Best Skills for Long Swords

This is a guide about the best skills for Long Swords. Read on to know which skills to look out for when making a Long Sword build and why.

Offensive Skills

Affinity Skills

Long Swords are damage-dealing juggernauts that can maintain the offensive better than any other weapon. Any of these Affinity skills will synergize perfectly with the Long Sword's move set and playstyles.

Agitator

The introduction of the Clutch Claw made the Agitator Skill a community staple when making builds. When active, Agitator grants hunters +20 attack and affinity by 10% at level five. (Level six and seven are unlocked via the Agitator Secret Skill.)

The Clutch Claw, specifically its Flinch Shot Attack, gave hunters the ability to enrage the monster whenever the opportunity presents itself. This gave hunters a way to maintain their Agitator's up-time.

Partbreaker

The Long Sword excels at breaking monster parts due to its long reach and wide slashes. Partbreaker increases part damage by 30% at level three and is worth considering when making a build.

Partbreaker's damage increase does NOT reflect in floating damage numbers.

Attack Boost

Attack Boost may be outperformed by the other skills in this list, but it is always worthy of consideration when met with an abundance of vacant slots.

Defensive Skills

Divine Blessing

The Long Sword doesn't need much in terms of defensive skills because of its counteractive and evasive moveset. However, hunters who prefer having an extra layer of protection may consider adding Divine Blessing into their builds.

Divine Blessing offers protection against a monster's attack. Reducing the damage taken from the attack that triggered it by 50% at level three. Levels four and five are unlocked via the Divine Blessing Secret.

Vitality

It never hurts to pump up one's HP! Vitality increases a hunter's Health by 50 at level three, making it a solid addition to any build - especially early on in the game.

Earplugs

Tired of getting roared out of your Spirit Helm Breaker? Earplugs offer completely protection against monster roars at level five.

Utility Skills

Quick Sheath

Hunters who love using the Long Sword's Iai Stance may find Quick Sheath useful. This skill greatly improves sheathing times at level three.

Speed Sharpening

Being the offensive juggernauts that they are, Long Swords tend to lose sharpness fast. Speed Sharpening removes three cycles of the sharpening animation at level three, making it a great addition to Long Sword builds.

Protective Polish

Protective Polish coats the weapon with a protective layer after sharpening, preventing sharpness loss for a certain amount of time. This is another solution to the Long Sword's rapid loss sharpness.

Mind's Eye/Ballistics

Monsters with thick hides can deflect normal long sword slashes. Hunters who find this an issue may consider using Mind's Eye/Ballistics.

Related Monster Hunter (MHW) Guides

All Skills

List of All Skills

Best Skills for Each Weapon

Recommendations for Other Weapons
Charge Blade	Dual Blades	Long Sword	Sword & Shield
Switch Axe	Insect Glaive	Hunting Horn	Great Sword
Lance	Gunlance	Hammer	Bow
Heavy Bowgun		Light Bowgun

Weapon Related Guides

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	Overall Best List	Best Skills
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	Best Great Sword for Each Element
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	Best Dual Blades for Each Element
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	Best Hammer for Each Element
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	Best Hunting Horn for Each Element
	Best Hunting Horn for Iceborne
	Hunting Horn Notes and Effects
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	Best Lance for Each Element
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Kinsects
Kinsects	Kinsect Tree and Complete Kinsect List	Best and Recommended Kinsects

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	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Bow for Each Element
Light Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
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Heavy Bowguns	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Heavy Bowgun for Each Element