Great Sword guide for Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds). Guide includes how to play Great Sword, focus mode, Perforat, techniques and moves, stances, recommended combos, and more!
All Weapon Types ListGreat Sword - How to Use
The Basic Strategy Is to Hit and Run
| How to Draw & Sheathe |
|---|
The basics of the Great Sword is to attack for damage, then reposition. After hitting the target, the player should be ready to dodge or reposition in order to hit the target again.
For a Draw Attack, Use Overhead Slash
| How to Do Overhead Slash |
|---|
Once you have become accustomed to the hit-and-run playstyle of the Great Sword, aim for the monster's opening to deal Overhead Slash. The Overhead Slash is the main action of the Great Sword, so it's important to use it as much as possible.
Overhead Slash Aiming Is Possible in Focus Mode
| Overhead Slash Aiming |
|---|
Hold |
If you perform an Overhead Slash while in Focus Mode by holding down the L2 button, you can adjust the direction with the L stick. Make sure to hit the powerful Overhead Slash in time with the moving monster's attack.
How to Use Focus Mode
| How to Do Focus Mode |
|---|
Hold |
To activate Focus Mode, press and hold L2 along with a specific button. For most weapons, L2 triggers a Focus Slash, but with the Great Sword, press and hold L2 + △ for an Overhead Slash. Long-range weapons like the Bow, Light Bowgun, and Heavy Bowgun enter Focus Mode when aiming.
While in Focus Mode, your attacks and guards are more precise, and successfully landing them will trigger a powerful special attack.
Focus Mode GuideIf You Can't Avoid it by Dodging, Guard
| How to Guard |
|---|
Hold |
If you can't avoid a monster's attack by dodging with your sword drawn, you can guard against it instead. The weapon's sharpness will be reduced a little, but it would lessen incoming damage. If you are able to Perfect Guard, you will consume Stamina instead of Health and Sharpness.
Power Clash Occurs Depending on the Monster's Attack
| How to Power Clash When on Guard |
|---|
Hold ➡Repeatedly |
The new Power Clash feature occurs when you block some monsters' attack. If you win the Power Clash, you will have a chance to attack the monster, so be sure to win the Power Clash when it occurs and aim for a follow-up attack.
Power Clash GuideUtilize Tackle When You Get Used to It
| How to Tackle Out of Overhead Slash |
|---|
Once you have become accustomed to hit-and-run play style, you can make use of Tackle. With Tackle, you can parry monster roars and attack while aiming to follow-up attacks, such as the Overhead Slash.
Offset Attacks to Create More Attack Opportunities
| Offset Attacks - How to Produce a Slash Up |
|---|
Once you have a good grasp of the monster's attack, aim for Offset Attacks. It takes some getting used to, but if you match the Offset Attacks well with the monster's attack, the monster will be stunned and you can create an attack opportunity.
Offset Attack GuideAim for True Charged Slash When Opportunity Rises
| How to Deal True Charged Slash |
|---|
Hold ➡ Hold |
Whenever an attack opportunity arises, it is important to aim for the True Charged Slash, the weapon's attack with the highest damage. Aggressively create attack opportunities with flashbangs and item traps to be able to deal True Charged Slash.
Great Sword - Attacks & Moves
Summary of Controls
Basic Actions
Combo of Overhead Slash
Overhead Slash / Strong Charged Slash / True Charged Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold ➡Hold ➡Hold |
| Aim with Focus Mode | Hold |
| - Great Sword's main attack - When in Focus Mode (Hold L2), the direction of the attack can be adjusted |
Overhead Slash is the main attack of the Great Sword. It can be done by pressing and holding △ in a sequence, making each attack stronger than the last. The direction of this attack can be adjusted when in focus mode. This is how you are able to deal Strong Charged Slash and True Charged Slash.
Tackle
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold ➡ |
| True Charged Slash with Tackle | Hold ➡Hold |
| - No need to dodge to escape an attack - True Charged Slash can be performed quickly with tackle - Tackle to maintain the stance of your Overhead Slash progress |
Tackle is an action that does not interrupt or knock back a hunter, and when used right, can also be used to quickly perform a True Charged Slash. It can also be used on its own. Use it in time with the monster's attack to maintain the stance of your Overhead Slash progress.
Focus Slash: Perforate
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold |
If you hit a wound, multiple hits of damage will occur. This is a move that makes active use of wounds. There is a good chance that this will stagger the enemy. You can also do an additional True Charged Slash by press and holding △.
Offset Rising Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
Offset Rising Slash ➡ After Offset Attack (Knockedback) ➡Follow-Up Cross Slash ➡ After Offset Attack (No Knockback) ➡Hold True Charged Slash |
By timing your attacks to coincide with the monster's attack, you can trigger Offset Attacks. If you release your move a bit early, before the monster's attack activates, it's easier to land an Offset Attack. Additionally, when the monster is knocked back during an Offset Attack, it can chain into a "Follow-up Cross Slash," and if the knockback is prevented, it can chain into a "True Charged Slash."
Follow-Up Cross Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
After Offset Attack ➡Monster Knockback ➡➡ Hold Strong Charged Slash➡ |
If a monster is knocked back from Offset Rising Slash, you can follow up with △ to chain into Follow-up Cross Slash. From Follow-up Cross Slash, you can transition into either Strong Charged Slash or Strong Wide Slash.
Recommended Combos for Great Sword
Triple Overhead Slash Combo
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold ➡Hold ➡Hold Hold ➡Hold ➡Hold |
The main combo for Great Sword is performing three consecutive Overhead Slashes. Hold L2 + Left Stick to adjust direction while charging, makes it easier to hit monsters. If you have the time, incorporate Strong Wide Slash with the ◯ button after Strong Charged Slash.
True Charged Slash Shortcut
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold |
This combo is useful when you want to quickly land a True Charged Slash during monster is down or asleep. After Overhead Slash, cancel the "Strong Charged Slash" with Tackle, then press and hold △ during the Tackle to perform "True Charged Slash."
Focus Slash: Perforate → True Charged Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
After Hitting Wounds Hold |
This is a combo where you hit the Wounds with Focus Slash: Perforate to chain into True Charged Slash. When Focus Slash hits the Wounds until the end, the monster becomes more likely to stagger which creates a better opportunity to land True Charged Slash.
Power Clash → True Charged Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold ➡Repeatedly ➡ Hold |
This is a combo that chains into "True Charged Slash" after a Power Clash occurs after Guard. Power Clash is more likely to happen if you Perfect Guard the monster's attack, so once you're familiar with the monster's movements, try to actively aim for it .
Power Clash GuideOffset Attack Rising Slash Combo
| How to Do |
|---|
After successful Offset Attacks ➡Hold |
This is a combo that chains from "Follow-Up Cross Slash" to "Strong Charged Slash" after the monster is knocked back by "Offset Rising Slash." The attack opportunity after being knocked back by Offset Attacks is short, so it’s safer to stop the combo at "Strong Charged Slash."
Great Sword - New Attacks & Actions
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| ▼ Focus Slash: Perforate | Hold |
| ▼ Offset Attack Rising Slash |
Focus Slash: Perforate
| How to Do |
|---|
Hold |
When you hit the wound, it will deal multiple hits of damage making this a move that make active use of destroying wound. There is a high chance of staggering the enemy after using this move so you can hold △ to continue dealing attack with True Charged Slash.
Offset Attack Rising Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
Offset Rising Slash ➡ After Offset Attack (Knockedback) ➡Follow-Up Cross Slash ➡ After Offset Attack (No Knockback) ➡Hold True Charged Slash |
| - Temporary stun if the attack is successful - Occur when successfully doing Offset and Follow-Up Cross Slash |
Rising Slash is an action that is performed by successfully matching a monster's attack. If successful, the monster will be temporariy stunned, creating a chance to attack.
Follow-Up Cross Slash
| How to Do |
|---|
After Offset Attack ➡Monster Knockback ➡➡ Hold Strong Charged Slash➡ |
This action can be performed after a successful Rising Slash. It then uses a hook slinger to immediately follow up with a strike.
Balance Adjustment Details
The True Charged Slash Improved in Final Version
In the Monster Hunter Wilds community update, it was revealed that the balance of the Great Sword will be adjusted. The hitstop, hit effects, and sound effects for the 'True Charged Slash' will be adjusted, and its damage is also planned to be buffed.
Weapon Adjustments GuideMonster Hunter Wilds Related Articles
Weapon Recommendation Guides
Weapon Type List
Weapon Tier List
Secondary WeaponWeapon Guide
 Great Sword |  Long Sword |  Sword & Shield |  Dual Blades |
 Hammer |  Hunting Horn |  Lance |  Gunlance |
 Switch Axe |  Charged Blade |  Insect Glaive |  Bow |
| Light Bowgun | Heavy Bowgun | ||
