Selecting a weapon that suits your personal style in Monster Hunter Rise can be a daunting task. Simply choosing a class that works best with your fighting tactics may take hours of switching between classes and trying out various combos in the training arena. But then there's the matter of which individual weapon tree to commit to. If you've already begun the harrowing process of selecting a weapon and narrowed it down to the sword and shield class, we've come up with a list that may help you along with your final decision-making.
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With MHR now on PC as well, there'll no doubt be new hunters coming to Kamura Village. Thanks to our early-access look at the game during the beta-test, we've prepared our arsenals with a broad range of swords and shields best suited for each element to ensure hunters can equip themselves with the best of the best, no matter what they come up against.
9 Spiked Bat or Tigrex Sword (No Element)
The Spiked Bat and Shield set deal some of the most significant base damage with a 230 point attack. It does suffer a -5 percent Affinity, but a rank three Affinity Boost will make up for that. Among the different sword and shield options, the Spiked Bat is one of the gnarlier ways to take out monsters.
There's also the Tigrex Sword that has a 220 base attack and the same Affinity debuff but is slightly sharper. Rampage Skills can make up for the Tigrex's slight lack in attack with a rank three Attack and rank two Affinity boost. The trick here is weighing out what matters to you more; critical rating or straight attack strength.
8 Blazing Falchion (Fire Element)
The Blazing Falchion sword and shield have a high fire elemental rating of 33 points and a more than sufficient 200 attacks. It's also one of the sharper weapon sets in the game, not to mention eye-catching, for the aesthetically concerned hunter.
Stacking the sword with Rampage Skills like Attack Boost three, Fire Boost one, and Element Exploit make the blade not only an excellent choice for fire damage but a powerful option to take along on any hunt.
7 Master Odyssey or Kurenawi Ougi (Water Element)
The Master Odyssey sword and shield set boasts a moderate base attack of 170, but it is one of the strongest in terms of the water element, with 33 points of water damage. With additional Dragon and Elemental Exploits, hunters can have a lot of fun with this set.
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The Kurenawi Ougi is an alternative option if you're looking for something more well-rounded. It has a higher base stat of 190 but a more moderate elemental support with 19 water points. The Rampage Skills can make up for this, though, with skills such as Affinity and Water Boosts two.
6 Despot's Crookbolt (Thunder Element)
With a solid 200 attack, Despot's Crookbolt sword and shield set is the best Thunder Elemental set hunters can equip themselves with at 27 element points without sacrificing elemental damage or affinity.
These statistics make Despot's Crookbolt one of the most well-balanced Master Rank blades. It's one of the sharper sets available as well. The rank two Attack and Thunder Boosts will have the pair dealing peak damage.
5 Daora's Razor (Ice Element)
Similarly, Daora's Razor sword and shield's 180 attack stat is the best hunters can expect without suffering negative affinity. Its 36 elemental points are also the strongest Ice stat you'll find among the higher-tier weapons.
What sets Daora's Razor a head above some other weapons is its 10 percent affinity. As many of the highest damage output weapons have to compensate for negative affinity stats, compromising with a slightly lower base attack for a small critical boost makes the Razor set well-rounded pieces of equipment. Rank three Attack and Affinity Boosts ensure you're getting the most out of this set's abilities.
4 Secta Una Black (Dragon Element)
The Secta Una Black sword and shield set is a great all-around weapon set for an everyday hunting expedition, with the bonus of being extra proficient against dragons. It has a solid 190 base attack with neutral affinity and 24 points of Dragon Element.
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When stacked with rank three Affinity and Defense boosts and an Element Exploit for Rampage Skills, this weapon set can be shockingly lethal in the right hands.
3 Sinister Shade Keeper (Blast Element)
With a 200 base Attack and 26 Blast Element, the Sinister Shade Keeper can really shake up a hunt. But add on its Attack Boost three and Blast Boost two Rampage Skills, and you'll really start blowing enemies away.
The boost to its blast stat sets this set slightly above the Teostra's Emblem sword and shield in our eyes. Though the Teostra set is another top contender with a somewhat higher base blast stat, the Sinister Shade keeper has a slightly higher base attack that can be pushed further through Rampage Skills, not to mention a couple of slots for further enhancements.
2 Rampage Sword S (Paralysis & Sleep)
The Rampage weapon tree is one of the best in the game, as these higher-tier weapons are often primed to deal heavy damage and multiple status effect debuffs, such as paralysis and sleep. The Rampage Sword S is no exception.
With a base 210 Attack, this set shines when buffed out with Sharpness Type one and Affinity Surge Rampage Skills. Then it can be primed for the hunter's needs with either Paralysis or Sleep two. This versatility makes the Rampage Sword S one of the best in the game.
1 Queen Rapier (Poison Element)
The Queen Rapier sword and shield set is one of the few high damage weapons with an additional 10 percent affinity bonus. This sword and shield pairing is incredibly deadly with rank two Attack and Poison Boosts added to the set's 220 base Attack and 28 Poison Element.
The Queen Rapier sword and shield already establish themselves as quality gear just by having one of the highest attack stats in the game coupled with a natural affinity bonus. But the lethal dose of poison the set is laced with is enough to cripple most monsters in shockingly brief encounters.
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