Best Sword and Shield Builds

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!

All Sword and Shield Guides
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
Poison Build		Paralysis Build
Water Build	Fire Build	Thunder Build	Ice 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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Poison Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Princess Rapier At least Grade 5	409	0%	298
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 5)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 5)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 5)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Pukei Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Poison Attack Lv. 2
Kulu Greaves (Grade 5)	▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1

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Paralysis Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Girros Knife At least Grade 5	430	0%	250
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 5)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 5)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 1
Rathian Vambraces (Grade 5)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Burst Lv. 1
Girros Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Paralysis Attack Lv. 1 ▸ Earplugs Lv. 1
Girros Greaves (Grade 5)	▸ Paralysis Attack Lv. 1

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Water Sword and Shield Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Aqua Messer (at least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
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

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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
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
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.

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
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
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. This monster is only available during the Winter Season, which is expected to end around early March. Be sure to farm Barioth before it exits the rotation!

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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Best Skills for Sword and Shield

Recommended Skills to Equip

Skill	Explanation / Recommended Level
Attack Boost	This skill increases your raw attack value, improving your DPS. Priority: ★★★
Elemental Attack	Take advantage of a monster's elemental weakness by equipping this stat! Priority: ★★★
Critical Eye	This skill will increase your critical hit rate, which will directly increase your DPS. 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