Home > News > Optimize Great Sword Build for Enhanced Damage in Monster Hunter

Optimize Great Sword Build for Enhanced Damage in Monster Hunter

Author : Logan

Feb 25,2025

Mastering the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Focused Build Guide

The Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now is a powerful weapon, capable of delivering devastating blows. However, its size can make it unwieldy. This guide details a build maximizing its effectiveness using the Sleep element.

This build prioritizes maximizing sleep effects for massive damage. While other builds might focus on poison, sleep offers a unique advantage with the Great Sword. You'll need materials from both common and rarer monsters.

Optimal Monster Hunter Now Great Sword Build

Great Sword Build Overview

Item	Effect
Weapon	Frilled Blade (Sleep Element, Evade Extender I)
Helmet	Nightshade Paolumu Helmet (Rude Awakener I, II, Driftstone Slot)
Mail	Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Mail (Status Sneak Attack, Artful Dodger, Driftstone Slot)
Vambraces	Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Vambraces (Status Sneak Attack I, II, Driftstone Slot)
Coil	Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Coil (Evade Extender, Status Sneak Attack, Driftstone Slot)
Greaves	Nightshade Paolumu Greaves (Rude Awakener, Status Sneak Attack, Driftstone Slot)

Weapon: Frilled Blade

The Frilled Blade is the ideal sleep-based Great Sword. Its inherent Evade Extender skill improves mobility, crucial for a weapon of this size. Somnacanth is the source for this weapon's crafting materials.

Frilled Blade

Helmet & Greaves: Nightshade Paolumu

The Nightshade Paolumu provides crucial Rude Awakener skills (all three levels), significantly boosting damage against sleeping monsters. While initially event-exclusive, these monsters are becoming more readily available.

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

These pieces primarily contribute to Status Sneak Attack, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. Additional points in Evade Extender and Artful Dodger enhance survivability. Tzitzi-Ya-Ku is a relatively common monster, making these components easier to obtain.

Driftstone Slot Optimization

Driftstone Slot Options

This build offers numerous Driftstone slots. Prioritize Sleep Attack for increased sleep buildup (Azure only). Alternatively, enhance evasion (Artful Dodger and Evade Extender, Azure only) or rear attack damage (Sneak Attack, Pale only).

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

This build transforms the Great Sword into a sleep-inducing powerhouse. By strategically utilizing its strengths and optimizing Driftstone slots, you'll dominate the hunt.