Enjoy using massive swords when taking on powerful monsters? Our Monster Hunter Now Great Sword build guide is here to help. In this guide, I’m going to recommend the best Great Swords to use, and the equipment to go with them. I’ll suggest both armour sets and individual pieces for use against different monsters, and to prioritise different stat boosts. What’s more, I’ll update this guide alongside new monster and Great Sword additions.
Monster Hunter Now takes the template Niantic laid down with Pokémon GO and places it within the Monster Hunter universe. You still walk around a real world map of your neighbourhood, but this time you’re battling monsters instead of just catching them. You then loot their corpses, gather materials, and craft better gear to help you take on even bigger monsters.
Monster Hunter Now is available right now on Google Play. If you’re looking for more helpful guides, check out our Monster Hunter Now armour sets and Monster Hunter Now best gear guides.
Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build
Now, let’s take a look at the complete Monster Hunter Now Great Sword build guide.
Monster Hunter Now Best Great Swords
First things first: what are the best Great Swords? Well, you first want to equip one that triggers your opponent’s elemental weakness. Given that damage is key in Monster Hunter Now, any advantage we can gain in this department is vital.
Next up, you want to pay attention to your Equipment Skills. Note, these vary from your Special Skill, which is a powerful attack you can use in combat. Each weapon type has its own individual Special Skill that carries over to the rest of them.
Setting aside elemental bonuses for the moment, here are the best Monster Hunter Now Great Swords currently available:
Datura Blaze
Datura Blaze is the most powerful variant of the Blooming Blade, which you craft from Pukei Pukei parts. Unlike the name suggests, Datura Blaze isn’t a fire-focused weapon but a poison specialist.
Why do we like this weapon so much? Well, because Sneak Attack is such an incredibly powerful Equipment Skill. At max level, it boosts your damage from behind by a whopping 30%!
- Attack: 1,596
- Element: Poison
- Special: 400
- Affinity: 0%
- Special Skill: True Charged Slash
- Equipment Skill: Sneak Attack
Malady’s Kiss
Malady’s Kiss is basically the Paralysis version of Datura Blaze. Its stats are identical, and it also gains access to that nifty Sneak Attack.
It’s the final form of the Girros Blade, which requires you to defeat an absolute ton of Great Girros. Best of luck out there!
- Attack: 1,596
- Element: Paralysis
- Special: 400
- Affinity: 0%
- Special Skill: True Charged Slash
- Equipment Skill: Sneak Attack
Aqua Slasher
Aqua Slasher really leans into its Special Attack to deal damage, so it’s best to use this against enemies with a weakness to Water. You also almost want to take damage when using this weapon.
Why? Because Last Stand provides you with enormous attack and defence bonuses when your HP drops below 15%. It’s the true risk vs. reward weapon, and if you’re good at dodging it really pays off.
- Attack: 1,293
- Element: Water
- Special: 910
- Affinity: 0%
- Special Skill: True Charged Slash
- Equipment Skill: Last Stand
Flammenzahn
This is the fire version of Aqua Slasher, so you want to use it against monsters with a weakness to fire. Again, it deals almost half its damage from elemental damage versus regular attack.
Rising Tide increases your defence and attack as the hunt progresses, which isn’t the best skill given that you get bonuses for killing enemies quickly. It does help against really tough enemies.
- Attack: 1,293
- Element: Fire
- Special: 910
- Affinity: 0%
- Special Skill: True Charged Slash
- Equipment Skill: Sneak Attack
Monster Hunter Now Best Great Sword Equipment
Now, let’s take a look at the best equipment you can equip with the Great Sword in each slot.
- Headgear:
- Kulu Headpiece – Lock on to specific body parts and improved criticals
- Diablos Helm – Vastly improved attack and defence when below 35% HP
- Barroth Helm – Increased damage after a block
- Mail:
- Barroth Mail – Vastly increased damage after a block
- Anja Mail – Improved special attacks
- Rathalos Mail – Improved attacks against enemy weaknesses
- Gloves:
- Kulu Vambraces – Improved attack and defence at low HP and improved criticals
- Diablos Vambraces – Vastly improved attack and defence when below 35% HP and improved breaking
- Belt:
- Jagras Coil – Increased damage after falling in battle and towards the end of hunts
- Diablos Coil – Increased damage after a block and improved part breaking
- Trousers:
- Anja Greaves – Vastly improved damage at full HP
- Kulu Greaves – Vastly improved criticals
- Jyura Greaves – Shortens charging time for charged attacks and damage when below 15% HP
Monster Hunter Now Best Great Sword Armour Sets
If you’re the type that likes to wear a full set of armour for aesthetic purposes, the best full sets for Great Sword users are:
- Diablos
- Barroth
- Anjanath
