Monster Hunter Now: Best Great Sword Build for High Damage

In the vast arsenal of *Monster Hunter Now*, the Great Sword stands out as a devastating weapon capable of unleashing immense damage with each swing. However, its size makes it less agile. To build a truly effective Great Sword, you need to control the fight, and that means exploiting sleep. Recent updates have introduced sleep-inducing weapons, but maximizing their potential requires specific skills and gear.

This guide outlines the optimal build for a sleep-focused Great Sword in *Monster Hunter Now*.

Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Unlike the poison-centric Long Sword, the Great Sword shines with a sleep-based strategy. While this build requires materials from a somewhat rare monster, the majority of equipment comes from more common hunts.

Full Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Weapon: Frilled Blade

The Frilled Blade is the premier sleep-inducing Great Sword. Its Evade Extender skill adds crucial distance after dodging, improving survivability. While not essential, it significantly enhances Great Sword maneuverability. You'll need to hunt Somnacanth for the necessary materials.

Helmet & Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu

The core of this build utilizes the Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event. This monster provides crucial components and skills, including all three levels of Rude Awakener, which boosts damage by 100% on the first hit against a sleeping monster. While less common now, they still appear in events and as rare spawns.

Mail, Vambraces, & Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku

The remaining pieces focus on maximizing Status Sneak Attack, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. You'll also gain additional Evade Extender and Artful Dodger points for improved evasion. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a more readily available monster, making these components easier to acquire.

Best Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Driftstone Slots

This build boasts a generous number of Driftstone slots. While five Sleep Attack slots are ideal, you can also enhance dodging (Artful Dodger and Evade Extender) or boost rear attack damage (Sneak Attack).

• Sleep Attack (Azure): Increases sleep buildup (50 at rank 1, 150 at rank 5).
• Sneak Attack (Pale): Increases damage from rear attacks (10% at rank 1, 30% at rank 5).
• Artful Dodger (Azure): Improves evasion ease.
• Evade Extender (Pale): Increases evasion distance.