Monster Hunter Rise Long Sword Guide: Tips, Controls, Combos and Silkbind Attacks

Monster Hunter Rise features 14 weapons to hunt its slate of monsters with. Each has a slightly different playstyle, offering real depth and variety in the ways you approach a hunt. The Long Sword is a fan-favourite, blending anime-style swordplay with powerful aerial attacks. To help you get the most out of this weapon we’ve put together this Monster Hunter Rise Long Sword guide. We’ll give you some tips on using the Long Sword, break down the controls and combos, and explain the Silkbind attacks available.

Read More: How to Sheathe your weapon

MH Rise Long Sword Controls

The Long Sword can be tricky to master at first, given that it doesn’t have a blocking function. Instead, you’ll rely on counterattacks and dodges. Here are the controls:

• A - Thrust
• X - Overhead Strike
• Y - Sheathe
• B - Dodge
• A + X (while moving) - Fade Slash
• ZR - Spirit Blade
• ZR + A - Foresight Slash (Counter)
• ZR + B - Special Sheath
• ZL + X - Soaring Kick
• ZL + B - Wirefall Recovery
• ZL + A - Serene Pose

Now, let’s go into a bit more detail on some of these attacks. We’ll try to specify scenarios where each would be best used, and how each affects the Spirit Gauge when used. 

• Spirit Blade - landing hits with this will build up your Spirit Gauge
• Special Sheath - Can be followed up with X or ZR. Landing a ZR hit just as an enemy attacks will trigger a powerful attack that increases Spirit Gauge level by one. A great way to start combos.
• Soaring Kick - is automatically followed up by plunging thrust. If that hits your gauge will start to fill automatically (blue state)
• Serene Pose - A silkbind attacks that acts as a counter. If an enemy hits you in this pose you will counter attack. Uses 2 Wirebugs.
• Foresight Slash - jumps back and follows with an attack that uses all available Spirit Gauge. Cannot be used when gauge is empty, but is a great way to dodge an attack and then follow up.
• Fade Slash - pressing Fade Slash will make your hunter step back and slash. Great when used in combos. If Fade Slash is triggered on 2nd hit you can use the analogue stick to step to the right or the left.
• Spirit Gauge - will fill upon successful hits. Once full, complete the Spirit Blade combo or Special Sheath Iai Spirit Slash to increase its level. It goes white to yellow to red, with each adding a damage boost to all blade attacks.

If you're looking for more help with Monster Hunter Rise you'll want to visit our MH Rise Walkthrough. You'll find all of our guides on the game in one handy place.

Combos

The key to doing maximum damage in Monster Hunter Rise is to string together combos. Here are all of the combos associated with the Long Sword.

• ZR + A to ZR - Spirit Roundslash
• ZR to ZR to ZR to ZR - Spirit Roundslash
• ZR + B to X - Iai Slash
• ZR + B to ZR - Iai Spirit Slash
• ZL + X to ZR - Spirit Helm Breaker

Now let’s take a closer look at each of these attacks. Some will affect the Spirit Gauge, while others have specific timings to consider.

• Spirit Roundslash - If this lands, your Spirit Gauge will increase by one. This is the main way to increase gauge level. 
• Iai Slash - If the first or second hit lands your gauge will go into auto fill. You’ll see it turn blue.
• Iai Spirit Slash - Time this as a monster attacks and your Spirit Gauge will increase by one
• Spirit Helm Breaker - Your strongest attack. Use Soaring Kick to get into the air and press ZR to come down. You can aim this in the air and it will hit multiple times as you land. Attempting this will drop your Spirit Gauge level by one.

Silkbind Attacks

New to Monster Hunter Rise are Silkbind attacks. These will consume Wirebugs, and will deal damage indicated with blue circles. Build these up to tie down monsters and trigger mountable states. Here are the Silkbind attacks for the Long Sword:

• ZL + X - Soaring Kick
• ZL + B - Serene Pose
• ZL + X - Silkbind Sakura Slash (can be swapped out with Soaring Kick using Switch Skills)

Long Sword Tips

To help get you started with the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Rise we’ve put together some essential tips for using the weapon. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

• Focus on building Spirit Gauge level by landing a Roundslash. This will allow you to do more damage with each hit.
• The Iai Spirit slash can be difficult to pull off, but doing so can increase your level. Practise this in the training area.
• Serene Pose can be used as a block if you’re about to get hit.
• Try to start fights with an Iai Slash or a Soaring Kick as these will auto fill your gauge.
• Try working Fade Slash into your combos. The sidestep variants are particularly useful.
• Wait until you have Red Gauge level to execute a Helm Breaker. You’ll do much more damage this way.
• After landing a Helm Breaker, try moving immediately into the Special Sheath. You can then execute an Iai Spirit Slash and go right back up to red level. This is an extremely effective cycle.
• Thrust attacks (A) are quick ways to start combos. Use them to quickly fill up your gauge.
• If smaller enemies are around, you can use them to easily land Spirit Roundslash attacks and build your gauge level. The final hit has a wide AoE so you’ll often hit something.

That’s all you need to know about the Long Sword in Monster Hunter Rise. For more tips be sure to visit our MH Rise Beginner’s Guide. Elsewhere there’s our look at Capturing Monsters.