The most iconic and oldest weapon in the title is the Great Sword. In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Great Sword's effectiveness and mobility are greatly increased, making it a formidable weapon. Maximizing its potential to deal the highest damage in the game requires the perfect build that suits the playstyle. In this guide, I will compile the best Great Sword builds in MH Wilds, along with the armor progression.
Great Sword Gameplay and Combo
The Great Sword remains the heavyweight champion of Monster Hunter Wilds, delivering those satisfying massive hits we all love. But now it's got some cool new tricks that make it even better, such as the Focus Strike, Perfect Shoulder Tackle, Offset Rising Slash, and Perfect Guard which then can lead to Power Clashes.
So the greatest combo of Great Sword in MH Wilds is still the same as the previous titles, which is the True Charged Slash. However, with the Focus Mode, it is now very optimized and controlled. A good tip is to change the Focus Mode type to Toggle instead of Hold for GS.
The Shoulder Tackle now features a perfect timing version that takes this move to the next level. Time it right by holding Triangle and pressing Circle the moment the monster hits you. If you do this correctly, you will keep your current charge level, meaning you can chain together max-charged hits faster than ever before.
Offset Rising Slash changes everything about Great Sword play. Hold Triangle + Circle to charge it up through three levels, then release right when a monster attack is about to hit you. If timed correctly, follow up with a Cross Slash for damage that rivals even the True Charge Slash. You can perform Offset Rising after most slashes, after rolling, or after guarding. For maximum damage, chain it into True Charge Slash with this sequence: successful Offset, Circle for Wide Slash, then True Charge.
Perfect Guarding can now lead to Power Clashes, a great new mechanic that GS users have been eagerly awaiting. Time your R2 perfectly as the monster hits you, and you'll have the chance to execute a Power Clash.
Focus Slash: Perforate is GS' bread and butter in MH Wilds. You can perform Perforate after almost every attack, including the last charge of TCS. This makes it the perfect move for repositioning, changing stances, and maintaining extreme aggression.
With that in mind, lets take a look at the best builds and progression.
Great Sword Low Rank Build & Progression
Starting your journey with a Great Sword in Wilds is straightforward—use the default Hope armor for the Divine Blessing skill. However, immediately craft Immane Blade I after defeating Nerscylla, as it grants Sleep status, a perfect status for a GS.
Once you unlock Guardian Rathalos and Guardian Doshaguma, craft three pieces of Rathalos and two pieces of Doshaguma for extra defense and Weakness Exploit to help you through early High Rank missions.
You can now also switch to the G Veldian Gladius I, but Immane Blade I and II are much better due to the Sleep effect. Why waste a free wake-up True Charge, one of the biggest damage-dealing mechanics for the Great Sword?
Best Great Swords for Low Rank
- Immane Blade II
- G Veldian Gladius I
Great Sword High Rank Build & Progression
Once you reach High Rank, it's time to focus on maximizing your set skills. I recommend this build as it provides 5 levels of Weakness Exploit, 5 levels of Critical Boost, and 4 levels of Agitator—these alone form the baseline for a Great Sword to deal massive damage.
Maximum Might and Counterstrike are also important, but you'll need the required jewels. Exploiter Charm II is a must-have, not just for GS but for other builds as well.
For the weapon, Red Wing I is an excellent GS, providing 3 levels of Critical Boost, which is game-changing. Its sharpness and affinity are also decent. However, if you prefer a Sleep build, you can switch to Immane Blade III instead.
With this set, you can progress smoothly through High Rank monsters and story missions until HR 40, at which point you'll start crafting endgame builds.
Best Great Swords for High Rank
- Red Wing I
- Immane Blade III
- G. Veldian Gladius II
Great Sword Best Endgame Builds
The best Great Sword endgame builds are all based on Raw or Status weapons, as Elemental builds are not an optimal playstyle for GS. Here are the best endgame GS builds—you can choose whichever fits your playstyle the most.
GS Endgame 4-Gore Raw/Para Mighty Build
This is the endgame Great Sword build that I am currently running and loving. The baseline for this build is 4-piece Gore Magala, which grants Black Eclipse II. This skill provides an extra 25% affinity when activated. Combined with Weakness Exploit and Max Might, this results in a total of 100% affinity, maximizing critical hits for a GS.
For gear, Counterstrike and Max Might are essential, as they provide significant boosts to your damage output. The 4-piece Gore Magala set is crucial because its Black Eclipse II skill grants an additional 25% affinity when active, making it a must-have. When combined with Weakness Exploit (WEX) and Max Might, you can achieve a total of 100% affinity, ensuring consistent critical hits.
You can always switch Guardian III jewel to Critical II jewel if you prefer max Crit Boost rather than Offensive Guard.
As for the weapon, the optimal choice for this build is Varianza with a Paralyze setup. The best reinforcement setup includes 4 Attack reinforcements and 1 Sharpness reinforcement for a balance of raw power and durability.
Equip Immolator Blade as your secondary weapon in case you want to do a wake-up TCS.
GS Endgame Raw/Para Crit Agitator Build
This build focuses more on Agitator, trading some defense for increased offensive potential. Since its overall defense is lower than the 4-Gore build, you'll need to rely heavily on Perfect Guards and Offset Attacks while the monster is enraged to maximize this build's effectiveness.
The best weapon choice remains the same—Paralyze stat Varianza with 4 Attack + 1 Sharpness reinforcement. While this setup is a solid alternative, the 4-Gore build still reigns supreme as the best Great Sword endgame build.
Equip Immolator Blade as your secondary weapon in case you want to do a wake-up TCS.
GS Endgame Comfy Build
This final build is perfect for players who prefer a comfortable playstyle rather than high-risk, high-reward movements. It includes 2 pieces of Arkvulcan, granting Hasten Recovery, a set skill that provides healing when continuously attacking the monster—essentially a lifesteal effect.
This build still incorporates Black Eclipse, providing that crucial 25% affinity, along with full Weakness Exploit (WEX) and Max Might, ensuring consistent critical hits. Additionally, full Critical Boost significantly enhances critical damage output.
The best weapon remains Varianza with 4 Attack + 1 Sharpness reinforcement, maintaining high raw damage and sustain throughout fights. Equip Immolator Blade as your secondary weapon in case you want to do a wake-up TCS.
Best Endgame Great Swords
- Varianza Sleep/Blast/Para (4 Attack + 1 Sharpness)
- Immolator Blade
- Stalwart Lamorak
- Dusterstolz
- Giant Jawblade
There you go! Whether you prefer a brutal offensive playstyle or a more comfortable, casual build, these endgame Great Sword setups will help you maximize your weapon's potential in Monster Hunter Wilds. Just remember to utilize Offset Attack, Power Clash, and Focus Strike to truly dominate the hunt!
