We’re back with another Monster Hunter World beginner build guide, where we take your weapons of choice and turn them into absolute monster-killing machines at the beginning of endgame, where the best equipment and weapons lie. For this piece, we’re looking at the weapon with the capacity to one-shot monsters thanks to its raw power – if you’re a big fan of absolute and brutal strength at the cost of mobility and any other form of intuitive evasion, then the Greatsword is what you need.
The Greatsword is still a go-to for many seasoned players who want to just deal raw damage whenever possible thanks to the weapon’s powerful base stats. There is a bit of technicality to wielding it properly, though, as most of its true potential comes from charged attacks that need precise timing and spacing in order to pull off correctly. Not to mention the fact that its stature makes wielding and movement a nightmare. If you’re able to master it, though, get ready to absolutely wreck everything in sight, as there are some builds can even one-shot smaller monsters. This starter guide is just handy for beginners, though, and only represents a faction of what you can do with the Greatsword.
Best Beginner Greatsword Build
- Weapon – Leviathan’s Fury
- Helm – Nergigante Helm alpha
- Mail – Kushala Cista beta
- Vambraces – Kaiser Vambraces beta
- Coil – Nergigante Coil beta
- Shoes – Death Stench Heel beta
- Charm – Exploiter Charm II
This is as good of a build as any if you’re only starting out with the Greatsword, as it provides a little bit of everything that makes the weapon a terror in the right hands. Leviathan’s Fury as a weapon can easily reach white sharpness with just two points in Handicraft, and this build has four thanks to the Kushala Cista and the Death Stench Heel. Weakness Exploit is an absolute must since you should be first and foremost keeping an eye on where you’re hitting due to the weapon’s long wind up, and getting Maximum Might is integral thanks to relatively low usage of stamina. Slot in the Attack Jewel 1 you get from the end of High Rank, and possibly work towards a Handicraft Jewel, Might Jewel or even Attack Jewels.
Alternatively, if you’re having trouble with the weapon’s slow charging, you can opt for the Focus skill by getting a Damascus Mail beta for the two points, then offsetting the other skills with the Nergigante Greaves beta (Maximum Might +1) and the Handicraft Charm (Handicraft +3). Focus reduces charge times for weapons that have them, and the Greatsword greatly benefits from such a skill.
If you want, you can also out these other guides from us detailing fantastic starter builds for the Bow, Charge Blade, Long Sword, Switch Axe, Lance, Sword and Shield, Gunlance and Dual Blades.
Monster Hunter World is now available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
