How To Use The Switch Axe In Monster Hunter Wilds
In Monster Hunter Wilds, nearly every weapon appears to offer less than its true potential at first glance. However, there’s often a hidden depth to these weapons, with mechanisms that elevate their performance far beyond what meets the eye. Instead of just swinging and hitting monsters, these weapons utilize strategies that make them much more powerful.
The Switch Axe stands out among other weapons due to its intricate mechanical functions. Yet, understanding these mechanics is relatively straightforward, creating a weapon that offers significant potential, both for beginners and experts. It boasts impressive firepower while minimizing drawbacks, making it an excellent choice for high-performance play.
As a fellow enthusiast, I’d like to share a quick tip: To familiarize yourself with the controls for the Switch Axe in your game, simply navigate to Settings > Information > Play Guide > Weapon Controls > Switch Axe. Happy gaming!
Switch Axe Overview
The Switch Axe functions as a blend of two distinct weapons: an Axe and a substantial Sword. Each form offers unique combos and strengths, but it’s their synergy that sets the Switch Axe apart. When used together, they amplify each other’s abilities.
Switch Gauge
When using the Switch Axe, it’s crucial to focus on the Switch Gauge – a meter located at the upper-left corner of your screen, right beneath your stamina bar.
In Axe Mode, each time you launch an attack, your Switch Gauge will be filling up. Conversely, when attacking in Sword Mode, your Switch Gauge will deplete instead.
As long as the Switch Gauge is at 30 percent, you’ll be able to transform into Sword Mode.
Amp Gauge
In Sword Mode, filling up the Amp Gauge occurs whenever you successfully land an attack. When the Amp Gauge is fully charged, you’ll transition into the Amped State.
The Amp Gauge is the second smaller gauge, on the right side of the icon.
In Amplified Mode, your sword strikes will inflict extra damage, and the kind of damage depends on the philia type attached to your Switch Axe. Additionally, you’ll encounter exclusive combo chances.
Phial Type
Each type of Switch Axe comes with a unique flask, and this flask type will be displayed in your weapon’s stats.
There are six different phial types:
| Phial | Damage Type |
|---|---|
| Power | This is going to boost the physical damage. |
| Elemental | This is going to boost the elemental damage. |
| Poison | This is going to add poison damage. |
| Paralysis | This is going to build up paralysis on a monster. |
| Dragon | This is going to add dragon elemental damage. |
| Exhaust | This is going to build up stun and exhaust on a monster. |
There will be situations where each type will prove useful, and as you delve deeper into understanding each creature, you’ll find yourself better equipped to prepare and select the appropriate phial accordingly.
Power Axe Mode
Power Axe Mode is the final type of attack mode the Switch Axe has.
The Power Axe Mode Gause is the smaller gauge at the bottom left of the icon.
Power Axe Mode is going to increase the charge your Axe attacks apply to the Switch Gauge.
Switch Axe Combos And Tips
Generally speaking, the Switch Axe in Monster Hunter Worlds delivers some truly stunning damage among all weapons and offers an additional phial effect to boost its performance even more.
On the negative side, the Switch Axe may struggle with slower movements due to its extended animation sequences. Given its size and cumbersome nature, your Hunter might find themselves locked in animations at inopportune moments, such as when trying to evade an enemy’s attack, leaving them vulnerable to a powerful strike.
Axe Mode (Basic Combos)
In the Axe Mode, there are two fundamental combo moves: Overhead Strike and Frenzied Whirl. The Overhead Strike combo concludes with two side attacks, whereas the Frenzied Whirl can be continuously repeated if you have enough stamina to sustain it.
Swinging wildly twice, then performing an alternate basic attack results in a powerful Slam move, which is one method for transforming your Axe into its Power Axe form.
Axe Mode (Offset Rising Slash)
As a fervent player, I’ve discovered an exciting move: simultaneous presses of the Basic Attack buttons unleashes the Offset Rising Slash, akin to a powerful uppercut with my Switch Axe that pushes monsters back when they’re on the offensive.
Should the assault cause the monster to retreat, you have the option to follow it with either a Heavy Slam, triggering Power Axe Mode, or a Morph Slash, leading you into Sword Mode.
If you can predict when a monster will attack and counter it effectively, this provides an excellent chance to retaliate and open up a moment where you can deal additional damage.
Axe Mode (Fade Slash)
Fade Slash repositions your Hunter slightly backward and delivers an upward slash with the Switch Axe. This move isn’t complex mechanically, but it provides a touch of distance and still inflicts some damage, making it a graceful method for creating a small gap.
Sword Mode (Basic Combos)
The Sword Mode offers two fundamental combos: an Overhead Slash that links into a three-part combo, striking from three distinct angles, and a Double Slash, a two-hit sequence where each attack multi-strikes, significantly contributing to the Amp Meter.
neither of these combinations aren’t exceptionally swift, with the Double Slash combo keeping you stuck in an animation for quite some time. Yet, upon landing, they inflict substantial harm and expedite the process of filling the Amp Gauge quickly.
Sword Mode (Counter Rising Slash)
In the Axe Mode, the Counter Rising Slash serves a function comparable to Offset Rising Slash, albeit with slightly less impact. When used against an attacking monster, it won’t cause the monster to stagger, but instead, it will shield you from being staggered yourself. Moreover, it will seamlessly transition into a series of follow-up attacks without any extra input required from you.
After executing this move, you can instantly transition into the latter part of the Double Slash sequence. This move extends your animation time significantly but inflicts substantial damage.
Sword Mode (Element Discharge)
Simultaneously pressing the Sword’s Basic Attack buttons propels it forward, and repeatedly hitting this same button keeps causing harm to the monster, culminating in an elemental blast that inflicts substantial damage. This powerful attack also transforms your Switch Axe back into its Axe Mode.
In Amped State, this is essentially going to do the same thing, just on a more powerful scale.
Since this assault immobilizes you, it’s not advisable to use it when a monster is facing you and might strike back. However, when there’s a chance for you to strike without much risk of retaliation, it can inflict substantial damage.
Sword Mode (Unbridled Slash)
Unchecked Slash is a wide-reaching strike that primarily affects targets within a 180-degree arc in front of you, dealing multiple instances of damage. If you’re in Amplified Mode, the damage will be significantly higher.
After using Unbridled Slash, you’ll transition back into Axe Mode.
In most scenarios, this skill proves to be simply exceptional and an ideal method for activating Axe Mode. It works exceptionally well against tougher opponents that are harder to target, and it excels in dealing with swarms of smaller creatures.
Sword Mode (Full Release Slash)
This attack is effective exclusively when activated in Amped Mode, and it inflicts an overwhelming amount of damage. Additionally, it can be linked from Elemental Discharge, serving as a devastating finale for that sequence and a dramatic shift towards Axe Mode.
Focus Assault (Axe And Sword)
In a slightly altered phrasing, I’d say: “The Focus Assault, a tactic employed when targeting injuries on the enemy, exhibits some variations depending on the operating mode.
- In Axe Mode, it will end in a Power Axe finisher by default. You can chain it mid-attack into an Elemental Discharge finisher instead if you’d like.
- In Sword Mode, it will end in an Elemental Discharge finisher by default, but it can be chained into a Power Axe finisher instead.
Even though you might end up using an opposing weapon during a Focus Assault variation, your original weapon’s mode remains unchanged once the attack is over.
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2025-03-03 15:05