In the diverse arsenal of *Monster Hunter Now*, the Great Sword stands out as a devastating force, capable of unleashing colossal damage with each swing. However, its size presents a unique challenge. To truly master this behemoth, a strategic build is essential.
Creating a powerful Great Sword build requires a focus on incapacitating your foes. Recent updates have introduced sleep-inducing weapons crafted from specific monster materials. But effective sleep application demands complementary skills. This guide outlines the optimal gear for maximizing your Great Sword's potential.
The Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build
Unlike the poison-centric Long Sword, the Great Sword shines with sleep-inducing attacks. This build requires materials from a relatively rare monster, but the majority of equipment can be obtained from more common hunts.
Complete Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build
| Item | Effect |
|---|---|
| Weapon: Frilled Blade | - Element: Sleep - Evade Extender I (Grade 8) |
| Helmet: Nightshade Paolumu Helmet | - Rude Awakener I (Grade 5) - Rude Awakener II (Grade 8) - Driftstone Slot (Grade 8) |
| Mail: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Mail | - Status Sneak Attack (Grade 2) - Artful Dodger (Grade 4) - Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) |
| Vambraces: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Vambraces | - Status Sneak Attack I (Grade 2) - Status Sneak Attack II (Grade 4) - Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) |
| Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Coil | - Evade Extender (Grade 2) - Status Sneak Attack (Grade 4) - Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) |
| Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu Greaves | - Rude Awakener (Grade 5) - Status Sneak Attack (Grade 6) - Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) |
Weapon: Frilled Blade
While options for sleep-based Great Swords are limited, the Frilled Blade is the clear winner. Its Evade Extender skill provides crucial distance after dodging, enhancing survivability. While not strictly essential, it significantly improves maneuverability with the Great Sword. You'll need to hunt Somnacanth for its crafting materials.
Helmet & Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu Gear
The core of this build utilizes gear from the Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early event. This monster provides crucial skills, including all three levels of Rude Awakener, boosting damage by 100% on the first hit against a sleeping monster. While less common now, Nightmare Paolumu remains accessible through events or as rare spawns.
Mail, Vambraces, & Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Gear
Completing the build, Tzitzi-Ya-Ku gear provides crucial Status Sneak Attack skill points, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. It also offers Evade Extender and Artful Dodger for improved defense. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a more common monster, making material acquisition easier.
Optimizing Driftstone Slots
This build benefits from a relatively low Driftstone slot requirement. Five Sleep Attack slots are ideal, but slots can also enhance dodging (Artful Dodger, Evade Extender) or rear attack damage (Sneak Attack).
- Sleep Attack (Azure): Increases sleep buildup (50 at rank 1, 150 at rank 5).
- Sneak Attack (Pale): Increases damage from rear attacks (10% at rank 1, 30% at rank 5).
- Artful Dodger (Azure): Improves evasion ease.
- Evade Extender (Pale): Increases evasion distance.
