Lance Guide

Lance does not give ground. Read when the monster will interrupt your thrusts, then hop, move behind the shield, or counter so each correct defense becomes more time attacking the same part. The shield lets you hold that position instead of sheathing or running from every threat.

Iceborne, final balance. Detailed weapon controls are in the in-game Hunter's Notes; the official manual covers the general controls. Combat Mechanics explains why the same swing hits for different numbers. Every move is in Motion Values.

If this weapon is new to you, try it in the Training Area first. Use the in-game Hunter's Notes to practice its basic attacks; this guide explains how to connect them into a hunt.

Guard and counters

Your basic loop is Thrust → Thrust → Thrust → hop or Guard Dash → Thrust. The hop or guarded movement cancels the third thrust's recovery so that you can begin the next sequence sooner. When an incoming attack is about to land, stop the loop and guard or counter; resume thrusting after the threat passes.

Guard Dash keeps the shield raised while you move. It moves forward when used from idle, but after a thrust it can also move backward, left, or right. Use those directions to sidestep or back away without lowering the shield. Follow with Leaping Thrust to close the distance and resume attacking the same part. Use Dash Attack for a long approach, not as part of the standing loop.

Most Lance thrusts apply their full physical motion value but only 0.7x element. Some moves use a different elemental modifier, so use the Motion Values page when comparing a particular sequence. Frequent hits alone therefore do not establish that an elemental build will beat a physical one.

Your blocking direction follows the shield's facing, not the camera's facing.

Counter-thrust and Power Guard

When Counter-thrust blocks an attack without heavy knockback, it answers with a thrust. Raise the guard just before the hit to activate Offensive Guard, which makes your following attacks stronger. Holding the shield in advance does not count as a timed guard.

Choose enough levels of Guard for the target monster so that knockback does not cancel Counter-thrust's automatic answer.

Enter Power Guard from Counter-thrust or from the knockback after a normal block. It reduces guard knockback, and its counter can be aimed in any direction, but it drains stamina continuously. Use it to recover from a mistimed counter, turn toward the next target, or stabilize after a blocked hit; release it once you have the answer you need.

Guard Up lets the shield block certain attacks that are normally unblockable. It does not prevent damage from passing through the shield.

Counter Claw

When Counter Claw catches a physical hit, it lets you clutch onto the monster and follow with a weapon attack without first lowering the shield. Both hits of that weapon attack together apply enough buildup to wound the part. Choose a single, predictable hit for the counter; catching the first hit of a sequence can leave you exposed to the rest while attached.

Prefer Counter Claw against single slam or bite timings you already recognize. Do not spend it on a roar or a multi-hit rush that keeps hitting after you attach.

Fight loop

Repeat Thrust → Thrust → Thrust → hop or Guard Dash → Thrust. When the monster swings, use Counter-thrust to block and answer with another thrust while staying on the same part. Use Power Guard when normal guard knockback or a poor counter angle would stop that answer.

At the start of the hunt, load suitable slinger ammo and use Flinch Shot while the monster is not enraged to send it into a wall. Wound the part you intend to attack; if a predictable single hit is already coming, Counter Claw can begin that clutch. Against Great Jagras, the head and inflated belly take the most thrust damage.

During a knockdown, keep thrusting, or use Dash Attack when you have enough distance for its repeated hits. The weapon has no single large attack that defines this opening, so the value comes from continuing your normal pressure without interruption.

When an attack threatens the loop, stop thrusting and raise the shield. Use Counter-thrust when you can predict the incoming hit and its knockback will still allow the automatic answer.

Skills

When blocked hits still take too much health, improve the set's defense before adding more Attack Boost. Getting Started explains meals, the Health Boost progression, and Armor Sphere. Combat Mechanics explains Defense, the effect of reaching 20 resistance, and Weakness Exploit. That skill reaches its full effect when you hit a wounded part whose applicable physical hitzone is 45 or higher.

Priorities

These choices support the main loop by preserving counter opportunities and raising physical damage. Their order still depends on the weapon, the target part, and which attacks you intend to guard.

In a group, add Flinch Free Lv 1 when teammate attacks interrupt your thrusts and prevent you from reaching guard in time. It has no such purpose when playing solo.

Often added, not required:

Keep a color

Choose one way to maintain sharpness. Constant thrusting consumes sharpness quickly.

Consistency

Use these skills when their effect prevents a specific interruption in the hunt. Trade them for damage only when that interruption no longer costs you more attacking time than the replacement gains.

Styles

Do not choose element from hit frequency alone. Compare the actual weapons on the target part: most thrusts use a 0.7x elemental modifier, while raw and elemental hitzones determine how much of each component survives.

This hunt

These skills do not belong on every set. Against the right monster, their specific protection or utility is more valuable than another general attack skill.

Skills that look better than they are

• Holding guard is not Offensive Guard.
• Mind's Eye/Ballistics stops a bounce. It does not make a hard part a good poke.
• Clutch Claw Boost does not make Lance wound faster. It already wounds in one.
• Airborne does not increase a grounded poke.
• Do not add elemental attack decorations before comparing the thrust's 0.7x element modifier with the target part's elemental hitzone.
• Maximum Might requires a full stamina bar, but Power Guard and hops spend stamina regularly.
• Affinity Sliding only activates after a slide, outside the standing thrust-and-guard loop.
• Master Mounter only improves mounting; it does not strengthen grounded thrusts or counters.

Settings

Set Automatic Sheathe to Manual so the weapon stays drawn until you choose to sheathe and retains immediate access to guard. Guard follows the direction the shield faces, not the direction the camera faces. The weapon is inherently slow to sheathe; no setting removes that limitation.