Monster Hunter Wilds: Best Greatswords & Endgame Build - Progression Guide
Time: 2025-03-09 by mmojugg Game: Monster Hunter Wilds Guide
It's 9 March 2025, and Monster Hunter Wilds is all about the greatsword - the easiest to learn, the hardest to master. Moxy's latest vid (linked above) serves up a complete progression guide, highlighting the best greatswords, skills and armour from low-rank to HR 40+ endgame. Tested for maximum damage, this guide has it all - sleep strategies, crit stacking, and meaty hits. Here's the breakdown!
Key Greatsword Skills
Focus 3: -15% recharge time = faster True Charged Slashes (TCS). Essential for scoring hits.
Counter-Strike 3: +25 attack for 40s after tackles/offsets - activates without knockback. Huge DPS boost.
Weakness Exploit 5: +30% chance to crit on weak points (+20% on wounds).
Agitator 5: +20 attack, +15% crit when monster is enraged.
Maximum Power 3: +30% crit at full stamina - easy on the low stamina of the greatsword.
Offensive Guard 3: +15% damage after perfect guard. Synergises with Greatsword's blocking.
Critical Boost 3: +34% crit damage - turns 1000 damage TCS into 1250+.
Low Rank (HR 1-10)
Weapons:
Nilla Greatsword: Sleep + Offensive Guard/Guard. Double damage on awakening TCS - aim away, turn back.
G. Veldian Gladius (Arkveld): High Raw, -10% Affinity, Dragon damage, Focus 2. Solid early pick.
Armour:
Helm/Armour/Greaves: Guardian Rathalos (Weakness Exploit 3 total).
Chest/Waist: Doshaguma (Heroics, Doshaguma Might: +10 Attack after Power Clash/Offset).
Why it hits: Easy crits + attack buffs. Sleep doubles your biggest hits - great for starting!
Mid High Rank (HR 10-40)
Weapons:
Nilla greatsword (rarity 5-7): Upgrades to large Raw + Defence 2.
Rathalos Greatsword (Rarity 6): High Raw, +Affinity, crit boost 1, fire damage. Crit monsters.
G. Veldian Gladius (Rarity 6): More Raw, Dragon, Focus 2 - still powerful.
Armour:
Helm: Guardian Rathalos β (Weakness Exploit 1, 2x Lv2 slots).
Chest: Blankmail β (Agitation 1, Lv2 slot).
Arms: G. Rathalos Vambraces (Weakness Exploit 1, Lv2 + 2x Lv1 slots).
Waist: Blango Coil (Agitation 2, 2x Lv1 slots).
Legs: Guardian Rathalos Greaves (Weakness Exploit 1, Lv2 slot).
Skills: Weakness exploit 5, Agitator 4, Counter attack 3, Quick cover 2, Maximum power 2.
Decorations: Counter-Strike, Maximum Might, Quick Sheath (Lv2/Lv1 slots).
Why it hits: 70%+ crit chance, +25 Counter-Strike attack on tackles. Great mid-game damage!
Endgame (HR 40+)
Weapons:
Varianza (Artian): 225+ Raw (4x attack infusions), Sleep, White Sharpness (1-2 Sharpness boosts). 2-3 Sleep TCS doubles per hunt.
Stalwart Lamorak (Arkveld): High Raw, Focus 3, Dragon damage, 0% Affinity. Steady beast.
Dosha Grim Slayer: Massive Raw, -20% Affinity, 2x Lv3 slots, poor Sharpness - hard to hit.
Main build (max damage):
Helm: Guardian Rathalos β (Weakness Exploit 1, 2x Lv2).
Chest: Ark Vulcan Mail β (Weakness Exploit 1, Lv3 + Lv2).
Arms: G. Rathalos Vambraces (Vulnerability Exploit 1, Lv2 + 2x Lv1).
Waist: Blango Coil (Aggression 2, 2x Lv1).
Legs: Jinder Daad boots (Aggression 2, 2x Lv2).
Decorations: Focus 3, Critical Strike 3, Offensive Guard 3 (weapon); Counterattack 3, Maximum Strength 2, Quick Vest 3 (armour).
Skills: Weakness Exploit 5, Agitator 5, Counter-Strike 3, Quick Sheath 3, Maximum Might 2.
Effective Power: ~400+ (225 Power × 1.32 White × 1.34 Crit Boost at 90%+ Crit).
Variant 1 (Counter + Tank):
Legs: Jinder Daad Greaves (Jinder Daad Might: +damage after Power Clash).
Waist: Ark Vulcan Coil (Haste & Hunger: Health regen on hits).
Loses maximum Might for tankiness - still hits hard.
Variant 2 (Earplugs):
Swaps Counter-Strike for Earplugs 5. Tackle roars instead - optional comfort.
Variant 3 (Max Might):
Legs: Jinder Daad Greaves.
Swap Counter-Strike for Max Might 3, Divine Blessing. Critical boost 5 to Stalwart Lamorak.
Why it hits: 90%+ crit chance, +25 attack from Counter-Strike, +15% from Offensive Guard. Sleep TCS doubles seal the deal - the fastest hunts!
Playstyle Tips
Sleep Strat: Aim TCS away, turn into a monster on awakening for double damage.
Tackle/Offset: Unleash Counter-Strike (+25 attack) without knockback - spam it.
Perfect Guard: Increases offensive guard (+15% damage). Easy with Focus Mode.
Focus Mode: Aim mid-charge - never miss a TCS again!
Thanks For Reading
From low-ranked sleep shenanigans to late-game crit-stacking madness, this greatsword guide has it all. Varianza's Sleep TCS reigns supreme, but Stalwart Lamorak is a beast too. Moxy's build hits 400+ Effective Raw Shred HR 40+! More weapon guides to come - drop your favourite below! MMOJUGG's stoked!
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