Dual Blades in MHW: Iceborne
best raw damage or element for dual blade mhw iceborne

For Dual Blades in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, the question of whether to prioritize raw damage or elemental damage has been a topic of debate among hunters. The answer, however, is not straightforward and depends on various factors, including the specific monster being hunted, the player’s playstyle, and the available equipment. In this article, we will delve into the merits of both raw damage and elemental damage for Dual Blades, providing insights to help players make informed decisions when customizing their weapons for optimal performance.

Generally speaking, raw damage is more consistent and reliable, as it is not affected by a monster’s elemental resistances. This makes raw damage weapons a good choice for general use, as they will perform well against most monsters, regardless of their elemental weaknesses. Elemental damage, on the other hand, can deal significantly more damage to monsters that are weak to the corresponding element.
However, it is important to note that elemental damage is only effective if the monster is weak to that element, and it can be significantly reduced if the monster is resistant or immune to it. As such, elemental damage weapons are best used against specific monsters that are particularly weak to their element.

Ultimately, the choice between raw damage and elemental damage for Dual Blades depends on the player’s individual preferences and the specific monsters they are hunting. If consistency and reliability are desired, raw damage weapons are the way to go. If maximizing damage output against specific monsters is the goal, elemental damage weapons can be a powerful option.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both raw damage and elemental damage, hunters can make informed decisions when customizing their Dual Blades, allowing them to optimize their performance and conquer the challenges of the Iceborne expansion.

Iceborne Dual Blades: The Best Raw Damage Element

1. Raw Damage

For Iceborne dual blades, raw damage reigns supreme. With the introduction of the clutch claw mechanic, it’s now easier than ever to tenderize monsters, increasing the raw damage you deal by a significant amount. This makes raw damage builds the clear choice for maximizing your output. To further enhance your raw damage potential, consider investing in skills such as Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Critical Boost, and Weakness Exploit. Additionally, the Safi’jiiva’s Shatterblade dual blades are an excellent choice for raw damage, as they have high base attack and the potential for custom augmentations that further boost your raw damage output.

Raw Damage Dual Blades Build

Skill	Level
Attack Boost	7
Critical Eye	7
Critical Boost	3
Weakness Exploit	3
Agitator	5
Safi’jiiva’s Shatterblade	–

Playstyle

With a raw damage build, you’ll want to focus on hitting weak points and tenderizing monsters as much as possible. Use the clutch claw to grapple onto monsters and tenderize their weak points, then unleash your attacks. Additionally, don’t be afraid to use demon mode to deal even more damage. Demon mode consumes stamina over time, but it significantly increases your attack power and movement speed.

Best Raw Damage or Element for Dual Blades in MHW: Iceborne

Dragon Element: An Alternative Approach

While Raw Attack and Water Element are the dominant choices for Dual Blades in MHW: Iceborne, the Dragon element offers a viable alternative for specific scenarios. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Damage Potential

Dragon Element damage is calculated based on the monster’s Dragon Weakness value. Despite its niche application, Dragon Element Dual Blades can deal significant damage against monsters with a three-star Dragon Weakness, such as:

Fatalis
Kulve Taroth Variant (Gold)
Stygian Zinogre

Additional Considerations

Aside from its damage potential, Dragon Element Dual Blades also offer the following advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

Solid against Elder Dragons with higher Dragon Weakness
Useful in specific endgame hunts, including Fatalis and Alatreon

Disadvantages

Inferior damage against most other monsters
Limited application compared to Raw Attack or Water Element

Recommended Weapons

If you’re considering using Dragon Element Dual Blades, here are a few recommended options:

Weapon	Dragon Weakness
Fatalis Demise Aquablade	65
Safi’jiiva Aquablade	60
Kjarr King Water II	55

Thunder Element: High Electrical Damage

The Thunder element excels in inflicting high electrical damage, making it effective against monsters with a weakness to this element. This element is commonly used in Dual Blade builds to exploit elemental vulnerabilities and deal increased damage. The Thunder element is particularly potent against monsters like Zinogre, Anjanath, and Uragaan, all of whom possess a weakness to electrical attacks.

Pros of Using Thunder Element

High damage output against monsters with a weakness to Thunder
Elemental effects such as Thunderblight can paralyze monsters, creating openings for attacks
Availability of powerful Thunder-based weapons, such as the Kjarr Dual Blades “Thunder”

Cons of Using Thunder Element

Ineffective against monsters with high Thunder resistance, such as Kirin
Elemental damage can be partially negated by monsters’ elemental resistance
Some Thunder-based weapons may have lower raw damage compared to non-elemental weapons

Table: Recommended Thunder Dual Blade Builds

Build	Weapons	Armor	Skills
Safi’jiiva Dual Blade Build	Kjarr Dual Blades “Thunder”	Safi’jiiva Armor Set	Critical Eye, Attack Boost, Critical Weakness Exploit, Thunder Attack
Nargacuga Dual Blade Build	Nargacuga Dual Blades	Teostra Armor Set	Critical Eye, Master’s Touch, Weakness Exploit, Thunder Attack

Conclusion

Choosing the Thunder element for Dual Blades in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is a viable option for players looking to exploit elemental weaknesses. With the right equipment and build, Thunder-based Dual Blades can deal significant damage and provide unique advantages in combat. However, players should consider the specific monsters they are facing and adjust their strategy accordingly to maximize their effectiveness.

Paralysis Element: Temporary Immobility

The Paralysis element inflicts a status effect on monsters that temporarily paralyzes them, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. This element is particularly effective against highly mobile monsters, as it can interrupt their movements and provide a window of opportunity for hunters to deal damage.

When a monster is paralyzed, its movement speed and attack speed are significantly reduced, and it becomes unable to use certain abilities. This effect lasts for a short period, allowing hunters to take advantage of the monster’s vulnerability and deal significant damage. Dual blades, with their high attack speed and mobility, are well-suited for exploiting the paralysis effect.

Factors Affecting Paralysis Duration

There are several factors that affect the duration of the paralytic effect, including:

Monster Resistance: Monsters have varying levels of resistance to the paralysis element. Some monsters are highly resistant, while others are more susceptible to its effects.
Weapon’s Power: The paralysis effect is scaled based on the weapon’s paralysis power. Weapons with higher paralysis power will inflict a longer duration of paralysis.
Skill Effects: Certain skills, such as “Paralyze Attack Up,” can increase the duration of the paralysis effect.
Monster’s Health: The paralysis effect is less effective on monsters with higher health. As the monster’s health decreases, the duration of paralysis will increase.

Monster	Paralysis Weakness
Anja	Low
Tigrex	Medium
Rajang	High

Blast Element: Explosive Impact

The blast element is a powerful option for dual blades in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, dealing explosive damage that can stun monsters and create openings for further attacks. Blast weapons have a unique mechanic where they build up a hidden gauge that, when filled, triggers a large explosion around the monster, dealing significant damage and stunning them.

Factors Affecting Blast Damage

The amount of blast damage dealt depends on the following factors:

Blast Attack skill: Increases the base blast damage of weapons.
Elementless Jewel: Converts all elemental damage to raw damage, making it a strong option for blast weapons.
Monster resistance: Different monsters have varying levels of resistance to the blast element.
Body part hit: Blast damage is more effective against certain body parts, such as the head and wings.

Advantages of Blast

Blast weapons offer several advantages over other elements:

High burst damage: The explosion triggered by the blast gauge deals considerable damage.
Stuns monsters: When the blast gauge triggers, it stuns the monster, creating opportunities for combos.
Flexible matchups: Blast damage is effective against a wide range of monsters, making it a versatile option.

Disadvantages of Blast

Blast weapons also have some drawbacks:

Elemental resistance: Monsters with high blast resistance will take reduced damage.
Limited stun potential: The blast gauge takes time to build up, limiting the number of stuns achievable.
Damage variance: Blast damage can be inconsistent, depending on the monster’s resistance and body part hit.

Recommended Blast Weapons

Here are some recommended blast dual blades in Iceborne:

Weapon	Raw Damage	Blast
Desolation’s Overture	200	24
Kjarr Daggers “Blast”	240	24
Kjarr Slicer “Blast”	240	24
Safi’jiiva Shattersword	210	24
Raging Brachydios Tyrannis II	210	24