Among the many weapons available in *Monster Hunter Now*, few offer the sheer power and impact of the Great Sword. This massive weapon delivers devastating blows to even the toughest monsters, though its size can make it a bit cumbersome in combat. To truly maximize its potential, you’ll need a well-optimized build that enhances its strengths and mitigates its weaknesses.
One of the most effective strategies when using the Great Sword is to slow down or immobilize your target. Thanks to updates since launch, players can now craft weapons infused with sleep effects—turning this heavy-hitting weapon into a control powerhouse. However, triggering sleep consistently requires the right skills and gear. Below is a detailed breakdown of the best Great Sword build focused on Sleep mechanics, allowing you to dominate both rare and common monsters alike.
Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build
Unlike the Long Sword, which thrives on poison buildup, the Great Sword shines brightest when equipped with Sleep-based attacks. While crafting this build requires hunting a relatively rare monster, most of the gear can be obtained by battling more commonly encountered foes.
| Item | Effect |
|---|---|
| Weapon: Frilled Blade |
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| Helmet: Nightshade Paolumu Helmet |
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| Mail: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Mail |
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| Vambraces: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Vambraces |
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| Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Coil |
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| Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu Greaves |
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Weapon
Sleep-infused Great Swords are rare, but the Frilled Blade stands out as the top choice. It not only provides a Sleep element but also includes Evade Extender, giving you extra distance after dodging—an essential advantage when wielding such a bulky weapon. You'll need to defeat Somnacanth to gather materials for this powerful blade.
Helmet & Greaves
Most of the key components for this build come from Nightmare Paolumu—a monster introduced during the game’s first paid event. Nightmare Paolumu drops allow you to access high-tier skills like Rude Awakener at multiple grades, which boosts damage by 100% on the first attack against a sleeping monster. Although they’re still somewhat rare, these monsters appear more frequently during events and seasonal spawns following their story appearance.
Mail, Gauntlets, & Coil
The remaining armor pieces focus heavily on increasing the Status Sneak Attack skill. By maxing this out, you ensure consistent sleep buildup whenever attacking from behind. Additionally, you gain points in Evade Extender and Artful Dodger, improving mobility and survivability. Most of these parts drop from Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, a much more accessible monster thanks to the paintball tracker system.
Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Driftsmelt Slots
This build benefits from having five Driftstone slots unlocked across the armor set, allowing for customization based on your playstyle. Ideally, all five should be used to boost Sleep Attack, maximizing your ability to put monsters to sleep. Alternatively, you can allocate some slots to enhance evasion or increase sneak attack damage.
- Sleep Attack – Increases weapon sleep buildup. Rank 1 gives +50, Rank 5 gives +150. (Azure slot only)
- Sneak Attack – Boosts damage dealt from behind by 10% per rank, up to 30% at Rank 5. (Pale slot only)
- Artful Dodger – Makes evading easier. Noticeable improvement at Rank 1, significant at Rank 5. (Azure slot only)
- Evade Extender – Increases dodge distance. Slight at Rank 1, major at Rank 5. (Pale slot only)
