Mastering the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Based Build Guide
The Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now is a powerful weapon capable of immense damage, but its size can make it unwieldy. This guide details a sleep-based build that maximizes its potential. This build prioritizes putting monsters to sleep for massive damage.
Optimal Great Sword Build in Monster Hunter Now
Unlike poison-focused builds for other weapons, the Great Sword excels with sleep. While requiring a rare monster for one component, the rest utilizes more commonly encountered 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) |
Mail |
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
The Frilled Blade stands out as the best sleep-element Great Sword. Its inherent Evade Extender skill improves defensive maneuvers, crucial for the Great Sword's slower attacks. Somnacanth is the source for this weapon's crafting materials.
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Helmet and Greaves: Nightmare Paolumu's Contribution
The Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event, provides crucial components for this build. Its parts grant access to all three levels of the Rude Awakener skill, a significant damage boost against sleeping monsters (100% damage increase on the first hit). While less frequent now, they remain obtainable through events or as rare spawns.
Mail, Vambraces, and Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's Role
The remaining armor pieces primarily focus on maximizing Status Sneak Attack, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. Additional points in Evade Extender and Artful Dodger enhance survivability. The Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, easily tracked with paintballs, provides these components.
Optimizing Driftstone Slots for the Great Sword Build
This build offers a relatively low threshold for unlocking all Driftstone slots. Five slots are optimal. Consider these options:
- 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.
- Evade Extender (Pale): Increases evasion distance.
By utilizing this build, you can significantly enhance your Great Sword's effectiveness in Monster Hunter Now, leveraging the power of sleep to overcome challenging hunts.