Monster Hunter Now: Best Great Sword Build for High Damage

Mastering the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Focused Build Guide

The Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now is a powerful weapon, capable of devastating blows. However, its size makes it less agile. This guide details a build maximizing its potential using the sleep element.

To effectively utilize the Great Sword, you need to control the fight by putting monsters to sleep. Recent updates introduced sleep-inducing weapons, but you’ll also need the right skills.

Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Unlike the poison-focused Long Sword, the Great Sword shines with sleep effects. This build requires materials from a 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 for the Great Sword's slower attacks. You'll need Somnacanth materials to craft it.

Helmet and Greaves: Nightmare Paolumu's Contribution

The core of this build utilizes Nightmare Paolumu parts (from the first paid event). These provide the crucial Rude Awakener skill (increasing damage to sleeping monsters by 100% on the first hit), appearing more frequently now.

Mail, Vambraces, and Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's Role

The remaining pieces primarily focus on Status Sneak Attack, maximizing sleep buildup from rear attacks. You'll also gain additional Evade Extender and Artful Dodger points for enhanced evasion. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a readily available target.

Optimizing Driftsmelt Slots

This build offers a considerable number of Driftsmelt slots. Prioritize five Sleep Attack slots. Alternatively, invest in Artful Dodger, Evade Extender, or Sneak Attack to further enhance your combat capabilities.

• 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.
• Evade Extender (Pale): Increases evasion distance.

This build transforms the Great Sword into a highly effective sleep-inducing weapon, significantly enhancing your hunting prowess in Monster Hunter Now.