Monster Hunter Wilds

Switch Axe Weapon Guide and New Moves

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Switch Axe Weapon Guide and New Moves Monster Hunter Wilds

The Switch Axe is a versatile weapon that swaps between Axe and Sword Mode in Monster Hunter Wilds. Learn all the new moves for the Switch Axe, how to use it, as well as its controls.

New Switch Axe Moves

Unbridled Slash and Full Release Slash

Action Button
Unbridled Slash
Full Release Slash
PS4 - R2 Button+PS4 - Triangle Button +PS4 - Circle Button
(During Amped State)
PS4 - R2 Button(Hold)+PS4 - Triangle Button +PS4 - Circle Button
(During Amped State)

The Unbridled Slash and Full Release Slash are new moves that execute a series of powerful sword swings, but are only available when both in Sword Mode and the Amped State.

How to Use the Switch Axe

Switch Axe Gameplay Tips




Gauge and Indicators Explained

Switch Axe Gauges

Gauge Name Explanation
Switch Gauge Can morph into Sword Mode once it reaches 30%. Attacks in this form will consume the gauge.
Amp Gauge + Amped State Gets filled when you land attacks in Sword Mode. Enter the Amped State once the Amp Gauge is full.

The Switch Axe comes a three-segment indicator to manage while fighting with it. The Switch Gauge (1) charges when landing attacks in Axe Mode, or when reloading, and is consumed when attacking in Sword Mode.

The Amp Gauge (2) fills up when landing attacks in Sword Mode. Filling the Amp Gauge causes Hunters to enter the Amped Stat, adding phial explosions to their Sword Mode attacks and enabling new moves.

Activate Power Axe Mode to Boost Axe Attacks

Switch Axe Power Axe Mode Indicator

The last segment is the Power Axe Mode (3) indicator. It shows that Axe Mode currently deals more damage and charges the Switch Gauge faster. Power Axe Mode activates with certain attacks, like the Heavy Slam.

Use Axe Mode for Long-Ranged Attacks

The weapon's Axe Mode boasts greater reach with its sweeping attacks. This is perfect for hitting enemies with tall bodies, or hard to hit body parts that you need to aim for, like tails.

Axe Mode is also necessary to enable the more close-range, but stronger and faster Sword Mode. Be sure to swap back to Axe Mode when the Switch Gauge is low to refill it for more Sword Mode uptime.

Use Sword Mode for Higher Damage and Mobility

Sword Mode's attacks decrease the Switch Gauge on-hit, but are faster and do more damage. It performs better than Axe Mode against faster enemies, and charges the Amp Gauge that unlocks the weapon's true power.

Filling the Amp Gauge grants access to stronger moves, like the Zero Sum Discharge, and entering the Amped State enables the Full Release Slash. Sword attacks in the Amped State also cause phial explosions on-hit.

Utilize Morph Slash for Fluid Combat

Using Morph Slash in combos is key to having a fluid combat experience while using the Switch Axe. Morph Slash allows for a quick transition between modes, while also doing damage and filling up the weapon's gauges.

Build Around Phial Types and Effects

Phial Type Phial Effects
Power Phial Does Raw Damage
Element Phial Does Elemental Damage
Status Effect Phial Inflicts Status Buildup

Switch Axes come with different Phial types that affect the explosions that appear during Amped State attacks. Using a weapon with the right phial to target a monster's weakness can give hunters the upper hand in the fight.

Switch Axe Controls

Axe Mode Action and Inputs

Action PC PS5 Xbox
Overhead Slash Mouse Left Button PS4 - Triangle Button XBOX - Y Button
Wild Swing
Mouse Right Button (Tap)

Mouse Left Button
PS4 - Circle Button (Tap)

PS4 - Triangle Button
XBOX - B Button (Tap)

XBOX - Y Button
Heavy Slam
Offset Rising Slash
Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button
Follow-up Heavy Slam
Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
(On a Perfect Offset)
PS4 - Triangle Button or PS4 - Circle Button
(On a Perfect Offset)
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button
(On a Perfect Offset)
Follow-up Morph Slam R Button (On a Perfect Offset) PS4 - R2 Button (On a Perfect Offset) XBOX - Right Trigger (On a Perfect Offset)
Fade Slash
S Button + Mouse Right Button
PS4 -  Left Stick + PS4 - Circle Button
XBOX - Left Stick + XBOX - B Button
Reload / Morph
R Button
(Reload)
PS4 - R2 Button
(Reload)
XBOX - Right Trigger
(Reload)
Focus Mode: Morph Combination
Monster Hunter Wilds - Mouse 4 Input + Shift
R Button
PS4 -  L2 + PS4 - R1
PS4 - R2
XBOX - Left Trigger + XBOX - Right Bumper
XBOX - Right Trigger
Elemental Discharge Finisher

Sword Mode Action and Inputs

Action PC PS5 Xbox
Overhead Slash Mouse Left Button PS4 - Triangle Button XBOX - Y Button
Double Slash Mouse Right Button PS4 - Circle Button XBOX - B Button
Counter Rising Slash
R Button+Mouse Left Button

Mouse Right Button (On a Successful Counter)
PS4 - R2 Button+PS4 - Triangle Button

PS4 - Circle Button (On a Successful Counter)
XBOX - Right Trigger+XBOX - Y Button

XBOX - B Button (On a Successful Counter)
Heavenward Flurry
Element Discharge
Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button

Mouse Left Button (Tap)
PS4 - Triangle Button +PS4 - Circle Button

PS4 - Triangle Button (Tap)
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button

XBOX - Y Button (Tap)
Element Discharge Finisher
Zero Sum Discharge
Mouse Left Button (Hold) + Mouse Right Button (Hold)

Mouse Left Button (Tap)
PS4 - Triangle Button (Hold) +PS4 - Circle Button (Hold)

PS4 - Triangle Button (Tap)
XBOX - Y Button (Hold) + XBOX - B Button (Hold)

XBOX - Y Button (Tap)
Zero Sum Discharge Finisher
Unbridled Slash
R Button + Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
PS4 - R2 Button + PS4 - Triangle Button +PS4 - Circle Button
XBOX - Right Trigger + XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button
Full Release Slash
R Button (Hold) + Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
PS4 - R2 Button (Hold) + PS4 - Triangle Button +PS4 - Circle Button
XBOX - Right Trigger (Hold) + XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button

Recommended Switch Axe Combos

List of Recommended Combos




Axe Mode Basic Combo

Platform Combo Input
PC
Mouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Left Button
PS5
PS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle Button
Xbox
XBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y Button

This is the simplest Axe Mode combo that can be used against monsters while there is no opening for more extended attacks. Be sure to use Fade Slash or a dodge to reposition according to the situation.

Axe Mode Wild Swing Gauge Combo

Platform Combo Input
PC
Repeatedly Tap Mouse Right ButtonMouse Left Button
PS5
Repeatedly Tap PS4 - Circle ButtonPS4 - Triangle Button
Xbox
Repeatedly Tap XBOX - B Button + XBOX - Y Button

For longer openings, attacking with Axe Mode's Wild Swing and finishing with a Heavy Slam is a good way to generate Switch Gauge charge.

Axe Mode Morph Combo

Platform Combo Input
PC
Mouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Right Button
PS5
PS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Circle Button
Xbox
XBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - B Button

Use this combo when the Switch Gauge is sufficiently full to quickly transform into Sword Mode. Note that the Morph Slash can be followed-up with further Sword Mode attacks, should opportunities present themselves.

Sword Mode Basic Combo

Platform Combo Input
PC
Mouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Right Button
PS5
PS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Circle Button
Xbox
XBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - B Button

This is a flexible Sword Mode combo that can be used for brief attacks. Players can opt not to commit to the Circle input at the end, and can even execute an earlier Circle button press to get quicker ending attacks for the string.

Using Morph Slash during the combo string to swap back to Axe Mode is also recommended, if players find that the Switch Gauge is running low.

Sword Mode Finisher Combo

Platform Combo Input
PC
Mouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Right ButtonMouse Right ButtonMouse Left Button+Mouse Right Button → Repeatedly Tap Mouse Left Button
PS5
PS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Circle ButtonPS4 - Circle ButtonPS4 - Triangle Button+PS4 - Circle Button → Repeatedly Tap PS4 - Triangle Button
Xbox
XBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - B ButtonXBOX - B ButtonXBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button → Repeatedly Tap XBOX - Y Button

This is one of the highest damaging strings that the Switch Axe has access to, at the cost of using up a lot of the Switch Gauge. Use this attack when the monster is immobilized to inflict high damage with Zero Sum Discharge.

Alternative Full Release Slash Finisher Combo

Platform Combo Input
PC
Mouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Left ButtonMouse Right ButtonMouse Right ButtonMouse Left Button +Mouse Right ButtonR Button (Hold) + Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
PS5
PS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Triangle ButtonPS4 - Circle ButtonPS4 - Circle ButtonPS4 - Triangle Button+PS4 - Circle ButtonPS4 - R2 Button(Hold)+PS4 - Triangle Button +PS4 - Circle Button
Xbox
XBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - Y ButtonXBOX - B ButtonXBOX - B ButtonXBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B ButtonXBOX - Right Trigger (Hold)+ XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button

Players can also opt to use the Full Release Slash as another strong final attack in the combo. It does not require multiple taps to charge, and instead has players hold down the required buttons as an input.

The attack also has less recovery time after executing, allowing players to quickly move to their next course of action after unleashing it.

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

Monster Hunter Wilds - Weapons

All Weapons and Guides

All Weapon Guides

All Weapon Types
Great SwordGreat Sword Long SwordLong Sword Sword & ShieldSword & Shield
Dual BladesDual Blades HammerHammer Hunting HornHunting Horn
LanceLance GunlanceGunlance Switch AxeSwitch Axe
Charge BladeCharge Blade Insect GlaiveInsect Glaive Light BowgunLight Bowgun
Heavy BowgunHeavy Bowgun BowBow

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