Monster Hunter Wilds

Best Switch Axe Builds for Low Rank

Monster Hunter Wilds Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: July 21, 2025 09:37 PM

These are the best Low Rank Switch Axe builds in Monster Hunter Wilds. Learn about all the builds in the early game, tips for building at the beginning, and the best Skills and Armor pieces to use with the Switch Axe while in Low Rank.

List of Contents

Builds Progression (Low Rank)
Build for HR 3 to HR 5
Build for HR 1 to HR 3
Related Guides

Switch Axe Builds Progression (Low Rank)

Low Rank	Build Name
HR6 - HR8	WEX Flayer Switch Axe Build
HR3 - HR5	Partbreaker Evade Switch Axe Build
HR1 - HR4	Starter Switch Axe Build

Low Rank Build (HR 6 to HR 8)

WEX Flayer Switch Axe Build

Best Weapon

Weapon	Rarity	ATK	DEF
G. Veldian Securis I	4	595 (170)	0
	Slots	Element	Affinity
	①①ー	120	-10%
Skills	Focus Lv. 2
Phial	Power Phial

For the final Low Rank build, we suggest going for the G. Veldian Securis I, Guardian Arkveld's Switch Axe! It has innate Power Phial and access to Focus Lv. 2 so your gauges charge faster. It also has 2 slots so you can slot in more weapon skills, in this case 2 Quickswitch Jewel [1]'s!

Weapon	Rarity	ATK	DEF
Nu Zhangyu I	4	595 (170)	0
	Slots	Element	Affinity
	①ーー	120	-15%
Skills	Rapid Morph Lv. 2
Phial	Power Phial

The previous Switch Axe, the Nu Zhangyu I, is also a viable replacement here. It has access to Rapid Morph 2 by default with 1 slot, that you can use to slot in either a Focus Jewel [1] or an Enhancer Jewel [1] decoration.

Weapon	Rarity	ATK	DEF
Iron Accelerator II	4	560 (160)	0
	Slots	Element	Affinity
	①ーー	None	0%
Skills	Rapid Morph Lv. 2
Phial	Poison Phial 200

Great alternative that does not have negative affinity. It has access to Rapid Morph Level 2 as well, but is using a Poison Phial. If you're using this weapon, we suggest slotting in comfort options like Handicraft Jewel [1] or Razor Sharp Jewel [1].

Switch Axe Armor Loadout

Armor	Slots	Skills
G. Arkveld Helm	ーー	Flayer Lv. 1
G. Arkveld Mail	ーーー	Flayer Lv. 1 Blight Resistance Lv. 1
G. Rathalos Vambraces	ーー	Weakness Exploit Lv. 1
Balahara Coil	ーーー	Evade Extender Lv. 1
G. Rathalos Greaves	ーー	Weakness Exploit Lv. 1
Charm	Leaping Charm I
Decorations List	Weapon Decorations: Quickswitch Jewel【1】 x2 Armor Decorations: Shockproof Jewel【1】 x1 Physique Jewel【1】 x2

Skill Summary

Build Skill List
Rapid Morph	2	Focus	2
Weakness Exploit	2	Flayer	2
Evade Extender	2	Constitution	2
Blight Resistance	1	Shock Absorber	1
Group / Set Skills
Decimator I	Scorcher I
Wylk Burst	ー

The build focuses on getting two of the best skills for the Switch Axe: Focus and Rapid Morph. This is mostly possible because G. Rathalos' weapon has innate Focus Lv. 2 and has two slots allowing two Quickswitch Jewel [1]'s to be slotted in.

The Balahara Greaves was kept to maintain access to another level of Evade Extender, but it is a pretty early game. Make sure to upgrade its defenses using armor spheres!

Group skills from G. Rathalos and G. Arkveld also provides Scorcher and Decimator which bolsters both your damage and survivability. Evade Extender was chosen as the talisman mostly because it can be upgraded in the future for farther evades!

Best Secondary Weapons

Weapon & Type	Explanation
Bone Shooter III (Heavy Bowgun)	•　A strong Heavy Bowgun with access to Level 2 Spread and Cluster Ammo, as well as Flaming Ammo. •　Has Guard 2 and Attack Boost 1, giving you both defensive and offensive capabilities. •　Has access to Demon Ammo for self-buffing.

Low Rank Build (HR 3 to HR 5)