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Monster Hunter World (MHW)

Best Builds for Great Sword (Base Game)

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This article is the best build for the Great Sword in Monster Hunter World (MHW) Base Game. Read on to learn all the best armor sets to use for the Great Sword and the best skills to help you progress!

Monster Hunter World Great Sword Best Skills

Skill Description Priority
Health Boost Increases health. High
Weakness Exploit Increases the affinity of attacks that exploit a monster weak spot. Medium
Non-elemental Boost Powers up non-elemental weapons you have equipped. Medium
Earplugs Grants protection from large monsters' roars. Low
Focus Increases the fill rate for weapons with gauges and the charge rate for weapons with charge attacks. Low

Look for Skills When Forging Armor

Look at the skills when forging

As you progress through the ranks, you will find yourself crafting gear to match the level of monsters you fight. As such, players building towards the endgame should keep these skills in mind when forging gear.

Best Skills for Each Weapon

Monster Hunter World Great Sword Best Builds

Soul of the Dragoon Great Sword Build

Weapon Decorations
Wyvern Ignition "Impact" Attack Jewel 1 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Armor Decorations
Head Drachen Armet Alpha Elementless Jewel 2 x1
Vitality Jewel 1 x1
Armor Drachen Mail Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces Drachen Vambraces Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x2
Waist Drachen Coil Alpha Expert Jewel 1 x1
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Legs Drachen Greaves Alpha Mighty Jewel 2 x1
Charm Mighty Charm II None

Skills

Skills
Critical Eye 5 Attack Boost 4
Health Boost 3 Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3 Maximum Might 3
Handicraft 2 Non-elemental Boost 1
Airborne 1 -

Mixed Drachen Great Sword Build

Weapon Decorations
Wyvern Ignition "Impact" Attack Jewel 1 x1
Expert Jewel 1 x1
Armor Decorations
Head Dragonking Eyepatch Alpha Critical Jewel 2 x1
Armor Drachen Mail Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces Drachen Vambraces Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x2
Waist Drachen Coil Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Legs Drachen Greaves Alpha Mighty Jewel 2 x1
Charm Focus Charm II None

Skills

Skills
Critical Eye 7 Attack Boost 4
Critical Boost 3 Weakness Exploit 3
Focus 3 Maximum Might 2
Power Prolonger 3 Critical Boost 3

Drachen Earplugs Great Sword Build

Weapon Decorations
Wyvern Ignition "Impact" Expert Jewel 1 x2
Armor Decorations
Head Drachen Armet Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2
Attack Jewel 1 x1
Armor Drachen Mail Alpha Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Vambraces Drachen Vambraces Alpha Mighty Jewel 2 x1
Waist Bazel Coil Beta Tenderizer Jewel 2 x1
Legs Drachen Greaves Alpha Elementless Jewel 2 x1
Charm Earplugs Charm III None

Skills

Skills
Critical Eye 6 Earplugs 5
Attack Boost 4 Critical Boost 3
Weakness Exploit 3 Maximum Might 2
Airborne 1 Non-elemental Boost 1

MHW Related Links

Best Builds (Base Game)

Best Builds Banner.png
Base Game End Game Builds

Best Builds Per Weapon

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 Bow Icon.jpegBow
Light Bowgun Icon.jpegLight Bowgun Heavy Bowgun Icon.jpegHeavy Bowgun

Comment

1 Anonymous Anonymous over 1 year

How did you get health boos 3 on the first build if there's only one vitality jewel?

Author

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