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In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Great Sword rewards careful positioning and well-timed commitment: its attacks are powerful, but slow enough that a poor opening can leave you exposed. Don’t charge every attack to the limit. Read the monster, choose an attack that can connect during its recovery, and save the longest commitment for a clear opening.
How the Great Sword plays in Monster Hunter Wilds
The Great Sword is built around heavy hits rather than a rapid stream of attacks. Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds overview describes it as delivering powerful chops and highlights Focus Mode as a way to target weak points. That is promotional framing, not a measured comparison with other weapons.
In practice, the tradeoff is commitment: while the weapon is drawn, movement and attacks can feel slow, so distance and timing matter. You are looking for moments when a monster’s action leaves it vulnerable, then choosing a strike that fits the time available.
How to time Great Sword charged attacks
Charging is a timing decision, not a contest to hold the button as long as possible. Capcom’s Monster Hunter Generations manual explains that a Charged Slash grows stronger as it charges, but loses power if held too long. It identifies a large flash as the release cue for maximum damage in Generations.
#1 Best Overall
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Players can also now ride atop the Seikret, an agile new mount enabling hunters to traverse difficult terrain, perform actions like sharpening weapons on the move, and switch between two weapons while out on hunts!
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
That exact cue and the manual’s controls are specific to Generations; do not assume they map directly to Wilds. Check the current in-game Hunter’s Notes for Wilds inputs and cues. As a general approach, pick the shortest charge likely to land during the opening. A longer charge makes sense when the monster is committed to a long recovery or is down, but forcing it into a short window risks a miss and wasted time.
What Focus Mode does for Great Sword
Capcom presents Focus Mode in Wilds as a way to target weak points. The system gives you a way to line up your attention on vulnerable areas, which is useful when a monster shifts position or when you are trying to direct a committed strike more deliberately. The official overview does not establish a damage ranking or guarantee that every attack will connect.
An independent Wilds Great Sword guide also discusses Focus Mode alongside wounds, Focus Strikes, offsets, guarding, and carrying a second weapon. Treat it as an orientation guide; use the Hunter’s Notes for authoritative current inputs and explanations.
A beginner’s approach to the Great Sword
Great Sword can suit a beginner who enjoys predicting movement and choosing deliberate attacks. It may be frustrating if you expect to stay mobile while attacking or want to correct aim instantly after committing. Start by learning the monster’s patterns rather than trying to force a full charge into every opening.
Rank #3
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
- Watch the monster first. Notice which actions leave it still or recovering, and where it is likely to end up.
- Move toward the likely landing point. Positioning before the opening is more reliable than chasing after the monster has already moved.
- Match commitment to the opening. Use a quick punish for a short window; reserve the longest charged sequence for a confirmed, sustained opening.
- Reposition or protect yourself when the read is uncertain. A missed committed attack costs time, so do not force one just because the weapon can charge.
This is tactical guidance, not a claim that one combo or build is universally optimal. The right choice depends on distance, the monster’s recovery, and the specific game and update.
Controls and differences between Monster Hunter games
Weapon behavior and inputs are not interchangeable across the series. The Generations manual documents Overhead Slash, Wide Slash, Rising Slash, Block, dodge, and sheathing for that game. Its charge instruction and visual cue should not be treated as Wilds control instructions.
For Wilds, consult the in-game Hunter’s Notes for the controls shown for your current configuration. The independent guide lists PS5 defaults, Xbox equivalents, and configurable Steam inputs, but those mappings may not reflect a changed configuration or later update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who is likely to enjoy the Great Sword?
- Consider it if you like reading openings, aiming for a few consequential hits, and deciding how much risk a window allows.
- Think twice if you prefer frequent attacks, fast drawn movement, or a weapon that can readily adjust after an attack begins.
- When comparing weapons, look at commitment and recovery, drawn mobility, damage concentrated per hit versus attack frequency, and the defensive options available in that installment. In Wilds, also consider how aiming and Focus Mode feel to you.
The available sources do not establish a numerical tier ranking or damage comparison, so choosing the Great Sword is best treated as a question of play style rather than a proven ranking.
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- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
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