Master the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Focused Build Guide
The Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now is a powerful weapon capable of devastating blows, but its size demands strategic play. This guide details a build maximizing sleep effects for maximum damage output.
To effectively utilize the Great Sword, you need to reliably put monsters to sleep. Recent updates have introduced sleep-inducing weapons, but you'll also need the right skills. This build focuses on achieving consistent sleep and maximizing damage during those crucial moments.
Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build
Unlike the poison-centric Long Sword, the Great Sword excels with sleep effects. This build requires materials from a relatively rare monster, but the majority of components are obtainable from more common creatures.
Complete Great Sword Build Breakdown
| Item | Effect |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Frilled Blade (Sleep Element, Evade Extender I) |
| Helmet | Nightshade Paolumu Helmet (Rude Awakener I/II, Driftstone Slot) |
| Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Mail (Status Sneak Attack, Artful Dodger, Driftstone Slot) | |
| Vambraces | Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Vambraces (Status Sneak Attack I/II, Driftstone Slot) |
| Coil | Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Coil (Evade Extender, Status Sneak Attack, Driftstone Slot) |
| Greaves | Nightshade Paolumu Greaves (Rude Awakener, Status Sneak Attack, Driftstone Slot) |
Weapon Choice: The Frilled Blade
While sleep-based Great Swords are limited, the Frilled Blade stands out. Its inherent Evade Extender skill enhances mobility, crucial for a weapon with the Great Sword's reach. This isn't strictly essential, but significantly improves defensive maneuvers. You'll need to hunt Somnacanth for its crafting materials.
Helmet & Greaves: Leveraging Nightmare Paolumu
The core of this build utilizes the Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event. This monster provides crucial weapon parts and skills, including all three levels of Rude Awakener. Rude Awakener boosts damage by 100% on the first attack against a sleeping monster. While less common now, Nightmare Paolumu occasionally appears in events or as rare spawns.
Mail, Vambraces, & Coil: Maximizing Status Sneak Attack
The remaining pieces focus on maximizing Status Sneak Attack. At maximum level, this skill guarantees sleep buildup with rear attacks. You'll also gain additional Evade Extender and Artful Dodger points for enhanced survivability. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is the primary source for these parts and is thankfully more readily available.
Optimizing Driftstone Slots
This build boasts a relatively low Driftstone slot requirement. Aim for five Sleep Attack slots for optimal sleep buildup. Alternatively, invest in Artful Dodger and Evade Extender for improved mobility or Sneak Attack for increased rear-attack damage.
- Sleep Attack (Azure): Increases sleep buildup (50 at Rank 1, 150 at Rank 5).
- Sneak Attack (Pale): Increases damage from rear attacks (10% at Rank 1, 30% at Rank 5).
- Artful Dodger (Azure): Improves evasion ease.
- Evade Extender (Pale): Extends evasion distance.
This build transforms the Great Sword into a sleep-inducing powerhouse. By combining strategic positioning with the right skills and equipment, you'll unleash devastating attacks on unsuspecting monsters.
