If you’re starting out in Monster Hunter World and still haven’t decided on a starting weapon yet, or if you just want to try something new, then we’ve got just the thing for you. You’ve seen the best starting build for Bows, which is the safest choice for beginner players who prefer ranged combat. You can also check out the best starting build for Long Swords and Charge Blades, two melee weapons with different set of skills that cater to two vastly different play styles.
If you want something with a little more oomph, then look no further than the Switch Axe, my starting weapon of choice when I first got into Monster Hunter World. It’s a very decent weapon with two powerful forms that you can call on for different situations. While the starting build for this weapon may be a little more demanding than other weapons, it’s absolutely worth it thanks to its high damage output.
- Weapon – Axe of Demons
- Headgear – Dragonking Eyepatch alpha
- Mail – Kushala Cista beta
- Vambraces – Kaiser Vambraces beta
- Coil – Nergigante Coil beta
- Boots – Death Stench Heel beta
- Charm – Mighty Charm II
If you’re looking to deal a ton of damage, then this is the build to go for. Three pieces require farming from three different elder dragons – Kushala Daora, Teostra and Nergigante – but these pieces can last you for a very long time, especially once you slot in some jewels. The Axe of Demons is easily the strongest Switch Axe available for starters, and once you get an Elementless Jewel you can get an even higher damage output. If you're looking for enhanced survivability, replace the Mighty Charm II with the Leaping Charm II, which gives you two points in Evade Extender.
This entire build plus the Attack Jewel 1 will give you:
- Handicraft +4
- Weakness Exploit +3
- Attack Boost +3
- Maximum Might +2
Sharpness for this build is amazing, giving you 10 hits of white and 60 hits of blue. To go even further, slot in a Sharp Jewel 2 for Protective Polish, which lets you wield your weapon for a short time without sharpness decreasing after sharpening. Follow it up with two slots filled with Critical Jewel 2 for a 35 percent increase in critical damage, as well as two more Attack Jewel 1 slots for that 5 percent affinity, and the resulting build is one you can rely on for a long time, at least until you start getting endgame materials.
This is what your final build should be like.
If you want to test out other weapons, check out my starter builds for the Bow, Charge Blade and Long Sword.
Monster Hunter World is now available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
