Monster Hunter Wilds Best Sword and Shield Build Guide

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This manual delves into an optimal Sword-and-Shield setup suitable for defeating any monster in Monster Hunter World, leaving them utterly destroyed.

As a seasoned gamer in Monster Hunter Wilds, I’ve found that the Sword and Shield combo is my go-to weapon for its versatility. It’s not just an all-rounder, it’s the ultimate jack-of-all-trades! This speedy weapon gives me the agility to dodge and weave around even the most formidable beasts. Plus, it comes with a handy shield that lets me parry attacks and set up incredible combos. With a well-crafted Sword and Shield setup, I feel like an unstoppable force in this game!

For beginners, choosing Sword and Shield might be an excellent starting point, as it has a tendency to become quite appealing rather swiftly. Be advised, though, that this weapon has a high mastery curve due to its unique playstyle that combines defensive blocks with swift offenses, along with numerous combo possibilities. In the following guide, we’ll delve into an optimal Sword and Shield build for Monster Hunter Wilds.

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If you’re just starting out, Sword and Shield could be a great choice that will quickly grow on you. However, keep in mind that it requires significant skill due to its versatile playstyle that blends defensive blocks with rapid attacks, as well as numerous combos. In this tutorial, we’ll look at the best Sword and Shield build for Monster Hunter Wilds.

Table of Contents
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  • Monster Hunter Wilds Sword And Shield Overview
  • Best Sword and Shield Build in Monster Hunter Wilds
    • Best Monster Hunter Wilds Sword And Shield Build: Statistics
    • Best Monster Hunter Wilds Sword and Shield Build: Active Skills
  • Monster Hunter Wilds Best Sword And Shield Build Explained
  • How To Use This Best Sword and Shield Build in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds Sword And Shield Overview

The weapon known as Sword and Shield, or SnS for short, offers a flexible combat style suitable for beginners and experienced players alike. Its balanced approach allows for both offensive and defensive maneuvers. SnS excels in dealing with both raw and elemental damage, prioritizing the former. However, it should be noted that its damage output is relatively lower compared to other weapons.

Here are the main pros and cons of Sword and Shield:

Pros Cons
High mobility
Versatile option
Easy for beginners to pick up
Can both guard and play aggressive combos		 Loses sharpness easily
Damage output is lower than other weapons

In our comprehensive Sword-and-Shield guide tailored for Monster Hunter Wilds, we emphasize optimizing your attack potential. Following this setup, you’ll find yourself well-equipped to handle even the most challenging quests within the game.

Best Sword and Shield Build in Monster Hunter Wilds

Here are the details for the best Sword and Shield build in Monster Hunter Wilds:

  • Element: Ice
  • Weapon: Verdoloto (Artian Weapon, Rarity: 8)
    • Crafting Materials:
      • Cracked Disc: Ice Attack Infusion x2
      • Rusted Device: Ice Affinity Infusion x1
  • Weapon Decorations:
    • Attack Jewel III [3]
    • KO Jewel III [3]
    • Expert Jewel III [3]
  • Armor: Guardian Arkveld β (4-piece set) + Arkvulcan Mail β (1 piece)
    • Guardian Arkveld Helm β
      • Decorations:
        • Tenderizer Jewel [3]
        • Protection Jewel [1]
    •  Arkvulcan Mail β
      • Decorations:
        • Flayer Jewel [3]
        • Refresh Jewel [2]
    • Guardian Arkveld Vambraces β
      • Decorations:
        • Adapt Jewel [1]
        • Steadfast Jewel [1]
        • Medicine Jewel [1]
    • Guardian Arkveld Coil β
      • Decorations:
        • Refresh Jewel [2]
        • Protection Jewel [1]
    • Guardian Arkveld Greaves β
      • Decorations:
        • Refresh Jewel [2]
        • Medicine Jewel [1]
  • Talisman: Chain Charm III
  • Mantle: Rocksteady Mantle

Best Monster Hunter Wilds Sword And Shield Build: Statistics

If you equip all of the above items, you should have the following stats:

Attack Status

  • Attack: 297
  • Affinity: 22%
  • Element: 270 (Ice)

Reminder: The stats for the Artian weapon aren’t currently at their max. It’s recommended that you upgrade them to level 5, as this will enhance other unspecified stats for this particular weapon.

Defense Status

  • Defense: 361
  • Fire Res: 10
  • Water Res: 0
  • Thunder Res: -5
  • Ice Res: 0
  • Dragon Res: -19

Here’s an interesting point: The numbers you see below pertain to the basic versions of the armor components. By upgrading them to their highest level (level 7), you can anticipate a boost in your overall defense as well.

Best Monster Hunter Wilds Sword and Shield Build: Active Skills

The optimal Dual Blades setup in Monster Hunter Worlds provides you with these abilities (and their respective levels):

This approach maintains the original meaning while making it more natural and easier to read.

Equipment Skills

  • Slugger: Level 3
  • Attack Boost: Level 3
  • Critical Attack: Level 5
  • Weakness Exploit: Level 5
  • Flayer: Level 5
  • Stamina Surge: Level 3
  • Divine Blessing: Level 2
  • Stun Resistance: Level 2
  • Partbreaker: Level 1
  • Elemental Absorption: Level 1
  • Adaptability: Level 1

Set Bonus Skills: Guardian Arkveld’s Vitality

  • 2-set bonus active: Decimator I
  • 4-set bonus active: Decimator II

Group Skills: Guardian’s Protection

  • 3-set bonus active: Ward of Wyveria

Monster Hunter Wilds Best Sword And Shield Build Explained

Here are the aspects that our best Sword and Shield build in Monster Hunter Wilds focuses on:

  • Maximizing the stun potential with the Shield.
  • Increasing Affinity to the maximum.
  • Creating wounds and dealing maximum damage to them.

Here are explanations for the above points.

1) Maximize Stun Potential

With a Sword and Shield in hand, it’s equipped with a protective shield that allows both defensive maneuvers like blocking attacks and offensive moves known as Power Clashes. Interestingly, this very same shield boasts impressive stun capabilities. By upgrading the Slugger skill to level 3, you’ll experience a 40% higher probability of stunning your adversary.

Furthermore, employing the Monster-Stunning Combination makes it simple to stun monsters during any hunt. Additionally, the Focus Strike of SnS possesses stun capabilities, and these are further enhanced. Consequently, stuns enable you to execute extensive combos, resulting in a substantial amount of damage being inflicted.

2) Increasing Affinity

Essentially, affinity enhances your probability of inflicting crushing blows that multiply your standard damage by 1.25 times. Accumulating more affinity means you’ll have a higher chance of executing those powerful strikes, leading to even greater damage output.

Since the Sword and Shield boast multiple-strike combinations exceeding five hits, the Chain Charm serves as a perfect accompaniment by amplifying all your attributes, including your affinity.

3) Creating Wounds and Destroying Them

At long last, reaching level 4 with the Flayer Skill empowers me to inflict painful wounds on my foes more effortlessly. The Weakness Exploit charm serves as the final blow, boosting my affinity by up to 50% when I strike those openings. This devastating damage is a game-changer, significantly reducing battle durations.

Because Sword and Shield is a weapon that often delivers multiple strikes, it’s likely to inflict more than one injury in a single instance. Consequently, using these abilities together can significantly increase the amount of damage you deal multiple fold.

How To Use This Best Sword and Shield Build in Monster Hunter Wilds

While Sword and Shield may seem straightforward to start, you’ll find that perfecting the combos requires some practice. Remember to focus on both those combos with stun capabilities and those that deal significant damage for optimal gameplay.

In summary, aim to establish this optimal Sword and Shield setup in Monster Hunter Wilds by following this suggested gameplay cycle:

1. Begin by using your sword for quick attacks and combos to deal damage.
2. When the monster is weakened, switch to your shield to block or counterattack, conserving stamina.
3. Use evasive maneuvers like rolling or sliding to dodge incoming attacks.
4. Capitalize on openings by attacking again with your sword, and repeat this cycle until the monster is defeated.
5. Make sure to keep track of your resources such as stamina, health, and ammo, and manage them effectively throughout the fight.

  • Initiate the fight with a Sneak Attack to get some free damage.
  • Rely less on blocking attacks and more on dodging to use the Stun combo.
  • In case of attacks that you are not in a situation to dodge, guard them or try to initiate a Power Clash.
  • Use the simple combo: Lateral Slash > Return Stroke > Spinning Slash > Spinning Reaper to deal approximately 420 damage per combo.
  • Always try to end the Perfect Rush with a Scaling Slash and Falling Bash to try and stun the monster.
  • Use the stun combo and aim for the Perfect Rush whenever the monster is stunned or toppled.
  • When you use the Focus Strike (Vital Stab), follow it up with a Upswing Bash and Falling Bash. These are shield attacks that have stun potential. 

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2025-02-28 23:49