Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build for Max DPS

Among all the arsenal in Monster Hunter Now, the Great Sword stands out as truly unique. This massive blade delivers devastating single-strike damage to unsuspecting monsters, though its sheer size makes it somewhat cumbersome to wield effectively.

To optimize your Monster Hunter Now Great Sword build, you'll need a way to control enemy movement. Post-launch updates have introduced sleep-inflicting weapons crafted from monster parts. However, activating sleep status reliably requires specific skills - here's the complete gear breakdown for maximizing your build's potential.

Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Unlike poison-focused Long Sword builds, the Great Sword reaches its full potential when paired with Sleep element. While this requires hunting one relatively rare monster, the core equipment comes from more commonly encountered creatures.

Complete Equipment Setup

Weapon Details

The Frilled Blade emerges as the top choice for sleep-based Great Swords, offering the valuable Evade Extender skill for improved defensive mobility during combat. While not absolutely essential, this skill significantly improves maneuverability with the bulky Great Sword. You'll need to hunt Somnacanth to obtain the necessary crafting materials.

Helmet & Greaves

The build's core components come from the initially paid-event exclusive Nightmare Paolumu. These pieces provide crucial Rude Awakener skills that amplify damage by 100% for the first attack on sleeping monsters. While Nightmare Paolumu spawn rates have improved, they remain relatively rare outside special events after completing the main story quest.

Mail, Gauntlets & Coil

The remaining armor pieces focus on maximizing Status Sneak Attack, guaranteeing sleep buildup on rear attacks when fully upgraded. Additional movement skills include Evade Extender and Artful Dodger for evasive maneuvers. These components primarily come from Tzitzi-Ya-Ku - a more common monster appearing regularly via paintball tracking.

Driftstone Slot Recommendations

This build benefits from relatively accessible Driftstone slot unlocks. Prioritize five Sleep Attack slots, though you could alternatively enhance evasion with Artful Dodger and Evade Extender, or damage potential with Sneak Attack for rear assaults.

• Sleep Attack - Boosts weapon sleep buildup (50 at rank 1, 150 at rank 5) - Azure only
• Sneak Attack - Increases rear attack damage (10% at rank 1, 30% at rank 5) - Pale only
• Artful Dodger - Improves evade timing (mild improvement at rank 1, significant at rank 5) - Azure only
• Evade Extender - Extends dodge distance (minor extension at rank 1, major at rank 5) - Pale only