Monster Hunter Now: Best Great Sword Build for High Damage

Master the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Based 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 effect.

Great Sword Build Image 1

This build prioritizes sleep, unlike the poison-focused Long Sword build. While it requires materials from a relatively rare monster, the majority of equipment comes from more common hunts.

Optimal Great Sword Build

Item	Effect
Weapon: Frilled Blade	Sleep Element; Evade Extender I (Grade 8)
Helmet: Nightshade Paolumu Helmet	Rude Awakener I (Grade 5), Rude Awakener II (Grade 8), Driftstone Slot (Grade 8)
Mail: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Mail	Status Sneak Attack (Grade 2), Artful Dodger (Grade 4), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5)
Vambraces: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Vambraces	Status Sneak Attack I (Grade 2), Status Sneak Attack II (Grade 4), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5)
Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Coil	Evade Extender (Grade 2), Status Sneak Attack (Grade 4), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5)
Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu Greaves	Rude Awakener (Grade 5), Status Sneak Attack (Grade 6), Driftstone Slot (Grade 5)

Weapon Choice: Frilled Blade

The Frilled Blade is the optimal sleep-based Great Sword. Its Evade Extender skill enhances defensive maneuvers, crucial for a weapon of this size. Somnacanth is the source for its crafting materials.

Great Sword Build Image 2

Helmet & Greaves: Nightmare Paolumu

The Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event, provides key components. Its parts grant access to all three levels of Rude Awakener, significantly boosting damage against sleeping monsters. While less frequent now, it remains obtainable through events or as a rare spawn.

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

These pieces maximize Status Sneak Attack, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. Points in Evade Extender and Artful Dodger further improve survivability. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a more readily available monster.

Driftstone Slot Optimization

Great Sword Build Image 3

This build offers a substantial number of Driftstone slots. Prioritize five Sleep Attack slots for optimal sleep buildup. Alternatively, allocate slots to 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.
Evade Extender (Pale): Increases evasion distance.

This build transforms the Great Sword into a highly effective sleep-inducing weapon. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the monster's behavior and your personal playstyle.