WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Monster Hunter, currently in theaters.
With Monster Hunter delivering faithfully rendered versions of the popular video game series' formidable bestiary, the film's characters have to pull out the big guns to take down the voracious behemoths. Fortunately, filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson has plenty of the lethal fantasy weapons from Capcom's video games featuring prominently in the film to help them bring down those behemoths.
Here are all the weapons from the video game franchise that show up in the Monster Hunter cinematic adaptation.
Bow
The first video game weapon seen in the game is the bow, used by the Hunter in an attempt to ward off the Black Diablos from a distance as Captain Artemis' squad is attacked by the burrowing dragon. Featuring a whole variety of modifications, the bow is one of the most versatile weapons in the franchise, starting with its debut in Monster Hunter 2.
Great Sword
The Hunter's other main weapon throughout the movie is the Great Sword, the video game franchise's signature armament ever since the first installment and a staple for Monster Hunter moving forward. Monster Hunter 2 introduced the ability for players to charge attacks, an ability replicated for the movie as the Hunter is able to charge the blade itself with fiery energy as he battles creatures.
Dual Blades
Realizing her traditional weaponry is largely useless against the various monsters, Artemis accepts fantasy weaponry and armor from the Hunter to combat them. Whereas the Hunter switches between a bow and great sword, Artemis begins using dual blades to confront the Black Diablos.
Introduced in Monster Hunter G, the dual blades are capable of charged attacks like the great sword, a feature that initially catches Artemis off guard as the blades are filled with electric energy before bursting into flames. By the showdown with the Diablos, Artemis has mastered this ability to great effect for her rematch against the creature.
Slinger
One of the more recent weapons from the games to appear in the Monster Hunter movie is the slinger, which made its debut in Monster Hunter World. Mounted on the left wrist, the slinger works both as a tool to pull across great distances, not unlike The Legend of Zelda's hookshot, but also as a weapon to fire its pointed projectile at living targets.
Artemis arms herself with a slinger given to her by the Hunter, using it to turn the battle against the Black Diablos and rescue her new companion as she tears through the creature.
Switch Axe
The Admiral uses a weapon that appears to be a more modest version of the switch axe, introduced in Monster Hunter Tri. Capable of broad, sweeping attacks, the weapon is used to slash and bludgeon targets with charged moves, which the Admiral displays in his fights against the Rathalos and Gore Magala.
The film's version of the switch axe shares features with the video game's hammer, which is capable of striking the ground to produce shockwave attacks as the Admiral attempts to drive the Rathalos back while fighting it at the Sky Tower.
Insect Glaive
The last video game weapon in the film is the insect glaive, which appears at the very end as the Hunters face a Gore Magala that has followed them from the Sky Tower to Earth. Wielded by the Hunter for the final battle, the insect glaive is a double-bladed staff capable of striking targets while being used as a makeshift pole vault to span great distances.
Introduced in Monster Hunter 4, the staff can similarly be upgraded and powered up to charge it with additional power in combat as seen in its brief appearance in the film.
Written, directed and produced by Paul W.S. Anderson, Monster Hunter stars Milla Jovovich, Ron Perlman, TI, Tony Jaa, Meagan Good and Diego Boneta. The film is in theaters now.