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 delivering massive damage. However, its size can make it unwieldy. This guide details a build maximizing its potential using the sleep element.
To effectively utilize this build, you'll need to reliably put monsters to sleep. Recent updates have introduced sleep-based weapons, but you'll also need the right skills. Let's dive into the optimal gear:
Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build
Unlike the poison-focused Long Sword, the Great Sword excels with sleep. This build requires materials from a somewhat rare monster, but the majority of the equipment is obtainable from more common hunts.
| 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
The Frilled Blade is the optimal sleep-based Great Sword. Its Evade Extender skill provides crucial distance after dodging, significantly improving survivability. You'll need to hunt Somnacanth for its crafting materials.
Helmet & Greaves: Nightmare Paolumu's Contribution
The Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in a paid event, provides crucial gear. Its parts grant access to all three levels of Rude Awakener, boosting damage against sleeping monsters by 100% on the first hit. While less frequent now, they appear in events or as rare spawns.
Mail, Vambraces, & Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's Role
The remaining pieces primarily focus on Status Sneak Attack, maximizing sleep buildup with rear attacks. You'll also gain additional Evade Extender and Artful Dodger points for enhanced mobility. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a more common target, easily tracked with paintballs.
Optimizing Driftstone Slots
This build offers a good number of Driftstone slots. Prioritize five Sleep Attack slots for maximum sleep buildup. Alternatively, invest in Artful Dodger, Evade Extender, or Sneak Attack to further enhance your offensive or defensive capabilities.
- 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.
This comprehensive guide equips you to dominate with the Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the specific monster you're facing.
