Mastering the Great Sword in *Monster Hunter Wilds* can significantly enhance your hunting experience, thanks to the weapon's unique blend of power and strategy. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the franchise, understanding the intricacies of this weapon will set you up for success.
Best Way To Use the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds
The Long Sword is a versatile weapon in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, offering a balance between speed and damage potential. It allows you to chain combos and utilize counterattacks, making it an excellent choice for players who enjoy a dynamic combat style.
All Moves
| Command | Move | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Triangle/Y | Standard Attack | Spirit Blade attacks are slashing attacks that consume the Spirit Gauge. The direction of Spirit Blade I and Spirit Blade II can be adjusted with the analog stick. |
| Circle/B | Thrust | Press Circle/B after Thrust to perform a Rising Slash. |
| R2/RT | Spirit Blade I | Spirit Blade attacks are slashing attacks that consume the Spirit Gauge. The direction of Spirit Blade I and Spirit Blade II can be adjusted with the analog stick. |
| R2/RT x 4 | Spirit Blade Combo | Spirit Blade attacks are slashing attacks that consume the Spirit Gauge. The direction of Spirit Blade I and Spirit Blade II can be adjusted with the analog stick. |
| Holding R2/RT | Spirit Charge | A Spirit Charge fills the Spirit Gauge and, once unleashed, allows you to perform a Spirit Blade attack. The level of Spirit Blade attack depends on the length the charge is held. Charging completely allows you to unleash a Spirit Roundslash. If the Spirit Gauge is red, you won’t have any damage reactions to attacks that knock you back or send you flying while the Roundslash is in motion. |
| Triangle/Y + Circle/B | Fade Slash | A slashing attack performed while moving backwards. The direction can be controlled using the analog stick. |
| R2/RT + Circle/B During Combo | Foresight Slash | The Foresight Slash is an attack that can be performed mid-combo and provides a large window of invulnerability. Foresight Slashes consume the entire Spirit Gauge. However, landing one after dodging a monster’s attack will fill the gauge completely. Press R2/RT to chain it into a Spirit Roundslash. When the Spirit Gauge is empty, the effect decreases, but if it is red, you can follow up with a Foresight Whirl Slash. |
| R2/RT + Triangle/Y | Spirit Thrust | Landing a Spirit Thrust will lower the Spirit Gauge one level (when the gauge is White or higher) but will allow you to chain into a Spirit Helm Breaker. This can be followed up with a Spirit Release Slash when the gauge is red. Use Square/X to cancel Spirit Helm Breaker. |
| R2/RT + Cross/A | Special Sheath | A special action that sheathes your weapon. |
| After Special Sheath, Triangle/Y | Iai Slash | After Special Sheath, landing Iai Slash will cause the Spirit Gauge to fill up automatically for a short time. |
| After Special Sheath, R2/RT | Iai Spirit Slash | After Special Sheath, you can time Iai Spirit Slash with an enemy’s attack to counter and raise your Spirit Gauge by one level. |
| L2/LT + R1/RB | Focus Strike: Unbound Thrust | A thrusting attack that is effective against wounds. Hitting a wound or weak point will unleash a slash attack, increasing the Spirit Gauge by one level. The more wounds you destroy, the more levels the Spirit Gauge will increase. Use the analog stick to change the direction of the attack. |
Spirit Gauge
The Spirit Gauge is a crucial element of the Long Sword in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, enhancing your damage output. The higher the level of your Spirit Gauge, the more damage you can deal. At its maximum, it transforms basic attacks into powerful follow-ups.
To charge the Spirit Gauge, land attacks on the monster. To increase its level, use Spirit Blade attacks and land the final Spirit Roundslash or a Focus Strike. When the gauge is red, landing a Spirit Roundslash or a Spinning Crimson Slash will extend its duration, as it decreases over time.
In terms of damage increases:
- White – 1.02x
- Yellow – 1.04x
- Red – 1.1x
Combos
Spirit Gauge Filling Combo/Spirit Gauge Leveling
To quickly fill the Spirit Gauge to its maximum, chain four basic Overhead Slashes using Triangle/Y. This sets the stage for Spirit Blade attacks, which can elevate the Spirit Gauge to the next level. Perform a four-chain of R2/RT presses, ensuring you land the final Spirit Roundslash to push the gauge up a level.
Crimson Slash Combo
With the Spirit Gauge at its maximum red level, your basic attacks transform into Crimson Slashes. Chain three of them using Triangle/Y to complete a swift and high-damage combo.
Stationary Combo
When the Spirit Gauge is maxed out, utilize the combo Triangle/Y + Circle/B + Triangle/Y to stay stationary. This sequence delivers a Crimson Slash followed by a Rising Slash, and concludes with another Crimson Slash, allowing you to deal damage without the need for constant movement and aiming.
Long Sword Tips
Spirit Charge
Initiate a Spirit Charge by holding down R2/RT. A fully charged move unleashes the Spirit Roundslash without needing the preceding chain and immediately increases the Spirit Gauge. Ensure you're in a safe position while charging up.
Spirit Helm Breaker/Spirit Release Slash
The Spirit Helm Breaker is the Long Sword's highest damage move. It consumes the current Spirit Gauge level, so maximize the use of Crimson Slashes first. After hitting the enemy with the Spirit Thrust, follow up with the Spirit Helm Breaker, and then press R2/RT for the Spirit Release Slash. This sequence delivers high-speed, high-damage attacks. Coordinating with teammates to distract the monster can make executing this combo easier.
Free Spirit Gauge Levels
Using the Focus Strike on wounds can instantly boost the Spirit Gauge by one level per wound. If you've inflicted multiple wounds on a monster, a single Focus Strike can quickly elevate your gauge to red. Even with just one wound, after landing the Focus Strike, you can immediately trigger the Spirit Blade combo and finish with a Spirit Blade Roundhouse to increase the gauge by another level.
Countering with Iai Spirit Slash
Without the ability to block, speed is your defense. Use the Iai Spirit Slash from Special Sheathe to counter enemy attacks. After an attack, press R2/RT and Cross/A for Special Sheathe. Then, time your R2/RT press to perform the Iai Spirit Slash as the enemy attacks, avoiding damage while counterattacking effectively.
That’s all you need to know about mastering the Long Sword in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. For more tips and strategies, check out the rest of The Escapist.
*Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
