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The irresistible feel of the Charge Blade
Manage phials with the sword, power comes from the axe
High difficulty to master, but the Charge Blade is definitely fun

The Charge Blade is a weapon that transforms between two modes: sword and axe. In sword mode, you can play defensively using guards, while in axe mode, you can unleash powerful attacks. Many players start using the Charge Blade because they are drawn to the sight of a giant axe tearing through monsters, and the feel and power of the axe mode truly deliver more than expected.

However, if you try the Charge Blade without prior knowledge, you may be surprised by its difficulty. The Charge Blade's unique system is quite complex. It has features like sword energy, phials, and weapon enhancement, which must be properly activated and maintained for the weapon to perform at its best. Beginners may find it challenging to quickly gather phials and enhance their weapon.

Operating it is also not easy. In Wilds, the Charge Blade is typically played by gathering phials and performing necessary enhancements in sword mode, then switching to axe mode to focus on dealing damage. Axe mode can inflict heavy damage, but it lacks proper survival skills other than rolling, making it less stable. Also, if the necessary enhancements are not done during the time to focus on damage, you may lose damage time.

However, there is no need to give up. After gaining some proficiency, the Charge Blade's axe provides a more thrilling feel than any other weapon. The fun of flexibly switching between sword and axe modes to 'cook' monsters is also attractive, so take your time to get closer to the Charge Blade.

■ Understanding the Phial System and Weapon Enhancement - Understanding the Charge Blade

[Official Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade Controls (PS)]

[Official Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade Controls (XBOX)]

◆ Sword Gauge

 

- Phial-shaped icon in the upper left corner of the screen

- Accumulates sword energy when attacking in sword mode, changing the outline from colorless → yellow → red → overheat

- Overheating causes the sword to bounce off

- From the yellow stage onwards, you can use charge to store sword energy as 'phials'

 

 

 

◆ Charge

 

- Sword Mode:+/+

- Charging when the gauge is yellow stores 3 phials, charging when it is red stores 5 phials

- Stored phials last for a certain time and are consumed when using certain techniques, exploding

- The explosion effect varies depending on the weapon's phial type, impact phials ignore hitzones and inflict stun/power phials specialize in elemental damage

- Additional phials can be generated while phials are stored, exceeding 5 grants enhanced phials

- Enhanced phials last longer and have stronger explosive power than normal phials

 

 

 

◆ Element Enhance (Shield Enhance)

 

Element Enhance with phial charge

- Sword Mode: [+] -(Hold) / [+] -(Hold)

Element Enhance when phials are charged

- Common in Sword/Axe Mode: High Element Discharge Cancel (/) into Element Enhance Spinning Slash

 

- Shield-shaped icon in the upper left corner of the screen

- Consumes charged phials to enable Element Enhance

- All phials are consumed after enhancement, so you need to recharge to receive phial effects again

- Enhancing improves guard performance, axe power, and allows the use of Super Amped Element Discharge

- Deactivates after a certain time, can be renewed within the duration

 

 

 

◆ Axe Enhance

 

- Sword Mode:(Just Guard) -/(Just Guard) -

- Common in Sword/Axe Mode: Successful Focused Weakness Attack, also possible with Finishing Attack during Mounting

- Axe-shaped icon in the upper left corner of the screen

- Enhanced when the above conditions are met regardless of phial charge, can also be activated after a clash

- Enhancing adds continuous attack ability to axe attacks, reduces phial consumption

- Deactivates after a certain time, can be renewed within the duration

 

 

 

◆ Sword Enhance

- Sword Mode: [+] -(Hold) / [+] -(Hold)

- Can be performed in Element (Shield) Enhance state

- Adds phial effects to sword attacks, no sword bouncing even in sword gauge overheat state

- At this point in Wilds, axe enhancement-focused play is more common, so its necessity is not high

 

 

 

◆ Guard Point

- When the Charge Blade performs certain actions, the shield briefly shines and a guard judgment is created

- Exists in Sword ↔ Axe Mode Transformation, Shield [Element] Enhance, Spinning Slash, Moving Slash, etc.

- You can defend against enemy attacks with Guard Points, but Just Guard judgment is not possible

- High Output or Super High Output can be linked after a Guard Point success

- However, since practical use is not easy, it is recommended that beginners only understand that the system exists

 

The Charge Blade is a weapon that obtains buff effects through its unique phial system and weapon enhancement and uses them in battle. To unleash its optimal performance, it is important to understand and use them appropriately, so it is necessary to study the basic system before engaging in full-scale combat.

If you have just started using the Charge Blade, think as simply as possible. You don't have to worry about sword enhancement, and you can exclude Guard Points because they are difficult to use in practice. Just remember that there is a Guard Point system and it is great to take it as a link when it is activated.

First of all, what you need to remember are the sword gauge and phial charge, and shield enhancement and axe enhancement. Get used to the process of filling the sword gauge and charging it with phials in sword mode, and then enhancing the shield and completing the axe enhancement by receiving the enemy's attack with a Just Guard while filling the phials again.

Shield enhancement can be done with Shield [Element] Enhance in the charge state, and also with High Element Discharge motion entry and cancel, and Element Enhance Spinning Slash. Get familiar with Shield [Element] Enhance in the charge state first. It is useful because it leads to shield enhancement along with phial charge. Shield enhancement through High Output cancel is suitable for renewing just before the shield enhancement turns off in a situation where there are already phials, and it can be used when all High Element Discharge are activated, such as High Output after Liberation Slash, Rush Slash - Shield Thrust after High Output, and Just Guard after High Output.

Axe enhancement requires more conditions to activate. If it is the beginning of the battle, you must perform Element Spinning Boost after blocking the monster's attack or roar with a Just Guard. During the battle, you can bring it more easily through Focused Weakness Attack on the wound, so pay attention to the first enhancement. However, in multiplayer, it may be difficult to activate until a wound occurs. When using Element Spinning Boost after a Just Guard, be careful as you are exposed to the enemy's attack, and you need the courage to enhance while being hit depending on the situation.

■ Manage Phials in Sword and Deal Damage in Axe - Charge Blade Basic Operation

In Wilds, Charge Blade operation is mainly based on axe enhancement mode. The basic operation is to manage phials and perform necessary enhancements in sword mode and then pour firepower in axe mode. The proportion may vary slightly depending on your preference and play style, but many users play with the sword mode only taking care of the basics and spend a long time operating in axe mode.

In sword mode, it is recommended to actively use Charged Double Slash whenever possible. This technique, which is activated by holding down the special attack button, is good for filling the sword gauge. If you use Charged Double Slash twice in a row, a red gauge is created immediately, and the red gauge is completed even if you continue with Charged Double Slash followed by Spinning Slash - Spinning Slash - Feint Slash.

After filling the sword gauge, charge the phials to enhance the shield, and then fill the phials again to achieve axe enhancement through Just Guard. This is the preparation stage before the start of the full-scale battle. And then attack in axe mode. The axe's firepower is properly unleashed only when all these preparations are made.

The main skill in axe mode is Element Discharge. Super Amped Element Discharge, which is the Charge Blade's ultimate move and the romance of axe mode, is temporarily pushed back due to problems with attributes and efficiency. In axe mode, link Element Discharge and mix in High Output and Pursuit High Output if possible to complete a 4-stage combo, and mix in an upward slash to reduce the after-delay. If the damage time is short, it is okay to use only Element Discharge 1-2. If you use only Element Discharge 1-2, there is no phial consumption, and if you use High Output and Pursuit High Output, a total of 1 phial is used, 0.5 phials each.

If an enemy attack comes while attacking in axe mode, roll using evasion. If you are more skilled, you can switch to sword mode in advance before the pattern comes and deal with it with a guard, but until you get used to it, the only way is to roll. If you want a more stable play, lower the proportion of axe mode and play in sword mode, and only hold the axe when you are sure. You can start the axe combo by linking to High Output after guarding.

Sword ↔ Axe mode conversion starts with Transformation Slash, and then increase the range of use according to the situation. In particular, there are various ways to switch from sword to axe, but if you press the special attack button briefly from the charge, you can take it to Element Discharge 1 combo, or you can hold the axe with Rush Slash - Shield Thrust - High Output combo. First, simplify and distinguish it by Guard Point Transformation Slash and Charge Combo that goes directly to Axe Element Discharge.

If you have just started the Charge Blade, just remember this much and pay attention to renewing when the enhancement buff is flashing. The basic system is somewhat complex, so it is a weapon that requires you to prioritize getting familiar with the mechanism. If you get used to gauge and phial management and mode conversion, the firepower of the axe enhancement mode is so strong that it shows more performance than expected.

■ There is no right answer, Setting that is a matter of taste - Charge Blade Recommended Skills

The Charge Blade is one of the weapons where the setting deviation varies greatly depending on the play style. The armor is mostly set up with Challenger-oriented settings, Evade Window for strengthening survival in axe mode, and Peak Performance and Chain Crit to add more firepower, but the weapon selection is divided according to taste.

Assuming you are using an Artier weapon, one slot for weapon decorations is usually occupied by Artillery Jewel. Even here, the distinctions vary, such as Artillery-Ironwall Jewel, Artillery-Attack Jewel, and Artillery-Handicraft Jewel. If you put in Artillery-Attack Jewel, many people complete the Attack 4 skill by putting Attack Jewel 3 in one of the remaining two slots.

If you are concerned about sharpness management, you can supplement it with Artillery-Handicraft Jewel, Defensive-Handicraft Jewel, etc. In the case of Defensive Jewel, it is also a good match because you can get additional effects through guarding. If you put more weight on guarding, you can also take Guard. In addition, you can increase the convenience of mode change through Rapid Morph, or adopt Artillery-Handicraft, Defensive-Handicraft, etc. for sharpness management. First, take the Artillery skill and then find the skill combination that suits you while playing.

■ Prefer Basic Attack Power + Sharpness Artier - Charge Blade Recommended Weapon

Like most weapons, the Charge Blade also has a high preference for Artier weapons. Understand that when crafting, you put in as much basic attack power as possible to increase attack power and add sharpness. Usually, you put in 3 basic attack power as crafting options, and the restoration enhancement option aims for 4 basic attack power and 1 sharpness.

However, since the sharpness burden of the Charge Blade felt when actually used is considerable, it is a good choice to take 2 sharpness as restoration enhancement options. Paralysis is good for general use as an attribute.

■ Recommend Settings Considering Play Style - Charge Blade Custom

◆ 2 Gore Equipped Hobulho Gogo

 

 

 

It can be seen as a configuration that only takes the necessary skills with Challenger as the main focus. It is a configuration that takes 2 parts of Black Eclipse Dragon's Power and 2 parts of Noaek Dragon's Fighting Spirit together, and also has Constitution that can help maintain Peak Performance. Evade Window takes 3, and usually Evade Window is raised a little more through cooking. In the axe enhancement state, defense relies on rolling, so taking Evade Window is very helpful. In the case of weapon decorations, it is recommended to use Artillery skill, and other than that, choose according to your preference.

 

 

◆ 4 Gore Utilization Custom

 

 

 

You can get a little more firepower through the 4 Gore set effect, and you can also get the main attack enhancement effect, so it has the advantage that the firepower can be a little stronger. However, since there is no additional stamina gauge, it may be difficult to maintain Peak Performance. Personally, I prefer Evade Window, but please note that some people use settings for Evade Distance UP or Earplugs depending on their preference. Although I didn't introduce it, there are cases where Rapid Jewel or Ironwall Jewel are equipped on weapon decorations.

Monster Hunter Wilds InvenLee Chanyang Reporter
2025-03-31