Summary
Monster Hunter Wildshas been out for over a month now, giving players enough time to grind through the main story and start hunting with their friends online. However, this new entry in the franchise is quite different from the rest, now that players can equip two weapons at once and switch them out at will while riding their mount, encouraging a lot more experimentation.
While theSword & Shieldis the default weapon type in everyMonster Huntergame, it’s also a huge preference for longtime veterans thanks to its versatility and speed. For those who have maybe eschewed this starter weapon type for something more eclectic in their journeys, these arethe Sword and Shields that players should set out to craft inMonster Hunter Wildsif they’re looking to add to their in-game arsenal.
This Sword Keeps You Sharp
Esperanza Sword
Every hunter inMonster Hunter Wildswill start out with the Hope Sword, which doesn’t have any elements or status effects to boast about, but is nevertheless a solid weapon when fully upgraded. TheEsperanza Sword, its highest-powered form, not only has three slots for decorations, but also has a pretty great base Attack at 294 and a decent chunk of white Sharpness.
What the Esperanza Sword sports that makes it a worthwhile investment aretwo incredibly useful skills for Sword & Shield users: Critical Eye, which increases affinity, and Speed Sharpening, which speeds up the animation for sharpening weapons. Given that players only ever need to upgrade this weapon from the default one they’re given at the start of the game, the Esperanza Sword has a lot of perks for lazy hunters.
This Draconic SnS Can Take A Hit
Veldian Mucro I
Elder Dragons are surprisingly absent inMonster Hunter Wilds, a first for the series, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still monsters that can give players some pretty good Dragon-element weapons. One such example is Arkveld, a Flying Wyvern brand new to this installment in the franchise. As far as Dragon element weapons, its fully-upgraded Sword & Shield, theVeldian Mucro I, is excellent.
Between its great base Attack and heavy Dragon element damage at 220, the Veldian Mucro I also gives a huge bonus for Sword & Shield users with its additional Guard Level 3 Skill. This is one of the best skills for Sword & Shield users, allowing blocking to be less detrimental to hunters, and it also frees up players' armor sets to be more eclectic.
Its Origin Is A Mystery, But Its Strength Isn’t
Verdoloto
Design-wise, theVerdolotois one of the most visually interesting Sword & Shields in the entireMonster Hunterfranchise. However, it’s a little difficult to get, as it requires a different kind of material than veterans may be used to acquiring. Artian materials are new toMonster Hunter Wilds, rarely gained from fighting the much more fearsome and strong Tempered Monsters.
If players put in some elbow grease to acquire the Verdoloto, the fully-upgraded Artian Sword & Shield, they might be disappointed by its lackluster Sharpness, but don’t be fooled. This weapon has not only three slots for Level 3 Decorations, but also 5% Affinity. This weapon also boasts 260 Elemental Damage, but its element varies depending onwhat type of Artian materials the player gets.
The Poisonous Classic Returns
Queen Rapier
Any player who’s ever used Sword & Shield in aMonster Huntergame before has probably equipped theQueen Rapieror its earlier iterations. This Poison-coated weapon is crafted fromRathian materials, one of the two flagship monsters along with Rathalos that appear in every singleMonster Hunterinstallment, making it as reliable as it is powerful.
With good base Attack and Poison Element, the Queen Rapier may only be useful when fighting monsters that are particularly susceptible to Poison, but it also boasts two good Skills: Critical Status Lvl 3, which will increase affinity for status element weapons, and Poison Duration Lvl 1, which will increase the amount of time monsters are poisoned, which is especially helpful against resistant monsters.
This Water Weapon Has Many Uses
Sandsea Katduva
Water-element weapons are a solid choice for hunters inMonster Hunter Wilds, given that they’reeffective against several of the strongest monstersin the game, including Nu Udra and Gravios. For Sword & Shield users, their water weapon of choice should undoubtedly be theSandsea Katduva, which is crafted using materials from the Balahara, a very strong Leviathan new toWilds.
Aside from pretty decent all-around stats, the Sandsea Katduva also gives players Offensive Guard Lvl 3, a skill that will boost a hunter’s attack after executing a perfect guard. This can be pretty tricky with Sword & Shield compared to weapons like Charge Blade or Lance, but it’s a really great Skill to have on the rare occasion when it’s activated.
Thunder Is Just Too Good
Kuara Clairsword
Thunder is a pretty common Element that monsters inMonster Hunter Wildsare weak to, especially late-game monsters like the Uth Duna and Balahara. While it has 200 Thunder, theKuara Clairswordis not only good for its element. This weapon has 308 base Attack, much more than most other fully-upgraded Sword & Shields in the game, and a huge chunk of White Sharpness.
As for additional Skills, the Kuara Clairsword has two: Guard Lvl 2, which, as stated earlier,r is a must-have for Sword & Shield users, and Offensive Guard Lvl 1. In case those aren’t high enough levels, the Kuara Clairsword also has three slots for Decorations of varying levels, meaning players can still go nuts on their armor sets while having two great skills baked into their arsenal with this weapon.
Paralyze Enemies With Style
Lala Acanthopelm
Sword & Shield users love their Paralysis Elements, given that it’s one of the easiest ways to play a supportive role in online play. Strong Paralysis aside, theLala Acanthopelmis one of the best Sword & Shields inMonster Hunter Wilds, with decent Attack, Sharpness, and Affinity, as well as three slots and two vital Skills:Critical Draw and Critical Status.
To acquire the Lala Acanthopelm, players will have to fight the Lala Barina, a Temnoceran new toWilds, but as far as hunts go in the game, it’s not the hardest. That means that this top-tier Sword & Shield is actually quite accessible to players who aren’t even that leveled up yet. It’s a hard weapon to top, though there’s one Element that can do the trick…
There’s Nothing Better Than Blast
Titan’s Armament
Any Sword & Shield user is likely very aware of just how fun it is to play with the Blast Element. In previous games, the Teostra Sword & Shield wasone of the best Sword & Shieldsin the series, but given the absence of Elder Dragons inMonster Hunter Wilds, players will have to face off against another veteran monster, the Gravios, to obtain theTitan’s Armament Sword & Shield.
With a whopping 360 base Attack, 250 Blast, and Guard Up Lvl 3, which reduces damage taken when blocking, Sword & Shield users have a lot of reason to use this weapon. However, as is the norm with Gravios weapons, Titan’s Armament lacks good Sharpness or Affinity, but these can be remedied with skills like Handicraft and Critical Eye, which can be added with the weapon’s three Decoration slots.
