MH Stories 3 Weapons Guide — All 6 Weapon Types Explained
MH Stories 3 weapons fall into three categories: Slash, Blunt, and Pierce. Each of the six weapons has unique mechanics and strengths. This guide covers them all.
MH Stories 3 Weapons Overview
MH Stories 3 has six weapon types in three damage categories. Slash: Great Sword and Long Sword. Blunt: Hammer and Hunting Horn. Pierce: Bow and Gunlance. Match your MH Stories 3 weapons to monster weaknesses—Slash for tails and wings, Blunt for heads, Pierce for bodies. Each weapon has a unique mechanic: Charge Gauge, Spirit Gauge, Melodies, Shells, and more. Our combat guide explains how damage types interact with parts.
Slash Weapons
Great Sword
The Great Sword uses a Charge Gauge—hold attacks to charge for higher damage. It's beginner-friendly, deals high damage per hit, and excels at part breaking. Recommended for new players. MH Stories 3 weapons don't get simpler than this: charge, release, repeat. Pair with Power-type monsties for consistent Head-to-Head coverage.
Long Sword
The Long Sword uses a Spirit Gauge and Stance Attacks. Build Spirit with normal attacks, then spend it on powerful Stance moves. Sheathe mechanics allow quick repositioning and counter-attacks. More technical than Great Sword but rewarding. MH Stories 3 weapons like the Long Sword suit players who enjoy flow-based combat.
Blunt Weapons
Hammer
The Hammer delivers incredible damage, excels at part breaking, and can stun monsters. Hit the head repeatedly to build stun and topple foes. One of the highest raw damage MH Stories 3 weapons. Simple to use, devastating in effect. Pair with Power monsties for maximum impact.
Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horn uses a Melody system with RGB-style notes. Play melodies to buff your party—attack up, defense up, healing, status cleanse. MH Stories 3 weapons don't get more supportive. The Hunting Horn is ideal for co-op-style play and long fights where party buffs shine. Learn note combinations to maximize utility.
Pierce Weapons
Bow
The Bow focuses on status effects and ranged damage. It uses a Charge Gauge and coatings to apply Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, and more. MH Stories 3 weapons like the Bow excel at controlling battles—apply status, then let your monstie capitalize. Flexible and safe at range.
Gunlance
The Gunlance is defensive—it has strong guards and Shells for explosive damage. It can draw aggro, protecting your monstie. MH Stories 3 weapons don't get tankier. Use Shells to deal fixed damage regardless of hitzones. Ideal for players who prefer a defensive playstyle.
When to Use Each MH Stories 3 Weapon
Match your MH Stories 3 weapons to the encounter. Need to break a tail? Use Slash. Need to stun or break a head? Use Hammer. Need status or safe damage? Use Bow. Need party support? Use Hunting Horn. Need to tank? Use Gunlance. Swap weapons between fights—the game encourages flexibility. See our combat guide for part-breaking details.
Weapon Crafting and Upgrades
MH Stories 3 weapons are crafted and upgraded using materials from monsters. Each weapon has a tree—upgrade paths branch based on materials. Farm specific monsters for the parts you need. Early game: focus on one weapon type and upgrade it. Late game: build multiple weapons for different damage types and situations. MH Stories 3 weapons scale with your progress—upgrade regularly.
Best MH Stories 3 Weapons by Game Phase
Early game: Great Sword or Hammer—simple, powerful, easy to build. Mid game: Expand to Long Sword or Bow for variety. Late game: All six MH Stories 3 weapons have endgame builds. Hunting Horn and Gunlance shine in team scenarios. Match weapons to your monstie composition for synergy.