Great Sword Guide: Combos, Controls and Moveset | Monster Hunter Rise | MHR (MH Rise)

This is a guide to the Great Sword, a weapon in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise). Read on to learn about new Great Sword controls and combos, how to use Great Sword charged attacks, the Great Sword Power Sheathe as well as details on Great Sword Switch Skills.

All Great Sword Guides
Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds

Great Sword Controls

Button	Action
	Vertical Slash
Charge	Charge Slash
	Sideward Slash
+	Upward Slash
While Charging	Tackle
	Guard
In the air	Falling Thrust
+	Hunting Edge
+	Power Sheathe

Great Sword Silkbind Attacks

Official Great Sword Preview Video

Hunting Edge

Input	+

Hunting Edge is a silkbind attack that launches the hunter upward and while charging the Great Sword. This is similar to the charging attack while airborne in Aerial Style from Monster Hunter Generations.

Power Sheathe

Input	+

Power Sheathe is a silkbind attack that temporarily increases the damage for the next sheathing attack. Power Sheathe works well with this weapon because hunters usually sheath the Great Sword for better mobility.

Adamant Charged Slash NEW

Adamant Charged Slash is a newly-announced Silkbind Attack that was not featured in the January Demo.

This attack can be switched out with Hunting Edge. The hunter uses the Wirebug to dash straight ahead, then unleashes a Strong Charged Slash.

Adamant Charged Slash also has the advantage of withstanding knockdown attacks while the attack is being executed. Take note, this only offer knockback protection not damage immunity.

Great Sword Switch Skills and Best Setup

Switch Skills are unlocked as you progress in the game. The very first one is obtained after finishing the ★3 Village Urgent Quest, Feathered Frenzy.

The best Switch Skills we recommend for each slot are marked in red.

Controls	Original Skill	⇔	Switch Skill
A while charging	Tackle	⇔	Guard Tackle
X after Strong Charged Slash	True Charge Slash	⇔	Rage Slash
zL + X	Hunting Edge Wirebug Recovery Speed: Fast	⇔	Adamant Charged Slash Wirebug Recovery Speed: Medium

Switch Skills Guide: How to Unlock Switch Skills

Guard Tackle

Switched With	Controls
Tackle	while charging
Description
A forward-dashing attack using the flat side of the blade. More cumbersome that your standard tackle, but strong and allows you to guard.

A shoulder thrust move that allows you to withstand more powerful attacks than the usual tackle. This allows you to charge more properly while tanking attacks that are bound to throw you off. The downside with this one is the longer tackle time so you have to recalibrate your timings.

Rage Slash

Switched With	Controls
True Charge Slash	+ Change direction using L Analog while charging.
Description
Strike from a unique stance. Not as powerful that True Charge Slash but when met with an attack, Rage Slash will increase its damage.

Rage Slash is an improvement for the True Charged Slash so we recommend slotting it in when you get it. It absorbs some damage and uses them to strengthen the charge attack which is always good for the Great Sword!

Adamant Charged Slash

Switched With	Controls
Hunting Edge	+
Description
Uses a Wirebug to dash forward, and deliver a Strong Charged Slash. Has knockback protection as you dash forth. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Medium Wirebug Cost: 1

Uses a Wirebug to dash forward to deliver a Strong Charged Slash. This move has knockback protection while dashing but will not negate all damage. Only use this for attacks you know you can survive from.

Great Sword Attacks and Moves

True Charge Slash

Input	Hold + x3

The True Charge Slash makes a return in Monster Hunter Rise! It's the strongest hitting move of the Great Sword and utilizing it properly is the key to mastering the Great Sword.

The True Charge Slash is the 3rd Vertical slash on the sequence (Overhead Slash → Strong Charged Slash → True Charged Slash), Overhead Slash and/or Strong Charged Slash can be canceled by using the tackle so it is not necessary to use all three slashes to use the True Charge Slash.

Wide Slash and Strong Wide Slash

Input	+ +

The Wide Slash and Strong Wide Slash attack make a return in Monster Hunter Rise! This move is capable of hitting a wider area (hence the name) and can apply ailments on multiple monsters!

Recommended Combos for the Great Sword

Guard Tackle to Rage Slash Combo

Input	Tackle by pressing while charging → Hold
Required Switch Skills	Tackle → Guard Tackle True Charge Slash → Rage Slash

This combo uses two Switch Skills that uses super armor to tank some enemy attacks. We recommend using this combo during enemy roars. If you are attacked with Super Armor on, you will only receive reduced damage so use you can use this on powerful enemy attacks as well. Be careful on chaining moves though as the Super Armor can only negate knockback for one move.

Fastest True Charge Slash Combo

Input	Press while → Press while → (Hold)

Doing the Fastest Slash Combo is the fastest way to do a slashing combo while attempting a tackle with a charged slash by the end.

Max Charge Slash

Input	+ → + → → +

This combo is similar to the Fastest Slash Combo - except you charge up your final hit to its strongest form. It's better to use this combo when the monster you are hunting is down on the ground, suitable for a punisher.

Jump Slash to True Charge Slash

Input	(Hold while jumping) → → (Hold)

This combo allows you to utilize wirebugs as you go in with a jump slash then end it in a True Charge Slash, doing a large amount of damage.

Adamant Rage Slash Combo

Input	+ (Hold) → +

This combo utilizes the two Switch Skills for the Great Sword Adamant Charged Slash and Rage Slash. Since both of these provide knockback protection and super armor respectively, this combo can tank even multi-hit monster attacks while at the same time dishing out tons of damage!

Tips on How to Use the Great Sword

Aim for the True Charge Slash Use Wirebugs for extra mobility Use Power Sheath to increase your attack Use Palamute Jump + Dismount for a full aerial charge slash Hunting Edge can be chained into a Charge Slash Avoid using Hunting Edge against small monsters Only use Adamant Charged Slash on weak monster moves

Aim for the True Charge Slash

The True Charge Slash has the highest damage number in a single blow for the Great Sword. Achieving True Charge Slash requires certain combos so make sure that when you achieve it, it hits the monster!

The Tackle is Back!

The tackle from Monster Hunter World is back in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise! Use the tackle to enter a super armor state and tank monster hits. Remember, the tackle is also a viable bridge move to achieve True Charge Slash!

Use Wirebugs for Extra Mobility

The Great Sword is very slow but with the introduction of Wirebugs in Monster Hunter Rise, the Great Sword can be very mobile. Use Wire Dashes effectively for a devastating Great Swordplay!

Use Power Sheath To Increase Your Attack!

When sheathed out, the Great Sword slows down your hunter to a crawl which opens you up for monster attacks. Always try to sheath your weapon when looking for an opening, as this allows you to sprint and better position yourself!

Also, with the introduction of the new silkbind attack Power Sheathe, it is a great idea to get used to sheathing your Great Swords!

Hit-and-Run Play

The Great Sword has a very slow attack animation so beware of this whenever you try the hit-and-run style. Only try hitting the monster when there is an opening!

Use Palamute Jump + Dismount For Full Aerial Charge Slash

It missed.

When fighting monsters, it's better to initiate the fight by mounting the Palamute, jumping then dismounting into a Full Charge Slash. This allows you to squeeze more damage than a sheathing attack.

The Hunting Edge Can Be Chained Into a Charged Slash

Charged Slashes are where most of the Great Sword's damage comes from. It can easily topple large monsters and if the monster is large enough, chaining the new Hunting Edge move can make one of the deadliest combos in the game!

Avoid Using Hunting Edge Against Small Foes

It hit... The Palico's healing bubble.

Hunting Edge's range can be hard to learn for players that are just starting to learn the biggest sword in the game. Trying to use it at a small monster will further increase its difficulty, if you wish to use Silkbind Attacks, it's better to use the Wirebug's mobility or the Power Sheathe move against smaller monsters instead.

Only Use Adamant Charged Slash On Weak Monster Moves

Monsters have moves that differ on damage dealt. If you're using the Switch Skill Adamant Charged Slash, only tank monster moves that do not deal significant damage. Adamant Charged Slash only gives knockback protection not damage immunity.

How Good is the Great Sword?

Tier List Ranking

Rank

The Great Sword is still one of the best weapons in the game. The addition of silkbind and wirebug attacks makes the Great Sword even more powerful in Rise than in previous games. These add a whole new level of mobility as well as convenient access to aerial charge attacks!

Weapon Tier List

Great Sword Strengths

Single-hit attack damage is unrivaled by other weapons. Hit-and-Run is a viable gameplay style so it is very safe. The Great Sword can guard.

Top Tier Single-Hit Weapon

The Great Sword is unrivaled by other weapons when it comes to single-hit attack damage. Using the Great Sword requires precise timing because that single attack needs to hit to effectively deal damage.

Hit-and-Run is a Viable Technique

Because of its high single-hit attack damage, the Hit-and-Run style of play is very viable for Great Sword. This style of play is very slow but is also very safe - perfect for beginners who are starting to learn the game.

The Great Sword Can Guard

The Great Sword can guard attacks from opponent monsters. However, this depletes the sharpness of the Great Sword so just use this during emergencies.

Great Sword Weaknesses

Poor mobility makes continuous attacks difficult to execute. Guarding consumes sharpness.

Poor Mobility

Great Sword is a very slow weapon so make sure to make every hit count! It is also not recommended to combo attacks using the Great Sword unless there is a very long opening!

Guarding Consumes Sharpness

Guarding using the Great Sword consumes sharpness. Take note, the sharpness it loses is greater than when attacking so only use guard during emergencies!

Changes from MHW: Iceborne

No super armor at the start of a slash attack Added a new way to bridge Strong Charge and True Charge Slashes Added an Aerial Drop Thrust

Removed the Super Armor

The super armor present at the start of a slash attack is removed. Because of this, you can now be knocked back by tripping attacks from your allies using a Long Sword, Gunlance, or Bowguns.

New Way to Bridge Strong Charge Slash and True Charge Slash

There is a new possible way in MH Rise to connect a Strong Charge Slash and True Charge Slash. This combo is part of the Useful Combos so check that out!

Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise) Related Links

Weapon Type Guides
Weapons and Weapon Types	Weapon Type Tier List	Builds for Each Weapon Type

Melee Weapon Guides

Melee Weapons
Great Sword	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Long Sword	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Sword and Shield	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Dual Blades	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Hammer	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Hunting Horn	Trees & Full List	How to Use (Melodies and Effects)	Best Builds
Lance	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Gunlance	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Switch Axe	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Charge Blade	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Insect Glaive	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Kinsects	Kinsect Tree and Complete Kinsect List

Ranged Weapon Guides

Ranged Weapons
Bows	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Light Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Heavy Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds