Monster Hunter Now: Top Great Sword Build for Max Damage

In the vast arsenal of *Monster Hunter Now*, the Great Sword stands out as a devastating weapon capable of unleashing colossal damage. Its sheer power, however, comes with a trade-off: its unwieldy size. To effectively wield this behemoth, a strategic build is crucial. This guide details a build focused on maximizing the Great Sword's potential using sleep-inducing attacks.

Thanks to recent updates, crafting sleep-based weapons is now possible, but achieving optimal sleep proc rates requires specific skills and equipment. Let's dive into the optimal Great Sword build.

Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Unlike the poison-focused Long Sword, the Great Sword shines with a sleep-based strategy. While this build requires materials from a relatively rare monster, the majority of the equipment can be obtained from more common hunts.

Full Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Weapon: Frilled Blade

The Frilled Blade is the optimal sleep-based Great Sword. Its inherent Evade Extender skill significantly improves defensive maneuvers, enhancing survivability despite the Great Sword's slower movements. You'll need to hunt Somnacanth to acquire the necessary materials.

Helmet & Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu Armor

The core of this build utilizes armor pieces from the Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event. This monster provides crucial skills, including all three levels of Rude Awakener, which drastically boosts damage against sleeping monsters. While less common now, Nightmare Paolumu remains accessible through events and rare spawns.

Mail, Vambraces, & Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Armor

Completing the build, the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku armor provides essential Status Sneak Attack skill points, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. This armor also contributes to Evade Extender and Artful Dodger, further enhancing both offense and defense. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a more readily available monster.

Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Driftstone Slots

This build boasts a relatively low Driftstone slot requirement. Five slots dedicated to Sleep Attack are ideal. However, you can strategically allocate slots to enhance dodging capabilities (Artful Dodger, Evade Extender) or boost damage from rear attacks (Sneak Attack).

• Sleep Attack (Azure): Increases sleep buildup (50 at rank 1, 150 at rank 5).
• Sneak Attack (Pale): Increases damage from rear attacks (10% at rank 1, 30% at rank 5).
• Artful Dodger (Azure): Improves evasion ease.
• Evade Extender (Pale): Extends evasion distance.