Here are the best Sword and Shield Builds in Monster Hunter Now. Check out the best early game build, the best elemental Sword and Shield builds, and the best Sword and Shield build progression against large monsters in this guide!

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Full List	How to Use	Builds

Best Sword and Shield Builds

Sword and Shield Build Selection

Jump to a Sword and Shield Build
Early Game Build			Raw/Status Build
Water Build		Fire Build		Thunder Build
Ice Build			Dragon Build

Early Game Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Jagras Edge 1	95	0%	25
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 2)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Jagras Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Rising Tide Lv.1
Girros Vambraces (Grade 2)	▸ Sneak Attack Lv.1
Leather Belt (Grade 2)	▸ Health Boost Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

In the early stages of the game, most monsters will be weak to the Water element. We recommend the Jagras Edge as your starting weapon to progress in the early game. The weapon's damage is increased further with skills such as Sneak Attack and Water Attack.

This build is ideal to progress and in farming Tobi-Kadachi materials, which you will need to craft equipment against Jyuratodus.

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Raw/Status Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Princess Rapier At least Grade 5	409	0%	298
Queen Rose At least Grade 5	473	0%	188
Girros Knife At least Grade 5	430	0%	250
Armor	Skills
Zinogre Helm (Grade 5)	▸ Evasive Concentration Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Rathalos Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 2
Rathian Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Poison Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Zinogre Greaves (Grade 5)	▸ Burst Lv. 1

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Water Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Hana no Nagoriwo (at least Grade 5)	335	10%	230
Alternative: Aqua Messer (at least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Jyura Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 1 ▸ Last Stand Lv. 1
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 2
Rathian Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Poison Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Jagras Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 2

You can replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Fire Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Flame Knife (at least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Anja Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Anja Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Diablos Nero Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 2

If Black Diablos isn't available, an alternative would be to use the Rathalos Coil. This will let you let you max out Fire Attack at the cost of Lock On. If you want to keep Lock On, you should also use the Kulu Headpiece instead, but your Fire Attack will only be at Lv. 3.

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Thunder Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Usurper's Firebolt At least Grade 6	461	0%	320
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Rathalos Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Zinogre Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Kadachi Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Zinogre Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Burst Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1

This Thunder Sword and Shield build requires Zinogre materials. This monster is available during Hunt-a-thons. If you're struggling to find Zinogre, you can use our alternative set below.

You can also replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

Alternative Thunder Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Edge (at least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Rathalos Helm (Grade 5)	▸ Attack Boost Lv. 2
Kadachi Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 2
Kadachi Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 1

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Ice Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Glacial Grace (at least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Barioth Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Ice Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Ice Attack Lv. 1
Barioth Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Kulu Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 2

This Ice Sword and Shield build requires Barioth materials, which requires defeating it in Hunt-a-Thons. You can also replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

Alternative Ice Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Glacial Grace (at least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Legiana Helm (Grade 6)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1 ▸ Ice Attack Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 2
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 2
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 1

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Dragon Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Fatal Jho (at least Grade 5)	368	-30%	292
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Rath Heart Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 1 ▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1
Vangis Vambraces (Grade 5)	▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1 ▸ Peak Performance Lv. 1
Vangis Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 2 ▸ Tremor Resistance Lv. 1
Rath Heart Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 2 ▸ Dragon Attack Lv. 1

You can replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Best Skills for Sword and Shield

Recommended Skills to Equip

Skill	Explanation / Recommended Level
Elemental Attack	Take advantage of a monster's elemental weakness by equipping this stat! Priority: ★★★
Burst	Since the Sword and Shield is a fast-hitting weapon, it can easily activate Burst, making it a priority for raw sets. Priority: ★★★
Weakness Exploit	This skill will increase your critical hit rate when hitting weak points, which will directly increase your DPS. Priority: ★★☆
Critical Eye	This skill also increases critical hit rate but is always active. Priority: ★★☆
Lock On	Target a monster's weak spots easily with this skill! Priority: ★★☆
Offensive Guard	Improve your DPS further by doing a perfectly-timed guard with your Sword and Shield. Priority: ★★☆
Sneak Attack	Attacking the rear is the safest way to not get hit by a monster's rushing attack. This skill will improve your damage while doing this. Priority: ★☆☆

Sword and Shield Builds Against Monsters

Best Jyuratodus Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Edge	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 2)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Jagras Mail (Grade 2)	▸ Rising Tide Lv.1
Girros Vambraces (Grade 2)	▸ Sneak Attack Lv.1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 2)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

Craft Thunder Edge as soon as you can. This will be the ideal Sword and Shield against Jyuratodus because of its weakness to lightning. Forge the Kadachi Coil for the Thunder Attack skill to increase damage.

Best Anjanath Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Jagras Edge	95	0%	25
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 2)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Jyura Mail (Grade 3)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 3)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv.1
Jagras Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Water Attack Lv.1

The Jagras Edge will be the best weapon against Anjanath. At this point, you have already defeated Jyuratodus, so farm for its materials to craft its chest and arm pieces. These two armor pieces will increase your Water element damage with the skill, Water Attack.

Best Rathian Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Edge	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Special Boost Lv.1
Girros Vambraces (Grade 3)	▸ Sneak Attack Lv.1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

Re-equip the Thunder Edge Sword and Shield to fight Rathian and increase this weapon's damage with the Thunder Attack skill from the Kadachi Coil. Craft the Anjanath chest armor for the Special Boost skill to increase the damage of your Perfect Rush Combo.

Best Legiana Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Blazing Edge	260	0%	117
Armor	Skills
Anja Helm (Grade 4)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Anja Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Special Boost Lv.1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv.1 ▸ Burst Lv.1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

Craft the Blazing Edge Sword and Shield to take advantage of Legiana's weakness to fire. To increase the elemental damage you do, equip the Anja Helm and level it up until you get the Fire Attack Lv.2 skill that comes with it.

The Rathian Vambraces is a good arm armor to equip for Lock On and Burst, which increases your attack the more you land hits with your Sword and Shield. However, if you want more elemental damage, swap this out with the Anja Vambraces to get the Fire Attack skill to level 3.

Best Diablos Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Glacial Grace	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Leather Headgear (Grade 2)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Special Boost Lv.1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv.1 ▸ Burst Lv.1
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv.2
Kulu Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

Glacial Grace is the best Sword and Shield against Diablos because of its weakness to Ice. Equip the Legiana Coil and upgrade it until you get the two levels on Ice Attack, further increasing your damage.

Best Rathalos Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Edge (at least Grade 4)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Leather Headgear (Grade 2)	▸Critical Eye Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Special Boost Lv.1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv.1 ▸ Burst Lv.1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv.1
Kulu Greaves (Grade 4)	▸ Critical Eye Lv.1

Thunder Edge takes advantage of Rathalos's weakness to Thunder, so this is the ideal weapon for this hunt. The Special Boost skill from the Anjanath chest armor increases the damage of your Perfect Rush Combo, but if you want more elemental damage, equip the Kadachi Mail and upgrade it until you unlock the level one Thunder Attack that comes with it.

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Lance		Dual Blades		Charge Blade
Gunlance			Heavy Bowgun