Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
![The Great Sword from Monster Hunter Now. This image appears during the tutorial.](https://gameranx.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mhn-great-sword-1024x546.jpg)
The Great Sword is the second weapon you unlock in Monster Hunter Now. As a big, hulking behemoth of a weapon, it’s slow to hit but packs a punch. Coupled with elemental damage, the Great Sword can be excellent for Large Monster hunts, especially if you’re aiming for A Rank. However, you need to get the timing down for both your attacks and your dodges. If you can get a perfect dodge and follow up with an attack, hunts will take no time at all.
Monster Hunter Now: Armor Sets Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Hammer Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Light Bowgun Guide
You will unlock the Great Sword after completing the first half of Chapter 2: Shimmering Swamp. You can either attack a monster with a “quick” swipe (it’s still slow) or charge up a powerful attack while the monster goes through its attack motions. If you time it correctly, you can also shove a monster during its attack wind-up to interrupt its pattern.
Currently, there are 10 Great Swords in the game. Great Swords in Monster Weapon Sets include the Great Jagras, Pukei-Pukei, Barroth, Great Girros, Tobi-Kadachi, Jyuratodus, Legiana, Anjanath, and Rathalos.
Overview
![Hunter performing the final blow of a monster hunt with a Great Sword.](https://gameranx.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_8387-1024x570.jpg)
As a heavier weapon, the Great Sword has a long wind-up time even for normal attacks. However, strikes will break monster parts more easily than other weapons. Unlike the Hammer, the Great Sword has a better swinging range, though you still want to get pretty close to monsters to ensure a hit.
Great Swords have three charge attacks: Charged Slash, Strong Charged Slash, and True Charged Slash. You can charge by holding the screen. With each charge level, your Hunter will glow a different color. With each charge level, your attack will do more damage.
The Great Sword Special Skill is also called True Charged Slash. Essentially, when the Special Gauge is full, it allows you to perform the True Charged Slash without needing to wait for your weapon to charge.
List of Great Swords
First Form | Second Form | Weapon Set | Element | Equipment Skill |
Buster Sword | Buster Blade | Metal | None | Poison Resistance Reduces the duration of or prevents poisoning. |
Jagras Sword | Jagras Hacker | Great Jagras | Water | Health Boost Increases health by a percentage. |
Blooming Blade | Datura Blaze | Pukei-Pukei | Poison | Sneak Attack Increases damage when attacking a monster from behind. |
Carapace Buster | Barroth Shredder | Barroth | None | Defense Boost Increase defense by a percentage. |
Girros Blade | Malady’s Kiss | Great Girros | Paralysis | Sneak Attack Increases damage when attacking a monster from behind. |
Thunder Blade | Lightning Punisher | Tobi-Kadachi | Thunder | Evade Extender Extends evasion distance. |
Aqua Slasher | Water Golem | Jyuratodus | Water | Last Stand Increases defense when your health drops below a certain point. |
Freeze Blade | Frost Blaze | Legiana | Ice | Divine Blessing Grants the chance of halving the damage caused by a monster’s attack. |
Flammenzahn | Flammenzahn+ | Anjanath | Fire | Rising Tide Increases attack and defense as the hunt timer runs out. |
Flame Blade | Red Wing | Rathalos | Fire | Earplugs Reduces or nullifies the effects of monster roars. |
Related Guides: Monster Hunter Now: Sword & Shield Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Equipment Skills Guide | Monster Hunter Now: Large Monsters Guide | Monster Hunter Now: How to Form Parties | Monster Hunter Now: Invitation Codes Guide