Monster Hunter Now: Best Great Sword Build for High Damage

Master the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Induced Build Guide

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

To effectively utilize this build, you'll need to reliably put monsters to sleep. Recent updates have introduced sleep-inducing weapons, but you'll also need the right skills. Let's dive into the optimal gear:

Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Unlike the poison-focused Long Sword, the Great Sword excels with sleep. This build requires materials from a relatively rare monster, but the majority of the equipment comes from more common hunts.

Complete Great Sword Build

ItemEffect Weapon: Frilled BladeSleep element; Evade Extender I (Grade 8) Helmet: Nightshade Paolumu HelmetRude Awakener I (Grade 5), Rude Awakener II (Grade 8), Driftstone Slot (Grade 8) Mail: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku MailStatus Sneak Attack (Grade 2), Artful Dodger (Grade 4), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) Vambraces: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku VambracesStatus Sneak Attack I (Grade 2), Status Sneak Attack II (Grade 4), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku CoilEvade Extender (Grade 2), Status Sneak Attack (Grade 4), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5) Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu GreavesRude Awakener (Grade 5), Status Sneak Attack (Grade 6), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5)

Weapon Choice: Frilled Blade

The Frilled Blade is the ideal sleep-inducing Great Sword. Its Evade Extender skill adds crucial distance after dodging, significantly improving maneuverability. Somnacanth is the source for this weapon's materials.

Helmet and Greaves: Nightmare Paolumu

The Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in a paid event, provides key components. Its parts offer Rude Awakener (all three levels), boosting damage by 100% on the first hit against a sleeping monster. While rarer, it's becoming more accessible through events and occasional spawns.

Mail, Vambraces, and Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku

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

Optimal Driftstone Slot Allocation

This build benefits from a relatively low Driftstone slot requirement. Five slots are ideal for Sleep Attack. Alternatively, you can enhance dodging (Artful Dodger, Evade Extender) or rear attack damage (Sneak Attack).

• 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 ease (noticeable at rank 5).
• Evade Extender (Pale): Extends evasion distance (significantly at rank 5).

This build transforms the Great Sword into a sleep-inducing powerhouse. Master its mechanics and dominate Monster Hunter Now!