Monster Hunter World (MHW)

Best Sword and Shield Builds for Iceborne 2023-2024

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Want to learn about the best Sword and Shield Builds for Monster Hunter World (MHW) Iceborne? Look no further than our best endgame builds for Sword and Shield! This build is made on Iceborne's last patch and is a build that is centered around Iceborne's Meta Endgame builds.

Sword and Shield Endgame Meta Build

Full Fatalis Build

Weapon Decorations
True Fatalis Sword Challenger Jewel+ 4 x1
Evasion Jewel+ 4 x1
Augment: Health Regen/Affinity
Armor Decorations
Head Dragonhead Beta + Critical/Maintenance Jewel 4 x3
Armor Dragonhide Beta + Handicraft/Maintenance Jewel 4 x2
Attack Jewel+ 4 x1
Greaves Dragonclaws Beta + Expert Jewel+ 4 x2
Attack Jewel+ 4 x1
Waist Dragonbarbs Alpha + Attack Jewel+ 4 x2
Handicraft Jewel 3 x1
Shaver Jewel 3 x1
Legs Rimeguard Greaves Gamma + Attack Jewel 1 x1
Handicraft Jewel+ 4 x1
Charm Challenger Charm V None

Full Fatalis Skills

Skills
Critical Eye 7 Agitator 7
Attack Boost 7 Handicraft 5
Tool Specialist 5 Peak Performance 3
Stun Resist 3 Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3 Evade Window 3
Quick Sheathe 2 Clutch Claw Boost
Fatalis Legend 4
hunter guide A sample endgame build utilizing Peak Performance, Critical Eye, and Agitator for increased damage and Affinity. The usual Critical Boost and Weakness Exploit are there to further increase critical hit damage. Other QoL skills like Clutch Claw Boost, Evade Window, and Tool Specialist are also mixed in to further improve performance.

Sword and Shield Meta Builds

Velkhana Armor Build

Velkhana Armor Build Blast Sword and Shield Build
Awakened Blast Build Paralysis Sword and Shield Awakened Build
Weapon Decorations
True Fatalis Sword Attack Jewel+ 4 x2
---
Armor Decorations
Head Rimeguard Helm Gamma + Handicraft Jewel+ 4 x1
Tenderizer/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Armor Rimeguard Mail Gamma + Brace/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces Rimeguard Vambraces Gamma + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
x1
Waist Dragonbarbs Alpha + Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Critical Jewel 2 x2
Legs Rimeguard Greaves Gamma + Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Charm Challenger Charm V None

Velkhana Armor Build Skill List

Skills
Critical Eye 7 Attack Boost 7
Ice Attack 6 Agitator 5
Health Boost 3 Recovery Up 3
Critical Draw 3 Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3 Peak Performance 3
Coalescence 3 Handicraft 2
Quick Sheath 2 Resuscitate 1
Flinch Free 1 Clutch Claw Boost 1
Velkhana Divinity 4
hunter guide Sheath your weapon, focus on healing but don't neglect to use your charged attacks for Frostcraft's bonus damage! Elemental weapons are great for a Velkhana set due to the true critical element bonus too!

Blast Sword and Shield Build

Velkhana Armor Build Blast Sword and Shield Build
Awakened Blast Build Paralysis Sword and Shield Awakened Build
Weapon Decorations
Lightbreak Sword Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Mind's Eye Jewel 2 x1
Armor Decorations
Head Kaiser Crown Beta + Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Armor Brachydium Mail Beta + Attack Jewel+ 4 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces Kaiser Vambraces Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Brace Jewel 3 x1
Waist Kaiser Coil Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Legs Brachydium Greaves Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x2
Charm Challenger Charm V None

Blast Sword and Shield Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7 Critical Eye 7
Agitator 7 Health Boost 3
Critical Boost 3 Weakness Exploit 3
Blast Attack 2 Heat Guard 1
Latent Power 1 Flinch Free 1
Mind's Eye/Ballistics 1 Teostra Technique 3
Brachydios Will 2
hunter guide When talking about Blast Weapons, the Raging Brachydios weapon tree is always there for you. Featuring a passive 65% affinity without attacking weak spots, this build sports a lot of raw damage AND blast damage allowing you to demolish monsters with ease.

Awakened Blast Build

Velkhana Armor Build Blast Sword and Shield Build
Awakened Blast Build Paralysis Sword and Shield Awakened Build
Weapon Decorations
Safi's Shatterfang Attack Jewel+ 4 x1
---
Armor Decorations
Head Brachydium Helm Beta + Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Armor Brachydium Mail Beta + Attack Jewel+ 4 x1
Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Vambraces Kaiser Vambraces Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Brace Jewel 3 x1
Waist Kaiser Coil Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Evasion Jewel 2 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Legs Garuga Greaves Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Evasion Jewel 2 x1
Evasion Jewel 2 x1
Charm Challenger Charm V None
Awakened Ability
Teostra Essence Sharpness Increase VI Attack Increase V x3

Awakened Blast Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7 Agitator 7
Critical Eye 6 Health Boost 3
Critical Boost 3 Weakness Exploit 3
Evade Window 3 Blast Attack 2
Flinch Free 1 Heat Guard 1
Teostra Technique Brachydios Will
hunter guide An alternative and better build to the previous blast weapon but sports a rarer weapon. The Safi blast weapon can dish out more damage than the Lightbreak Sword when it's fully awakened. Add your damage-boosting skills and you become a huge source of DPS for your team.

Paralysis Sword and Shield Awakened Build

Velkhana Armor Build Blast Sword and Shield Build
Awakened Blast Build Paralysis Sword and Shield Awakened Build
Weapon Decorations
Safi's Bindfang Para Jewel+ 4 x1
---
Armor Decorations
Head Safi Crested Crown Beta + Expert Jewel+ 4 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Armor Kaiser Mail Beta + Critical/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x2
Vambraces Safi Crested Chest Beta + Brace/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Paralyzer Jewel 1 x2
Waist Kaiser Coil Beta + Tenderizer/Vitality Jewel 4 x1
Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Legs Safi Crested Boots Beta + Attack Jewel+ 4 x1
Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Resistor Jewel 1 x1
Charm Attack Charm V None
Awakened Ability
Teostra Essence Status Effect Up VI Status Effect V

Paralysis Sword and Shield Awakened Build Skill List

Skills
Attack Boost 7 Critical Eye 7
Paralysis Attack 4 Health Boost 3
Critical Boost 3 Weakness Exploit 3
Blight Resistance 3 Blast Attack 2
Latent Power 1 Evade Window 1
Flinch Free 1 Teostra Technique
Safi'jiiva Seal
hunter guide A paralysis build featuring the Safi + Teostra set build. increased affinity and status up from the Safi set makes the paralysis tick in faster resulting in more DPS. Just make sure to always be on the offensive to regain your health back!

Sword and Shield Progression Build

Early Iceborne Progression Build Mid-Late Iceborne Build MHW Related Links

Starter Iceborne Build

Weapon Decorations
Defender Warhatchet V
Armor Decorations
Head Guild Cross Circlet Beta Steadfast Jewel 1 x3
Armor Rathalos Mail Beta Protection Jewel 1 x1
Greaves Kushala Grip Beta Evasion Jewel 2 x1
Waist Empress Coil Beta Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Vitality Jewel 1 x1
Legs Death Stench Heels Beta Vitality Jewel 1 x2
Charm Handicraft Charm III None

Starter Iceborne Skill List

Skills
Health Boost 3 Divine Blessing 3
Stun Resist 3 Handicraft 5
Weakness Exploit 3 Evade Window 2
Tool Specialist 2
hunter guide A defensive skillset that utilizes weakness exploit and the blast ailment from the Defender series to deal damage to monsters. Its skills are enough to make you survive against the hard-hitting monsters in Iceborne's quests.

Early Iceborne Progression Build

Weapon Decorations
Gnashing Flammensucher + ---
---
Armor Decorations
Head Anja Helm Alpha + Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Armor Bone Mail Alpha + Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Greaves Alloy Vambraces Alpha + Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Waist Lumu Coil Alpha + Vitality Jewel 1 x2
Legs Alloy Greaves Alpha + Handicraft Jewel 3 x1
Charm Handicraft Charm III None

Early Iceborne Skill List

Skills
Fire Attack 2 Fire Resist 1
Attack Boost 2 Health Boost 3
Defense Boost 2 Speed Sharpening 3
Divine Blessing 2 Windproof 2
Handicraft 4 Weakness Exploit 3
hunter guide Sword and shield consume a lot of sharpness quickly so this build focused on having speed sharpening and handicraft to avoid losing DPS in the middle of the fight. It also comes with essential defensive skills to lessen the risks of battle.

Mid-Late Iceborne Progression Build

Weapon Decorations
Chrome Knight Sword III Vitality Jewel 1 x2
---
Armor Decorations
Head Nargacuga Helm Alpha + Attack Jewel 1 x2
Armor Nargacuga Mail Beta + Elementless Jewel 2 x1
Greaves Damascus Vambraces Alpha + Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Waist Odogaron Coil Alpha + Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Legs Nargacuga Greaves Alpha + Attack Jewel 1 x2
Charm Handicraft Charm III None

Mid-Late Iceborne Progression Build Skill List

Skills
Critical Eye 3 Peak Performance 3
Evade Window 3 Health Boost 3
Attack Boost 4 Weakness Exploit 2
Non-Elemental Boost Handicraft 3
hunter guide A decent damage dealer build that focuses on the Sword and Shield's mobility to keep Peak Performance on. It also utilizes the Nargacuga set's secret to avoid Sharpness loss hence the dropping of Speed Sharpening skill.

Sword and Shield Best Weapons and Skills

Recommended Weapons for Sword and Shield

Weapon
True Fatalis Sword
[Atk] 490 | [Affinity] -30%
・Highest Raw Damage Sword and Shield
・Fatalis Armor Set can prolong sharpness through the True Razorsharp armor bonus skill
Alatreon Star
[Atk] 420 | [Affinity] 0%
・Extremely High Dragon element damage
・ Best weapon against enemies weak to Dragon element
Lightbreak Sword
[Atk] 420 | [Affinity] 0%
・High Power with decent purple sharpness
・ Has a high blast attribute
・Easy to Build
Nyx Tabar II
[Atk] 336 | [Affinity] 0%
・Has a high sleep damage
Lunatic Rose
[Atk] 406 | [Affinity] 10%
・Balanced Sword and Shield
・ Has Poison Damage

Recommended Skills for Sword and Shield

Skill Explanation
Health Boost
( ★★★ )
・Increase your vitality and greatly increases your survival rate. Essential for beginners who get hit a lot.
Teostra's Technique
( ★★★ )
・Reduces the sharpness depletion of your weapon.
Weakness Exploit
( ★★★ )
・Increases your affinity towards monster weak parts.
Critical Boost
( ★★★ )
・Boosts the damage of your critical attacks.
Clutch Claw Boost
( ★★★ )
・Allows the Sword and Shield to wound a specific part with a single clutch attack.
Critical Eye
( ★★★ )
・Increases your the base affinity of your weapon.
Velkhana Divinity
(★★ )
・Increases the elemental damage of your weapon on critical hits when 2 pieces are worn and increases your weapon's damage after being drawn when 4 pieces are worn.
Agitator
( ★★ )
・Increases your damage and affinity when a monster is angry.
Attack Boost
( ★★ )
・Increases your base damage and adds 5% affinity when at level 4.
Wide-Range
( ★★ )
・Your consumables will also affect your teammates.
Speed Eating
( ★★ )
・Decreases the time of item consumption.
Elemental Attack
( ★★ )
・Increases your weapon's elemental damage.

Best Skills for Sword and Shields

MHW Related Links

Best Builds

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Best Endgame Builds and Weapon Progression Builds

Best Builds Per Weapons

Melee Weapons
Long Sword Icon.jpegLong Swords Great Sword Icon.jpegGreat Swords Sword & Shield Icon.jpegSword and Shield Dual Blades Icon.jpegDual Blades
Hammer Icon.jpegHammer Hunting Horn Icon.jpegHunting Horn Lance Icon.jpegLance Gunlance Icon.jpegGunlance
Switch Axe Icon.jpegSwitch Axe Charge Blade Icon.jpegCharge Blade Insect Glaive Icon.jpegInsect Glaive
Ranged Weapons
Bow Icon.jpegBow light bowgun icon.pngLight Bowgun
Heavy bowgun icon.pngHeavy Bowgun

Best Counter Builds

Monster Counterbuilds
fatalis icon.pngFatalis alatreon icon.pngAlatreon

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