The Great Sword is a powerhouse weapon in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, delivering devastating charged attacks and wide, sweeping strikes. But in a game offering six distinct hunting styles and multiple Hunter Arts per weapon, mastering the Great Sword isn’t just about charging and swinging—it’s about adapting your playstyle to match your style of choice. Whether you’re a Monster Hunter World veteran looking to adjust to GU, or a new hunter drawn to raw power, this guide covers everything you need to know about using the Great Sword across all six styles.
Guild Style: The Classic Template
Guild Style offers the full move set of the Great Sword, including the strong charge and the powerful super swipe. With two Hunter Arts available, this is the most complete and traditional way to use the weapon. You start your combos by pressing forward + X to draw into a charge slash. Follow up with another X for a slap (which deals KO damage), then pull back and press X for a strong charge. Complete it with another X to unleash the super swipe.
The key mechanic: charge timing. You want to release your charge on the third flash for maximum damage. Overcharging weakens your attack. Use the visual yellow blade trail as your cue for a perfect charge. The slap, strong charge, and super swipe chain together for huge damage if you time it right and find the right opening.
Guild Style also gives you block capability (though sharpness suffers), aerial options off ledges, and slap follow-ups after rolls or kicks. It’s methodical and demands patience—but it delivers tremendous burst potential.
Striker Style: High Arts, Simplified Combos
Striker Style removes the strong charge and super swipe, replacing them with simplified attack loops. However, it allows you to equip three Hunter Arts and charges them faster than other styles. This is ideal for players who prefer integrating powerful Arts into their gameplay frequently.
Your core combo in Striker lacks the finishing power of Guild’s full charge chain, but with the right Arts—especially hard-hitting ones—you can make up for that lost damage. Think of Striker as a style that sacrifices complexity for frequent bursts of flashy impact.
Aerial Style: Jump and Slam
Aerial Great Sword is built around airborne attacks and mounting. On the ground, you lose access to charge mechanics and rely mostly on simple combo slashes. But once you leap off a monster or ally with the aerial hop (your new roll), you can initiate an airborne charge attack that does not overcharge and releases automatically on landing.
This attack charges fast and hits hard—plus, it bypasses the bounce from monster armor thanks to Mind’s Eye. Once you land, you can continue with a slap or a hidden super swipe via the A button. It’s a loop: jump, charge, slap, repeat.
Aerial Great Sword might not have the elegance or depth of other styles, but it offers simple, repeatable damage with great mounting potential—ideal for beginners or those wanting something aggressive and straightforward.
Adept Style: Dodge and Punish
Adept Style gives you a single Hunter Art but trades that for powerful adept dodges. Time your dodge perfectly against an enemy attack and you’ll enter a brief powered-up state. From there, pressing X performs a dashing upswing that can now be charged into a level three strike. That leads straight into a strong charge and a super swipe.
The magic of Adept Style lies in using the monster’s aggression against them. You don’t rely on long setup windows—you counter, charge, and unleash. It’s an ideal choice for players with sharp timing and knowledge of monster behavior. And with the updated charge on the dash attack, it offers reliable burst potential.
Valor Style: Controlled Fury
Valor Style transforms Great Sword into something fast and lethal. Initially, you have a stripped-down move set and must charge your Valor gauge to unlock its full power. Do this by entering Valor Stance (hold Y to sheath and activate it), then performing attacks from that stance—like a charged overhead slash with X or a wide sweep with A.
Once Valor Mode activates, everything changes:
- Your dodge becomes a multi-directional hop.
- Draw attacks are instant, uninterruptible strong charges.
- You gain access to forward-lunging charged strikes for quick gap-closing.
It’s like playing an entirely new version of Great Sword—faster, more fluid, and surprisingly mobile. Valor Style offers one Hunter Art, but makes up for it by elevating the weapon’s entire play pattern. If you can master Valor stance usage and maintain the buff, this style delivers unmatched burst damage and movement options.
Alchemy Style: Supportive Simplicity
Alchemy Style is for players who want a lighter Great Sword experience with added support utility. It grants three Hunter Arts, and replaces some of the weapon’s deeper combo options with simpler, faster attacks. You also gain access to the Alchemy Barrel, which builds over time and can be shaken to produce items.
From buffs and heals to offensive tools, Alchemy gives you flexibility—plus SP mode bonuses for your team. While the full strong charge > super swipe chain is absent, you can still chain into a weaker super swipe after A-A inputs.
Alchemy Great Sword is less about big burst moments and more about contributing to your party with buffs, Arts, and simple, clean hits.
Hunter Arts: Choose Your Tools
The Great Sword has four unique Hunter Arts:
- Ground Slash – A running upward slash that releases a shockwave. Damage increases with higher art levels.
- Lion’s Maw – A self-buff that empowers your next hit. It’s consumed on use, hit or miss—perfect for pairing with charged draws.
- Brimstone Slash – A powerful charging attack that makes you invincible during the charge. Risky, but safe in clutch moments.
- Moon Breaker – A stylish aerial spinning slam with high damage and mounting power. Flashy and satisfying, but tricky to land.
For pure efficiency, Lion’s Maw is the top choice—especially in Valor. It amplifies your already powerful hits into monster-breaking criticals.
Style and Art Recommendations
- Best Overall Style: Valor — unmatched speed, power, and mobility after setup.
- Beginner-Friendly Style: Aerial — simple loop, consistent mount chances.
- High Utility Style: Striker or Alchemy — more Arts = more versatility.
- Best Art for Damage: Lion’s Maw — perfect for charging styles.
Final Thoughts: Find What Feels Right
The Great Sword is a weapon that rewards commitment and timing, and Generations Ultimate turns it into a playground of possibilities. Whether you prefer slow and methodical or swift and stylish, there’s a style for you.
Start with Guild or Aerial if you’re learning the ropes. Once you’re confident, dive into Valor and unleash its full potential. Whichever path you choose, the Great Sword will reward you with some of the biggest, most satisfying hits in the game.
Happy hunting—and may your charges always be level three.
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