The Great Sword is arguably the most iconic weapon in the entire Monster Hunter franchise. It is well known for its massive damage capabilities and incredibly satisfying gameplay, while also being very approachable. Its core moveset is relatively simplistic, but effective use of the weapon requires patience and a willingness to learn a target monster’s attack patterns.

Strengths of the Great Sword:

• Unparalleled single hit damage.
• Its big attacks are incredibly satisfying to land.
• While it is difficult to master, its mechanics are relatively simplistic, making this weapon very approachable.
• Arguably the best weapon in the game for outputting strictly raw damage.
• If a hunter becomes a master of this weapon, they can clear end game hunts very quickly since the Great Sword is a damage powerhouse.

In Monster Hunter Rise/Sunbreak, the weapon has received a number of additions that make it more versatile than it ever has been before. Below is a list of three Great Sword builds that make the most out of the weapon’s different strengths, each one fitting a different play style than the others. Without further ado, let’s get into the list. 

3. Elemental Great Sword Build by “Darcblade”

Unlike other, more traditional Great Sword builds, this one focuses primarily on elemental damage as opposed to raw damage. Historically, the Great Sword has been a weak option for elemental damage, but thanks to the inclusion of the alternate moveset “Surge Slash Combo” in Sunbreak, the Great Sword can finally shine as an elemental weapon. This build utilizes “Suge Slash Combo” to its fullest potential, enabling the hunter to output consistently good damage.

Build Strengths:

• While the second moveset offered to Great Sword users in Sunbreak is not always as strong as a more traditional playstyle, this build makes the most out of it by prioritizing elemental damage.
• Attacks are much faster than usual allowing the hunter to get some good damage and evade quickly and consistently.
• This build can be used with virtually any element to great effect with minimal changes, making it quite versatile.
• In addition to elemental damage, this build is also good for quickly applying status ailments like poison and sleep to monsters.
• There is room for a few comfort skills in this build like Spiribird’s Call and Evade Extender, making it much comfier than the other two builds on this list.

Build Components:

• Flicker Blizzard Blade
  • Augments:
    • Attack Boost lv 6
    • Sharpness Boost lv 1
• Chaotic Helm
  • Augments:
    • Bloodrite lv 1
• Chaotic Mail
  • Augments:
    • Bloodrite lv 1
• Chaotic Vambraces
  • Augments:
    • Bladescale Hone lv 1
• Chaotic Faulds
  • Augments:
    • Lv 4 decoration slot
• Chaotic Greaves
  • Augments:
    • Bloodlust lv 1
• Attack Boost lv 3 Talisman
  • Should have at least one lv 2 decoration slot

Decorations:

• 1x Chain Jewel 2
• 1x Frost Jewel+ 2
• 1x Charger Jewel+ 4
• 1x Charger Jewel 2
• 1x Bloodening Jewel 3
• 1x Spiribird’s Call Jewel 1
• 1x Attack Jewel 2
• 3x Frost Jewel 1
• 1x Steadfast Jewel 4
• 1x Critical Jewel 2
• 1x Jumping Jewel 2

Core Skills:

• Critical Eye lv 7
• Resentment lv 5
• Ice Attack lv 5
• Attack Boost lv 4
• Critical Boost lv 3
• Focus lv 3
• Stun Resistance lv 3
• Bloodrite lv 3
• Coalescence lv 3
• Bloodlust lv 3
• Strife lv 3
• Berserk lv 2

2. Punishing Draw Frostcraft Build by “Lord Viettner”

This build focuses on the classic hit-and-run style of gameplay that many Great Sword wielders are all too familiar with. While it does not consistently reach the peak of damage that the Great Sword has to offer, it does allow for consistently good damage off of quicker attacks. This means that the hunter can still deal good damage while staying on the move, allowing them to more easily avoid taking damage.

Build Strengths:

• The focus on Punishing Draw and Frostcraft makes this build excellent for quick single hit damage.
• Since this build allows the hunter to get big damage off their first attack, a hit-and-run playstyle becomes completely viable, allowing the hunter to stay on the move and evade damage.
• Can achieve damage numbers of about 4,000 in the right situations.
• High raw damage and Blast ailment make it a great match for any monster.
• The ability for the hunter to stay on the move coupled with Sneak Attack allows the hunter to quickly get behind a target monster consistently and deal even greater damage than usual.

Build Components:

• Azure Blaze Great Sword:
  • Augments:
    • Attack Boost lv 6
    • Sharpness Boost lv 1
• Risen Mizuha Headdress
  • Augments:
    • Bloodrite lv 1
• Rimeguard Mail
  • Augments:
    • Bloodrite lv 1
• Rimeguard Gloves
  • Augments:
    • Intrepid Heart lv 1
• Rimeguard Coil
  • Augments:
    • Agitator lv 1
• Valstrax Greaves - Epoch
  • Augments:
    • Agitator lv 1
• Weakness Exploit lv 2 Talisman
  • Should have at least one lv 2 decoration slot

Decorations:

• 4x Attack Jewel 2
• 2x Critical Jewel 2
• 1x Bloodening Jewel 3
• 1x Brace Jewel 1
• 1x Intrepid Jewel 1
• 1x Gambit Jewel 2
• 1x Tenderizer Jewel 2
• 1x Backstab Jewel 2
• 1x Backstab Jewel+ 4
• 1x Wirebug Jewel 2
• 1x Wirebug Jewel+ 4
• 1x Gambit Jewel+ 4

Core Skills:

• Attack Boost lv 6
• Peak Performance lv 3
• Critical Boost lv 3
• Weakness Exploit lv 3
• Focus lv 3
• Critical Draw lv 3
• Punishing Draw lv 3
• Quick Sheath lv 3
• Stun Resistance lv 3
• Wirebug Whisperer lv 3
• Sneak Attack lv 3
• Frostcraft lv 3

1. God Slayer by “Yokai Nox”

The first of three builds in Yokai Nox’s video, this build is capable of truly unparalleled single hit damage. Its optimization of the Great Sword’s highest damaging strikes makes it a force to reckon with. While slower than some of the other builds, its sheer power more than makes up for it, ultimately putting it in the number one spot.

Build Strengths:

• Truly insane single hit damage, reaching numbers upward of 9,000
• The inclusion of Offensive Guard allows for even stronger hits if Strongarm Stance is timed correctly.
• This build provides the hunter with 100% affinity on weakspots, meaning that even their weakest attacks will still do good damage.
• Even though the greatsword is not the best at outputting status damage, this build uses a status weapon so it can take advantage of the skill Buildup Boost to further increase its raw damage potential.
• The inclusion of Wirebug Whisperer allows the hunter to regain their wirebugs much quicker, meaning they have access to their most damaging attack, Strongarm Stance, much more often.

Build Components:

• Merak’s Asterism
  • Augments:
    • Attack Boost lv 3
    • Rampage Slot Upgrade
• Primordial Helm
  • Augments:
    • Mail of Hellfire lv 1
• Primordial Mail
  • Augments:
    • Buildup Boost lv 1
• Primordial Vambraces
  • Augments:
    • Buildup Boost lv 1
• Virtue Coil
  • Augments:
    • Coalescence lv 1
• Primordial Greaves
  • Augments:
    • Flinch Free lv 1
    • Buildup Boost lv 1
• Frostcraft lv 3 Talisman
  • Should have at least two lv 2 decoration slots

Decorations:

• 1x Tenderizer Jewel 2
• 3x Expert Jewel+ 4
• 1x Expert Jewel 2
• 1x Critical Jewel 2
• 3x Attack Jewel+ 4
• 1x Attack Jewel 2
• 1x Guardian Jewel+ 4
• 1x Guardian Jewel 3
• 1x Wirebug Jewel+ 4
• 2x Hellfire Jewel+ 4
• 1x Wirebug Jewel 2
• 1x Intrepid Jewel 1

Core Skills:

• Frostcraft lv 3
• Divine Blessing lv 3
• Attack Boost lv 7
• Critical Eye lv 7
• Hellfire Cloak lv 4
• Critical Boost lv 3
• Weakness Exploit lv 3
• Offensive Guard lv 3
• Divine Blessing lv 3
• Partbreaker lv 3
• Wirebug Whisperer lv 3
• Bloodrite lv 3
• Buildup Boost lv 3
• Blood Awakening lv 3
• Mail of Hellfire lv 1

Sources:

• “BEST ENDGAME BUILDS : ELEMENTAL GREAT SWORD : MHR SUNBREAK” YouTube, uploaded by Darcblade, 30 December, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpKYkhdP9QU
• “Punishing Draw Frostcraft Great Sword is SO FUN!! [No Qurious Augments Required]” YouTube, uploaded by Lord Viettner, 8 February, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78GGebnMiyk
• “MHR: Sunbreak | NEW Best Greatsword Builds | TU6 Endgame” YouTube, uploaded by Yokai Nox, 20 January, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7mgHAluX-Q

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