New Weapon Actions! (new info & PICS 8/23/13)

**Updated 8/23/13**
Thanks to Rostov on the Unity forums for additional info!

If you're like me, perhaps you've been keeping up with how MHOL or MHFG have been shaping up. Obviously, as a westerner and console gamer, I am not likely to ever be able to play either of those. However, both of those MMOs have something cool in common: new weapon actions.

I think increasing your attack options really helps with a game as long and drawn out as Monster Hunter. While new monsters are fun for a while, what really keeps it fun is all the stuff YOU, the player, are able to do. Thus, you can imagine I'm excited for MH4 when I see there are new attacks for nearly every weapon class!

**ADDENDUM**

So, watching this video yet again, I decided to do some research on the magazine scans that came out a while ago that cioincide with it, as well as the info on the main MH4 site. Through a lot of translation of both Japanese and Chinese sites in both Bing and Google translators, I think I have some new info on some weapons you might find interesting!

 Bow: While charging an arrow with R (not X anymore), pressing A will fire off the Stiff Shot. This is stronger than a regular attack. It takes a fixed amount of stamina away, like when you evade. You can use it exclusively, or after firing the charge, for a one-two combo. The more you charge your arrow, the stronger the Stiff Shot will be, just like normal attacks. Specifically, the Stiff Shot increases your attack modifier to the charge level above the one you just fired. For instance, if you charge up a Lv 2 charge, fire, and do a Stiff Shot combo attack afterwards, the Stiff Shot will get the Lv 3 charge modifier: 1.5x. It's not clear if a Stiff Shot can go beyond 1.5x damage at this point, but regardless, it is stronger.

THIS ATTACK REPLACES THE ARC SHOT. Yes, you heard that right. Some bows will have Arc Shot, and some will have Stiff Shot. The Stiff Shot is best for damage, but of course the Arc Shot has exhaust and multiple hits; best for status. This will really factor into which bows you choose from now on, based on the situation.

Also, there is a quick draw to charge attack function now (as if Bows already didn't have lightning-fast unsheathe while walking): R+X+A, similar to the draw actions that Greatsword and Switch Axe can choose from. Apparently, just pressing R will unsheathe the bow normally. Not sure if it will still be expedited that way as well, or not.

The normal charge arrow attack button was changed from X to the R shoulder button! Apparently, this was done for ergonomic reasons.

Now, pressing X will change the target mode. So, while charging an arrow with R, you can tap X to enter the over-the-shoulder manual aiming mode, and X again to switch back to the isometric view. It used to be the other way around.

 Lance: Lances are able to jump regardless of the terrain, so long as the player is dashing. The jump attack is probably the Lance's strongest single attack. And, like the video shows, while dashing you can do a quick turn 180 attack. You execute the quick turn by pressing down on the analog stick + X. Also! Lances are able to do a "jumping guard," essentially allowing you to jump down from areas while virtually invincible.





 Sword and Shield: !Update! A new dynamic is the Charge Attack, activated during a combo attack by holding down on the analog stick + A. The attack does two hits: a shield bash, and then a quick overhead slash. It appears to have counter properties, like the Lance counterattack. After the Charge Attack hits, you can keep comboing! Very nice alternative to the same old "combo > evade > combo > evade" strategy that SnS uses, especially for times when the monster is incapacitated. Get in a strong hit!

In addition, SnS gains two other abilities: an evasive back hop (a nice alternative to blocking!), and a forward dashing attack. Unlike the jumping slash, this attack dashes quickly forward while still on the ground, and slashes overhead. It can be chained to a combo just like the jumping slash. In function, it appears to work like the dashing attack of the Dual Blades. The old jumping slash appears as the... jumping attack... used off of ledges.





 Hunting Horn: !Update! More changes than I expected! There is a new combo attack strategy, allowing you to play two notes in one attack, as well! Apparently, the "Legato" attacks need quick input to execute. It seems like, based on the image, immediately after using a recital attack, you can cancel it into a combo attack. Especially good to use when the monster is KO'd. Seems to drop all your accumulated notes, however, so you can't recite a song and combo off of that.

If the stiff shot really does work the way you're describing it's going to be strictly better than arc shots, and that's A ok by me because arc shots are a bit underwhelming.

Agreed, honestly. I do really love the blast arc shot, though I don't like how the arrow pierces and the bomb hits the ground under the monster, since some monsters sit too high up to be effected by it correctly. Flying monster also aren't hit by the bomb. BUT, it does do a big chunk of raw damage with exhaust if it does hit.

Since the Stiff Shot seems to produce big, yellow sparks when it hits a monster, I'm kinda hoping it does exhaust damage as well, though. Who knows if stiff shots will act like normal or pierce arrows...

I don't know if you play online on the wii U but the blast arc shot is pretty much the worst thing you can possibly use when playing online with melee users, which sucks since a lot of the best bows use it and my finger occasionally slips and I accidentally end up sending my team mates flying. So yeah, stiff shots are going to be an amazing thing.

Blast Arc isn't something you can spam in groups, granted. It definitely makes solo runs go faster, by a noticeable amount.

I still use it in groups when I have a clear shot at the monster. I mostly play online, so I don't use arc shots much at all, anyway, just out of habit. Stiff shots are definitely going to be awesome for group play, as well.

 Greatsword: The new "flash charge attack" is quick, powerful, and able to be comboed into several ways. You can either execute one right after a ledge jump draw attack, or right after a smash charge attack (the doubled-over charge attack you do after the slap attack by holding the control stick).




 Switch Axe: Just when you thought the Charge Axe was going to completely wuss-ify the Switch Axe, Capcom comes through and adds in several super-fast, powerful combo options. The Switch Axe really attacks much faster and more often than the Charge Axe, now. First up is the triple overhead swing while in Axe Mode. At least for now, it appears to be a finisher to the hack n' slash combo attacks. Next is the fast figure-8 slash while in Sword Mode; this can be comboed directly into the phail discharge attack.





 Gunlance: The only attack that's new, that we know of, isn't all that new. Your jump attack off ledges is the slam attack, which of course can then use the full burst, if you so choose... just like the regular slam attack. The only difference is that you can unsheathe directly into this move, instead of doing it at the end of a combo. Great for Normal-type gunlances.



 Longsword: I was slightly off on the jump attack. Instead of jumping into Spirit Combo III, it seems the jumping attack is a new Spirit Attack that hits downward, but this can be comboed into further Spirit Combos while in midair. A totally new mechanic is that you can now chain Fade Slashes into Spirit Combos! If you have a lot of Spirit Gauge, this is an incredibly fast and powerful way to do damage, and quickly get up to the red bar.