Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

High Rank Sword and Shield Builds | Monster Hunter Rise

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This is a guide to the best high rank builds Sword and Shields in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise). Learn about the best Sword and Shields from Update 3.0+, and the best Skills and Armor pieces to use with the Sword and Shields for High Rank, and Endgame.

Endgame Build (Update 3.0): HR 100+

Raw Damage

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Flash in the NightFlash in the Night
Flash in the Night Sword & Shield Sharpness
②ーー 180 -
Affinity Element/Status
30%
-
Armor Slots Skills
Valstrax HelmValstrax Helm ②①ー
Valstrax MailValstrax Mail ③①ー
Resuscitate Lv. 2
Dragonheart Lv. 1
Valstrax BracesValstrax Braces ②ーー
Valstrax Coil Valstrax Coil ②ーー
Resentment Lv. 2
Resuscitate Lv. 1
Dragonheart Lv. 1
Valstrax GreavesValstrax Greaves ③①ー
Resentment Lv. 1
Dragonheart Lv. 1
Talisman Skill Attack Boost Lv. 3
Decorations
Skills
Attack Boost Lv. 6 | Dragonheart Lv. 5
Resentment Lv. 3 | Resuscitate Lv. 3
Critical Boost Lv. 3 | Weakness Exploit Lv. 3
Speed Sharpening Lv. 2 | Flinch Free Lv. 1
Build Merits This build pumps as much damage as possible through the full Valstrax Set, Attack Boost, and Critical Boost. Flinch Free is included to negate flinches in multiplayer but you can swap it out for another level of Speed Sharpening whenever you're hunting solo.

Dragon Slayer

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Vermilion OrgulVermilion Orgul
Vermilion Orgul Sword & Shield Sharpness
②ーー 180 -
Affinity Element/Status
0%
Dragon Image 34
Armor Slots Skills
Valstrax HelmValstrax Helm ②①ー
Valstrax MailValstrax Mail ③①ー
Resuscitate Lv. 2
Dragonheart Lv. 1
Valstrax BracesValstrax Braces ②ーー
Valstrax Coil Valstrax Coil ②ーー
Resentment Lv. 2
Resuscitate Lv. 1
Dragonheart Lv. 1
Valstrax GreavesValstrax Greaves ③①ー
Resentment Lv. 1
Dragonheart Lv. 1
Talisman Skill Attack Boost Lv. 1
with two additional ① slots
Decorations
Skills
Dragon Attack Lv. 5 | Dragonheart Lv. 5
Attack Boost Lv. 4 | Resentment Lv. 3
Resuscitate Lv. 3 | Critical Boost Lv. 3
Weakness Exploit Lv. 3
Build Merits This build cranks as much Dragon Element as possible while increasing base attack and critical damage through the amazing synergy between the full Valstrax Set and Vermilion Orgul's Valstrax Soul ramp up skill. This set makes quick work of any monster that is vulnerable to Dragon Element.

High Rank Build (Update 2.0): HR 40 to 99

Hi Ninja Build

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Hi Ninja SwordHi Ninja Sword
Hi Ninja Sword Sword & Shield Sharpness
①①① 200 -
Affinity Element/Status
100%
-
The Hi Ninja Sword boasts a whopping 200 attack value and a 100% affinity rating. This means we can forget about the usual challenge of pumping affinity into weapons for increased damage and just focus on pumping overall damage directly instead!
Armor Slots Skills
Death Stench Brain SDeath Stench Brain S ②ーー
Damascus MailDamascus Mail ①①ー
Rathalos Braces SRathalos Braces S ②ーー
Attack Boost Lv. 2
Anjanath Coil S Anjanath Coil S ②①①
Attack Boost Lv. 2
Golden HakamaGolden Hakama ①①ー
Talisman Skill Slugger Lv. 3
Decorations
Skills
Attack Boost Lv. 4 | Critical Boost Lv. 3
Protective Polish Lv. 3 | Slugger Lv. 3
Stun Resistance Lv. 3 | Speed Sharpening Lv. 3
Hunger Resistance Lv. 2 | Latent Power Lv. 1
Handicraft Lv. 1 | Tremor Resistance Lv. 1
Flinch Free Lv. 1
Build Merits Built around the Hi Ninja Sword, this build allows the Sword and Shield to reach a touch of Blue Sharpness by using Lv. 1 Handicraft but maintains it through Grinder and Protective Polish. Damage is improved through Critical and Attack Boost while the addition of Slugger drastically improve the Sword and Shield's KO potential through its various shield bash attacks. This set is also flexible in terms of utility. Aside from your static Brace Jewel to prevent flinches and trips, you still have enough slots for either maxed out Stun Resistance or Elemental Resistances.

Mind's Eye Bludgeoner

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Hi Ninja SwordHi Ninja Sword
Hi Ninja Sword Sword & Shield Sharpness
①①① 200 -
Affinity Element/Status
100%
-
Armor Slots Skills
Mizuha CapMizuha Cap ①ーー
Evade Window Lv. 2
Mind's Eye Lv. 2
Ballistics Lv. 2
Vaik Mail SVaik Mail S ③②①
No Skills
Rathalos Braces SRathalos Braces S ②ーー
Attack Boost Lv. 2
Anjanath Coil S Anjanath Coil S ②①①
Attack Boost Lv. 2
HunterHunter's Greaves S ②ーー
Talisman Skill Bludgeoner Lv. 1
with an additional ② slot
Decorations
Skills
Attack Boost Lv. 7 | Critical Boost Lv. 3
Bludgeoner Lv. 3 | Speed Sharpening Lv. 3
Hunger Resistance Lv. 3 | Mind's Eye Lv. 2
Ballistics Lv. 2 | Evade Window Lv. 2
Stun Resistance Lv. 1 | Flinch Free Lv. 1
Build Merits A mix up build from our first Hi Ninja Sword build. Instead of amping up its damage via an increase in Sharpness Level, we instead embrace the large green bar and combine it with Bludgeoner and Mind's Eye. While the damage numbers may be near identical, the QoL skill of Mind's Eye makes it easier to use against enemy monsters like the Basarios, Almudron (front leg), and other tough monster parts!

Master's Touch

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Flash in the NightFlash in the Night
Flash in the Night Sword & Shield Sharpness
②ーー 180 -
Affinity Element/Status
30%
-
Armor Slots Skills
Kaiser CrownKaiser Crown ①ーー
Vaik Mail SVaik Mail S ③②①
No Skills
Rathalos Braces SRathalos Braces S ②ーー
Attack Boost Lv. 2
Anjanath Coil S Anjanath Coil S ②①①
Attack Boost Lv. 2
HunterHunter's Greaves S ②ーー
Talisman Skill Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Decorations
Skills
Attack Boost Lv. 6 | Critical Eye Lv. 3
Critical Boost Lv. 3 | Weakness Exploit Lv. 3
Master's Touch Lv. 3 | Speed Sharpening Lv. 3
Stun Resistance Lv. 1 | Flinch Free Lv. 1
Build Merits Master's Touch prevents sharpness loss 80% of the time everytime you hit with a critical strike. By maxing out our affinity, we can maintain a quasi-permanent white sharpness value which will greatly amp up our damage throughout the entire hunt! Flash in the Night, when using it's Affinity Boost II ramp up skill, allows us to reach 101% total affinity on weak spots.

Endgame Build (Update 2.0): HR 8 to 40

Critical Slugger

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Flash in the NightFlash in the Night
Flash in the Night Sword & Shield Sharpness
②ーー 180 -
Affinity Element/Status
30%
-
Flash in the Night's great stats and white sharpness make it a great weapon to climb the early stages uncapped High Rank.
Armor Slots Skills
Zinogre Helm SZinogre Helm S ①ーー
Zinogre Mail SZinogre Mail S ①ーー
Anjanath Vambraces SAnjanath Vambraces S ①ーー
Attack Boost Lv. 2
Slugger Lv. 2
Golden Obi Golden Obi ①ーー
Golden HakamaGolden Hakama ①①ー
Talisman Skill Weakness Exploit Lv. 1
Decorations
Skills
Latent Power Lv. 3 | Weakness Exploit Lv. 3
Critical Boost Lv. 3 | Slugger Lv. 3
Speed Sharpening Lv. 3 | Stun Resistance Lv. 3
Attack Boost Lv. 2 | Heroics Lv. 1
Maximum Might Lv. 1
Build Merits Flash in the Night, when combined with Weakness Exploit and Latent Power, can easily reach 100% affinity. The damage is further amplified with Critical Boost while Slugger allows you to KO monsters more efficiently. This is an optimized damage dealing set build that can efficiently stun monsters as well!

High Rank Build: HR 6 and 7

Critical Build

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Flash in the NightFlash in the Night
Flash in the Night Sword & Shield Sharpness
②ーー 180 -
Affinity Element/Status
30%
-
Flash in the Night is a great rarity 6 weapon that has a white sharpness and 30% affinity. To top it off, it has a base attack stat of 180 — making it the perfect weapon to reach the very end of Hub 7★ Quests.
Armor Slots Skills
Zinogre Helm SZinogre Helm S ①ーー
Zinogre Mail SZinogre Mail S ①ーー
Anjanath Vambraces SAnjanath Vambraces S ①ーー
Attack Boost Lv. 2
Slugger Lv. 2
Golden Obi Golden Obi ①ーー
Golden HakamaGolden Hakama ①①ー
Skills
Attack Boost Lv. 4 | Critical Boost Lv. 3
Latent Power Lv. 2 | Weakness Exploit Lv. 2
Slugger Lv. 2 | Critical Draw Lv. 1
Build Merits This set build utilizes damage boosting skills like Attack Boost, Critical Boost, and Weakness Exploit. This build can easily reach 100% affinity whenever Latent Power is active. Lastly, Slugger is added to improve the Sword and Shield's KO potential during hunts.

High Rank Build: HR 4 and 5

Crit Starter

Weapon Slots ATK DEF
Dirty MarquisDirty Marquis
Dirty Marquis Sword & Shield Sharpness
①①ー 140 -
Affinity Element/Status
0%
Poison Image 34
Dirty Marquis is an excellent High Rank starter due to its decent stats and Poison Element.
Armor Slots Skills
Izuchi Helm SIzuchi Helm S ①①ー
Critical Eye Lv. 1
Izuchi Mail SIzuchi Mail S ①ーー
Kamura Braces SKamura Braces S ②ーー
Critical Eye Lv. 2
Heroics Lv. 1
Baggi Coil S Baggi Coil S ①ーー
Ingot Greaves SIngot Greaves S ①ーー
Skills
Critical Eye Lv. 7 | Attack Boost Lv. 4
Heroics Lv. 1 | Recovery Speed Lv. 1
Sleep Resistance Lv. 1
Build Merits This straightforward build that prioritizes affinity and attack, this is a great setup to start your High Rank adventures with.

Recommended Skills for Sword and Shield

Skills Effect
Critical Eye
★★★
Critical Eye is a near necessity for critical builds.
Critical Boost
★★★
Amplifies critical damage by 5%/10%/15% (based on level). A must have skill for any affinity build.
Weakness Exploit
★★★
Increases affinity by 10/30/50% when hitting enemy weakspots. Easier to max out than critical eye and gives higher affinity if used properly. Goes well together with Critical Boost.
Attack Boost
★★★
More damage is always welcome. It gains a percentage bonus at rank 4 which is a good level to always aim for.
Razor Sharp
★★
Chance to negate sharpness loss when attacking.
Slugger
★★
Makes it easier to stun monsters. It works for the Sword and Shield thanks to its various shield bash moves.
Handicraft
★★
Some endgame Sword and Shields tend to have a lot of room for improvement regarding their sharpness. With that in mind, consider using Handicraft for your builds!
Guard
Guard reduces stamina depletion which makes the SnS a really tanky weapon.
Speed Sharpening
For those crucial times in the middle of fights where you need to raise your sharpness. Less value due to the ability to die palamutes.
Flinch Free
Great for multiplayer. Never get flinched by ally attacks again!

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Comment

11 Mistake6 months

oops, my bad. Didn't see the weapon. It makes sense now

10 Mistake6 months

I think there's a mistake on the HR8-40 set where you used KO Jewel 2. When all the slots are level 1

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