Shield up, gun up, and burst out. The Gunlance is a devastating burst weapon that not only defends but also deals huge amounts of damage in Monster Hunter Wilds. Some builds remain among the best despite recent updates. In this guide, you will find the best Gunlance builds in Monster Hunter Wilds.
*This guide was updated for Title Update 4
Gunlance Gameplay and Combo
Gunlance’s damage ceiling in Monster Hunter Wilds is defined by its explosive blasts, and a new movement mechanic introduced in Wilds allows you to chain all of your firepower into a single, devastating sequence, the Double Wyrmstake Full Blast Combo.
Core Combo
Before initiating the combo, ensure both your cannon and shell ammo are fully charged. The sequence is as follows:
Basic Shelling → Moving Wide Sweep → Wyrmstake Full Blast (Triangle + Circle) → Multi Wyrmstake Blast (Triangle + Circle) → Wyvern’s Fire.
Executing this combo correctly represents the highest possible damage output available to Gunlance in a single rotation.
Shelling Type
It is worth noting that Wide shelling is the superior choice in Wilds, outperforming both Normal and Long shelling types for this combo and for general play.
Low Rank Gunlance Build & Progression
In early Low Rank, prioritize upgrading your weapon as quickly as possible and craft the Ajarakan Armor for its Partbreaker skill, which is particularly valuable for Gunlance’s wound-focused playstyle.
The Quematrice Gunlance is the optimal weapon choice for Low Rank, as it can be crafted early and performs reliably throughout this phase. While it features Normal shelling rather than Wide, it remains the best all-around option until Arkveld weapons become available.
After defeating Ebony Odogaron and Arkveld, switch to a more offensively oriented armor set to boost your damage output heading into High Rank. Additionally, craft the Veldian Hasta as soon as it becomes available, it will serve as your primary wide-shelling GL for the majority of your High Rank progression.
Early High Rank Gunlance Build & Progression
Entering High Rank, the Burst skill remains the centerpiece of an effective Gunlance build, meaning Ebony Odogaron armor continues to be a core component. From here, you can begin supplementing it with additional skills such as Earplugs for added comfort or Agitator for extra offensive potential.
Activating Ebony Odogaron’s Power extends the duration of the Burst skill, which more than compensates for the one level of Agitator lost in the process, making it a worthwhile trade-off overall.
This is a high-risk, high-reward build oriented toward efficient, speedrun-style play. Ebony Odogaron armor offers relatively low defense, so precise positioning and a strong understanding of each monster’s attack patterns are essential to getting the most out of it safely.
The G. Lawful Bors remains the strongest Gunlance option currently available and should be your weapon of choice throughout this phase.
Best High Rank to Endgame Gunlance Builds
These builds are the best options to carry you from the end of the story quests and help increase your HR until you reach true endgame monsters, such as arch-tempered dragons and Gogmazios.
Adrenaline Rush Gunlance Build
This build is centered around the Adrenaline Rush skill, which provides a substantial +30 Attack bonus while active at maximum level. Equipping the 4-piece Seregios armor further amplifies this bonus to +45 Attack upon successfully executing a perfectly timed evasion while the skill is active, making precise dodging a core part of this build’s damage loop.
Evade Window Level 3 is essential here, providing a more generous evasion window to help consistently trigger the Seregios bonus.
Since Gunlance is fundamentally a raw damage burst weapon, affinity-based skills such as Weakness Exploit or Critical Eye are unnecessary. Agitator is the preferred damage skill instead, boosting attack whenever the monster enters an enraged state.
This build performs exceptionally well in both standard hunts and speedrun-oriented play.
Comfy Gunlance Build
For players who prefer a more relaxed and forgiving approach through late High Rank content, this build prioritizes sustainability without demanding precise, high-risk play.
The Zoh Shia set skill provides continuous passive healing throughout hunts. Combined with maximum levels of Defense Boost, Divine Blessing, and Recovery Up, this build creates a highly self-sufficient setup that allows you to focus entirely on gameplay without constantly worrying about your health bar.
The Argenesis is the recommended weapon for this build. However, if you prefer to stick with Wide shelling, the G. Lawful Bors remains a perfectly viable alternative.
Best Endgame Gunlance Builds in MH Wilds
The builds below are the best options for Gunlance for endgame content in the latest update. Choose the one that best fits your playstyle.
Endgame Burst Bind GL Build
Entering endgame, the meta shifts from Wide to Long shelling, largely thanks to the Gogmartian Gunlance, Auguring Omen, which becomes the new weapon of choice.
This build continues to revolve around the Burst skill, enhanced by the 4-piece Ebony Odogaron set bonus, which extends Burst’s duration and adds a meaningful Attack boost while active.
Binding Counter complements this by further increasing Attack after successfully executing a Power Clash, a natural fit for Gunlance’s playstyle. Together, these mechanics push raw damage output to impressive levels.
For the Auguring Omen, the required active skills are Ebony Odogaron’s Power and Lord’s Soul, both of which are essential to keeping this build’s core mechanics consistently online.
This build strikes an excellent balance between high raw damage output and solid defensive capability, making it one of the strongest and most well-rounded endgame Gunlance options currently available.
Endgame Flawless Tank GL Build
A Gunter should be difficult to take down, and this build is purpose-built for exactly that. It is one of the most durable endgame setups available, combining multiple powerful defensive mechanics into a single cohesive build.
The 4-piece Gogmazios armor is the foundation, activating Mutual Hostility 2, which completely negates incoming damage on a cooldown, and Flawless Armor, which functions similarly to Divine Blessing when you are at full health.
Zoh Shia’s Pulse is also activated through the Gogmazios set bonus, providing continuous passive health regeneration throughout hunts. Adding Gravios’ Protection as an active skill on your Gogmartian weapon brings all three set bonuses online simultaneously.
The remaining decoration slots are entirely flexible depending on your preference. Recovery Up accelerates passive healing, Divine Blessing adds another layer of damage mitigation, and Quick Sheathe improves overall mobility and responsiveness during hunts.
This build is exceptionally well-suited for absorbing heavy hits in endgame content, making it the ideal choice for players who prioritize durability above all else.
Currently, these are the best Gunlance builds in Monster Hunter Wilds as of the latest update (TU 4). This page will be updated as new meta builds emerge in future updates.