Sunbreak Sword and Shield Guide: Combos, Controls and Moveset

This is a guide to the Sword and Shield (SNS), a weapon in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (MH Rise). Read on to learn about new Sword and Shield controls and combos, how to use Sword and Shield Perfect Rush, the Sword and Shield's new Guard Point move, Sword and Shield Oils, as well as details on Sword and Shield Switch Skills.

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

Sword and Shield Balance Changes

Sword and Shield Balance Changes and Fixes (Update 15.0)
・Fixed a bug causing the Sword & Shield's Jumping Slash to combo into a Rising Slash instead of a Roundslash if performed right after landing.

This update is mostly aimed at fixing a bug with Jumping Slash. No major changes for the Sword and Shield this time.

Sword and Shield New Sunbreak Attacks and Moves

Official Sword and Shield Preview Video

Silkbind Attack: Destroyer Oil

Destroyer Oil makes its return from MHGU as a Silkbind Attack for the Sword and Shield in Sunbreak! While active, the oil makes it easier to stagger monsters. Use this opportunity to deal more damage!

Switch Skill: Twin Blade Combo

This Switch Skill replaces the end of the basic Sword/Shield Combo with a circular slash followed by a thrust. The additional hits make this useful for applying more elemental and status damage.

Silkbind Attack: Shield Bash

Not introduced in any trailer, Shield Bash is an additional Silkbind Attack added to the Sunbreak Expansion. A great gap closer tool for all Sword and Shield users, it also deals stun damage after making contact with the monster! If your Guard skill is high enough, you might be able to take on hits when timed right!

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Release Date and New Monsters

How Good is the Sword and Shield?

Tier List Ranking

MHRise Ranking	→	Sunbreak Ranking
(S - A - B) 3 Level Tier		(SS - S - A) 3 Level Tier

The Sword and Shield continues to be the well-rounded weapon we know and love in the Sunbreak expansion. The buff on Perfect Rush gives it the power it needed to go toe-to-toe with monsters. The additions for it is kind of mediocre though, with Destroyer Oil not delivering as much as we expected and many more. Still, it remains to be a viable choice for Hunters that loves to balance offense and defense effectively.

Weapon Tier List

Sword and Shield Strengths

High Elemental damage and number of hits Perfect Rush is powerful Stun with Shield No need to sheathe to use items Guarding with Shield

High Elemental Damage and Number of Hits

Sword and Shield's weapons often have high Elemental damage. Sword and Shield attacks also hit multiple times, allowing them to deal elemental damage and apply status ailments faster.

Perfect Rush is Powerful

Perfect Rush, while difficult to execute, has one of the highest DPS rates of any move in the game. Players must execute it with proper timing, and it can take a long time to get used to. In Monster Hunter Rise, players can now perform a Perfect Rush from a Guard Slash, increasing the potential to combo into a Perfect Rush.

Stun with Shield

Attacks with the Shield, including Charged Slash, count as stun damage and can be used to knock out a monster.

No Need to Sheathe to Use Items

The Sword and Shield is the only weapon that can use items without having to sheathe the weapons. This gives it incredible utility when setting up traps or healing during emergencies.

Guarding with Shield

While it is far from being the best shield in the game, being able to guard against attacks on the fly is incredibly valuable. Not to mention the existence of a Guard Point whenever you Guard Slash.

Sword and Shield Weaknesses

Easily flinched Short reach

Easily Flinched

If you get hit by an ally's attack, you can easily get flinched out of your combos. In Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise), there is a skill called Flinch Free that a lot of hunters utilize as a countermeasure to this problem.

Short Reach

The Sword and Shield has a shorter reach than most weapons, making it difficult to attack parts that are high up (often the head or the tail). Hunters can mitigate this with jumping moves like Metsu Shoryugeki or the Sliding Slash Switch Skill.

Sword and Shield Controls

Controls		Action
PC Left Click	PS Triangle	Chop
Switch X	Xbox Y
PC Right Click	PS Circle	Lateral Slash
Switch A	Xbox B
PC + Directional Button + Right Click	PS + Left Stick + Circle	Shield Attack
Switch + Left Stick + A	Xbox + Left Stick + B
PC + Left Click + Right Click	PS + Triangle + Circle	Advancing Slash
Switch + X + A	Xbox + Y + B
PC + MB4 + Left Click	PS + R2 + Triangle	Rising Slash
Switch + zR + X	Xbox + RT + Y
PC MB4	PS R2	Guard
Switch zR	Xbox rt
PC + MB4 + Right Click	PS + R2 + Circle	Guard Slash
Switch + zR + A	Xbox + RT + B
PC During a combo, hold + Down Direction + Right Click	PS During a combo, hold ↓ + Down Left Stick + Circle	Backstep
Switch During a combo, hold ↓ + Down Left Stick + A	Xbox During a combo, hold ↓ + Down Left Stick + B
PC During a backstep, hold Right Click	PS During a backstep, hold Circle	Charged Slash
Switch During a backstep, hold A	Xbox During a backstep, hold B
PC After a backstep, Left Click	PS After a backstep, Triangle	Leaping Slash
Switch After a backstep, X	Xbox After a backstep, Y
PC After a Leaping Slash or Guard Slash, Left Click	PS After a Leaping Slash or Guard Slash, Triangle	Perfect Rush
Switch After a Leaping Slash or Guard Slash, X	Xbox After a Leaping Slash or Guard Slash, Y
PC or + E MB4 or Middle Click + E	PS + R2 + Square	Use Item
Switch + zR + Y	Xbox + RT + X
PC + Middle Click + Left Click	PS + L2 + Triangle	Falling Shadow
Switch + zL + X	Xbox + LT + Y
PC + Middle Click + Right Click	PS + L2 + Circle	Windmill
Switch + zL + A	Xbox + LT + B

Useful Combos

Basic Combo
Chop	Side Slash	Lateral Slash	Return Stroke
X	X	A	A
Left Click	Left Click	Right Click	Right Click
Triangle	Triangle	Circle	Circle
Y	Y	B	B

Powerful Combo
Chop	Side Slash	Lateral Slash	Return Stroke
A	A	A	+ X + A
Right Click	Right Click	Right Click	+ Left Click + Right Click
Circle	Circle	Circle	+ Triangle + Circle
B	B	B	+ Y + B

Monster-Stunning Combo
Chop	Side Slash	Lateral Slash
+ Left Stick + A	A	A
+ Directional Button + Right Click	Right Click	Right Click
+ Left Stick + Circle	Circle	Circle
+ Left Stick + B	B	B

Charged Slash Combo
Chop	Charged Slash	Hit Monster	Jump Slash	Falling Bash
Down + X	↓ + Hold Down + A	Any attack, then lead to either a Jump Slash or a Falling Bash	X	A
Left Click	+ Hold S + Right Click		Left Click	Right Click
Triangle	↓ + Hold Down + Circle		Triangle	Circle
Y	↓ + Down + B		Y	B

Sword and Shield Silkbind Attacks

Falling Shadow

Switch Controls	＋ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Triangle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + Y

Falling Shadow is a Silkbind Attack that makes you jump up into the air. When you land the attack, you can combo it to fly into the air again and land another hit with an attack like Falling Bash (A, Right Click, Circle, or B) to stun or Plunging Thrust (X + A, Left Click + Right Click, Triangle + Circle, or Y + B) to deal big damage. It uses one Wirebug has fast Wirebug recovery.

Windmill

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + B

Windmill is a Silkbind Attack that attaches your sword to the end of the Ironsilk and whips it around. This attack grants invincibility frames, so using it with good timing will allow you to avoid Monsters' fierce attacks. This uses two Wirebugs and has fast Wirebug recovery. It can also be swapped with Metsu Shoryugeki or Destroyer Oil.

Metsu Shoryugeki

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + B

Back from MHGU, this nod to the famous Shoryuken attack from Street Fighter returns as a newly announced Silkbind Attack which can be switched out with the Windmill or Destroyer Oil.

Like its namesake, this attack causes the hunter to jump up and uppercut the target with the Shield. You can also follow it up with a Falling Bash (A, Right Click, Circle, or B) to stun or Plunging Thrust (X + A, Left Click + Right Click, Triangle + Circle, or Y + B) to deal big damage.

The user has a short timeframe to Guard against an attack at the beginning of this attack A successful counter here will cause the damage from Metsu Shoryugeki to increase further. This move uses two Wirebugs and has medium recovery speed.

Destroyer Oil

Switch Controls	+ zL + A
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + B

Destroyer Oil makes its return from MHGU as a Silkbind Attack for the Sword and Shield in Sunbreak! However, it is no longer an item and is now an attack that powers up your ability to stagger monsters. The first part of the attack is a sword thrust that can deal damage, while the second part is quickly applying the oil to the sword.

This Silkbind Attack uses one Wirebug, has medium recovery speed, and can be swapped with Metsu Shoryugeki or Windmill. You'll know the effect is active when your arm glows blue. It lasts for 45 seconds, and you can keep using Destroyer Oil again to extend the duration. As of Version 13, Destroyer Oil also restores 20 sharpness when used.

Shield Bash

Switch Controls	＋ zL + X
PC Controls	+ Middle Click + Left Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Triangle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + Y

A great gap closer tool for all Sword and Shield users. This also deals stun damage after making contact with the monster so use this whenever you can! If your Guard skill is high enough, you might be able to take on hits when timed right!

Sword and Shield 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	・Advancing Slash ・Sliding Slash
2	・Hard Basher Combo ・Drill Slash Combo
3	・Sword/Shield Combo ・Twin Blade Combo
4	・Windmill ・Metsu Shoryugeki ・Destroyer Oil
5	・Falling Shadow ・Shield Bash

Switch Skills Guide: How to Unlock Switch Skills

Drill Slash Combo

Switched With
Hard Basher Combo
Description
This is a derivative of the Shield Slam that converts Thrust to a Drill Slash. Basically, it is a multi-hit attack with great potential when combined with an elemental weapon.
Controls
After a Shield Bash, , or After a Shield Bash, press A, Right Click, Triangle, or B

This Switch Skill has a different finisher for the Sword and Shield's Shield Bash. The hunter sticks the sword through a monster and then pulls it out to deal lingering damage. Useful for element and status Sword and Shield builds.

Sliding Slash

Switched With
Advancing Slash
Description
A sliding attack that slashes the target twice. High reach but no ability to turn. Allows for a follow-up jumping attack.
Controls
Draw Attack when sheathed, + X + A Draw Attack when sheathed, + Left Click + Right Click Draw Attack when sheathed, + Triangle + Circle Draw Attack when sheathed, + Y + B X + A, Left Click + Right Click, Triangle + Cricle, or Y + B when unsheathed. Pressing A, Right Click, Circle, or B while sliding changes attack to Jumping Rising Slash

A draw attack (or advancing move) that slides the hunter forward and slashes the target twice. You can also follow it up with a jumping slash.

Metsu Shoryugeki

Switched With
Windmill
Description
A jumping Wirebug attack that uses the shield to uppercut the target. Can perform a Guard at the start and finish off with a Falling Bash. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Medium Wirebug Cost: 2
Controls
+ zL + A + Middle Click + Right Click + L2 + Circle + LT + B

A Silkbind Attack Switch Skill for Windmill, Metsu Shoryugeki pushes the hunter upward while uppercutting the monster with the shield for blunt damage. Like Windmill, the start of the move also has invincibility frames. Use this to deal insane amount of stun damage to monsters!

Twin Blade Combo

Switched With
Sword/Shield Combo
Description
Opens the combo with a circular attack then follows up with a blade thrust - both using the sword. Effective for dealing status and elemental damage.
Controls
Press after a Side Slash. Use to change direciton. Press after a Side Slash. Use to change direction. Press after a Side Slash. Use to change direction. Press after a Side Slash. Use to change direction.

A more elemental/status inclined combo that replaces the shield bash in the middle of the combo into another sword attack, applying status/element procs more than stun. Pretty good choice if you're fighting a monster that is hard to KO.

Destroyer Oil

Switched With
Windmill
Description
Uses a Wirebug to cover your blade with a special ointment whose effects triggered by the friction with the shield. Also restores 20 Sharpness when used. While active, monsters flinch easily, creating more opening for attack. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Medium Wirebug Cost: 1
Controls
+ zL + A + Middle Click + Right Click + L2 + Circle + LT + B

An boost-type Silkbind attack that increases the likelihood of flinching monsters that can create openings for attack. Pretty simple and can be used at any time with no timings needed.

Shield Bash

Switched With
Falling Shadow
Description
A mix of offense and defense, allows the Hunter to use a Wirebug to dash forward with the shield raised. If the attack connects with a monster, the Hunter can follow up with more attacks. Can also parry an incoming attack - if timed right. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Fast Wirebug Cost: 1
Controls
+ zL + X + Middle Click + Left Click + L2 + Triangle + LT + Y

A great gap closer tool for all Sword and Shield users. This also deals stun damage after making contact with the monster so use this whenever you can! If your Guard skill is high enough, you might be able to take on hits when timed right!

Sword and Shield Attacks and Moves

Guard Point Counter Added to the Sword and Shield

Switch Controls	＋ zR + A
PC Controls	+ MB4 + Right Click
PS Controls	+ L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	+ LT + B

A Guard Point counter has been added to the Guard Slash move of the Sword and Shield! Whenever you successfully trigger the Guard Point, you can counter with Perfect Rush!

Perfect Rush

Switch Controls	After a Backstep, Down Left Stick + A → X
PC Controls	After a Backstep, S + Right Click → Left Click
PS Controls	After a Backstep, Down Left Stick + Cricle → Triangle
Xbox Controls	After a Backstep, Down Left Stick + B → Y

The strongest potential combo for the Sword and Shield is the Perfect Rush. It's a specific move that can only be combined from a Backstep → Leaping Slash or a Guard Slash, making it tricky to pull off but worth your while.

If you time your inputs correctly, you'll be able to deal significantly more damage with this attack. The timing is usually denoted by a red glow on the weapon so hit either X or A (Switch), Left Click or Right Click (PC), Triangle or Circle (PS), or Y or B (Xbox) to execute Perfect Rush perfectly.

End Airborne or with Spinning Reaper

When you choose X (Switch), Left Click (PC), Triangle (PS), or Y (Xbox) as the final input for the Perfect Rush combo, your hunter will jump up then you may end the combo with a Falling Bash (A, Right Click, Circle, or B) to stun or Plunging Thrust (X + A, Left Click + Right Click, Triangle + Circle, or Y + B) to deal big damage.

If you choose to input A, Right Click, Circle, or B, your hunter will just execute a smaller roundslash move called Spinning Reaper. It is mostly used when you don't want to go airborne because of poor positioning.

Charged Slash

Switch Controls	Execute Backstep (↓ + A) while holding then release Down + A while holding A then release
PC Controls	Execute Backstep (Hold S + Right Click) while holding then release Hold S + Right Click while holding Right Click then release
PS Controls	Execute Backstep (↓ + Circle) while holding then release Down + Circle while holding Circle then release
Xbox Controls	Execute Backstep (↓ + B) while holding then release Down + B while holding B then release

The Charged Slash also makes a triumphant return together with the Perfect Rush move. After a backstep, the hunter can charge the Sword and Shield to leap high and unleash combos. You can end with a Falling Bash (A or Right Click) to stun or Jumping Slash (X or Left Click) to deal more damage.

Can Use Items While Unsheathed

Switch Controls	＋ zR + Y
PC Controls	or + E MB4 or Middle Click + E
PS Controls	+ R2 + Square
Xbox Controls	+ RT + X

The Sword and Shield is the only weapon that allows for Items to be used without sheathing. This makes it easy to lay traps or handle emergencies quickly, and makes it suitable for support players in a multiplayer setting.

Recommended Combos for the Sword and Shield

Elemental-Centric Combo

Switch Controls	→ →
PC Controls	→ →
PS Controls	→ →
Xbox Controls	→ →

This combo makes use of the new Switch Skill Twin Blade Combo. This replaces the mid-combo shield bash with another sword attack. It promotes more elemental and status attacks since those procs more easily using the blade, not the shield.

Shield Bash to Perfect Rush

Switch Controls	+ → → → → ↓ + → ...
PC Controls	+ → → → → + →
PS Controls	+ → → → → ↓ + → ...
Xbox Controls	+ → → → → ↓ + → ...
Sequence	Shield Bash → Sword Combos → Perfect Rush

This combo uses Shield Bash as a way to close the gap between you and the enemy. After a few hits, you gan follow it up with your powerful Perfect Rush Combo!

Bread-and-Butter Combo

Switch Controls	→ + → → → + X → Left Stick + A → A (x2) → X + A
PC Controls	→ + → → → + Left Click → Directional Button + Right Click → Right Click (x2) → Left Click + Right Click
PS Controls	→ + → → → + Triangle → Left Stick + Circle → Circle (x2) → Triangle + Circle
Xbox Controls	→ + → → → + Y → Left Stick + B → B (x2) → Y + B

This is the bread-and-butter combo for Sword and Shield. Use this when there is not enough of an opening for a Perfect Rush. It is not as powerful, but it is better than waiting. You can also turn the Left Stick (or WASD) to any direction and hit X + A, Left Click + Right Click, Triangle + Circle, or Y + B to change the direction your hunter is facing! You can also execute a back hop to follow-up with Perfect Rush.

High Damage Perfect Rush - Metsu Shoryugeki Combo

Switch Controls	↓ + → → → → → + Down + A → X (x3) → A → zL + A
PC Controls	+ → → → → → + S + Right Click → Left Click (x3) → Right Click → Middle Click + Right Click
PS Controls	↓ + → → → → → + Down + Circle → Triangle (x3) → Circle → L2 + Circle
Xbox Controls	↓ + → → → → → + Down + B → Y (x3) → B → LT + B

This combo utilizes the power of both Perfect Rush and Metsu Shoryugeki. Use this whenever you have a huge opening like when a monster is down or trapped! What's more, Metsu Shoryugeki can stun a monster when used repeatedly!

High Damage Perfect Rush Combo

Switch Controls	→ ↓ + → → → → → + zR → Down + A → X (x4) → X + A
PC Controls	→ + → → → → → + MB4 → S + Right Click → Left Click (x4) → Left Click + Right Click
PS Controls	→ ↓ + → → → → → + R2 → Left Stick + Circle → Triangle (x4) → Triangle + Circle
Xbox Controls	→ ↓ + → → → → → + LT → Left Stick + B → Y (x4) → Y + B

This combo utilizes the Sword and Shield's most powerful move—the Perfect Rush and combines it with the new Plunging Thrust finisher while airborne. Always remember to time the Perfect Rush hits properly for maximum damage (Clue: When red, hit X, Left Click, Trangle, or Y). This combo is great whenever there is an opening to attack the monster so you can time a Perfect Rush properly!

Falling Shadow Combo

Switch Controls	+ → for Shield Bash or → + for Plunging Thrust zL + X → A (Shield Bash) or X + A (Plunging Thrust)
PC Controls	+ then either → for Shield Bash or → + for Plunging Thrust Middle Click + Left Click → Right Click or Left Click + Right Click
PS Controls	+ → for Shield Bash or → + for Plunging Thrust L2 + Triangle → Circle (Shield Bash) or Triangle + Circle (Plunging Thrust)
Xbox Controls	+ → for Shield Bash or → + for Plunging Thrust LT + Y → B (Shield Bash) or Y + B (Plunging Thrust)

This combo utilizes the Silkbind Attack Falling Shadow. After the Shield Bash or Plunging Thrust, you can backstep and then proceed to a Perfect Rush!

Tips on How to Use the Sword and Shield

Use the Shield to Stun Utilize Windmill or Metsu Shoryugeki Maximize wirebug usage Execute Perfect Rush... perfectly Use Guard Slash Guard Point during emergencies

Stun to Create Opportunities for Perfect Rush

We recommend using shield attacks like Shield Bash and Metsu Shoryugeki on the head of the monster to accumulate stun. This will give you a big opening to execute a Perfect Rush.

Utilize Windmill or Metsu Shoryugeki

Windmill and Metsu Shoryugeki both have invincibility frames at the start of their animations. This can be used as an emergency button when you need to nullify an attack.

Maximize Wirebug Usage

Wirebugs can easily close the gap between you and a monster, making up for the Sword and Shield's short reach.

Execute Perfect Rush... perfectly

As mentioned earlier, the Perfect Rush can dish out a ton of damage when done correctly. So when an opening presents itself, always try to execute it perfectly.

Only Use the Guard Slash Guard Point During Emergencies

Sword and Shield's guarding ability is not the best, so do not be overly reliant on guarding. However, Sword and Shield now has a Guard Point whenever you execute a Guard Slash. We recommend using this over the default Guard during emergencies. You can even increase the performance of Guarding by investing in Guard or Guard Up armor skills.

Sword and Shield Known Bugs and Fixes

Update 3.5 Bug Fix

Update 3.5 fixed a gameplay bug related to Sword and Shield! Whenever Sword and Shield players perform the Falling Bash attack and then move back while pressing X and A (Left Click and Right Click), they will now correctly perform a Roundslash instead of a Backstep.

Update 3.5: Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection Collaboration, DLC, and Patch Notes

Changes from the Past Games

Turning Slash is now gone Perfect Rush finisher changed Guard Slash has a Guard Point now Sword and Shield oils are gone

Turning Slash is Gone

In Iceborne, you could execute a turning slash to change the direction your hunter is facing. This is now gone in Monster Hunter Rise.

Perfect Rush Finisher has Changed

The Perfect Rush finisher in Monster Hunter Rise can end with a jumping slash or a simple roundslash. You can follow up the jump attack with Falling Bash (A or Right Click) to stun or Plunging Thrust (X + A or Left Click + Right Click) to deal big damage.

Guard Slash has a Guard Point

The Guard Slash receives a Guard Point in Monster Hunter Rise that can be useful for emergencies. It can even be used to follow up with a Perfect Rush.

Sword and Shield Oils are Gone

One of the best items to use for the Sword and Shield in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (MHGU) were Sword and Shield oils. All oils are sadly not present in the base Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise), but Destroyer Oil is making a return in Sunbreak.

Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise) Related Guides

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