Monster Hunter Now Lance Guide: Moves, Builds and Tips

The Lance in Monster Hunter Now is a defensive, close-range weapon built around guarding, countering, and steady thrust damage. To use it well, learn when to hold guard and when to attack, then choose skills and upgrades that support your preferred balance of safety and damage.

How the Lance works

The Lance trades the broad swings of some weapons for precise forward thrusts and a shield. Its strength is staying near a monster and continuing to attack through openings that might force a less guarded weapon to retreat. Its reach is limited compared with ranged weapons, and its attacks generally need careful positioning: being beside or behind the target can make thrusts miss.

Combat in Monster Hunter Now is built for short hunts on a phone. You tap to attack and use the game’s defensive controls to guard or counter, rather than executing the long button combinations found in the main console games. Exact move behavior and balance can change with game updates, so use the in-game weapon tutorial and move descriptions as the final reference.

Thrusts: Your basic attacks are aimed forward. Keep the monster in front of you and close enough for the weapon to connect.
Guard: Holding the guard control blocks many incoming attacks. A successful guard can reduce or avoid damage, but guarding is not a promise of total protection; attack strength, timing, and equipment matter.
Counterattacks: A well-timed defensive response can create an opening to strike back. Learn the monster’s attack cues rather than tapping defensively at random.
Special attack: The weapon’s special move is charged through combat and can deliver a more forceful attack. Save it for a clear opening when possible.

Beginner play: guard, then punish

New Lance users often try to attack continuously because the weapon feels sturdy. That can work against a monster that is not about to strike, but it is not a substitute for reading its movement. A practical rhythm is to land a short string of thrusts, watch for the monster’s tell, guard or counter the incoming attack, and resume attacking once the danger passes.

Start close and face the monster so your thrusts connect.
Use brief attack strings instead of committing to repeated taps without checking the monster.
When a recognizable attack begins, stop attacking and use the defensive response appropriate to the move.
After the monster’s attack, use the opening to resume thrusting or activate your special if it is ready.
Review the hunt afterward: note whether you were out of range, facing the wrong way, or guarding too late.

Do not assume every monster attack is safe to block. Some attacks can deal substantial damage through a guard, push you out of position, or punish poor timing. If a move repeatedly costs health, try evading it or repositioning rather than insisting on a counter.

Choosing a Lance and building around it

As with other weapons, a Lance’s element, raw attack, and other displayed attributes affect which target it suits. Monster Hunter Now’s equipment is made from materials gathered during hunts and exploration; upgrading and refining a weapon is a progression choice, not a requirement to use the weapon effectively. Check the weapon’s current stats and the monster’s weaknesses in the game before investing scarce materials.

For armor skills, start with what the equipment actually provides and consider how it supports your play pattern. Defensive or guard-related benefits may help if you depend on blocking, while offensive skills can improve damage when their conditions match your hunts. Skills and their effects are subject to game balance changes, so verify descriptions in the current equipment screen rather than relying on an old build list.

Choose an element for a specific hunt: If the target has a listed elemental weakness, an appropriate elemental Lance can be a sensible option.
Consider raw damage for flexibility: A weapon without a specialized element may be convenient when you want one setup for varied targets, though it may not be the strongest choice against a particular weakness.
Upgrade deliberately: Compare the next upgrade’s displayed gains with the materials it consumes. Do not spread rare materials across several weapons if one upgrade would better address your current target.
Test skills in real hunts: A skill is useful only if its effect fits your timing, defense, or damage needs.

Common problems and fixes

My thrusts keep missing. You may be too far away, angled away from the monster, or attacking while it moves. Close the distance and reorient before continuing. The Lance does not automatically solve poor positioning just because it can guard.

I take damage while guarding. A guard can mitigate attacks without making the hunter invulnerable. Check whether you started guarding before impact, whether the attack is especially forceful, and whether your gear or skills affect guarding. Avoid treating a low-health hunt as a safe place to test an unfamiliar attack.

I get pushed away and lose time. Some impacts can disrupt your position. Instead of immediately resuming a long attack string, re-enter range and face the target. Against an attack that repeatedly knocks you back, evasion may be the more reliable response.

The weapon feels slower than expected. Lance play is about reliable openings rather than nonstop damage. If you attack through every tell, you may spend more time recovering or healing than striking. Short, deliberate sequences are often easier to control on a touchscreen.

Lance compared with other weapon styles

The Lance is a natural choice for players who prefer to stay near a monster and respond to attacks with defense. It is less suited to someone who wants wide sweeping hits, frequent repositioning, or ranged safety. A faster or more mobile weapon may feel easier against targets that move rapidly or spend little time within thrusting range. A ranged weapon can attack from farther away but has its own positioning and resource considerations.

There is no universally best weapon. Monster matchups, available upgrades, your comfort with controls, and the time limit all matter. If a hunt feels difficult, changing weapons is one option; learning the monster’s tells, improving your weapon, or adjusting your approach can also help. Try the in-game practice or tutorial material when available before spending upgrade resources on a weapon you have not yet learned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lance good for beginners in Monster Hunter Now?
It can suit beginners who like guarding and controlled attacks. Its defensive style gives you a clear response to many threats, but you still need to learn timing, range, and monster behavior.

How do you counter with the Lance?
Use the defensive control and timing described in the Lance’s current in-game tutorial. Respond to an attack’s cue rather than holding or tapping at random; move names and exact input behavior can change with updates.

Should I use an elemental Lance or raw damage?
For a particular hunt, compare the monster’s listed weakness with the weapon’s current stats. Elemental weapons can be useful against matching weaknesses; a less specialized option may be more convenient across varied hunts.

Can the Lance block every attack?
No. Guarding does not guarantee that every hit causes no damage or leaves you in a safe position. Strong attacks, poor timing, and equipment differences can still make blocking costly.

Why does my Lance deal low damage?
Check that you are in range and facing the monster, then compare your weapon’s level and attributes with the target. Missed thrusts, attacks used during a poor opening, and a weapon that does not suit the matchup can all reduce effective damage.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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