Monster Hunter Wilds Sword & Shield Starter Guide | How to Sword & Shield

[@gagtjs]

Your tutorials feel like you're my friend sitting next to me on the couch teaching me how to play, and I mean that in the best way possible.

[@hokut3n]

Completely agree! Sometimes it's hard to find a right guide... especially one that makes it a lot easier for newcomers (or just someone unfamiliar with a certain weapon type)!

[@jah3009]

You'll never miss the tail cut. You'll never miss the part break. The grind is infinite. And plentiful. This game will be Legendary.

[@Thevikingninja117]

Glad someone understands! Seeing a few people who are hating on it (obviously those people need to get their heads examined and have no idea what they’re talking about). Wilds is absolutely incredible. And is now my favorite game of all time. Will be even more so when it fully comes out. Gonna no life the beta this weekend and no life the full game I have a week off set for full launch.

[@Sammysapphira]

@Thevikingninja117 Just because you cannot fathom the problems with the game does not make them any less valid.

[@JoyTuub]

​@@Sammysapphira not trying to cause any internet drama at all. Actually curious. What are your concerns for wilds? I've spent most of my time just experimenting with different weapons and enjoying the beta. I haven't seen many negatives yet.

[@Thevikingninja117]

@ just because you can not fathom that the game is good does not make the hate valid. “Game is bad” wrong. I’d it’s so bad what are doing here? Go make a better game.

[@thebigoof5824]

It’s leaps and bounds better than clutch claw softening from World. This system doesn’t take you out of the fight to do some nonsense to make the fights take a reasonable amount of time.

[@poems3149]

Just a side note for the SnS players who like to guard. Holding guard during perfect rush can let you cancel the recovery of any Perfect rush hit into guard. So if a big attack is coming to interrupt you, guard has got your back. This also means you can try to back hop to rush again.

[@joselocombi6127]

Wow, that's quite a great change!

[@thebigoof5824]

Fuck, I thought that was gone because it used to be dodge into backstep and now I must change my muscle memory into guard.

[@Madchimpz]

That's cool, that is a great option so it's not risky to throw out perfect rush when the monster isn't down. Especially since I feel a greater incentive to block sometimes in this game.

[@AnaatthiGozo]

There are so many paths to take with SnS that a guide was needed to even find all of them

[@anzarudo]

@@AnaatthiGozo yeah they really made it as flexible as possible, and it looks fun. you can do anything at any time in any direction with low animation commitment

[@deetsitmeisterjd]

Good SnS players have always been the best players in the game, regardless of the tier rating of SnS each game. I've seen players go absolutely god mode with SnS.

[@ongabonga4378]

Wounds are just such a great mechanic. Wounds and focus mode is so much better and more intuitive than tenderizing/wall-banging with clutch claw

[@epsilon1372]

My ONLY concern is I hope high rank and by exten master rank isn’t trivialized by issuing them. It makes sense they make these low tank encounters much easier, but I hope we don’t have a base-rise situation where even the harder monsters in high rank are just stun locked. Other than that, which is only a concern, I agree. It’s basically what tenderizing should’ve been in iceborne

[@ongabonga4378]

@@epsilon1372 I never played rise so idk exactly what you are referring to, but I get the jist. You can possibly trivialize fights in wilds when there's a ton of wounds on a monster and you can stunlock with focus attack spam. I didn't play a ton of the beta on ps5, but it seemed like once you destroyed a wound it would become scarred, and you couldn't re-open it again.

[@riemaennchen]

@@epsilon1372 Outside of Doshaguma who re-opens his wounds when he enrages those wounds seem to be a one time thing. And I doubt attacking a backleg or something for an extended amount of time just a get a wound flinch is gonna help much. Some Monsters to have weakpoints pop up like Rey Dau after after stronger railgun attacks then can Focus Struck repeatedly. But the Monster does have to use the right move to do so its not very spammable. Until Speedrunners start cheating again and force Monsters to use impossible behaviors.^^

[@epsilon1372]

@@ongabonga4378 ah okay then that’s balanced imo. Thanks for the info

[@deetsitmeisterjd]

​@@epsilon1372So at least for Rey Dau, wounds don't seem as frequent on him and they can in places that are really hard to even hit, like his spine etc. In my opinion he's not particularly hard even with the early game gear, so I'd considered him an early apex. I'd expect something like Kushala, is very unlikely to even get wounds (hope he ain't the game but you get my point)

[@Clap_]

Ive played the Beta for a good few hours today and ive got to say the game feels fantastic and the SnS is really fun in Wilds!

[@voltix9594]

My first Rey Dau kill was with the sword and shield, it’s a lot more fun to use than I originally thought

[@michaelking7709]

Your weapon guides are amazing and detailed. No questions and i have a great understanding of the weapons after the videos🤙🏿👏🏿

[@doccroc5962]

a note on the mounted SnS attacks, if you're sprinting forward on your seikret, you get an AMAZING, 8+hit long-slash on the left, but only if you time it to hit at the start of the attack, if the start of the attack misses it ends prematurely and wont continue. it's really fun to do.

[@VTsimpingSan]

I tried every weapon so far, and only sns felt great for me this time. Thanks for the guide!

[@stgoose]

Ruri filling the gap left by the absence of Arrekz and JoCat

[@ThrillerKiller96]

One of my favorite things about Rise SNS was the addition of spinning reaper because it allowed for infinite perfect rushes. And seeing it return plus all of the new mechanics I damn near cried. SNS has never been this fluid!

[@HappyProletariat]

One more important thing: the backhop has a good amount of i-frames, more than a normal dodge

[@hokut3n]

The plunging thrust totally reminds me of when I play as Link in Smash Bros. Definitely loving the Sword and Shield so far!

[@xiiNFusiON]

Can i just add, you may have already noticed but you can even focus strike on the partially wounded parts and it does a mini charged chop and opens the wound up so much quicker. As you mentioned this is a wound making machine : 17:10 Also I'm so glad you covered how to use slinger ammo when unsheathed as I couldn't even work it out! I thought they removed it and I kept getting caught out doing muscle memory for a slinger shot.

[@Madchimpz]

yeah this is something I discovered just today. it does really good damage quickly. does every weapon have that secondary focus mode attack or is it just SNS?

[@xiiNFusiON]

@@Madchimpz I'm honestly not sure as I tend to just main SNS every MH game. I wanted to try a new weapon but just ended up fixating on the ol' reliable

[@sanguinetales]

One thing you may have missed is Chop, Charge Chop, Rising Slash is an infinite combo as you can Rise and Charge repeatedly You only need to hit the 1st Chop once then it's Charge > Rise, Charge > Rise ad nauseum

[@theolong6689]

I know the sns is supposed to be basic and beginner friendly but man no other weapon feels as dynamic as sns. Just so many options to how you approach the fight. You get slash, blunt, good mobility, good aerials for mounting, a good defensive option now with perfect block too keep up the pressure, fast attacks that work well with status effects, and on top of all that fastest item usage of all weapons for setting up traps in a pinch. It really is the Swiss army knife. It does everything and seems to do it well. 100% going to be my main.

[@FayN_]

ah yes, mandatory rurikhan tutorial watch to understand the game mechanic before playing the game

[@TyrsFire]

You can also use your focus strike in the air so if any other of your attacks set you in the air you can do that as well on top of the other aerial attacks

[@Hell_Soll]

there are deffinitly a lot of things in this video I didn't knew about SnS, will deffinitly come back to it once the game releases fully

[@usnairframer]

I love the perfect block for SnS in this game. I'm really looking forward to the offensive guard builds.

[@Yamadutai]

The three follow ups to Scaling Slash: Falling Bash: KO Plunging Thrust: Excellent for elemental attacks because of the multiple hits Jumping Slash: Deals excellent mounting damage. Ruri did not mention the Jumping Slash is really meant for mounting, not dealing damage.

[@V2ULTRAKill]

Falling bash also does the most raw damage BY FAR regardless of hitzones

[@Mari1432a]

for those who dont know you can also mix up all those 3 combos into eachother, you can do 2 light attacks into 3 heavy attacks then spinning reaper or you can do 1 light attack into a shield bash into spinning reaper or any combination of 2 combos, in rise the best combo was doing like 2 light and 2 heavy then spinning reaper and repeating, will have to test to see best in wilds

[@MarineCARMINE]

I'm glad the beta is working for you and you are enjoying it. I had to delete it b/c it was unplayable for me.

[@adamcappella8088]

@@MarineCARMINE had a friend who had an issue with playing it. He deleted it then re-downloaded it after the update, now it works. Give it a shot

[@hectortejeda2057]

Wow, that focus while chopping is great. I didn't know

[@br2nd]

Sns is one of my go to and being able to bring two weapons lets you change styles so quick.

[@Bigdogtotoro87]

Us sword and shield main are eating great in wilds!❤ love you and your content bro.

[@brownieman52]

There's also another really cool move I learned by accident. I can't remember the exact scenario but it's either standard rising slash into a wall or the blocking movement slash into a wall, but it'll run you up the wall, turn round and leap off of it and then drag your sword down the monster. (I think this was in World/Iceborne)

[@Animus_Altia]

Oh yeah, that's called the Helmsplitter. For now I think the biggest obstacle to using that is just not knowing which walls it works on.

[@valerius9751]

I've seen a lot of people complaining about sns but personally I think it feels amazing to play

[@Andrii_Karpenko]

Don’t forget about wall running aerial attack! It’s feels awesome and huge contribute to mount threshold

[@j-plarouche9959]

just only because you mention the switch axe having a decent moveset on the seikret im just putting my two cent in saying prepping three songs while riding to the next figthing spot is really usefull for HH. Definetly gonna try sns tonight thanks for the guide

[@doccroc5962]

also, thank you a ton on showing how to shoot while the weapon is drawn, i thought it got removed, TY!

[@pascalcollet3897]

Ty great overview of my main. Bit struggle to get over it on wilds but i managed to kill all monsters on first attempt with it. But Rey it was a pain with that short knife 😂

[@alexgalays910]

That moveset looks amazing to be honest.

[@jom.6181]

Mh rise got me into sns big time. I wanted to learn a new weapon and picked sns and good God it was powerful in base rise and still great in sun break. Can't wait to give it a spin when I get my hands on Wilds

[@Frederic_104]

Good to note that the falling slash uses less sharpness than the helm splitter. If youre playing SnS and youre losing a crap load of sharpness, use helm splitter and charged chop more sparingly and try to get in more spinning reapers and falling bashes

[@EvilForgemaster]

Very good guide. One question. Has you or anyone else found a use of the guard slash? I just can't seem to find anything to use it for.

[@giovannirobira7897]

I really liked the SnS I saw a bunch of people complain that is bad. I don't really understand why. You seem to be more mobile, more combos in the air, even easier topples... Is amazing

[@seide2829]

Most if the complaints are about how there's basically no hitlag besides on the counter hit so it feels like it has no impact

[@Feyrbrand31]

i think its mainly just getting used to new/changed stuff to be honest. I was one of those to whom sns just felt wrong somehow. But seeing this video does put things into perspective more.

[@Vyo1983]

​@@seide2829but that's a wilds problem, not a SnS problem. Pretty much every weapon lacks impact right now. Hope they change that up to release.

[@keffrineal211]

A lot of people are basing it off of solo Rey Dau kill times. It’s in the 10th spot with a pretty large of time behind the 9th spot. This is speed running territory though so it doesn’t apply to most people. That being said I def have to most fun playing SnS so I’m going to keep playing it.

[@TyrsFire]

It feels slower but the new tools are great

[@joeywithabowie4002]

I discovered something today that I have not seen anywhere else and not even in the weapon controls for the sns but after you perform any triangle+cirkle (Y+B) and then follow up with a focus strike (vital stab) on a weakpoint that is NOT a wound you will sometimes perform a move similar to drill slash (not charged chop) from rise/sunbreak. I'm not entirely sure what triggers it but spamming the vital stab after certain attacks seems to work. Edit: after reviewing some of my clips it seems that performing the vital stab on a part that is about to become a wound (looks like white scars) it consistently does the drill slash, and this in turn opens the wound pretty quickly.

[@pumpkinnight6557]

Excellent video! Can't wait for the full game! 🎃

[@quaili9068]

Little sad the shoryuken counter from Rise isn't making a return in some form. Was such a satisfying maneuver but SnS looking good.

[@Vyo1983]

Man let's just hope they bring it in the expansion. I can see it as the SnS offset attack.

[@Kemzter]

@@Vyo1983instead of offset, i prefer it to be the counter after perfect block, tho i think that would be too OP

[@muninn92]

My favorite weapon. I love the new moves.

[@brownieman52]

I would looooove if they added Charged Chop to break wounds. Would be an awesome yet fitting addition to how flexible SnS is. If not in base game then in the expansion later down the line.

[@vypermajik]

Amazing guide. Subbed, thank you 🎉

[@SuperMegaDragonKiller]

My fav in the beta. The hammer is good too.

[@hash6680]

I would LOVE to see you hunt an alpha doshaguma with the SnS. Amazing weapon.

[@wagessin3596]

Your sns open my eyes to love sns more 🙏tyvm 🙇

[@lukerodrigues6955]

This looks so good! I'm really happy that they're using Rise SnS as the base for the weapon in Wilds, because that was my favorite version of the weapon by far. World actually ruined the weapon for me, and I'm glad to see them fixing what they broke in that game.

[@Ninetails-ze8mc]

Thing to keep note of the sns has two focus attacks as you can go to plunging thrust immediately instead of going up in the air

[@deetsitmeisterjd]

And the circle attack is a big hit with the shield. If the wound is on the face, that's good KO damage.

[@Kemzter]

oh how long i have waited.. thank you ruri my muscle memory with sns from world and rise screws me so much.. i keep forgetting that RT+Y is not rising slash anymore

[@hectortejeda2057]

I could never do a perfect rush in MH world. In this beta I can do it every time!

[@mrblooper1994]

13:19 im assuming you can also do a jumping attack going up a cliff too? SnS is the only weapon that can do the advancing attack going up a cliff itll send you rising up.

[@rurikhan]

Yes

[@MonkeyDPickle]

This and great sword hold my highest interest for melee weps atm

[@samhauck6023]

Really didn’t want to start this off with a pimento cheese chicken add but I powered through now SNS!!!!

[@icfb414gaming5]

This probably isn't the place to say this but i haven't seen anyone else talk about it yet. has anyone else noticed that when the monster is targeting you with an attack that would kill you, your scout flies flash red.

[@mrblooper1994]

Yeah and your health goes haywire crazy too, if you remember people hated that when it was showed to us a while back

[@deetsitmeisterjd]

​@@mrblooper1994that's showing you are about to get "one shot" if you don't move. Now, that I've played with it, it's good, actually going to remove a lot of that "no way, that's bs, I shouldn't have carted there"

[@mrblooper1994]

@@deetsitmeisterjd honestly I just hate how it looks, it's definitely useful I just wish it didn't look like that.

[@Bewnnit]

Have you tried the focus mode toggle option instead of holding and just staying in the mode until you want to sheathe the weapon? I think that's why the focus strike is right bumber too, so it won't conflict with regular combat even in perma focus. Or do you feel your movement suffers from staying in focus?

[@kommissarleber8527]

They put some serious make-up on the old trusty! Nice.

[@riemaennchen]

SnS is so much in Wilds! But either I am worse with it then I think, the damage is currently on the lower end or both. I kill the Monsters so much faster with Charge Blade its almost embarrassing since I consider SnS and Hammer to be my MAIN main weapons.

[@ovidijuspocius6336]

I was waiting for this

[@xanderhebert6257]

Sliding swipe and advancing slash in one moveset!

[@MKP2W]

The downwards slash attack off the air launch in the previous games was used because it did mount status, not sure if it still does good mount status but I dont know why they would change it? Especially since the damage is objectively bad.

[@Raso719]

Palicos talking is still weird to me. Alma (be still me heart) was the one calling out those tips mid combat instead of the cat because I refuse to turn off the cat language option.

[@ariq5258]

Sns in wilds feels like all you gotta do is slice up the monster and suddenly while just having fun you notice that its already close to death. I always wondered how it will do against a big monster like Uth Duna but after easily fighting against Doshaguma you just feel like a god with SnS.

[@rainbowkrampus]

I hope we get some cool hitbox porn compilations of people using sliding swipe to dodge under attacks.

[@-Apeman-]

Thank you for the guide

[@muninn92]

I prefer blocking smaller attacks and roll the heavy hits. I haven't been able to pull off to many perfect blocks yet.

[@BonesNeverLie]

Best weapon💖

[@troo_6656]

I think I'll skip sns for wilds. It's missing the mobility it had in rise and if people don't think it's a big thing wait till you start chasing the monster all over the place as it runs circles around you with a weapon that has no reach. It was barely something I could stomach in World and I don't think I'm going to try my patience again with this title. I'll likely stick with dual swords since now the stun capability of sns is once again in the dirt so I might as well just go with no regard for stamina or defence.

[@rainer9931]

SWORD AND SHIELD BABY WOOOHOOOOO

[@n0xxm3rcyxx]

idk people keep hyping up IG... i want to be sky captain with jumping on walls again. i dont like it , mained IG all of rise it just felt good and fluid to me. now it feels clunky and slow.

[@Kennydustin333]

I'm a bit sad that they removed the option to go in to perfect rush/back hop after a dash. I play on M&K and it's really annoying to press S + right-click to do a back hop. The timing is (unnecessary) tricky. I hope they add this again.

[@DavySilverwind]

I am really gonna miss metsu, but more mobility is always good! Gonna take me some time to relearn sns at a decently high level but overall I'd say this is looking tood. I really like that new charge attack after a combo!

[@Madchimpz]

One other thing to mention is you can do a different focus mode attack on wounds before they start glowing red. When it's just a white mark you can press R1 in focus mode to do a really quick and powerful single stab that does multiple hits, you can do it over and over until it up opens up the wounds, which it does really quickly, and you can to do yet another strong focus mode attack when it glows red. It's a great source of damage. Unfortunately the beta ended before I can see if other weapons do this too. Can anyone confirm?

[@Mrcapo100]

We need more shield bash weapons!!

[@redgluster]

You forgot to show Clash, but very nice guide !

[@seide2829]

Is there any follow up you get after a successful clash?

[@jaydenfisher7917]

My favorite is bow. My second is lance.

[@serjobsalot8768]

SnS is still the king of combos

[@cristianalfonso7594]

SNS became the new charge blade 😮😅😅

[@CarlosGonzalez-lc8tu]

Where is this barrel lol. Been wanting to practice combos but I cant find my way back here

[@ruxcy9149]

I just want the mhw Perfect rush back

[@wacktastic1]

Im going to miss metsu shorugeki

[@Kemzter]

does the sliding swipe have i-frames?

[@NoZeroGG]

Jumping Slash is to mount the monster

[@brownieman52]

How do you get the little training barrel out? I've been to the same location and there's nothing there so I thought maybe it was a barrel or large barrel (not bomb) but I can't seem to place those. Spoke to the campsite kitty and he's useless lmao. What am I missing?

[@KoyoteVS]

That barrel only appears after the very first intro once you make your character. Once you pick your weapon of choice and move onto hunting the Chatacabra, it disappears. If you can make a second character, that would be the only way to practice with the barrel. (The full game will have a dedicated training area, I'm sure. World and Rise did.)

[@Scytez]

I want to start MHWilds with SNS but I can't even get a feel for the game... My 1080 can't even reach 20 fps 🤣 TLDR: Beta for me is for Character Creation... 😂

[@FalafelPlease]

Game is unplayable on pc what have they done

[@MrGshinobi]

Sns bros we are so fucking BACK

[@Oni_Evergarden]

I don't get the point of Perfect Rush. It feels like it does so little damage and often times like 30% of the attacks don't even land on a downed monster cause they flail so much in the game. I don't understand using it vs other combos

[@gwenfranklin8242]

Did we lose the drill slash from rise? The shield combo option

[@joebzwjohn7917]

It's not in the beta, so probably no switch skills like drill slash

[@CalmTempest]

We got the cut down instead, and it feels even better

[@V2ULTRAKill]

Yes, and good riddance, it was just numerically worse than using shield bash

[@LapahnYT]

why is everything in the beta only like 5-30 dmg per hit?

[@pietrogiovannicastelli7513]

Where is this barrel?😢

[@berkoroo]

Do hammer for the bonk bros!

[@jonnyboy2176]

Wth happened to my plunging thrust into the epic sword removal?!?!? 😫

[@LaserTractor]

By the way Longsword is glorious😂

[@AgentSteveO]

The perfect rush damage seems mediocre now

[@DookieMeister51]

shoulda been a shoryuken offset 😞

[@alessandrodellanno948]

Why sword and shield is as fast as a dual blade, blocks as much as a charge blade and hit as hard as a greatsword?

[@rurikhan]

Don’t you think you’re exaggerating a bit there ?

[@alessandrodellanno948]

@@rurikhan yeah i am using hyperbole, but because i cant really see SnS limits. I have memories about perfect rush in iceborne.. it was kinda insane and now that i am getting to know the weapon better I am wondering where you can draw the line(s) with the weapons i have mentioned

[@BlueNish12]

Now I know why do they take a long time to hunt monsters ? Look at that they are using sword in left hand [except left handed person]