The Long Sword is one of the most popular weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. It combines fluid combos with a unique spirit gauge that boosts damage as you build it up. This guide covers the best builds for solo and multiplayer play.
Why Long Sword
The Long Sword rewards aggressive play and good timing. The spirit gauge gives it strong scaling, and the foresight slash gives it a defensive option without breaking flow. The weapon is best for hunters who:
- Want fluid, flowing combos
- Like a weapon with strong scaling potential
- Enjoy the spirit gauge mini-game
- Don't mind being in the monster's face
The downside is that Long Sword requires constant aggression. A defensive player will not use it well.
Best Long Swords
Best for Raw Damage
Royal Long Sword
Raw damage: 350. Sharpness: White. Affinity: 15%. Skills: Attack Boost 3, Critical Boost 2.
Best for: general-purpose hunting.
Anjanath Saber
Raw damage: 330. Sharpness: White. Affinity: 20%. Skills: Attack Boost 3, Critical Eye 2.
Best for: high-affinity builds.
Best for Elemental Damage
Legiana Frost Saber
Element: Ice. Elemental damage: 310. Sharpness: White. Skills: Ice Attack 3, Critical Element 2.
Best for: ice-weak monsters.
Best Armor
Rathalos Armor
Skills: Attack Boost 4, Critical Eye 3, Weakness Exploit 2. Defense: 380. Slots: 2 level-2, 2 level-1.
How to get: Crafted from Rathalos materials.
Best Skills
Spirit Gauge Boost 3
Boosts spirit gauge fill rate by 30%. Essential for keeping the gauge topped off.
Attack Boost 4
Boosts raw attack by 8%. Required for raw builds.
Critical Eye 3
Boosts affinity by 15%. Pairs well with Critical Boost.
Critical Boost 2
Boosts critical damage by 25%. Pairs with high affinity.
Weakness Exploit 2
Boosts damage on weak points by 15%. Long Sword is best aimed at weak points.
Best Combos
Standard Combo
- Triangle (light)
- Triangle, Triangle (2 lights)
- Triangle, Triangle, Triangle (3 lights)
- Triangle + Circle (spirit finisher)
- Repeat
This combo is the bread-and-butter Long Sword combo.
Spirit Combo
- Triangle x 3 (3 lights, builds spirit)
- Triangle + Circle (spirit finisher)
- Triangle + Circle + Triangle (special spirit helm splitter)
- Repeat
Use this combo to build up spirit and trigger helm splitter.
Foresight Combo
- Triangle (light)
- Foresight Slash (R2/RT + Triangle during animation)
- If successful, Triangle + Circle (counter finisher)
- Repeat
Foresight Slash is a defensive move that turns into an offensive counter.
How Spirit Gauge Works
The spirit gauge is the Long Sword's signature mechanic. There are three colors:
White Spirit
- Boosts attack by 10%
- Lasts until you get hit
- Built by 3 spirit rounds
Yellow Spirit
- Boosts attack by 20%
- Lasts until you get hit
- Built by 3 spirit rounds after white
Red Spirit
- Boosts attack by 30%
- Lasts until you get hit
- Built by 3 spirit rounds after yellow
The helm splitter (R2/RT + Triangle + Circle) is the highest damage move and is best used at red spirit.
How to Use Foresight Slash
Foresight Slash is the Long Sword's signature defensive move. It is performed by pressing R2/RT + Triangle during an attack animation. The foresight slash:
- Dodges the incoming attack
- Costs no stamina
- Sets up a counter finisher if successful
- Has a long recovery if it misses
Use foresight slash on attacks you cannot avoid with normal dodging.
Best Matchups
Best Monsters for Long Sword
- Monsters with breakable parts (Rathalos, Rathian)
- Monsters with predictable attacks (Tigrex, Glavenus)
- Monsters with telegraphed attacks (Brachydios)
Worst Monsters for Long Sword
- Monsters with constant movement (Tobi-Kadachi)
- Monsters with multi-hit attacks (Barioth)
Solo Strategy
For solo play, focus on:
- Spirit gauge management โ always build spirit before combos
- Foresight slash โ use it to dodge without losing combo flow
- Weak point targeting โ aim for the head or tail for max damage
- Helm splitter โ use it at red spirit for max damage
Multiplayer Strategy
For multiplayer play, focus on:
- Damage windows โ chain your combos with team staggers
- Mounting โ Triangle + Circle aerial attack mounts quickly
- Spirit upkeep โ keep the gauge topped off between combos
Common Mistakes
- Don't ignore spirit gauge. It is the source of all your damage.
- Don't use foresight slash randomly. It has a long recovery if it misses.
- Don't get hit. Spirit gauge resets on hit.
- Don't forget to sharpen. Low sharpness ruins Long Sword damage.
FAQ: Long Sword
Q: Is Long Sword hard to use?
A: Moderate. The combos are not hard but the spirit gauge requires attention.
Q: What's the best spirit color to use?
A: Red spirit for max damage. Yellow and white are stepping stones.
Q: Should I use foresight slash or normal dodge?
A: Foresight slash when you need to keep combo flow. Normal dodge when you can afford to reset.
Q: Are there Long Sword combos that break the game?
A: No. All combos are achievable through normal play.
Q: Do I need Spirit Gauge Boost?
A: Yes. It is essential for keeping the gauge topped off.
With this build, you will be a fluid damage dealer. Master the spirit gauge, use foresight slash to dodge, and always aim for weak points.