Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is just months away and looks to be one of the Wii U’s first killer apps. If the Monster Hunter series stands for anything at all, though, it’s to kill big creatures with even bigger weapons. As an RPG that doesn’t incorporate a leveling system, MH is all about the loot; gearing up your character with personally crafted armor and weapons is a deep and satisfying experience.

In knowing this, Capcom has been releasing weapon profiles periodically, and will presumably continue to do so until the game’s launch this coming March, to wet the whistle of those gamers thirsting for all the gritty details about the title. Two weeks ago, the company released the first profile, detailing the Sword and Shield weapon set. This week, they’re showing off the return of the hammer. Here’s what they have to say for those looking to pound away at those poor creatures with a big ole mallet.

The first thing you’ll find about the Hammer is that it’s completely different from the Sword and Shield; its moves are slower, it doesn’t have a means to block incoming attacks, and it causes impact damage on all its hits. The only similarities are the short reach and speed at which the hunter runs while holding the Hammer – they hold it in such way that allows them to run relatively fast when compared to other heavy weapons such as the Great Sword or the Heavy Bowgun.

One of the main features of the Hammer is the aforementioned impact hit type. This means you won’t be able to use this weapon to cut tails. But the huge advantage here is that after successive hits to a monster’s head, it will be knocked dizzy for a short period of time, making an opening for more attacks, health recovery, setting up traps, or for you to get really creative with your strategies. Pro tip: knocking a monster out is a key skill for any good Hammer user, so if there’s a Hammer user in your hunting party, leave the monster’s head to him/her. (The same applies for the Hunting Horn, which we will cover at a later time).

Another key feature here is the ability to charge one of the Hammer’s attacks, leading to different and more damaging outcomes. One, for example, has your hunter spinning with the Hammer, hitting the target multiple times in a row, and can lead into a powerful golf swing motion. Another outcome to this charged move is a devastating ground pound that results in a farther-reaching damage area. (Just be careful not to hit your teammates and send them rolling away). All that said, this charged attack relies heavily on your Stamina, so keep those Dash Juices ready so you can charge away without any Stamina loss.

In the weeks leading up to Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate’s release, we’ll be covering all the weapon profiles to make sure you’re up to date on all your monster-slaying needs.