Best Swords and Shields | Recommended Swords and Shields

This is a guide to Game8's recommended Swords and Shields in Monster Hunter World (MHW) and MHW Iceborne! Read on to find out which Swords and Shields we think are the best and our explanations as to why!

Best Sword and Shield: Monster Hunter World

Two weapons share the throne as the best Swords and Shields Pre-Iceborne Exansion. These are the Fatal Bite and Empress Edge Ruin:

Fatal Bite

Fatal Bite
	Rarity	Attack	Affinity	Elem.
	7	308	-20	Dragon 210
	Def.	Elderseal	Custom	Slots
	-	High	2 times	ーーー
Sharpness

Fatal Bite made it to the top with its high base attack of 308. It's attack was so high for Swords and Shields that even the others that could use Non-Elemental Boost were still inferior to the Fatal Bite in most matchups.

Empress Edge Ruin

Empress Edge "Ruin"
	Rarity	Attack	Affinity	Elem.
	8	280	0	Blast 120
	Def.	Elderseal	Custom	Slots
	-	-	1 time	②ーー
Weapon Skill	Hasten Recovery
Sharpness

The Empress Edge Ruin earned its place alongside the Fatal Bite with its amazing stats across the board. While having lower attack than the Fatal Bite, the Empress Edge Ruin compensates for this by having white sharpness and a default affinity rating.

Its blast element also ensures that this Sword and Shield is effective in almost all hunts and even outperform the Fatal Bite in some matchups.

Best Sword and Shield: MHW Iceborne

True Fatalis Sword
	Rarity	Attack	Affinity	Elem.
	12	490	-30	Dragon 120
	Def.	Elderseal	Custom	Slots
	-	High	-	④④ー
Sharpness

The True Fatalis Sword arrived with the Final Free Update for MHW: Iceborne and immediately soared to the top as the best Sword and Shield in Monster Hunter World.

Hunters who could build around it with the right skills and augments will gain access to a all-purpose Sword and Shield that can hunt any monster regardless of its elemental weaknesses.

Monster Hunter World (MHW) Related Guides

Melee Weapons
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
	Best Insect Glaive for Iceborne

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