Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword: Early Game and Combat Guide

Monster Hunter Wilds brings an evolved version of the fan-favorite Long Sword with exciting new mechanics and powerful combo finishers. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using this weapon effectively and creating an optimal build that balances damage and comfort.

Long Sword Mechanics

The Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds centers around the Spirit Gauge system, which has received significant changes from previous games. Instead of consuming the gauge with each Spirit attack, the gauge now operates on a timer that can be extended through special moves. The Spirit Gauge has different levels with red being the most powerful state that unlocks enhanced moves and devastating combo finishers.

When your Spirit Gauge reaches red level, you gain access to stronger Crimson Slash combos and special moves like the new Spirit Release Slash. The gauge will slowly deplete over time, making gauge management a key skill. Successful counters and certain attacks can refill the gauge, making aggressive but calculated play the optimal approach. At its core, the Long Sword rewards players who learn monster patterns and time their attacks appropriately, making it accessible to newcomers but with plenty of depth for veterans.

Long Sword Combos

The Long Sword features several combo paths depending on your current Spirit Gauge level:

• Basic Spirit Gauge Building Combo: Press Y/Triangle repeatedly to perform Overhead Slash → Overhead Slash II → Crescent Slash. This builds up your Spirit Gauge quickly.
• Spirit Gauge Leveling Combo: Press RT/R2 repeatedly to perform Spirit Blade I → Spirit Blade II → Spirit Blade III → Spirit Roundslash. Landing the final Spirit Roundslash increases your Spirit Gauge level.
• Red Gauge Combo: When your gauge is red, your basic attacks become Crimson Slashes, which deal more damage and create more wounds on monsters. The stationary combo (Y, B, Y or Triangle, Circle, Triangle) is particularly effective during damage windows.
• Spirit Helm Breaker Chain: At red level, perform Spirit Thrust (RT+Y or R2+Triangle) → Spirit Helm Breaker (RT/R2) → Spirit Release Slash (RT/R2). This powerful new finisher has hyper armor but consumes two Spirit levels, so timing is crucial.
• Counter Options: The Long Sword offers two main counter moves - Foresight Slash (RT+B or R2+Circle during a combo) and Iai Spirit Slash (RT+A then RT, or R2+X then R2). Successful counters refill your Spirit Gauge and can increase your gauge level, making them vital for maintaining momentum.

How to Play Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds

The Long Sword excels when you adopt an aggressive but measured approach. Your main gameplay loop involves:

1. Build your Spirit Gauge by landing basic attacks on the monster.
2. Use your Spirit Blade combo to increase your gauge level to red.
3. While in the red state, use Crimson Slashes to deal increased damage and create wounds.
4. Look for openings to land your Spirit Helm Breaker into Spirit Release Slash for massive damage.
5. Use counters (Foresight Slash and Iai Spirit Slash) to avoid monster attacks while maintaining offensive pressure.

Positioning is key - the Long Sword has excellent reach, making it perfect for hitting specific monster parts like tails. Focus on creating and breaking wounds with your attacks, especially while in red gauge state. The new Focus Strike: Unbound Thrust in Focus Mode is particularly effective against wounds and instantly increases your Spirit level when it connects.

When the monster becomes agitated or you need a quick reposition, use Fade Slash (Y+B or Triangle+Circle) to step back while still dealing damage. This can be followed up with a Spirit Blade to maintain your combo flow.

The Special Sheathe stance (RT+A or R2+X) allows for quick responses to monster attacks through either Iai Slash or Iai Spirit Slash. Mastering the timing of these counters will drastically improve your damage output and survival.

Spirit Gauge Management Tips

Maintaining the red Spirit Gauge is crucial for maximizing your damage output. Here are some tips to help you keep your gauge topped up:

• Watch for monster downtimes when using Spirit Roundslash. The long animation makes it vulnerable to interruption, so use it during monster exhaustion, after successful staggers, or when monsters are trapped.
• The Foresight Whirl Slash (the powered-up version of Foresight Slash available in red gauge) not only provides a longer invulnerability window but also refills your gauge when it connects. Use this to counter predictable attacks to extend your red gauge duration.
• Be strategic with Spirit Release Slash usage. While it deals massive damage, it consumes two Spirit levels, potentially dropping you from red to white gauge. Only use it when you're confident you can build the gauge back up quickly or when the monster is about to change areas.
• When your gauge is red, prioritize landing the Spinning Crimson Slash as a follow-up to your third Spirit Blade attack. This not only deals good damage but also refills your gauge slightly, extending your time in the red state.

Best Long Sword Build in Monster Hunter Wilds

For a strong early-game build, focus on these key pieces:

Weapon: Rey Tonitrus I or Bone Shotel III

Rey Tonitrus I	Bone Shotel III

• Rey Tonitrus provides Thunder element with Focus and Punishing Draw skills
• Bone Shotel III offers high raw damage with Focus and Attack Boost

Armor:

Head: Alloy Helm (Quick Sheathe Lv1)	Chest: Balahara Mail (Quick Sheathe Lv1)	Arms: Balahara Vambraces (Evade Extender Lv1)	Waist: Balahara Coil (Evade Extender Lv1)	Legs: Balahara Greaves (Evade Extender Lv1)

For skills, prioritize these in your build:

Damage Skills:

• Attack Boost: Increases your base damage output
• Weakness Exploit: Deals more damage to monster weak points and wounds
• Critical Eye: Increases your affinity (critical hit chance)

Comfort Skills:

• Quick Sheathe: Speeds up sheathing for faster Special Sheathe counters
• Focus: Helps build Spirit Gauge faster

As you progress, look to include Power Prolonger to extend your red gauge duration and Critical Boost to increase critical hit damage.

For later game options, consider upgrading to the Dosha Gravecleaver II for high raw damage or Khlunda-of-the-Waves for water elemental damage against fire monsters. The Long Sword is versatile enough that having elemental options for different monsters is beneficial.

Practice your counter timing and Spirit Gauge management, and you'll soon be slicing through monsters with style and precision. The Long Sword's combination of mobility, reach, and powerful combo finishers makes it one of the most rewarding weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds.