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

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Best Great Sword Builds

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Early Game Build			Raw Build
Water Build		Fire Build		Thunder Build
Ice Build			Dragon Build

Early Game Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Jagras Blade	95	0%	25
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus 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
Jagras Greaves (Grade 2)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 1

Most monsters will be weak against the Water element. As soon as you unlock the Great Sword, the Jagras Blade is the one you should start with. Skills such as Sneak Attack and Water Attack will increase this weapon's damage.

You can use this build to progress your gameplay. This Great Sword is ideal for farming Tobi-Kadachi materials, which will allow you to craft its armor and weapons that will be used against Jyuratodus.

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Raw Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Carapace Buster At least Grade 5	473	0%	None
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Anja Mail (Grade 6)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 2
Kulu Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Last Stand Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
Banbaro Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Attack Boost Lv. 2 ▸ Firm Foothold Lv. 1
Jyura Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 2

Great Sword lacks raw or status options as of writing, so this build adds some damage skills while having a few levels of Focus to compensate. You can swap in pieces like the Rathalos Coil for more points of Focus, although you'll be giving up some damage.

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Water Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Hanayako Yohino (at least Grade 5)	335	10%	230
Alternative: Aqua Slasher (at least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Pukei Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Poison Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Focus Lv. 1
Jyura Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Focus Lv. 1
Jagras Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Water Attack Lv. 2

The Jyura Mail can be considered if you want Water Attack Lv.5 without relying on Driftsmelting. You can replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Fire Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Flame Blade (at least Grade 5)	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Pukei Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Poison Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Focus Lv. 1
Anja Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 2
Rathalos Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 1 ▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1
Rathalos Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Fire Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 1

If you can handle not having Lock On, equipping the Anja Helm to max out Fire Attack is a great alternative to deal even more damage against monsters weak to fire. You can also replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Thunder Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Severing Bolt At least Grade 6	461	0%	320
Armor	Skills
Pukei Lagoon Hat (Grade 8)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Kadachi Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Zinogre Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Kadachi Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Jyura Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 2

This Thunder Great Sword build requires Zinogre materials. You can hunt the Thunder Wolf down in Hunt-a-thons. You can also replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

Alternative Thunder Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Blade (at least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Kulu Headpiece (Grade 4)	▸ Lock On Lv. 1 ▸ Critical Eye Lv. 1
Kadachi Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Evade Extender Lv. 1 ▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Lumu Vambraces (Grade 6)	▸ Concentration Lv. 2 ▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 6)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 2
Jyura Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 2 ▸ Last Stand Lv. 1

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Ice Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Freeze Blade (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
Jyura Greaves (Grade 6)	▸ Focus Lv. 2

This Ice Great Sword build requires Barioth materials. This monster may appear in Hunt-a-Thons. You can replace the Pukei Lagoon Hat with the Kulu Headpiece if you don't have the materials.

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Dragon Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Berserker Sword (at least Grade 5)	368	-30%	292
Armor	Skills
Rath Soul Helm (Grade 6)	▸ Focus 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

If you want Lock On and can deal with lower levels of Focus, you can equip the Pukei Lagoon Hat.

Best Great Sword Skills

Recommended Skills to Equip

Skill	Explanation / Recommended Level
Focus	Shortening your Great Sword's charged attacks greatly increases your damage, so be sure to equip an armor that has at least a level of this skill. Priority: ★★★
Elemental Attack	Take advantage of a monster's elemental weakness by equipping this stat! Priority: ★★★
Attack Boost	This skill increases your raw attack value, improving your DPS. This is worth taking for Great Swords since most of its power comes from raw attacks! Priority: ★★☆
Lock On	Target a monster's weak spots easily with this skill! 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: ★☆☆

Great Sword Builds Against Monsters

Best Jyuratodus Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Blade	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus 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 Blade from Tobi-Kadachi materials. This will be the ideal Great Sword against Jyuratodus because of its weakness to lightning. Forge the Kadachi Coil for the Thunder Attack skill to increase damage

Best Anjanath Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Jagras Blade	95	0%	25
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus 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
Jyura Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Focus Lv. 1

The Jagras Blade will be the best Water Great Sword against Anjanath. Farm Jyuratodus for its materials to craft its chest and arms pieces, which will increase your Water element damage with the skill, Water Attack.

Best Rathian Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Blade	128	0%	47
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus 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
Jyura Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Focus Lv. 1

Use the Thunder Blade Great Sword again for Rathian. Increase this weapon's damage with the Thunder Attack skill from the Kadachi Coil. Then, craft the Anjanath chest armor for the Special Boost skill to increase the damage of your True Charged Slash.

Best Legiana Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Flammenzahn	260	0%	117
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 1
Anja Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Fire Attack Lv. 1
Lumu Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1
Jyura Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Focus Lv. 1

The Flammenzahn Great Sword takes advantage of Legiana's weakness to Fire, so craft it as soon as you can. The Fire Attack skill from the Anja Vambraces will increase your elemental damage, increasing your DPS.

Best Diablos Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Freeze Blade	361	0%	232
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus Lv. 1
Anja Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Special Boost Lv. 1
Lumu Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Concentration Lv. 1 ▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1
Legiana Coil (Grade 5)	▸ Ice Attack Lv. 2
Jyura Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Focus Lv. 1

Freeze Blade is the best Great Sword against Diablos because of its weakness to Ice. Pukei Hood and Jyura Greaves of this build grants you two levels of Focus, shortening the time of your charged attacks by a significant amount.

For more damage, upgrade the Legiana Coil until you unlock the two levels of Ice Attack that come with it.

Best Rathalos Great Sword Build

Weapon	ATK	AFF	ELE
Thunder Blade (at least Grade 5)	370	0%	181
Armor	Skills
Pukei Hood (Grade 2)	▸ Focus Lv. 1
Pukei Mail (Grade 4)	▸ Poison Resistance Lv. 1 ▸ Focus Lv. 1
Lumu Vambraces (Grade 4)	▸ Concentration Lv. 1 ▸ Divine Blessing Lv. 1
Kadachi Coil (Grade 3)	▸ Thunder Attack Lv. 1
Jyura Greaves (Grade 3)	▸ Focus Lv. 1

It's recommended to upgrade your Thunder Blade to at least Grade 5 before hunting down Rathalos. The Special Boost skill from the Anja Mail increases the damage your True Charged Slash will do, but if you want more elemental damage, equip the Kadachi Mail and upgrade it until you unlock the Thunder Attack Lv.1 that comes with it.

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Hammer		Light Bowgun		Bow
Lance		Dual Blades		Charge Blade
Gunlance			Heavy Bowgun