In the unforgiving realm of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, mastering a weapon that strikes the perfect balance of power, speed, and versatility is crucial. Enter the Longsword, an elegant and iconic weapon that has captivated hunters since the dawn of the franchise. With the expansion’s icy challenges, choosing the right Longsword can transform your hunts into a symphony of swift strikes and devastating finishers. Join us as we delve into the depths of Iceborne’s Longsword arsenal, unveiling the finest blades that will empower you to conquer the frigid tundra.
Among the plethora of Longswords, a select few stand out as the crème de la crème. The Luna/Xeno Styx, forged from the essence of the legendary elder dragon Xeno’jiiva, stands at the pinnacle of sharpness and elemental damage. Its innate ice element aligns perfectly with Iceborne’s frozen landscapes, granting it an advantage against countless creatures. Moreover, its custom modification allows hunters to tailor its affinity and elemental power to their specific needs, ensuring both raw damage and elemental devastation with every swing.
Alternatively, for hunters seeking an all-rounder Longsword with unmatched critical potential, the Fatalis Longsword reigns supreme. Crafted from the hide and claws of the formidable elder dragon Fatalis, this blade boasts an astounding base critical chance, empowering hunters to strike with devastating power on a regular basis. Furthermore, its unique ability to inflict a debilitating blight on monsters weakens their resistance to all forms of damage, making it a potent choice against even the most formidable adversaries. However, its inherent negative affinity requires skilled hunters to carefully manage their attacks to maximize its potential and avoid calamitous misses.
The Divine Slasher: A Majestic Weapon for Hunters
In the realm of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, the Divine Slasher stands as a paragon of longsword mastery. This exquisite blade, imbued with heavenly power, strikes a balance between raw strength and elemental prowess that is unmatched by any other blade.
Forged from the celestial fangs of Elder Dragons, the Divine Slasher boasts an astonishing base attack power of 1268, making it one of the most potent longswords in existence. Its true allure, however, lies in its inherent dragon element, which inflicts devastating damage upon creatures susceptible to its wrath.
The Divine Slasher’s design is a testament to the artistry of ancient blacksmiths. Its blade shimmers with an ethereal glow, and its ornate hilt is adorned with intricately carved runes that hum with the power of the heavens. This longsword is more than just a weapon; it is a symbol of the hunter’s unwavering spirit and divine connection.
Enhancements and Abilities
The Divine Slasher is further enhanced by the following abilities:
- Dragon Element: 390
- Sharpness: White (with Handicraft skill)
- Affinity: -15%
- Slots: 1 Level 3 slot, 1 Level 2 slot
The Divine Slasher’s True Dragonvein Awakening ability further elevates its capabilities, granting it a temporary boost to dragon element damage and sharpness. This empowers the hunter to unleash a devastating flurry of attacks that can swiftly fell even the most formidable of foes.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Attack | 1268 |
| Dragon Element | 390 |
| Sharpness | White |
| Affinity | -15% |
| Slots | 1 Level 3 slot, 1 Level 2 slot |
Master the Iaijutsu Technique: Unlocking the Sword’s True Potential
Unsheathing the Iaijutsu Stance
The Iaijutsu stance is the foundation of the longsword’s advanced techniques. To enter this stance, press and hold the L2 button and draw your sword. This stance grants access to the Iaijutsu Draw Attack, a powerful strike that deals significant damage when executed successfully.
Executing the Iaijutsu Draw Attack
The Iaijutsu Draw Attack requires precise timing. After entering the Iaijutsu stance, wait for the monster to attack. Once the monster’s attack is close to hitting you, release the L2 button and press the Circle button simultaneously. If executed correctly, the longsword will flash blue and unleash a devastating strike.
Mastering the timing of the Iaijutsu Draw Attack is crucial for maximizing damage output. To improve your timing, practice against the training dummy or in low-risk hunts. Additionally, consider using the Focus skill to slow down time, giving you a wider window for execution.
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Focus | Slows down time during the Iaijutsu stance |
The Iaijutsu Draw Attack deals significant damage, especially when landed on weak points. It is particularly effective against monsters susceptible to cutting damage. By mastering the Iaijutsu stance and timing, you can unleash this powerful attack to your advantage and dominate the battlefield.
Affinity Augmentation: Enhancing Your Critical Strike Potential
Affinity augmentation is a powerful technique in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne that allows you to increase the critical strike chance of your longsword. This can significantly boost your damage output, especially when combined with other critical strike-boosting skills. To augment your longsword with affinity, you will need to use materials obtained from tempered monsters. The amount of affinity you can augment will vary depending on the weapon and the materials used. However, it is possible to achieve up to 100% affinity, which will give you a guaranteed critical strike on every hit.
There are two ways to augment your longsword with affinity. The first is to use the “Affinity Augment” option at the Smithy. This will cost a small amount of research points and materials, and will give you a permanent increase in affinity. The second way to augment your longsword with affinity is to use the “Custom Augmentation” option at the Smithy. This option allows you to choose the specific skills you want to augment your longsword with, including affinity. Custom augmentations can be more expensive than regular augmentations, but they give you more flexibility in choosing the skills you want.
Affinity augmentation is a powerful tool that can significantly boost the damage output of your longsword. If you are looking to improve your performance in combat, consider augmenting your longsword with affinity.
Below is a table summarizing the different ways to augment your longsword with affinity:
| Augmentation Method | Cost | Affinity Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Augment | Research points and materials | Permanent increase in affinity |
| Custom Augmentation | Research points and materials | Choose specific skills to augment, including affinity |
Materials and Techniques to Craft the Perfect Longsword
To construct the optimal longsword, gather the following materials: Shara Ishvalda’s cortex, Velkhana’s crystalline horn, Guiding Lands materials, and Agitator and Tenderizer jewels. These components provide a well-rounded combination of sharpness, durability, attack power, and critical hit rate.
The Perfect Build for Maximum Efficiency and Damage Output
The ultimate longsword build prioritizes critical damage and affinity through the combination of skills and equipment. Essential skills include Critical Eye and Weakness Exploit, which enhance critical hit chance, and Master’s Touch, which prevents sharpness loss during critical hits.
Skills and Equipment for Critical Damage
Select equipment with high critical hit chance, such as the Rajang Longsword, which boasts 30% affinity. Enhance this by stacking Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Agitator jewels, which provide additional critical hit chance when exploiting monster weaknesses or activating the Agitator skill. Utilize the Safi’jiva set bonus to further augment critical damage.
The following table summarizes the key skills and their effects:
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Critical Eye | Increases critical hit chance |
| Weakness Exploit | Increases critical hit chance when exploiting monster weaknesses |
| Agitator | Increases critical hit chance when monster is enraged |
| Master’s Touch | Prevents sharpness loss during critical hits |
Elemental Mastery: Harnessing the Power of Nature
In Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, elemental damage plays a crucial role in maximizing your hunting prowess. Utilizing the right elements against specific monsters can significantly weaken them and enhance your combat effectiveness. However, choosing the best elemental longsword can be challenging due to the vast array of options available.
**Elemental Types:**
- Fire: Effective against ice-weak monsters
- Water: Effective against fire-weak monsters
- Ice: Effective against water-weak monsters
- Thunder: Effective against water-weak monsters
**Weapon Sharpness:**
Weapon sharpness is a key factor in determining the damage output of your longsword. Aim for weapons with high sharpness levels, as they deal more damage and decrease the risk of bouncing off the monster’s hide.
**Affinity:**
Affinity affects the critical hit rate of your attacks. Weapons with positive affinity increase the chances of dealing critical hits, which deal significantly more damage than regular hits.
**Recommended Elemental Longswords:**
| Name | Element | Raw Attack | Element Attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velkhana Longsword | Ice | 270 | 630 |
| Safi’jiiva Longsword | All Elements | 300 | 550 |
| Zinogre Longsword | Thunder | 280 | 600 |
| Namielle Longsword | Water | 290 | 580 |
| Raging Brachydios Longsword | Blast | 290 | 480 |
Miasma Jewel: A Talisman for Hunters Seeking Blight Resistance
The Power of Blight Resistance
In the treacherous world of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, hunters face a myriad of deadly blights that can cripple their abilities. Blight resistance is paramount to surviving and thriving in these hazardous environments. Among the many ways to gain blight resistance, the Miasma Jewel talisman stands out as an indispensable tool.
Crafting the Miasma Jewel
The Miasma Jewel is a rare talisman that requires specific materials to craft:
| Material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Wyvern Gem | 1 |
| Large Wyvern Tear | 2 |
| Dragon Blood | 5 |
Blight Resistance Bonuses
The Miasma Jewel provides exceptional blight resistance, mitigating the effects of the following ailments:
- Waterblight
- Fireblight
- Iceblight
- Dragonblight
- Thunderblight
Additional Benefits
Beyond blight resistance, the Miasma Jewel also offers the following benefits:
Increased Health:
The jewel grants an additional 5% maximum health, enhancing the hunter’s survivability during intense battles.
Poison Resistance:
In addition to blight resistance, the talisman provides a small amount of poison resistance, offering further protection against certain monsters.
Natural Recovery Up:
The Miasma Jewel enhances the hunter’s passive health regeneration, allowing them to recover from damage more quickly.
Health Augmentation: Sustaining Yourself in the Face of Danger
In the unforgiving world of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, staying alive is paramount. Health Augmentation is a powerful skill that can drastically improve your survivability by providing passive healing over time. Let’s delve into how this skill works and why it’s essential for longsword users.
How Health Augmentation Works
Health Augmentation is a level 4 skill that can be applied to your armor through decorations. When activated, it grants you a passive heal of 3 HP per second. This may seem insignificant at first, but over the course of a hunt, it can add up to a substantial amount of health, especially when combined with other healing sources.
Benefits for Longsword Users
Longsword users stand to benefit greatly from Health Augmentation for several reasons:
Increased Survivability
The passive healing provided by Health Augmentation allows longsword users to stay in the fight longer, even after taking damage. This increased survivability is particularly useful during extended hunts or when facing powerful monsters.
Reduced Healing Potion Reliance
With Health Augmentation, longsword users can rely less on healing potions, freeing up inventory space for other essential items, such as traps or sharpening stones.
Synergy with Other Healing Skills
Health Augmentation synergizes well with other healing skills, such as Lifesteal and Recovery Speed. By combining these skills, longsword users can create a highly effective healing setup that keeps them in top condition throughout the hunt.
Best Health Augmentation Decorations
The best Health Augmentation decorations are those that provide the highest level of the skill. The following table lists the best decorations for this purpose:
| Decoration | Skill Level |
|---|---|
| Health Augmentation Jewel 2 | 2 |
| Health Augmentation Jewel 1 | 1 |
Critical Draw: Unleashing Devastating Attacks at the Perfect Moment
Critical Draw is a potent skill in MHW Iceborne that grants hunters a massive damage boost on their first attack after sheathing their weapon. It allows longsword users to unleash devastating opening strikes, making it an essential skill for maximizing burst damage.
Knowing When to Trigger Critical Draw
To activate Critical Draw, you must unsheath your weapon and immediately perform an attack. The enhanced damage window is active for a brief period after unsheathing, so timing is crucial.
Maximizing Damage Output
To make the most of Critical Draw, consider the following tips:
- Use a weapon with high base attack power.
- Enhance your weapon with Attack Boost and Critical Eye skills.
- Wear the Teostra Beta+ armor set for the Master’s Touch bonus.
- Use the Rocksteady Mantle or Temporal Mantle to stay unsheathed and avoid interruption during your critical draw attack.
- Aim for the monster’s weak points for maximum damage.
- Combine Critical Draw with other damage-boosting skills like Special Sheath or Latent Power.
- Utilize the Helm Splitter move to deal additional damage after a successful critical draw attack.
- Consider using the Iai Slash or Iai Spirit Slash techniques for even more burst damage, but these moves are more difficult to execute.
Critical Draw Build Sample
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Critical Draw | Increase damage after unsheathing |
| Attack Boost 7 | Increase attack power |
| Critical Eye 7 | Increase critical hit chance |
| Special Sheath | Increase damage after a successful sheath |
Focus: Sharpening Your Senses for Enhanced Precision
Precision Matters: Master the Helm Splitter
The Helm Splitter is a crucial skill for Longsword users. It allows you to execute a powerful overhead swing that deals significant damage while also leaving you with a large opening for successive strikes. Mastering this technique is essential for maximizing your damage output.
Harnessing Spirit: Know Your Gauge
The Longsword’s Spirit Gauge is a key mechanic that determines your damage potential. Learn the different levels of the gauge and how to maintain them to stay in optimal fighting form.
Timing is Key: Perfecting Foresight Slash
Foresight Slash is a defensive and offensive ability that allows you to counter enemy attacks while also gaining Spirit Gauge. Timing this move correctly is crucial for both surviving and maximizing your damage.
The Art of Aggression: Iai Spirit Slash
Iai Spirit Slash is a high-risk, high-reward technique that unleashes a devastating slash while sheathing your weapon. Understanding its timing and risk-reward balance is essential for successful use.
Ultimate Power: Spirit Roundslash
Spirit Roundslash is the Longsword’s ultimate attack, dealing massive damage in a sweeping motion. Mastering this technique is the ultimate test of a Longsword user’s skill.
Weapon Choice: Finding Your Edge
Choosing the right Longsword for your playstyle is crucial. Consider the weapon’s stats, element, and sharpness to find the one that best suits your needs.
Equipment Synergies: Enhancing Your Performance
Armor skills and decorations can significantly enhance your Longsword’s capabilities. Explore the different options available to complement your playstyle and boost your effectiveness.
Hunting Techniques: Mastery in the Field
Applying your knowledge and skills in actual hunts requires practice and adaptability. Learn to read enemy patterns, manage your positioning, and optimize your attacks.
Advanced Techniques: Unlocking the Expert’s Arsenal
Once you have mastered the basics, there are numerous advanced techniques to explore, such as Helm Breaker animation cancels, foresighted Foresight Slashes, and extended Spirit Roundslashes. These techniques will push your Longsword skills to new heights.
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Helm Splitter | Overhead swing dealing significant damage |
| Foresight Slash | Defensive counter gaining Spirit Gauge |
| Iai Spirit Slash | High-risk, high-reward attack |
| Spirit Roundslash | Ultimate attack dealing massive damage |
Handicraft: Maintaining the Blade’s Razor Edge
Handicraft is a skill that enhances the sharpness of your weapon. Each level of Handicraft increases the base sharpness of your weapon by one level, up to a maximum of five levels. The main benefit of Handicraft is that it allows you to maintain your blade’s sharpness for a longer period of time, as it reduces the amount of sharpness lost over time. This is especially useful for weapons with high base sharpness, as it can help to prevent them from becoming dull too quickly.
Depending on the weapon, it may only be necessary to enhance Handicraft to level 2 to 3 to maintain white sharpness. In some edge cases, you may need to enhance Handicraft level 4 to 5 to reach the same result.
The Handicraft skill can be obtained through various sources, including armor, talismans, and decorations. Some weapons also have a natural Handicraft bonus, which can be seen in the weapon’s stats.
When considering the value of Handicraft, it’s important to weigh the benefits against the opportunity cost. Handicraft can be a valuable skill for weapons that rely on sharpness, but it may not be the best option for weapons that focus on other attributes, such as raw damage or elemental damage.
The table below summarizes the effect of Handicraft on weapon sharpness:
| Handicraft Level | Sharpness Increase |
|---|---|
| 1 | +1 |
| 2 | +2 |
| 3 | +3 |
| 4 | +4 |
| 5 | +5 |
The Best Longsword in MHW Iceborne
The best Longsword in MHW Iceborne depends on your playstyle and preferences. However, some of the most popular and effective Longswords include:
- Safi’jiiva Shattersword: This Longsword has high raw damage and Elderseal, making it a great all-around option.
- Kjarr Wyvern Blade “Dawn”: This Longsword has high raw damage and affinity, making it a great choice for critical hit builds.
- Lightbreak Edge: This Longsword has high raw damage and blast damage, making it a great choice for monsters weak to blast.
Ultimately, the best Longsword for you is the one that you feel most comfortable with. Experiment with different Longswords and see which one you perform best with.
