This comprehensive Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword guide will tell you everything you need to know about this weapon. We provide a wide variety of the best MHW Long Sword combos and outline all Long Sword movesets. You will also learn about the Long Sword mechanics and its strengths and weaknesses. Also, read our MHW Best Weapons Tier List to learn about other top-tier weapons.
4.9Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword Combos
All Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword combos require building up the Spirit Gauge and releasing it at the right moments. Below we have gathered MH Wilds Long Sword combos and split them into three categories:
- Basic Combos — the classic combinations to use in any situation with any monster;
- Advanced Combos — a list of specific combinations that require more focus and skill, but reward your hunter with higher DPS and mobility;
- Best Combos — the ultimate list of combinations that might be relatively hard to pick up, but their results are mind-blowing.
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Before moving further in our guide, we advise you to study this gamepad key symbols (SYM) table that we use when describing mechanics and movesets.
| Key |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYM | △ | 〇 | ⊗ | B | Y | A | LT | L2 | RB | R2 | RT |
Basic Long Sword Combos
Learning the basic combos is the best way to understand how to use the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds. They are made of basic attack moves, looped for higher DPS and better impact.
| Name | PS5 | Xbox | PC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Slash Loop | △ → △ → △ | Y → Y → Y | LMB → LMB → LMB | A basic combo when the Spirit Gauge is red. |
| Basic Overhead Combo | △ → △ → △ → △ | Y → Y → Y → Y | LMB → LMB → LMB | Inflict 4 hits in a row for maximum damage and building Spirit Gauge. |
| Fade Slash Loop | 〇 → 〇 → 〇 | B → B → B | RMB → RMB → RMB | A looping horizontal slash to keep pressure on the enemy. |
Advanced Long Sword Combos
Advanced combos for Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword are basically the moves that allow you to perform a sequence of deadly hits with higher damage. They are not necessarily tough, but rather high-skill advanced tactics or actions that allow you to release the full potential of your hunter, using some in-game tricks:
| Name | PS5 | Xbox | PC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit thrust into Helm Breaker | R2 + △ → Left Stick + △ | RT + Y → Left Stick + Y | R + LMB → W + LMB | Dash forward with a powerful thrust. The combo consumes one level of the Spirit Gauge and deals massive damage. |
| Helm Breaker Cancel | Hold the Run Button while midair | Hold the Run Button while midair | Hold the Run Button while midair | While midair, cancel Spirit Helm Breaker to avoid wasting Spirit Gauge. |
| Foresight Slash into Spirit Roundslash | R2 + 〇 → Counter → R2 | RT + B → Counter → RT | R + RMB → Counter → R | If you successfully counter a monster attack, you’ll get instant Spirit Roundslash. |
Best Long Sword Combos
The best Long Sword Combos in Monster Hunter Wilds differ from the rest as most of them require fast reaction and good skill. Yet, these combos are powerful, if not overpowered, meaning that they offer the highest possible damage. The best Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword combos are:
- Spirit Roundslash into Special Sheathe;
- Zero Spirit Gauge Setup;
- Crimson Slash into Rising Slash Loop;
- Spirit Charge into Spirit Unleash;
- Foresight Slash to Spirit Slash;
- Iai Slash into Spirit Blade.
Fighting particular monsters and completing some of the quests in MH Wilds can be challenging even if you know all the best combos. But it doesn’t mean that you need to skip it, just ask Our Hunter to assist you and deal with all the things you try to avoid.
Spirit Roundslash into Special Sheathe
- PS5: △ → △ → R2 → 〇 → R2 → 〇 → R2 → R2 → R2 + ⊗;
- Xbox: Y → Y → RT → B → RT → B → RT → RT → RT + A;
- PC: LMB → LMB → R → RMB → R → RMB → R → R → R + Space.
Spirit Roundslash into Special Sheathe combo for MHW Long Sword helps to build Spirit from zero. You raise the Spirit step by step. Then, cancel your Spirit Roundslash into the Special Sheathe with the last step. This option works well with Foresight Slash (R2 + 〇 mid combo \ RT + B mid combo \ R + RMB mid-combo) and helps to get a large window of invulnerability.
Zero Spirit Gauge Setup
- PS5: ⊗ → R2 → R2 + ⊗ → R2 → R2 → R2 + △ → R2 or △ → R2;
- Xbox: A → RT → RT + A → RT → RT → RT + Y → RT or Y → RT;
- PC: Space → R → R + Space → R → R → R + LMB → R or LMB → R.
Zero Spirit Gauge Setup is another combo to start a fight with zero Spirit Gauge and gain it in the course of a combat. Starting with Spirit Charge allows you to fill the Gauge rapidly and continue with Spirit Roundslash. The difference between this MH Wilds Long Sword combo and Spirit Roundslash into Special Sheathe is that Zero Spirit Gauge Setup, when timed with Iai Counter, allows you to completely negate a monster’s roar.
Crimson Slash into Rising Slash Loop
- PS5: △ → 〇 → R2 + 〇;
- Xbox: Y → B → RT + B;
- PC: LMB → RMB → R + RMB.
The Crimson Slash into Rising Slash Loop combo might seem a bit basic, but in fact it works perfectly when your Spirit Gauge is red, allowing you to effortlessly trigger Crimson Moves. Implementing this combo into your MHW Long Sword fight allows you to stay mobile and reposition quickly.
Spirit Charge into Spirit Unleash
- PS5: ⊗ → R2 → R2 + LMB → R2 or LMB → R2;
- Xbox: A → RT → RT + Y → RT or Y → RT;
- PC: Space → R → R + LMB → R or LMB → R.
The major advantage of the Spirit Charge into Spirit Unleash combo is that it facilitates the Spirit Gauge filling significantly via skipping the Spirit Blade attacks and starting with Spirit Roundslash. This is the best MH Wilds Long Sword combo for faster encounters.
Foresight Slash to Spirit Slash
- PS5: R2 + 〇 → R2 → R2 + △ → R2 or △ → R2;
- Xbox: RT + B → RT → RT + Y → RT or Y → RT;
- PC: R + RMB → R → R + RMB → R or RMB → R.
The Foresight Slash to Spirit Slash gives you amazing defense capabilities based on the Foresight Slash. You dodge the attack, and counter instantly, all while building Spirit Gauge, and, in case of success, the counter transitions into Spirit Roundslash. The combo is best for the tough monsters that act unexpectedly or move fast.
Iai Slash into Spirit Blade
- PS5: R2 → R2 + △ → R2 → R2 + △ → R2 or △ → R2;
- Xbox: RT → RT + Y → RT → RT + Y → RT or Y → RT;
- PC: R → R + LMB → R → R + LMB → R or LMB → R.
One of the easiest yet powerful combos for the Long Sword in MHW — Iai Slash into Spirit Blade — provides you with a rise of Spirit level on a successful hit. Then, if done correctly, it transitions into Spirit Helm Breaker and Spirit Release Slash. This combo is perfect in the endgame for fast and aggressive monsters.
Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword Moves
The MH Wilds Long Sword’s playstyle centers on sustained offense and Spirit Gauge management. You can chain together attack combos and special counterattacks while maintaining pressure on the monster and avoiding damage with precise timing.
Compared to other melee weapons, the Long Sword has excellent reach and mobility — you can poke at weak spots from a safer distance than Dual Blades, yet attack more rapidly than a Great Sword. In this section of our guide, you will learn about the Long Sword moves that allow you to perform all these actions:
- Basic Attacks;
- Charged Attacks;
- Offensive Moves;
- Defensive Moves.
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Basic Attacks
Even when you utilize your MWH Long Sword basic attacks, you will depend on whether a Spirit Gauge is red or not. Red Spirit Gauge means that your attack will deal significantly more damage.
✏️ Tip: Once you see that the Spirit Gauge is Red, go all-in and attack with all your skills.
| Name | PS5 | Xbox | PC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overhead Slash | △ | Y | LMB | A fast slash that builds Spirit Gauge. |
| Thrust | 〇 | B | RMB | A lunging strike with decent reach. |
| Fade Slash | △ and 〇 | Y and B | LMB + RMB | A heavier attack is used to reposition. |
| Spirit Blade | R2 | RT | R | Slash an enemy with an attack consuming the Spirit Gauge. |
Special Attacks
A large chunk of Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword attacks depend on the Spirit Gauge. Here we outline all the special attacks that are based on basic attacks but act as their stronger counterparts. You can use these attacks in MHW to reach higher DPS and gain success in your fights:
| Name | PS5 | Xbox | PC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Thrust | R2 + △ | RT + Y | R + LMB | Landing a Spirit Thrust attack will lower the Spirit Gauge level & allow it to chain into a Spirit Helm Breaker. |
| Spirit Roundslash | R2 hold and release | RT hold and release | R hold and release | A Spirit Blade attack turns into a stronger Spirit Roundslash. |
| Spirit Charge | Hold R2 | Hold RT | Hold R | Fills the Spirit Gauge and allows you to perform a Spirit Blade attack. |
| Special Sheathe | R2 + ⊗ | RT + A | R + Space | Use after attacking to sheath your weapon. |
| Foresight Slash | R2 + 〇 mid-combo | RT + B mid-combo | R + RMB mid-combo | Perform the attack mid-combo to get a large window of invulnerability. |
| Foresight Whirl Slash | R2 + 〇 (mid-combo only with Level 3 Spirit) | RT + B (mid-combo only with Level 3 Spirit) | R + RMB (mid-combo only with Level 3 Spirit) | Perform the attack mid-combo with Level 3 Spirit to get a larger window of invulnerability. |
| Crimson Spinning Slash | R2 after Spirit Roundslash | RT after Spirit Roundslash | after Spirit Roundslash | A powerful finisher that helps extend Red Spirit Level duration. |
| Crimson Evade Attack | R2 + 〇 in Red Gauge | RT + B in Red Gauge | in Red Gauge | A spinning jump-back attack that deals damage and repositions. |
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Offensive Moves
In Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword doesn’t have classic blocks, but you still can avoid some attacks with the following moves:
| Name | PS5 | Xbox | PC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Helm Breaker | R2 + △ | RT + Y | R + LMB | Use after Spirit Thrust, when Spirit Gauge is white or higher. Consumes one Spirit Level with a chance to cause Spirit Release Slash. |
| Spirit Release Slash | R2 after Helm Breaker | RT after Helm Breaker | R after Helm Breaker | Use after Spirit Helm Breaker, when Spirit Gauge is red. Requires Spirit Level 3 (Red). |
Defensive Moves
When it comes to damage mitigation with Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword, we should remember that the Long Sword doesn’t have any form of guard. You will rely on attack evasion and a few moves that allow you to move away from the monster’s attack:
| Name | PS5 | Xbox | PC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foresight Slash | R2 + 〇 | RT + B | R + RMB | Perform a backstep followed by a return slash. Good timing allows you to mitigate the incoming damage and refill the Spirit Gauge. |
| Iai Slash | Special Sheathe → △ | Special Sheathe → Y | Special Sheathe → | Press R2 + ⊗ / RT + A after an attack to sheath the sword into a special stance. Then press △ / Y from this stance to execute Iai Slash and steadily fill the Spirit Gauge over time. |
| Iai Spirit Slash | Special Sheathe → R2 | Special Sheathe → RT | Special Sheathe → | Press R2 / RT instead of an attack. It’ll allow you to perform a counterattack while in Special Sheathe. |
Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword Mechanics
Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword has an “easy to learn, hard to master” reputation thanks to one of the specific mechanics it has. Therefore, here we provide a list of MHW Long Sword mechanics, learning which will allow you to improve your skill and understand how to use this weapon:
- Spirit Gauge and Spirit Levels — a special Long Sword mechanic that allows you to accumulate Spirit and use it for improved attacks;
- Focus Mode — this mechanic allows you to focus on a particular target to avoid missing and hit wounds precisely.
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Spirit Gauge
The core of Long Sword gameplay is the Spirit Gauge, represented by a sword icon under your stamina bar. As you land regular attacks, this gauge fills up. You can then expend the Spirit Gauge to perform Spirit Blade attacks – a special combo sequence. The final hit of this sequence is the Spirit Roundslash, and successfully landing the Roundslash will level up your Spirit Gauge by one stage.
The Gauge has three levels (stages), and each level is indicated by a color. Additionally, at higher levels, your attack power increases:
- White — +2%;
- Yellow — +4%;
- Red (max) — +10%.
📌 Note: These are approximate numbers.
Maintaining a red gauge is key for optimal damage. Importantly, in Monster Hunter Wilds, your Spirit Gauge does not drain from performing Spirit attacks; instead, a red gauge gradually depletes over time.
✏️ Tip: Once you achieve the red level, you’re on a timer to use its power before it fades, so don’t wait — hit!
Long Sword Focus Mode
The biggest benefit of Focus Mode for Long Sword is how it interacts with the Spirit Gauge and wounds. Hitting a wound with a focused strike will instantly destroy the wound and give you a full Spirit Gauge level. In other words, you “pop” the wound for a bonus effect.
While focusing, your movement is slower and your view is locked on the target area, so you should activate it when you have a clear opening or some distance. It’s ideal to use Focus Mode just after creating a wound or when a monster is recovering, so you can safely line up the Thrust.
However, using Focus Mode is not the only way to succeed in an encounter. Hunter Rank is another essential thing in MH Wilds. Once your hunter is higher level, you get new opportunities and crafting recipes to empower your character. So do not wait, save your time and reach out to our team to level up fast.
Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword Strengths and Weaknesses
It’s truly important to understand Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword pros and cons to play well. Here’s our summary of all Long Sword strengths and weaknesses that you should consider before picking this weapon:
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✅ High Burst Damage; | ⛔️ Requires Gauge Management; |
| ✅ Multiple Invincibility Frames & Counters; | ⛔️ High Skill Ceiling for Mastery; |
| ✅ Versatile Reach and Mobility. | ⛔️ Combo Commitment and Openings. |
Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword is a melee weapon characterized by long reach and a katana-like blade. It sits in the middle of the pack for speed and power:
- ✅ The Long Sword is more agile than the Great Sword;
- ✅ It hits harder per strike than faster weapons like the Sword & Shield or Dual Blades.
This balance makes the MHW Long Sword a focused DPS weapon with a mix of aggressive combos and well-timed counters. But there are also a few weak points of the MH Wilds Long Sword to consider:
- ⛔️ The Long Sword cannot block, so it is a high-risk, high-reward weapon if you’re not confident in your evasion timing;
- ⛔️ Some of the Long Sword’s big moves have lengthy animations.
Remember that the strengths do not promise that you’ll become a pro hunter with a Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds without any training, but at the same time, the weaknesses do not make this weapon less valuable and powerful. If you want to benefit from this sword, consider asking our Coach for guidance and master the art of sword fighting with a trained professional.
Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword FAQ
Being one of the popular weapon choices, Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword remains a dark horse for many players. Therefore, we have gathered a list of the most common and frequent questions and answered every single one of them in our guide.
Is Long Sword Good in Monster Hunter?
Monster Hunter Wild Long Sword is one of the best weapons in the current meta. Though it lacks guarding capabilities, it is very versatile and can fit the playstyle of almost any player.
How Do You Use the Long Sword in MHW PC?
Playing with a Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword on a PC is not hard at all. You can play using a keyboard or connect your gamepad and enjoy it the way you like. In our guide, you can find the best combos and movesets for both consoles (PS5, Xbox) and PC.
What is the Best Weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds?
The best weapon usually depends on your personal preference and playstyle, but MH Wilds Long Sword is one of the best weapon options in the game. It offers a great variety of powerful moves, high burst damage, and evasion capabilities.
Is Monster Hunter Long Sword Good for Beginners?
Yes, Monster Hunter Long Sword is one of the best weapons for beginners. It is straightforward and resembles a huge katana, so many newbies find it easy to master.
How to Use the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds?
To successfully handle the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds, you need to understand the Spirit Gauge mechanic which allows you to accumulate Spirit to empower your attacks. Some Long Sword attacks spend the Spirit (e.g. Spirit Blade), and some help to accumulate it (e.g. Overhead Slash).
What are the Best Long Sword Combos in Monster Hunter Wilds?
First of all, Zero Spirit Gauge Setup is one of the combos for Monster Hunter Long Sword that you should pick up first to be able to build the gauge from zero. Additionally, Crimson Slash into Rising Slash Loop is a good combo to reposition quickly and stay safe even in the toughest fight. Lastly, Crimson Slash Loop is the most basic, yet best combo for the Red Spirit Gauge.
4.9All things considered, Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword is an effective weapon. It allows you not only to enjoy flashy combos, but also to perform successful counters, and raise your attack damage with each level of Spirit Gauge. Implementing MH Wilds Long Sword combos will help you to win every single encounter, and learning the basic mechanics with our guide will make you a true Long Sword pro.
