How to use the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds

Out of all the weapon choices in Monster Hunter Wilds, no weapon does a better job of feeling like a samurai than the Long Sword. Players that want a massive sword for a weapon could utilize a Great Sword, but its hefty charg times can put a damper on things.

The Long Sword, by contrast, lets players unleash a myriad of fast-moving slashes and allows for easy repositioning to get out of harm’s way — all while staying on the offensive. While it might not break into the top 5 easiest weapons for beginners, this is still a great weapon to learn the game’s mechanics.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Early Game Switch Axe Build

The best early Monster Hunter Wilds Switch Axe build prioritizes certain armors, weapons, and skills that work well forn Low HR and the campaign.

How to Use the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds

There are plenty of weapons in the game with shields for guarding, as well as weapons that can guard without a shield. However, when it comes to weapons like the Hammer and Long Sword, players will not have this innate guarding ability. Instead, players will need to learn all the basics of repositioning and parrying to avoid taking damage.

When using the Long Sword, players will use normal attacks to fill up a special gauge called the Spirit Gauge. They will also need to end their combos with the Spirit Roundslash to level up this gauge until it turns red. The higher the level of this gauge, the more damage their attacks will deal. They will also gain access to special moves while this gauge is red.

It is best to head to the Training Area once it is available to practice filling and leveling up this gauge. It will be very important to master it for the latter parts of Monster Hunter Wilds.

Control Name	PS5	Xbox	PC
Overhead Slash	Triangle	Y	LMB
Rising Slash	O	B	RMB
Spirit Blade I	R2	RT	R
Fade Slash	Triangle + O	Y + B	LMB + RMB
Foresight Slash	R2 + O	RT + B	R + RMB
Spirit Thrust	R2 + Triangle	RT + Y	R + LMB
Special Sheathe	R2 + X	RT + A	R + Spacebar

The Fade Slash will help players get some distance from foes by making them move away after dealing damage. Players will want to practise and feel how each attack helps them reposition. The Long Sword is not a weapon you can understand by just reading, you need to get first-hand experience for how each of its controls feel.

monster-hunter-wilds-weapons-game-rant-lance

Monster Hunter Wilds: Lance Guide

The Lance is the best option for a defensive playstyle in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Long Sword Combos in Monster Hunter Wilds

The Long Blade can chain many of its controls at many different moments. This is why practicing with it will be so important, as different opportunities will call for different attacks. This makes mastering controls more important than memorizing combos. However, the game does provide players with these 3 combos to help them in their journey to master the Long Sword.

Players will want to make use of their portable grill for cooking meals that benefit your playstyle. Some meals will increase your damage output, while others will let you take hits better.

Combo Name	Description	PS5	Xbox	PC
Combo to Fill the Spirit Gauge	This is a straight-forward combo that will cause the player’s Spirit Gauge to fill up as they attack monsters. The Long Sword has some incredibly fast strikes, making this a simple task while watching for enemy telegraphs. The controls for this combo are the Overhead Slash, Crescent Slash, Overhead Slash, and Overhead Slash.	Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle	Y, Y, Y, Y	LMB, LMB, LMB, LMB
Combo to Raise Gauge Color	Once the Spirit Gauge has been filled by the previous combo, this combo will level up the Spirit Gauge. This allows players to access some of their most powerful attacks. The final attack in this combo is called the Spirit Roundslash. The attacks preceding the Spirit Roundslash are the Spirit Blade I, Spirit Blade II, and Spirit Blade III.	R2, R2, R2, R2	RB, RB, RB, RB	R, R, R, R
Basic Combo while Gauge is Red	Once the Spirit Gauge has turned red, the player will have new moves opened up to them. This includes replacing their usual Overhead Slash with the Crimson Slash.	Triangle, Triangle, Triangle	Y, Y, Y	LMB, LMB, LMB

Crimson Slash combos allow players to unleash a never-ending stream of damage so long as they keep repeating the combo. If they replace every other hit with O/B/RMB, they will change how they reposition. This can give players different means of facing different enemies.

In addition to these standard 3 combos, there are various other combos the game does not tell you about, expecting players to explore and figure them out for themselves. These are as follows:

Combo Name	Description	PS5	Xbox	PC
Foresight Slash Combo	This combo will have players sheathing their blade and unleashing it at the right time. It will cost some Spirit Gauge, but replenish it by completing the combo.	R2 + O, R2 + X, Triangle, R2	RT + B, RT + A, Y, RT	R + RMB, R + Spacebar, LMB, R
Fade Slash Combo	Fade Slash is great for backing away, but it can be followed up by closing the distance back up. The second attack in this combo will be the Spirit Step Slash. This setup allows players to then finish with the Foresight Whirl Slash. Alternatively, they can use Special Sheathe or use Spirit Blade III to transition into Combo to Raise Gauge Color. This makes it a great combo for dealing with any of the monsters in the game.	Triangle + O, R2, R2 + O	Y + B, RT, RT + B	LMB + RMB, R, R + RMB

Long Sword controls come up within numerous combos, and knowing when each of them becomes viable creates many alternate options. Trying to list out every combo possible will just leave players with far too much information to memorize. Instead, earn what each control sets up, and then flow into what combos best reflect your needs.

Tips & Tricks for Using the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds

Tips Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword Guide

There are a lot of moving parts for the Long Sword. So much so that it can feel a little like micromanagement at times. Players need to fill and level their Spirit Gauge, all while carefully monitoring their opponent for tells. This makes each monster a challenge in mastering their unique attacks. Weapons like the Lance and the Bow can play the same way regardless of their opponents, making them easier for beginners to pick up.

Master The Spirit Gauge

Players that are new to the game can take things slow and understand how to fight with the Long Sword. However, as the game gets harder, they will need to end fights sooner or risk failing the task at hand. This means players will want to gain a firm understanding of the Spirit Gauge and how they can make use of it if they intend to use Long Swords throughout the game.

The Spirit Gauge will deplete over time, so it is imperative to make the most of it.

Instant Spirit Roundslash

Players can charge up their Spirit Charge attack to the point it unleashes an instant Spirit Roundslash. This makes it a lot easier to get the most damage possible out of this weapon as players can use it whenever they see an opening. This can help with long-term damage output.

Play Aggressively

Long Swords are not about running and gunning; that is for Bow players. Long Swords are capable of deflecting damage away from them and repositioning themselves where they need to be. This is so they can keep piling on damage while avoiding taking damage. If you’re worried about being hit, use meals based around the fish you catch to up your defense.

Released: February 28, 2025
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

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How to use the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds: Early Game Switch Axe Build