Monster Hunter Now: Best Great Sword Build for High Damage

Master the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Based Build Guide

The Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now is a powerful weapon, capable of devastating blows. However, its size can make it unwieldy. This guide details a build maximizing its potential using the sleep effect.

To effectively utilize the Great Sword's high damage output, you need to reliably put monsters to sleep. Recent updates have introduced sleep-inducing weapons, but achieving consistent sleep requires specific skills and gear. This build focuses on that.

Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Unlike the poison-focused Long Sword, the Great Sword excels with sleep. This build requires materials from a relatively rare monster, but the majority of equipment comes from more common hunts.

Complete Great Sword Build Breakdown

Weapon Choice: The Frilled Blade

While sleep-based Great Swords are limited, the Frilled Blade stands out. Its Evade Extender skill improves defensive maneuvers, crucial with the Great Sword's slow attacks. Somnacanth is the source for this weapon's materials.

Helmet & Greaves: Nightmare Paolumu's Contribution

The Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event, provides essential components. Its parts offer Rude Awakener (all three levels), drastically boosting damage against sleeping monsters (100% increase on the first hit). While less frequent now, it remains obtainable through events or rare spawns.

Mail, Vambraces, & Coil: Maximizing Status Sneak Attack

The remaining armor pieces prioritize Status Sneak Attack, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks at maximum skill level. Points in Evade Extender and Artful Dodger further enhance survivability. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, readily available via the paintball tracker, is the primary source for these pieces.

Optimizing Driftstone Slots

This build benefits from numerous Driftstone slots. Five slots are ideal for Sleep Attack. Alternatively, you can allocate slots to Artful Dodger, Evade Extender, or Sneak Attack for additional defensive or offensive boosts.

• Sleep Attack (Azure): Increases sleep buildup (50 at rank 1, 150 at rank 5).
• Sneak Attack (Pale): Boosts damage from rear attacks (10% at rank 1, 30% at rank 5).
• Artful Dodger (Azure): Improves evasion ease.
• Evade Extender (Pale): Increases evasion distance.

This build maximizes the Great Sword's damage potential through strategic sleep application and defensive capabilities. Remember to adjust Driftstone slots to fit your playstyle.