Fancy yourself a sword and boarder? Our Monster Hunter Now Sword and Shield build guide is here to help. In this guide, I provide you with everything you need to know, including the best weapons, armour sets, and individual pieces. I’ll also detail the exact Equipment Skills to focus on, as that’s a key aspect of building your character in Monster Hunter Now.
Monster Hunter Now is the latest location-based game by the makers of Pokémon GO. Explore your neighbourhood, battle monsters, and loot their corpses for materials. You then use those materials to craft better armour and weapons so you can do it all over again. If you have friends nearby, you can invite them to join you on your hunts too.
You can grab Monster Hunter Now on Google Play. We’ve also put together a Monster Hunter Now Long Sword build, Monster Hunter Now Hammer build, and Monster Hunter Now Great Sword build.
Monster Hunter Now Sword and Shield Build
Now, let’s take a look at the complete Monster Hunter Now Sword and Shield build.
Monster Hunter Now Best Sword and Shields
Sword and Shields in Monster Hunter Now are a fast-paced weapon style that rewards huge combos. it also has the ability to block attacks, reducing your need to dodge roll. Given its attack style, you want to maximise damage by using Equipment Skills that reward combos and blocking.
You also might not want to dodge at all using a Sword and Shield, as blocking ends up being a lot easier to pull off, and can boost your damage.
It’s also worth noting that the best weapon to use is the one that provides an elemental advantage against your opponent. The weapons I’ve selected below don’t always take that into account. I actually recommend crafting all weapons and using the elemental weapons to trigger weaknesses, or using one below.
Here are the best Sword and Shields.
Datura Blossom
Datura Blossom is a hard-hitting Poison weapon that rewards you with a huge damage boost when attacking from behind.
I’d like to add a caveat for this weapon: you might not want to use it if you prioritise your build on gaining damage with Offensive Guard. This increases your attack power by 40% for ten seconds after executing a well-timed block, which works against dodge rolling around an enemy to attack from behind.
- Attack: 1,596
- Element: Poison
- Special: 400
- Affinity: 0%
- Equipment Skill: Sneak Attack
Malady’s Tabar
This is the Paralysis variant of Datura Blossom, and the same rules apply. If you’re focusing on an Offensive Guard build, skip this weapon.
- Attack: 1,596
- Element: Paralysis
- Special: 400
- Affinity: 0%
- Equipment Skill: Sneak Attack
Rogue Wave
Rogue Wave is a great weapon to use against monsters with a Water elemental weakness. It trades some raw damage for a drastic increase in special damage.
Its best feature is ‘Last Stand’, which increases your defence when you’re below 29% health. This is great for blocking builds, as, if you accidentally miss-time your block, you remain alive.
It will also help you maintain the attack bonus you get while at low health from various other Equipment Skills.
- Attack: 1,293
- Element: Water
- Special: 910
- Affinity: 0%
- Equipment Skill: Last Stand
Flammensucher
The Fire element equivalent of Rogue Wave, the Flammensucher has a much better Equipment Skill. It increases your damage the longer the hunt lasts.
This is great against powerful monsters as it can give you an edge if you’re running out of time.
- Attack: 1,293
- Element: Fire
- Special: 910
- Affinity: 0%
- Equipment Skill: Rising Tide
Monster Hunter Now Best Sword and Shield Equipment
- 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
- Barroth Vambraces – Vastly improved guard defence and reduced knockback
- 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 Sword and Shield Armour Sets
If you don’t want to mix and match, preferring full sets for visual, here are the sets I recommend you prioritise:
- Barroth: The best for Sword and Shield, boosting attack after a block, blocking in general, and defence
- Diablos: The second best set, boosting your damage at low health, improving stun from shield attacks, and Offensive Guard!
- Jagras / Jyuratodus: Use either of these against enemies weak to Water attacks
- Kulu: A great all-rounder set that boosts critical hits, improves your dodge, and provides the lock on ability
- Pukei / Rathan: Use either of these against enemies weak to Poison
- Anjanath / Rathalos: Use either of these against enemies weak to Fire
