Overhead Smash. It does stun though. And as for Bead of Resonance, do not do it. It is neat; the hunter throws down a gem that plays melodies for them (therefore granting buffs). But Earthshaker is too good to pass up.
Some Tips And Tricks
The Hunting Hornis, by far, the most interesting weapon in the game. What is cool about it is that the hunter does not need to sit down and away from the action to play the instrument for the buffs. They can belt out a note or two (or three), land a melody, and acquire a buff, all without skipping a beat in the middle of wailing on a monster.
There are dozens of different melodies, and therefore dozens of different buffs. All of these melodies and their corresponding notes are available in-game within the Hunting Horn information menus. The player should experiment to see what works best for them, according to the weapon. However, they cannot go wrong with using Magnificent Trio whenever possible for the increased attack and defense and heal.
Also, if the Hunting Horn makes contact with a monster's head, it deals Stun Damage (eventually leading to a knockout). Plus, the weapon has long reach so targeting specific body parts is doable on the fly. Be careful though, there are no guarding options with the Hunting Horn!
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