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When you start Monster Hunter Now, your first weapon will be the Sword & Shield. This weapon allows you to attack quickly and guard against incoming attacks. However, you won’t do a lot of damage. In Large Monster hunts, this will be a detriment due to the 75-second time constraint.
Monster Hunter Now: Hammer Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Light Bowgun Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Equipment Skills Guide
But as the first weapon in the game, the Sword & Shield (SnS) offers the most flexibility for early gameplay. Within your first handful of Large Monster hunts, you’ll be able to unlock some elemental weapons. Currently, there are 12 different Sword & Shield weapons in Monster Hunter Now.
Overview
In general, the SnS is the easiest and most intuitive weapon to use. It’s also the only weapon that allows you to guard, reducing the damage you receive when a monster attacks you. Additionally, you can dodge via Backstep while guarding. However, this is offset by a low damage output and short range.
To compensate for damage, make sure you match elements and weaknesses when using the SnS. Attacking a monster with an element they’re weak to will increase your damage.
Attack Combos
SnS features some combo moves to help you quickly and efficiently deal damage before your hunt timer runs out. The Charged Slash Combo can be activated in one of two ways: tapping after performing a Backstep or after guarding against a powerful monster attack that knocks you back.
Special Skill – Perfect Rush Combo
When activated, Perfect Rush Combo grants you increased attack damage and invincibility for a short time. Your hunter attacks with both sword and shield, dealing much higher damage. The combo ends with a plunging attack.
List of Swords & Shields
| First Form | Second Form | Weapon Set | Element | Equipment Skill |
| Hunter’s Knife | Steel Knife | Metal | None | Poison Resistance Reduces the duration of or prevents poisoning. |
| Jagras Edge | Jagras Garotte | Great Jagras | Water | Health Boost Increases health by a certain amount. |
| Blooming Knife | Datura Blossom | Pukei-Pukei | Poison | Sneak Attack Increases damage when attacking a monster from behind. |
| Carapace Edge | Barroth Club | Barroth | None | Defense Boost Increases defense by a certain amount. |
| Girros Knife | Malady’s Tabar | Great Girros | Paralysis | Sneak Attack Increases damage when attacking a monster from behind. |
| Thunder Edge | Lightning Nemesis | Tobi-Kadachi | Thunder | Evade Extender Extends evasion distance. |
| Lumu Knife | Lumu Taber | Paolumu | None | Divine Blessing Grants the chance of halving the damage caused by a monster’s attack. |
| Aqua Messer | Rogue Wave | Jyuratodus | Water | Last Stand Increases defense when your health drops below a certain point. |
| Blazing Edge | Flammensucher | Anjanath | Fire | Rising Tide Increases attack and defense as the hunt timer runs out. |
| Glacial Grace | Rimespire | Legiana | Ice | Divine Blessing Grants the chance of halving the damage caused by a monster’s attack. |
| Princess Rapier | Queen Rapier | Rathian | Poison | Health Boost Increases health by a certain amount. |
| Flame Knife | Heat Edge | Rathalos | Fire | Earplugs Reduces or nullifies the effects of monster roars. |
Related Guides: Monster Hunter Now: Armor Sets Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Large Monsters Guide | Monster Hunter Now: How to Form Parties | Monster Hunter Now: Invitation Codes Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Weapons Guide
