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The *Monster Hunter* series is renowned for its diverse arsenal of weapons, each offering unique playstyles and challenges. For those looking to master the Great Sword in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, this comprehensive guide will help you sharpen your skills and dominate the battlefield.
Best Way To Use the Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds
The Long Sword is a versatile weapon that perfectly balances speed and damage, offering a wide array of combos and counterattacks to suit your combat strategy. Whether you prefer to chain attacks for maximum damage or use defensive maneuvers to outsmart your foes, the Long Sword has you covered.
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 unique feature of the Long Sword in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, enhancing the weapon's damage potential. The higher the gauge level, the more damage you can deal, and at its maximum, it enables powerful follow-up attacks.
To charge the Spirit Gauge, land attacks on the monster. To increase the level, use Spirit Blade attacks and successfully land the final Spirit Roundslash or a Focus Strike. When the gauge is red, landing a Spirit Roundslash or a Spinning Crimson Slash extends its duration as it naturally depletes over time.
Damage increases are as follows:
- White – 1.02x
- Yellow – 1.04x
- Red – 1.1x
Combos
Mastering the Long Sword involves understanding and executing various combos to maximize your damage output. Here are some key combos to get you started:
Spirit Gauge Filling Combo/Spirit Gauge Leveling
Begin by chaining four basic Overhead Slashes using Triangle/Y to quickly fill the Spirit Gauge to its maximum. Follow this with a four-chain of R2/RT presses for Spirit Blade attacks. While you can miss the first three attacks, landing the final Spirit Roundslash is crucial to push the Spirit Gauge to the next level.
Crimson Slash Combo
With the Spirit Gauge at its maximum level and red, your basic attacks transform into Crimson Slashes. Chain three of these using Triangle/Y for a swift and powerful combo.
Stationary Combo
For a stationary attack pattern, use the combo Triangle/Y + Circle/B + Triangle/Y. This sequence includes a Crimson Slash, followed by a Rising Slash, and finishes with another Crimson Slash, allowing you to deal significant damage without moving.
Long Sword Tips
The Spirit Gauge is central to maximizing your Long Sword's potential. Here are some tips to enhance your gameplay:
Spirit Charge
Hold down R2/RT to initiate a Spirit Charge. Fully charging allows you to unleash a Spirit Roundslash immediately, boosting the Spirit Gauge. Ensure you're in a safe position while charging.
Spirit Helm Breaker/Spirit Release Slash
The Spirit Helm Breaker is the Long Sword's most damaging move. Utilize Crimson Slashes to maximize your gauge before executing this move. After hitting the enemy with a Spirit Thrust and Spirit Helm Breaker, follow up with R2/RT for a Spirit Release Slash, delivering high-speed, high-damage attacks.
Free Spirit Gauge Levels
Attacking wounds with the Focus Strike can instantly increase the Spirit Gauge by one level per wound. If you've inflicted multiple wounds, this can quickly elevate your gauge to red. Even with just one wound, the Focus Strike followed by a Spirit Blade combo and a Spirit Blade Roundhouse can raise the gauge by an additional level.
Countering with Iai Spirit Slash
Since the Long Sword cannot block damage, speed and timing are crucial for defense. After an attack, press R2/RT and Cross/A for Special Sheathe. Wait for the enemy's attack and time your R2/RT press to execute the Iai Spirit Slash, countering the monster's move and raising your Spirit Gauge.
With these tips and techniques, you're well on your way to mastering the Long Sword in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. For more guidance and strategies, continue exploring The Escapist.
*Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
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