Great Sword Guide: Combos, Controls and Moveset | Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

This is a guide to the Great Sword, a weapon in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (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

Balance Changes (Update 10.0)

Great Sword Balance Changes and Fixes (Update 10.0)

・ Adjusted all of the following weapon actions: 　・ Spirit Blade I (Spirit Gauge): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Spirit Blade II: Attack power slightly increased 　・ Spirit Blade III (1st Hit): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Spirit Blade III (2nd Hit): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Spirit Blade III (3rd Hit): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade: Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade (1st Hit - Red Gauge): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade (2nd Hit - Red Gauge): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Rising Slash (From Spirit Blade): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade (Landing): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade II (1st Hit): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade II (2nd Hit): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade II (2nd Hit - Ground): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Jumping Spirit Blade II (3rd Hit): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Spirit Reckoning (2nd Hit): Attack power slightly decreased 　・ Plunging Thrust: Attack power decreased 　・ Iai Spirit Slash (Counter Failed): Attack power decreased 　・ Iai Spirit Slash (Counter Succeeded): Attack power decreased 　・ Iai Spirit Slash (Counter Succeeded - Followup): Attack power decreased 　・ Thrust (From Spirit Blade I): Attack power slightly increased 　・ Rising Slash (From Spirit Blade II): Attack power slightly increased ・ Several adjustments have been made to the Spirit Gauge aura levels. 　・ White Aura: Physical damage scaling slightly decreased; Elemental scaling slightly decreased 　・ Yellow Aura: Physical damage scaling slightly decreased; Elemental scaling slightly decreased 　・ Red Aura: Physical damage scaling decreased; Elemental scaling decreased ・ Adjusted the Spirit Gauge aura level effects when you chain a Soaring Kick into a Spirit Helm Breaker. 　・ White Aura: Physical damage scaling decreased 　・ Yellow Aura: Physical damage scaling decreased 　・ Red Aura: Physical damage scaling decreased ・ Soaring Kick: Wirebug Gauge recovers more slowly. ・ Fixed a bug where the blades of certain Long Swords would jut out of their sheaths when performing a Special Sheathe.

The Great Sword received a significant buff in almost all of its moves making it one of the best weapons out there.

The buff on True Charge Slash is even more prominent considering Hunters can easily land one using the new Hysteria Switch Skill in Sunbreak.

What more, Hunting Edge now only costs 1 Wirebug and is greatly spammable. Great Sword is definitely one weapon to watch out for.

Weapon Changes in Sunbreak

Great Sword New Sunbreak Attacks and Moves

Official Great Sword Preview Video

Silkbind Attack: Hysteria

Strongarm Stance's naming has been changed to Hysteria in the Sunbreak Demo.

Using Hysteria, the hunter reinforces their arms and their weapon to fend off attacks. This move works like a counter, where getting hit in this stance while charging causes the hunter to quickly charge the Great Sword, allowing you to punish the monster!

Hysteria Skips a Charge Level

Successfully executing Hysteria skips one (1) Great Sword charge level so using it after the first charge will get you straight to True Charge Slash!

Switch Skill: Surge Slash Combo

This Switch Skill trades the traditional charging playstyle of the Great Sword for one that deals a combo of hits. In addition, the Surge Slash Combo needs proper footwork. But when done right, you can string together a large number of combos!

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Release Date and New Monsters

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 Attacks and Wirebugs 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 charged 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 the 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 against attacks from 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 every hit counts! 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 guard during emergencies!

Great Sword Builds

Great Sword Controls

Switch	PC	Action
X	Left Click	Overhead Slash
Hold X	Hold Left Click	Charged Slash
A	Right Click	Wide Sweep
+ X + A	+ Left Click + Right Click	Rising Slash
While Charging, A	While Charging, Right Click	Tackle
zR	MB4	Guard
While Mid-air, zR	While Mid-air, MB4	Plunging Thrust
+ zL + X	+ Middle Click + Left Click	Hunting Edge
+ zL + A	+ Middle Click + Right Click	Power Sheathe

Useful Combos

True Charged Slash Combo
Charged Slash	Strong Charged Slash	Strong Wide Slash	True Charged Slash
Hold, X Hold, Left Click	Hold, + Left Stick + X Hold, + Directional Button + X	A Right Click	Hold, X Hold, Left Click

Forward Lunging Attack Combo
Wide Sweep	Tackle	Leaping Wide Slash
A Left Click	A Left Click	A Left Click

Stationary Combo
Wide Slash	Rising Slash	Wide Slash
A Left Click	+ X + A + Left Click + Right Click	A Left Click

Great Sword Silkbind Attacks

Official Great Sword Preview Video

Hunting Edge

Switch Controls	+ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click

Hunting Edge is a Silkbind Attack that launches the hunter upward and can be followed up with charged attacks. This is similar to the charging attack while airborne in Aerial Style from Monster Hunter Generations. This moves also requires two Wirebugs.

Strongarm Stance or Hysteria

Switch Controls	+ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click

Even though it's called Strongarm Stance in the weapon intro video, it's called Hysteria in the Sunbreak demo. This move can be switched out with Hunting Edge. The hunter consumes two Wirebugs and goes into a stance where they glow blue for a second. While they're in this stance, they can counter any attack. If they successfully counter an attack, they can quickly charge up their Great Sword for a devastating blow.

Power Sheathe

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click

Power Sheathe sends you forward in the direction you're facing and then sheathes your weapon. This also temporarily increases your attack power for the next few seconds, indicated by a blue glow. Power Sheathe works well with this weapon because hunters usually sheath the Great Sword for better mobility.

Adamant Charged Slash

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click

Adamant Charged Slash is a newly-announced Silkbind Attack that was not featured in the January Switch 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 that this only offers knockback protection and not damage immunity.

Great Sword Switch Skills

Switch Skills are unlocked with different conditions as you progress in the game. Base game MHRise provides Hunters with three (3) slots of Switch Skills, with the Sunbreak expansion adding two (2) more.

Note: Skills in red are exclusive to the Sunbreak expansion.

Skill Slot	Switch Skill Choices
1	・Tackle ・Guard Tackle
2	・True Charge Slash ・Rage Slash
3	・Charged Slash Combo ・Surge Slash Combo
4	・Hunting Edge ・Adamant Charged Slash
5	・Power Sheath

Switch Skills Guide: How to Unlock Switch Skills

Guard Tackle

Switched With	Controls
Tackle	While charging, A While charging Left Click
Description
A forward-dashing attack using the flat side of the blade. More cumbersome than 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 Charged Slash	+ Left Stick + X Change direction using L Analog while charging. + Directional Button + Left Click Change direction using Directional Buttons while charging
Description
Strike from a unique stance. Not as powerful as the True Charged Slash, but when met with an attack, Rage Slash will increase its damage.

Rage Slash is an improvement over 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	+ zL + X + Middle Click + Left Click
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.

Surge Slash Combo

Switched With	Controls
Charging Slash Combo	→ → + Afterwards, hold Analog + X to perform a Strong Charged Slash
Description
An offensive style that combines speed with the weight of the weapon to unleash a stream of powerful slashes. Proper footwork is required, but allows for a large number of combos.

A replacement to the usual Charged Combo that Great Sword users love, this opens up the Great Sword to sniping gamestyles due to its fast, sweeping attacks that actually deal tons of damage per hit.

Great Sword Attacks and Moves

True Charged Slash

Switch Controls	Hold + (x3) Hold X + Left Stick (x3)
PC Controls	Hold + (x3) Hold Left Click + Directional Button (x3)

The True Charged 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 Charged Slash is the 3rd charging attack on the sequence (Charged Slash → Strong Charged Slash → True Charged Slash). Both Charged Slash and Strong Charged Slash can be canceled using a tackle, so it is not necessary to fully charge all these to use the True Charged Slash.

Wide Sweep and Leaping Wide Slash

Switch Controls	+ + A + A + A
PC Controls	+ + Right Click + Right Click + Right Click

The Wide Sweep and Leaping Wide Slash attacks return in Monster Hunter Rise! These moves can hit a wide area (hence the name) and apply ailments on multiple monsters! Leaping Wide Slash has also been changed to deal multiple hits if done after tackling out of charged attacks.

Recommended Combos for the Great Sword

Guard Tackle to Rage Slash Combo

Switch Controls	Tackle by pressing while charging → Hold Press A while charging hold X
PC Controls	Tackle by pressing while charging → Hold Press Right Click while charging hold Left Click
Required Switch Skills	Tackle → Guard Tackle True Charged Slash → Rage Slash

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

Fastest True Charged Slash Combo

Switch Controls	Press then → Press while → Hold Press X then A (x2) → hold X
PC Controls	press while → press while → Hold Press Left Click then Right Click (x2) → hold Left Click

Using this combo is one of the fastest ways to get to the True Charged Slash. It works by canceling both Charged Slash and Strong Charged Slash with tackles.

Max Charged Slash

Switch Controls	+ (x2) → → + Left Stick + X (x2) → A → Left Stick + X
PC Controls	+ (x2)→ → + Directional Buttons + Left Click (x2) → Right Click → Directional Button + Left Click

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 Charged Slash

Switch Controls	Hold while jumping → → Hold Hold X while jumping → A → hold X
PC Controls	Hold while jumping → → Hold Hold Left Click while jumping → Right Click → hold Left Click

This combo allows you to utilize Wirebugs as you go in with a Jumping Slash and then end it with a True Charged Slash, doing a large amount of damage.

Adamant Rage Slash Combo

Switch Controls	+ Hold → + zL + hold X → Left Stick + X
PC Controls	+ Hold → + Middle Click + hold Left Click → Directional Button + Left Click

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

Tips on How to Use the Great Sword

Aim for the True Charged 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 Charged Slash Avoid using Hunting Edge against small monsters Only use Adamant Charged Slash on weak monster moves

Aim for the True Charged Slash

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

The Tackle is Back!

The Tackle from Monster Hunter World is back in Monster Hunter Rise! Use tackles to enter a Super Armor state and tank monster hits. Remember, tackles are also a viable bridge move to achieve True Charged Slash!

Use Wirebugs for Extra Mobility

The Great Sword is very slow, but the introduction of Wirebugs in Monster Hunter Rise has made the Great Sword very mobile. Use Wire Dashes effectively for devastatingly great swordplay!

Use Power Sheath To Increase Your Attack!

When drawn out, the Great Sword slows down your hunter to a crawl which leaves you open to 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 very slow attack animations, 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 Charged Slash

It missed.

When fighting monsters, it's better to initiate the fight by mounting the Palamute, jumping then dismounting into a Full Charged Slash. This allows you to squeeze more damage than a draw 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 for 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 on small monsters will further increase its difficulty. If you wish to use Silkbind Attacks, it's better to use the Wirebug's mobility or Power Sheathe against smaller monsters instead.

Only Use Adamant Charged Slash On Weak Monster Moves

Monsters have moves that differ in 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.

Changes from MHW: Iceborne

No Super Armor at the start of a slash attack Added a new way to bridge Strong Charge and True Charged Slashes Added a Charged Plunging Thrust

Removed the Super Armor

The Super Armor present at the start of a slash attack has been 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 Charged Slash and True Charged Slash

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

Charged Plunging Thrust

While the Plunging Thrust can be performed after sliding in Monster Hunter World, a charged version of this can be done mid-air after hitting a monster with Hunting Edge.

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 Guide | Weapon Tree	Long Sword Guide | Weapon Tree	Sword and Shield Guide | Weapon Tree
Dual Blades Guide | Weapon Tree	Lance Guide | Weapon Tree	Gunlance Guide | Weapon Tree
Hammer Guide | Weapon Tree	Hunting Horn Guide | Weapon Tree | Melodies	Switch Axe Guide | Weapon Tree
Charge Blade Guide | Weapon Tree	Insect Glaive Guide | Weapon Tree | Kinsects

Ranged Weapon Guides

Ranged Weapons
Light Bowgun Guide | Weapon Tree	Heavy Bowgun Guide | Weapon Tree	Bow Guide | Weapon Tree