The Long Sword is a devastating weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds, packed with combo-heavy attacks and powerful counters. With its new mechanics, it is both fun to use and incredibly deadly. In this guide, I will cover the best Long Sword builds and progression, from Low Rank to Endgame.
This guide will be updated regularly along with future content!
Long Sword Gameplay and Best Combo
The main goal when using Long Sword in MH Wilds is to reach Red Spirit gauge and then maintain it. Once in Red Spirit, you'll want to spam the Crimson Combo (Crimson Slash I followed by Spirit Blade I, repeated as quickly as possible). This combo is extremely fast and now stronger than the previous Spirit Helmbreaker + Spirit Release Slash strategy.
While Crimson Combo is generally better, Spirit Helmbreaker still has specific uses. Use it when your Red gauge is almost depleted, when you need super armor during monster attacks, or when a monster is about to leave the area and you want to get in some final damage. Or if you want to see satisfying cinematic slashes, obviously.
Iai Spirit Slash is the fastest way to level up your gauge and does good damage. Foresight Slash offers a generous counter window and leads to Spirit Roundslash. Focus Strike provides quick progress by giving you two levels if it breaks a wound.
In Red Spirit, both ISS and Roundslash will restore small amounts of gauge instead of leveling it up. Foresight Slash transforms into Foresight Whirl Slash with a backflip animation. The key is to keep countering effectively while maximizing your time using the Crimson Combo whenever the monster gives you an opening.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the best builds and progression.
Long Sword Low Rank Builds and Progression
When using the Long Sword, Quick Sheathe is the most important skill to prioritize from the early game, as it enhances your counterplay and overall combat flow.
With that in mind, here are the best builds for Low Rank hunts and assignments:
HR 1-5
The Balahara and Alloy combination provides Quick Sheathe Lv. 3, giving you faster sheathing speed for smoother counterattacks. It's a simple yet effective setup for Low Rank progression.
HR 5-10
The Hirabami set grants Evade Window and a higher base defense, making it useful for progressing through the story and handling tougher monsters. To compensate for the loss of Quick Sheathe, craft a Sheathe Charm.
Barina Flamberge is a solid choice for Low Rank hunts, thanks to its effective paralysis status, which helps immobilize monsters for easier combos. Alternatively, if you prefer poison damage over paralysis, the Rompo Hacker is another great option for consistent damage over time.
HR 10-15 (Until High Rank)
This armor set provides the offensive power needed to take on tougher monsters, all the way up to Low Rank bosses. Weakness Exploit and Burst are excellent skills since you'll be frequently using the Crimson Combo for consistent damage output.
For weapons, Veldian Ensis is a strong choice due to its high base damage and Dragon element. Other viable options include Rompopolo and Lala Barina.
Once again, Quick Sheathe is the most important skill. If you don't have Sheath Jewels, use Alloy Helm and Greaves instead, but make sure to upgrade them to maintain decent defense. However, if you prefer WEX, then keep using the G Rathalos set.
Best Long Swords for Low Rank
- Rompo Hacker I
- Windclaw Blade I
- Rey Tonitrus I
- Barina Flamberge 2
- G. Veldian Ensis I
Long Sword High Rank Builds and Progression
Congrats, you are now in High Rank! Starting the High Rank, you still use your previous low rank armor set. So Make sure to upgrade it at least to level 6.
HR 15-35
From HR 15 to HR 35, there are not much to be changed except the weapons. By switching the previous LR G Rathalos Mail to Kut-Ku Mail, you will get Agitator instead, which is quite useful for Long Sword.
At this stage, mastering your Long Sword combos and mechanics is essential, as they form the foundation of your success until you reach HR 35.
Late High Rank
Once you unlock Gore Magala, it's best to farm its materials as soon as possible. The Gore Magala set grants Antivirus, which boosts your Affinity, significantly increasing your critical hit chance. Additionally, you will still benefit from Burst Lv. 4, which is crucial for maximizing your Crimson Combo damage output.
For weapons, Rey Dau’s Tonitrus Chairblade is a strong choice, offering high base damage, a Lightning element, and long white sharpness. However, you can always switch to Rathalos, Lala Barina, or Rompopolo if you prefer different status effects or elemental damage.
It is also the perfect time to farm materials for the Exploiter Charm, as it will be crucial for late to endgame progression.
Best Long Swords for High Rank
- Tonitrus Chairblade
- Stahlrecht
- Wyvern Blade Maple
- Lala Ornitochton
- Rompo Mytoxin
Long Sword Best Endgame Builds
For the endgame, your build choice will largely depend on your playstyle and preference. However, these three are currently the best Long Sword endgame builds:
LS Endgame Elemental Crit Build
After you have defeated High Rank Arkveld, you'll need to adjust your build to focus on high Weakness Exploit. Using the G. Arkveld set provides extra Weakness Exploit and additional jewel slots, allowing you to mix and match skills effectively.
By now, it's crucial to have farmed decorations, as they are what complete the build. Prioritize Critical, Counterstrike, and Challenger jewels, as they serve as the core components of this setup.
The best weapon to use if you want elemental crit build is Gore Magala's Long Sword, Stahlrecht. It has good white sharpness, 210 base raw damage, and 20% Affinity. Add to it the 15% from Antivirus, 30% from Weakness Exploit, and Agitator, you will proc critical hits all the way.
Alternatively, you can switch 1 Agitator with Burst level 1, which will give you decent raw and elemental boost.
LS Endgame Burst Build
This build is the bread and butter of the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds. Crimson Combo attacks are so fast and constant that the Burst skill is always activated. With Critical Boost and Weakness Exploit at full, this build maximizes landing crits while adding damage from Burst and Maximum Might.
Ebony Odogaron's set bonus provides an additional Burst boost, while Arkveld's Hunger grants healing. As long as you land quick and constant hits, you're more than good to go.
Quick Sheathe is still irreplaceable, so make sure not to forget it. The Destroyer Jewel can be switched to anything you prefer. With this build, make sure you can perform Crimson Combo flawlessly.
Note that you will need a lot of specific decorations to complete this build. Always go on hunts and search for these Jewels.
LS Endgame Agitator Build
Arguably head-to-head with the Burst build, this setup revolves around Agitator. At max level, Agitator grants +20 Attack and +15% Affinity when the monster is enraged. Since monsters are frequently enraged, this build is always a solid choice. It was the main meta in Monster Hunter World and remains viable in Wilds.
Similar to the Burst build, this setup works best if you consistently use the Crimson Combo. The difference is that you need to be more active while the monster is enraged.
LS Endgame Antivirus Build
This build’s main skill is Antivirus, which grants +15% Affinity after recovering from the Frenzy state. To maximize its potential, this build also relies on Crimson Combo, as the increased Affinity significantly boosts critical hits.
However, the Burst and Agitator builds are generally superior, as they provide higher overall damage output.
Best Long Swords for Endgame
- Dimensius
- Tonitrus Chairblade
- Stahlrecht
- Wyvern Blade Maple
- Lala Ornitochton
- Rompo Mytoxin
- Righteous Lancelot
Dimensius reigns supreme as the best Longsword in Monster Hunter Wilds. It boasts massive base damage, compatibility with all elements, and, most importantly, three level 3 decoration slots. Grinding for Dimensius takes time, but that's what makes Monster Hunter fun.
These are the best builds for the Longsword in Monster Hunter Wilds. Don't forget to use Quick Sheathe from early on until the endgame. For the endgame, Weakness Exploit, Critical Boost, and Maximum Might are crucial skills, with Agitator, Burst, or Antivirus as the bread and butter. Good luck hunters!
