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

This is a guide to the Long Sword, a weapon in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise). Read on to learn about new Long Sword controls and combos, how to use Long Sword counters, the Spirit Helm Breaker as well as details on Long Sword Switch Skills.

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

Long Sword Controls

Button	Action
	Vertical Slash
	Thrust
While Attacking + +	Directional Fade Slash
+	Fade Slash
	Spirit Slash
+	Foresight Slash
+	Special Sheathe
While in Special Sheathe	Iai Slash
While in Special Sheathe	Iai Spirit Slash
+	Soaring Kick
After Soaring Kick hits	Spirit Helm Breaker/Falling Thrust
+	Serene Pose

Useful Combos

Basic Combo
Step Slash	Overhead Slash	Thrust	Rising Slash

Spirit Blade Combo (Needs Spirit Gauge)
Spirit Blade I	Spirit Blade II	Spirit Blade III	Spirit Blade Roundslash

Fade Slash Combo (Needs Spirit Gauge)
Fade Slash +	Spirit Jumping Slash	Spirit Blade III	Spirit Roundslash

Spacial Sheathe Combo 1
Step Slash	Special Sheathe +	Iai Slash	Spirit Blade II

Special Sheathe Combo 2
Step Slash	Foresight Slash +	Spirit Roundslash +

Foresight Slash Combo (When Successful)
Step Slash	Foresight Slash +	Spirit Roundslash

Long Sword Silkbind Attacks

Official Long Sword Preview Video

List of Silkbind Attacks

Soaring Kick

Input	+

The Soaring Kick is a silkbind attack that lets you jump off a monster upward. By default, your hunter will execute a Plunging Thrust that turns your Spirit Gauge meter blue and gradualy fills it.

While airborne, you may also press zR to execute the Spirit Helm Breaker! This move deals massive damage but decreases your Long Sword Spirit Level by one. To maximize the damage, do this while in red spirit gauge.

Serene Pose

Input	+

Serene Pose is a silkbind attack that scatters wirebugs in front of the hunter and puts them in a counter stance. Any attack recived during the counter stance duration will be negated and countered.

You can use this on anything that can damage the hunters, including barrel bombs. It can even be used as a wake-up move against monsters by utilizing barrel bomb explosions.

Silkbind Sakura Slash NEW

Silkbind Sakura Slash can be switched out with Soaring Kick and allows the hunter to spin around to dash and slice the foe.

Not only does the attack inflict multiple hits over time, causing additional damage, but it also grants 1 free Spirit Gauge on landing.

This skill is great for elemental damage builds due to its multiple hits.

Long 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
X	Step Slash	⇔	Drawn Double Slash
zR	Spirit Roundslash Combo	⇔	Spirit Reckoning Combo
zR + X	Soaring Kick Wirebug Recovery Speed: Medium	⇔	Silkbind Sakura Slash Wirebug Recovery Speed: Slow

Switch Skills Guide: How to Use and Unlock

Drawn Double Slash

Switched With	Controls
Drawn Double Slash	(Draw weapon while sheathed)
Description
A drawn attack that unleashes two attacks in a row. You can absorb attacks while moving forward and this move can be comboed with R to go straight to Spirit Blade II!

This replaces the draw attack of the Long Sword into a double slash attack. This deals damage twice as well as negates an attack at the start of the draw.

This can also be comboed into a Spirit Slash II but not a Fade Slash.

Spirit Reckoning Combo

Switched With	Controls
Spirit Roundslash Combo	after Spirit Blade II
Description
Changes into a Spirit Blade at the third strike. Drives forward using Dividing Slash then finishes with the Spirit Reckining combo. Difficult to pull off, but has high damage.

Replaces the Spirit Roundslash ending of your Spirit combo. This also has a move that allows you to input a direction and rush towards that direction before executing the Reckoning combo. This increases your Spirit Gauge by one, like the Roundslash.

Silkbind Sakura Slash

Switched With	Controls
Soaring Kick	+
Description
A whirlwind-like attack, dashing past the target with a Wirebug. Increases the Spirit Gauge by 1. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Slow Wirebug Cost: 1

Dashes forward while swinging your sword twice in a circle. This silkbind attack Switch Skill instantly increases your Spirit Gauge level by 1.

The point where the blades hit will receive lingering damage. This is great for status and elemental builds!

Though this Switch Skill is viable for some, we don't recommend switching it out for Soaring Kick. Soaring Kick is the only way to execute the Spirit Helmbreaker which is too strong to pass on.

Long Sword Attacks and Moves

Spirit Helm Breaker

Input	After Soaring Kick,

The Spirit Helm Breaker is a returning move in Monster Hunter Rise. This is generally considered the highest damage skill for the long sword especially due to its ease of use in Monster Hunter Rise since it can be executed following the new Silkbind move Soaring Kick.

Foresight Slash

Input	During combo, +

The Foresight Slash is also making a return in Monster Hunter Rise! It's an evasive maneuver that can increase your current Spirit Level by 1 when you successfully hit the final Spirit Roundlash.

Remember, this move is executed in-between combos and the counter-slash must hit the monster to execute the final Spirit Roundslash.

Special Sheathe

Input	After an attack, +
Follow-up	to execute Iai Slash to execute an Iai Spirit Slash

Special Sheathe is a move that, as the name suggests, sheathes your weapon.

You can follow this up by an X Input to execute an Iai Slash or zR to execute an Iai Spirit Slash.

Iai Slash

Input	During Special Sheathe,

Iai Slash is one of the two possible moves you can perform while using Special Sheathe. It's a quick two-hit combo that can be used to chain your combos and set your Spirit Gauge meter to blue (Spirit Gauge will charge bit-by-bit automatically).

It also doesn't cost any resources to use so it's going to be your default move to use if Iai Spirit Slash can't be used.

Iai Spirit Slash

Input	While in Special Sheathe

A strong evasive countermove that also levels your spirit level by 1 when hit successfully. It also has huge invulnerability frames (iFrames) so it can be used to dodge and counter monster attacks with perfect timing.

Recommended Combos For the Long Sword

Big Damage Combo

Button Inputs
+ → → + → → → →

This combo is used to maximize the damage output whenever there is an opening like when the monster is down or when it is trapped. The combo utilizes the Helmbreaker, Special Sheathe, and the Spirit Roundslash for maximum damage!

Iai Spirit Slash to Silkbind Sakura Slash

Button Inputs
+ → → + → +

This combo utilizes the seamless transition between Iai Spirit Slash and the Switch Skill Silkbind Sakura Slash. This is a great way of increasing your gauge level because successfully executing both the Iai Spirit Slash and the Silkbind Sakura Slash increases your Spirit Gauge level by one (1) each or a total of two (2)! This combo also have high DPS and can be executed as long as you have Wirebugs!

Fast Spirit Gauge Up Combo

Button Inputs
+ → → →

This combo replaces the initial Spirit Slash I for a Fade Slash for maximum mobility. This combo replaces Spirit Blade II with a Spirit Jumping Slash then goes straight to Spirit Blade III!

Spirit Gauge Collection + Fast Spirit Gauge Up Combo

Button Inputs
→ → + → → →

This combo is useful when your spirit gauge is empty and you want to increase it by one level. The first three inputs give you enough energy for the Spirit Slash Combo in the second half. Use this when you have big openings!

Instant Red Gauge Combo

Button Inputs
→ + → → + → → →

This combo utilizes the Foresight Slash and its ability to finish with a Spirit Roundslash when counterattacking. This is the fastest way to increase your gauge from blank to red but it requires precise counterattacking skills for two consecutive times!

Tips on How to Use the Long Sword

Consider including Quick Sheath in your builds Always maintain a Red Spirit Gauge Increase Damage by Leveling Up the Spirit Gauge Always aim for the Spirit Helmbreaker Always try to Counter

Get a Quick Sheath Build

Quick Sheath works extremely well with the Special Sheath move of the Long Sword. An armor set with Quick Sheath Lv 3 almost doubles the animation speed of sheathing that it just becomes so fast, it can be spammed for gaining easy Spirit Gauge levels.

Maintain a Red Spirit Gauge

To effectively use the Long Sword, always keep your spirit gauge on red. You can see this on the spirit gauge meter in the HUD or on the color of the blade. This maximizes the Long Sword's firepower for a more efficient hunt.

Increase Damage by Leveling Up the Spirit Gauge

Long Sword's Spirit Gauge changes color from ''colorless → white → yellow → red'', increasing your attack damage per level. It is mandatory to keep this on red at all times.

You can increase your Spirit Gauge by one (1) level using the following moves:

▲ Silkbind Sakura Slash	▲ Foresight Slash
▲ Iai Spirit Slash	▲ Spirit Reckoning Combo
Spirit Roundslash Combo	---

Foresight Slash is Your Friend

In addition to it being a Long Sword counterattack, Foresight Slash is also one of the fastest ways to gain Spirit Levels (together with Special Sheathe). It takes time to master this but once you do, you are unstoppable!

Aim for the Spirit Helmbreaker

Considered the greatest damage-dealing move of the Long Sword, it would be a shame for you to not use this. This move is behind Soaring Kick and will deal tons of damage. Also, make sure to use this when you are in a Red Spirit Gauge Level to maximize the firepower.

Always Try to Counter

The primary gameplay style for the Long Sword revolves around effective counterattacks. The Foresight Slash, Special Sheathe, and now Serene Pose give the Long Sword more opportunities to counterattack - use them effectively.

How Good is the Long Sword?

Tier List Ranking

Rank

The most popular weapon in the game is back and it's even better than before! There are new counterattack opportunities added to the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Rise so super aggressive plays are still very much welcome. Sharpen those blades because Long Sword is still reigning supreme!

Weapon Tier List

Long Sword Strengths

The spirit gauge can be used to execute powerful attacks Your attack power increases as the spirit gauge changes color You can counter monster attacks

Use Spirit Gauge For a More Powerful Attack

You can consume spirit gauge charges to give more power to your attack. One of the more powerful Long Sword attacks, Spirit Helmbreaker, consumes spirit gauge charge so always keep that spirit gauge topped up!

Attack Power Increases with the Spirit Gauge Level

The color of the spirit gauge can be changed from white → yellow → red with white having the least attack damage bonus and red providing the most. Generally, the rule of thumb is to keep it red.

Counterattack Abilities

The Long Sword has various counterattack abilities with Foresight Slash and Special Sheathe making a return from Monster Hunter World. With Monster Hunter Rise, a new silkbind attack called Serene Pose adds another counterattack move to the Long Sword's arsenal.

Long Sword Weaknesses

Low single-hit damage so spirit gauge is important Has no guarding options

Low Single-Hit Damage

The Long Sword's firepower is derived from the level of the spirit gauge. If you do not change the color of the spirit gauge, the Long Sword's attack damage is very low.

No Guarding Options

The Long Sword does not have any guarding capabilities. This is compensated however with the capability of counterattacking monsters by executing certain moves but this requires timing and precision.

Best Long Sword Builds

Changes from MHW: Iceborne

The bread an butter loop can be executed with just one button (X or A). Blade Thrust going to Spirit Helmbreaker is now gone. Soaring Kick is the bridge to Helsplitter in MH Rise. Iai Spirit Slash increases the Spirit Gauge Level. If missed, will not decrease.

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
Lance	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Gunlance	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
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
Light Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Heavy Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds
Bows	Trees & Full List	How to Use	Best Builds