Monster Hunter Wilds: Long Sword Mastery Guide

Time: 2025-03-01 by mmojugg Game: Monster Hunter Wilds Guide

Welcome to the Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword Guide! This stylish, katana-inspired weapon is a fan favourite, combining mobility, range and a satisfying moveset that's accessible to newcomers yet deep enough for veterans. With new mechanics and powerful additions in Wilds, the long sword is becoming an even more dynamic tool for slaying monsters. This guide covers its core mechanics, combos, special moves, and tips for maximising your hunts. Let's unleash your inner samurai!

Overview: The Long Sword Experience

Why Choose the Long Sword?

A versatile weapon with a sleek design, the Long Sword is perfect for hunters who value agility and precision. It boasts

Excellent reach for accurate strikes.

Good manoeuvrability for quick repositioning.

A simple move set that scales with practice to create devastating combos. Its Spirit Gauge mechanic - which progresses through white, yellow and red levels - unlocks more powerful attacks, making it rewarding to master.

What's new in Wilds?

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Long Sword gets combo extenders, a timer-based Red Spirit Gauge (no per-move consumption), and a stunning new finisher. These changes increase its flow and power, giving you more ways to dominate the battlefield.

Core Mechanics: Spirit Gauge Basics

Understanding the Spirit Gauge

The Mind Gauge meter: Fills up the sword icon when you land attacks. It's spent on Spirit moves.

Spirit Gauge Level: Indicated by the coloured outline of the sword (white → yellow → red). Higher levels mean more powerful attacks.

New twist: In Wilds, the red gauge is on a timer, not consumed by moves. Special attacks replenish it, so timing is key.

Building up the meter

Start with basic attacks to fill the meter.

Use Spirit combos to level up to Red for maximum power.

Combos: Your bread and butter

Normal State Combos

Slash Combo

Input: Y-Y-Y-Y (Xbox) or △-△-△-△-△ (PlayStation)

Purpose: Fills the Spirit gauge. Your go-to for building up resources.

Spirit Slash Combo

Input: RT-RT-RT-RT (Xbox) or R2-R2-R2-R2 (PlayStation)

Aim: Raise the Spirit meter. Land the last Spirit Round Slash to hit Red.

Red State Crimson Combos

Basic Crimson Slash Combo

Input: Y-Y-Y (Xbox) or △-△-△ (PlayStation)

Purpose: Quick, powerful slashes. Repeat endlessly for sustained damage.

Stationary Crimson Combo

Input: Y+B (Xbox) or △+O (PlayStation)

Purpose: Powerful stationary strikes. Great for punishing openings.

Fade Slash Flex

Input: Y+B (Xbox) or △+O (PlayStation)

What it does: Dodge backwards or sideways (with directional input) in the middle of a combo.

Follow-up: Chain into Spirit Step Slash (second Spirit Slash) → Spirit Round Slash if you have meter.

Special moves: Power up your arsenal

Foresight Slash

Input: RT+B (Xbox) or R2+O (PlayStation)

What it does: Dodge with invulnerability. Costs health, but refills when you counter a monster's attack.

Red State Upgrade: Becomes Foresight Whirl Slash (same input), a spinning jump with longer hyper armour and slight gauge refill.

Special Vest

Input: RT+A (Xbox) or R2+X (PlayStation)

Options:

Iai Slash: Y (Xbox) or △ (PlayStation) - Refills some Spirit Gauge.

Iai Spirit Slash: RT (Xbox) or R2 (PlayStation) - Boosts Spirit when timed with a monster attack. Leads to Spirit Thrust.

Spirit Thrust

Input: RT+Y (Xbox) or R2+△ (PlayStation)

What it does: Lunges forward with a thrust. Chains into the Spirit Helm Breaker.

Follows

Spirit Helm Breaker: RT (Xbox) or R2 (PlayStation) - Jumping multi-hit attack. Drop one spirit level.

Red State Bonus: Adds Spirit Release Slash (RT/R2), a spinning hyper armour finisher. Refills the gauge, but costs two levels if missed.

Spirit Charge

Enter: Hold RT (Xbox) or R2 (PlayStation).

What it does: Charges your Spirit Blade (like the Great Sword or Hammer). Release at various levels to resume Spirit Slash combos, ending in Spirit Round Slash.

Red State Combo Extender

Spinning Crimson Slash: Press RT (Xbox) or R2 (PlayStation) after your third Spirit Slash.

What it does: Spinning attack with controllable direction. Slightly refills the gauge and chains into Special Sheath or Spirit Thrust.

Seikret Mounted Attacks

Mounted attack: Use Seikret for a quick strike.

Dismount Attack: Leap off with a directional jump attack.

Dismount Spirit Blade: Leads into Spirit Blade 3 → Spirit Round Slash for quick level-ups.

Focus Strike: Unbound thrust

Input: RT/R2 in focus mode

What it does: Bursts wounds for massive damage and boosts your Spirit level. Perfect for smashing parts.

Strategy and tips

Positioning for success

Target tails to sever them for extra drops.

Use your range to safely hit weak spots and create wounds for Focus Strikes.

Managing the Red Gauge

Keep the timer alive with Foresight Whirl Slash, Spinning Crimson Slash, or Spirit Release Slash.

Don't spam finishers - they'll cost you, so wait for clear openings.

Secondary weapon pairings

Ranged (bow, light/heavy bowgun): Apply status effects or damage mobile monsters from a distance.

Hammer: Smash through armour before switching to your long sword for slashing.

Hunting Horn: Buff yourself/team, then switch back for increased damage.

General play style

Stay aggressive but mobile - Fade Slash keeps you safe while you set up counters.

Master the timing of Foresight and Iai Spirit Slash for clutch level-ups.

Use Spirit Helm Breaker and Spirit Release Slash as finishers when monsters are staggered.

Thank you for reading

The Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds is a masterpiece of style and substance. Its easy-to-learn combos evolve into a fluid, devastating moveset with practice, bolstered by new extenders and finishers. Whether you're slicing off tails, dodging with flair or landing hyper-armoured finishers, this weapon rewards precision and creativity. Pick it up, experiment with its flow, and carve your legend in the wilderness! Happy hunting!