Best Skills for Dual Blades

This is a guide about the best skills for Dual Blades. Read on to know which skills to look out for when making Dual Blades builds and why.

Offensive Skills

Critical Eye, Critical Boost, Weakness Exploit, Critical Draw

Dual Blades are great exploiters of a monster's weak spots, making these Affinity Skills a perfect compliment to its playstyle.

Critical Draw, in particular, increases the affinity of Draw Attacks by 100% at level three. This is useful for hunters who utilize the full Velkhana Divinity set bonus.

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.

Elemental Attack Skills

Dual Blades are excellent in abusing a monster's elemental weaknesses. Take their damage to the next level by investing in these Elemental Attack Skills!

Partbreaker

Dual Blades can deal high damage to weak spots in an incredibly short amount of time.

Partbreaker increases Part Damage by 30% at level three and is definitely worth considering when making Dual Blades builds.

Defensive Skills

Evade Window, Evade Extender

Dual Blades are considered to be the most elusive of all close-range weapons. Compliment its evasive playstyle by investing in these Evasive skills!

Evade Window massively increases invulnerability frames at level five while Evade Extender greatly extends the distance covered at level three when evading.

It is worth mentioning that these skills also enhance the evasive capabilities of the Dual Blade's slide attacks and dashes during Demon Mode.

Divine Blessing

Hunters who are looking for an extra layer of protection may consider adding Divine Blessing to their builds.

Divine Blessing, when triggered, reduces damage taken by 50% at level three from the attack that triggered it. Levels four and five are unlocked via the Divine Blessing Secret Skill.

Health Boost

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

Utility Skills

Constitution

Dual Blades heavily rely on stamina to deal damage and get out of harm's way.

Constitution reduces FIXED stamina depletion by 50% at level five. This means that moves such as evading, clutch claw attacks, and relocating while mounted will spend 50% less stamina when performed.

Marathon Runner

Marathon Runner reduces CONTINUOUS stamina depletion by 50% at level three.

This covers moves such as sprinting, hanging on with a clutch claw, and bracing while mounted. The biggest beneficiary of this skill, however, is definitely the Dual Blades' Demon Mode ability.

Demon Mode is a special Dual Blades stance that enhances its attacks but continously reduces stamina as long as its active. Hunters who utilize Marathon Runner can stay in fights longer while in Demon Mode before having to back off to regenerate stamina.

Protective Polish

The Dual Blades' incredible speed means it is prone to losing sharpness rapidly as well.

Protective Polish coats the weapon with a protective layer after sharpening, preventing sharpness loss for a certain amount of time.

Speed Sharpening

Another solution to sharpness issues, Speed Sharpening removes three cycles of the sharpening animation at level three and is definitely worthy of consideration when making Dual Blades builds.

Related Monster Hunter World (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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Great Swords	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Great Sword for Each Element
	Best Great Sword for Iceborne
Long Swords	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Long Sword for Each Element
	Best Long Sword for Iceborne
Swords and Shields	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Sword and Shield for Each Element
	Best Sword and Shield for Iceborne
Dual Blades	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Dual Blades for Each Element
	Best Dual Blades for Iceborne
Hammers	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Hammer for Each Element
	Best Hammers for Iceborne
Hunting Horns	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Hunting Horn for Each Element
	Best Hunting Horn for Iceborne
	Hunting Horn Notes and Effects
Lances	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Lance for Each Element
	Best Lance for Iceborne
Gunlances	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Gunlance for Each Element
	Best Gunlance for Iceborne
Switch Axe	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Switch Axe for Each Element
	Best Switch Axe for Iceborne
Charge Blade	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Charge Blade for Each Element
	Best Charge Blades for Iceborne
Insect Glaive	Trees & Full List	How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Insect Glaive for Each Element
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Kinsects
Kinsects	Kinsect Tree and Complete Kinsect List	Best and Recommended Kinsects

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