We regret to announce that we will no longer cover Monster Hunter Now as of Season 4. Redeem Codes will continue to be updated and you may keep sharing Referral Codes and Friend Codes, but other pages may be outdated. Thank you for your support!
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!
| All Great Sword Guides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full List | How to Use | Builds |
List of Contents
| Jump to a Great Sword Build | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Game Build | Raw Build | ||||
 Water Build |
 Fire Build |
 Thunder Build |
|||
 Ice Build |
 Dragon Build |
||||
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(at least Grade 5) |
335 | 10% |
230 |
| Alternative:
(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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(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 |
||
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(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.
| 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: ★☆☆ |
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Weapon | ATK | AFF | ELE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(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.
| All Weapon Builds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sword and Shield |
 Great Sword |
 Long Sword |
|||
 Hammer |
 Light Bowgun |
 Bow |
|||
 Lance |
 Dual Blades |
 Charge Blade |
|||
 Gunlance |
 Heavy Bowgun |
||||
Best Great Sword Builds
Genshin Impact Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Strategies & Guides Wiki
Monster Hunter Wilds Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Honkai: Star Rail Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Wuthering Waves Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Zenless Zone Zero Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Palworld Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Fire Emblem Heroes (FEH) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Once Human Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Black Myth: Wukong Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Persona 3 Reload Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Monster Hunter World Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
©Niantic. ©CAPCOM CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game.
The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department.
We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.
Jagras Blade
Carapace Buster
Hanayako Yohino
Aqua Slasher
Flame Blade
Severing Bolt
Thunder Blade
Freeze Blade
Berserker Sword
Flammenzahn
Lumu doesn't have Focus.