Ever seen a monster and thought, “I want to hit that with a giant axe... but also a giant sword? Well my friend, the Switch Axe in Monster Hunter Wilds is for you! As for this weapon, it’s all about exchanging power — moving from a mobile axe for fast strikes to a slow but heavy-hitting sword for giant combo moves. Weaving between what you do and who you are and how you feel is a bit of a dance, but I assure you that you'll be able to do some pretty sick moves (both styling and formidable) once you learn the beat.
Here’s how to use this amazing weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds — but focusing on setting you up for success in Low Rank. We’ll go over the fundamentals of the Switch Axe, and then get into some sick weapon and armor builds that’ll have you carving up monsters like a damn pro, right out of the gate.
Mastering the Switch Axe: Guide to Axe and Sword Modes
At the core of the Switch Axe is, well, the Switch! You’re juggling two modes, each of which has its strengths and weaknesses, and learning to flow back and forth between those three modes is what it’s all about.
Axe Mode: Move and build your Meter
Axe Mode is your agile form. That’s the part where you zip around, land solid hits, and build up the energy for your powerhouse Sword Mode. That energy manifests as your Switch Gauge – the yellow bar that appears when you draw your weapon. Keep that gauge topped up!
Axe Mode Basics: In Axe Mode, hits landed charge your Switch Gauge. Simple as that. If you sheath your weapon, it even passively refills over time.
Basic Axe Combo (Y Button): Your basic bread and butter. A throuple with an Overhead Slash (fantastic for hitting high in the air!) And finishing with a Spiral Burst Slash. To engage a little faster, tap forward + Y for a Forward Slash that is FAR faster than the Overhead.
Wild Swing (B Button): Turn into a tornado of axe blows! Bashing B for the ability to kill things. More importantly, land a couple of swings and press Y again during Wild Swing to unleash a Heavy Slam and enter Power Axe Mode. Here, you'll receive a damage boost to your Axe Mode attacks and a boost to your Switch Gauge charging!
Offset Rising Slash (Y+B): Facing a charging monster? Perfectly timed this move as they attack to blast them out and make an opening. Press Y to attack hard or RT for deadly morph strike.
Forward Overhead Slash (Forward + B): Have to close some distance and get a hit in? This lunging slice works great for starting fights.
Fade Slash (Back + B): Space with a hit! Tumble backwards with an upward slash — great for repositioning and still damage.
Go into Sword Mode (RT): Want to enter Sword Mode? Hit RT! If the Switch Gauge is at least 30%, you will morph smoothly into Sword Mode — sometimes with a morph attack. If your gauge is too low, you will find yourself locked into a long reload animation, so make sure to keep on top of your gauge!
Sword Mode: Release the Power of an Explosion
Now we reach the real pound for pound damage, Sword Mode. You sacrifice mobility for raw power, burning your Switch Gauge to execute high-damage combos and build up to explosive finishers. As you attack in Sword Mode, you charge your Amp Gauge – the meter below your Switch Gauge, in red and shaped like a blade. Transform this into Amped State, opening your deadliest attacks!
Sword Mode Basics Sword Mode attacks spend your Switch Gauge typically. Is you run out, it will revert back to Axe Mode automatically.
Amp Gauge and Amped State: Attacks while in Sword Mode will build your Amp Gauge (red meter). Full gauge = Amped State! It adds explosions to Sword attacks and unlocks your ultimate moves.
Basic Sword Combo (Y Button): A simple three-hit starter combo that will grow into stronger Sword Mode attacks.
Y Combo Shiting: Double/Triple Slash, Heavenward Flurry: B after Y combos leads to Double Slash. B after three Ys will give you Triple Slash. Follow that with another B for the Amp Gauge-filling Heavenward Flurry.
Infinite Loop Combo (Y > Y > B Repeat): For that long, juicy damage, the ol' Y-Y-B loop is your buddy! Keeps up the pressure and high damage.
Counter Rising Slash (R+Y): Learn to time this to blow off monster attacks and retort with a high-damage hit, ensuring your combos continue.
II. Element Discharge / Zero Sum Discharge (B+Y) – Your big finishers! Element Discharge (B+Y) is a quick jab and blow-up – hold Y to add detonations! In Amped State, B+Y charges Zero Sum Discharge — you impale your weapon on the monster, grapple to it, detonating as you’re jettisoned off the last explosion! Risky but HUGE damage.
Wild Slash (RT+B+Y): Wind up for a spinning slash (Unbridled Slash). Amped State – Hold RT for a Full Release Slash – More slashes, more explosions! You can even chain this from Element Discharge recovery.
Morph Back to Axe Mode (RT): Need to bring out the Axe Mode? Hit RT. You add a double slash for transitioning back into your combo as you morph.
Switch Axe Phial Types: How to Pick Your Flavour of Automation
Use a Charge Blade and you slam it down and turn it into a shield, meaning Switch Axes come with Phial Types, doing a ton of extra stuff in Sword Mode. These are like different spices to add to your monster-mashing recipe.
- Power Phials: Offer an active boost to physical damage in Sword Mode. Amp Gauge fills slowest.
- Element Phials: Enchance elemental damage in Sword Mode. Amp Gauge fills faster.
- Status Phials (Poison, Paralysis, Dragon): Inflict status effects through Sword Mode attacks. Amp Gauge fills fastest.
- Sword Mode can stun or exhaust monsters Using Exhaust Phials.
Power Phials do more raw physical damage, while Element and Status Phials allow you to build your Amp Gauge faster and apply status effects. Pick according to your playstyle and monster matchups!
Top Tier Switch Axes: Low rank builds to get you started
Wilds Low Rank gear is about getting comfy with the fundamentals. Armor skills aren’t super specialized at this point, so we’ll be focusing on general utility, comfort, and staying alive during your hunt! Here’s a progression of weapon and armor sets to get you through Low Rank:
Build Basics: Weapons and Armor Sets
| Progression | Weapon | Helmet | Chest | Arms | Waist | Legs | Talisman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Build | Barina Hache I | Alloy Helm | Balahara Mail | Balahara Vambraces | Balahara Coil | Balahara Greaves | - |
| Second Build | Barina Hache II | Ajarakan Helm | Ajarakan Mail | Ingot Vambraces | Balahara Coil | Ajarakan Greaves | Leaping Charm Iii |
| Third Build | Barina Hache II | G. Rathalos Helm | Ajarakan Mail | G. Rathalos Vambraces | G. Ebony Coil | G. Rathalos Greaves | Leaping Charm I |
Build Breakdown: Skills as Well as Strategy
First Weapon: Barina Hache I (Lala Barina Line): Get the Barina Hache I AS SOON AS POSSILBE! It's got decent green sharpness, ten percent crit on some hits, and paralysis because you gotta get a fucking opening somehow. Fill with Power Phial +Amp Gauge Slowness, but modulate with Paralysis
First Armor Set: Evade Extender Focus: Early Balahara armor pieces are your friend! Evade Extender — max out this for longer dodge rolls. Essential for Switch Axe — rolling is your best mobility in Sword Mode, and extra distance helps Axe Mode lunges. Alloy Helm and Balahara Chest grant Quick Sheathe – drawing faster when the player needs a speedy out from Sword Mode.
Second Weapon: Barina Hache II (Upgrade) / Windsunder Axe I (Elemental Option) — Upgrade Barina Hache for more damage + Paralysis Or if you wanna mess with elemental builds, consider Windsunder Axe I (Hirabami materials): it's an Element Phial Switch Axe with Ice damage and faster Amp Gauge charging.
Second Armor Set: Partbreaker and Divine Blessing: Leaping Charm I Talisman is fine. Ajarakan armor pieces are capped for Partbreaker – the skill where you more easily break monster parts, with bonus damage when destroying a wound using Focus Strikes. Ingot Vambraces (mining materials): Divine Blessing -- occasional damage reduction. If you prefer max Evade Extender, just keep Balahara arms.
Armor Set #3 Weakness Exploit and Burst: Time to be offensive! G. Rathalos pieces give you Weakness Exploit (extra crit chance on weak points — make sure to hit those weak spots!). G. Ebony Coil adds Burst — small damage boost on consecutive attacks (like Element Discharge explosions). Forget G. Ebony Coil – if you love Evade Extender, make sure you wear Balahara Coil!
Low Rank Switch Axe Master Guide!
And with these builds and gameplay tips, you'll be well on your way to mastering the Switch Axe in the Wilds' Low Rank of Monster Hunter! Get used to switching between the two Axe and Sword Modes, find your combos, and play around with the various Phial types. All chances are you’ll be shaping your means to victory in opposition to any monster that dares cross your path in no time. Happy hunting
