Long Sword Weapon Guide and New Moves

The Long Sword is a fluid weapon that chains together combos and counterattacks in Monster Hunter Wilds. Find out what the new moves for the Long Sword are, how to use it, and what its controls are in this guide!

New Long Sword Moves

Spirit Charge

Action	Button
Charge, then Release for Spirit Roundslash

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Long Sword can now perform the Spirit Charge action by pressing and holding R2. If held down for the entire animation, the hunter will flash, indicating that the R2 button may now be let go.

If fully charged, the hunter will then perform a Spirit Roundslash, increasing the Spirit Gauge's charge level by one stage. This makes it a powerful tool for quickly charging the Spirit Gauge.

Spirit Release Slash

Action	Button
Spirit Thrust ↓ Spirit Helm Breaker ↓ Spirit Release Slash	+ ↓ + ↓

The Spirit Release Slash is another new move for the Long Sword, and can only be performed after a Spirit Helm Breaker. Pressing R2 after the previously mentioned move will execute the Spirit Release Slash.

The attack does a lot of damage, and additionally grants the hunter super armor while it is being performed.

How to Use the Long Sword

Disclaimer: The guide presented here includes info from previous games in the series.

Long Sword Gameplay Tips
Charge the Spirit Gauge Use Counters to Charge the Gauge Use Spirit Thrust and Helm Breaker Use the Long Sword's Sheathe Combos

Charge the Spirit Gauge

The Long Sword makes use of the Spirit Gauge to amplify its damage, as well as perform stronger attacks. It has three stages: White, then Yellow, then Red.

Landing attacks like the Spirit Roundslash or the Iai Spirit Slash will fill up the gauge, allowing access to more of the weapon's kit.

Use Counters to Charge the Gauge

Making use of the Foresight Slash and Spirit Roundslash / Foresight Whirl Slash can quickly fill up the Spirit Gauge.

The former attack costs some of the Gauge to perform, but doing so successfully refills a lot more, and allows hunters to do the latter attack as a follow-up for more Spirit Gauge charging.

Use Spirit Thrust and Helm Breaker

Action	Button
Spirit Thrust → Spirit Helm Breaker	When the Spirit Gauge is White or Higher, + → +
Spirit Thrust ↓ Spirit Helm Breaker ↓ Spirit Release Slash	+ ↓ + ↓

The Long Sword has access to a powerful attack through the Spirit Helm Breaker. Performing it costs one whole level of the Spirit Gauge, meaning that players need to constantly refill the gauge to use the attack often.

If the gauge is Red, players can follow the Helm Breaker up with another powerful attack, the newly added Spirit Release Slash.

Use the Long Sword's Sheathe Combos

Some attacks in the Long Sword's kit have a large amount of delay after being performed, so it is recommended to follow these attacks up with the Special Sheathe to recover faster.

The Special Sheathe can then be succeeded by the Iai Slash or Iai Spirit Slash, allowing for continued combos after big attacks.

Long Sword Controls and Moves

Basic Controls for Controller

Action	Button
Regular Attack
Thrust Attack
Downward Slash	+

Actions that Use the Spirit Gauge

Action	Button
Spirit Slash
Directional Spirit Slash	+
Spirit Thrust	+
Spirit Thrust → Spirit Helm Breaker	When the Spirit Gauge is White or Higher, + → +
Spirit Thrust → Spirit Helm Breaker → Spirit Release Slash	When the Spirit Gauge is Red + → + →

Other Advanced Actions

Action	Button
Foresight Slash ↓ Foresight Whirl Slash	+ ↓ After a successful Foresight Slash,
Special Sheathe	After attacking, +
Iai Slash	After Special Sheathe,
Iai Spirit Slash	After Special Sheathe,

Spirit Gauge Explained

Actions that Increase Spirit Gauge Level
Action	Button
Foresight Slash ↓ Foresight Whirl Slash	+ ↓ After a successful Foresight Slash,
Spirit Blade Slash I → II → III → Spirit Roundslash	, , ,
Charge, then Release for Spirit Roundslash
Special Sheathe → Iai Spirit Slash	After attacking, + →

The Spirit Gauge is a Long Sword mechanic indicated by a color-changing bar that fills up as you land the above attacks and combos.

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

List of All Weapons and Weapon Types

All Weapon Guides

All Individual Weapon Guides
Great Sword	Long Sword	Sword & Shield
Dual Blades	Hammer	Hunting Horn
Lance	Gunlance	Switch Axe
Charge Blade	Insect Glaive	Light Bowgun
Heavy Bowgun	Bow	-