Mastering the Cost Blade in Monster Hunter World is an intimidating impediment; not solely do you need to bear in mind plenty of combos, however the idea of it being half of a sword and defend and half of an axe will be vexing. Because of this, the Cost Blade is usually touted as a weapon that’s not for the simply overwhelmed. There’s magnificence in its complexity, although—its transfer set permits hunts to make the most of numerous play types. Because of this, tons of distinctive and various builds spotlight the CB’s particular benefits. Whether or not you’re simply making an attempt the Cost Blade out or trying to put collectively a number of builds after ending the Iceborne enlargement, you’ve come to the correct place. The builds I’ll be placing right here will cowl the necessities and discover some that align with the meta.
How the Cost Blade Works in Monster Hunter World
Earlier than diving into the products, we first want to debate what the Cost Blade is able to. The Cost Blade is designed to swap between its Sword and Axe modes. You may deal with Sword mode because the default, the place you’ll spend more often than not utilizing the weapon. Sword mode provides you a steadiness between offense and protection; it’s additionally how one can cost up your phials. Your axe head will flip right into a defend when utilizing this mode, and it’s able to deflecting assaults and storing your phials till you swap to Axe mode.
If you wish to ship highly effective blows, Axe mode is the place it’s at. With a better attain and harm output, it’s the perfect mode for attacking monsters that love staying up within the air (sure—I’m you, Kushala Daora!) or reducing horns. When you’ve got sufficient phials saved, you’ll be able to go for a Tremendous Amped Elemental Discharge—or SAED, for brief. That is probably the most highly effective assault a Cost Blade can provide, however it may be simple to overlook, particularly if the monster you’re looking is continually shifting.
The Energy Axe Construct
For this construct, we are going to prioritize armors, abilities, and decorations across the Cost Blade’s Energy Axe mode. Energy Axe mode is comparatively new because it was solely launched in Monster Hunter World’s Iceborne enlargement. Principally, it helps you to cancel your SAED right into a Savage Axe Slash—assuming you have already got phials loaded.
Right here’s the tools and armor you’ll want:
This construct goals to deal as a lot uncooked harm as attainable and use your phials to energy up your axe as a substitute of dealing any further elemental or affect harm. We’ll benefit from Agitator Secret and Teostra Method right here; these are thought of the most effective CB Monster Hunter World set bonuses since they ship affinity and sharpness boosts.
Right here’s the pre-decoration ability checklist for the Energy Axe construct:
Agitator 7Weakness Exploit 3Latent PowerCritical Eye 2Heat GuardBlast Assault 2
As soon as you fit within the decorations, bear in mind to prioritize Capability Enhance because it powers up your axe head. Right here’s what I like to recommend slotting in:
Essential Eye (ideally maxed out)Capability Enhance(Blast Assault (ideally maxed out)Assault BoostPower ProlongerRazor Sharp
The Customary Unga Bunga DPS Construct
For one of these construct, I’ll lean extra in the direction of doing as a lot harm as attainable through the use of numerous strikes with the Cost Blade. For those who’re all the time updated when trying up the newest construct guides, you’ll little doubt acknowledge the armor we’ll be rocking right here—there’s a motive why it’s thought of the present meta (outdoors of the Fatalis construct units). The Lightbreak Cost Blade is the most effective choose for this construct because of its non-Woke up uncooked harm, gnarly Blast harm, and beautiful Influence phials.
Very like the Energy Axe construct, Agitator Secret and Teostra Method are must-haves. Plus, with the Rocksteady+ Mantle and Temporal Mantle+, there’s no stopping you. The Temporal Mantle+, specifically, is useful for those who’re nonetheless attending to grips with timing your Guard Factors. For those who miss the block and the monster’s assault hits you, you’ll be able to routinely unfavorable the harm and evade it.
Right here’s the tools and armor:
You’ve in all probability seen that we’re roughly utilizing the identical armor and tools because the Energy Axe construct, so you’ll be able to count on the abilities additionally to be similar:
Agitator 7Weakness Exploit 3Latent PowerCritical Eye 2Heat GuardBlast Assault 2
Listed here are the decorations/abilities which can be really helpful with this construct:
Offensive GuardCritical Eye (ideally maxed out)Black Assault (ideally maxed out)GuardFocusRazor SharpCapacity BoostArtillery (for extra harm when utilizing phials)
Ice Elemental Construct
For those who’re in search of elemental builds for the CB, I’ve received one proper right here. We’ll be utilizing the Kjarr Strongarm Ice and True Dragonvein Awakening (which you’ll be able to unlock after equipping 5 armor items from the Safi’jiiva α+ and Safi’jiiva β+). True Dragonvein Awakening is ideal for this construct because it will increase your elemental harm and affinity.
Check out the tools and armor for this elemental construct:
As you’ll be able to see, you’ll be utilizing all the armor items of Safi’jiiva. Utilizing True Dragonvein Awakening enhances this construct’s assault much more, however when used with an entire Safi set, you can too heal 20-50% of the self-damage you take care of when it’s energetic.
Right here’s the ability checklist for the Ice Elemental construct with none decorations slotted in but:
Essential Enhance (maxed out)Evade WindowBlight ResistanceIce Assault
And listed here are the decorations I like to recommend utilizing with this construct:
Focus (ideally maxed out)Essential Eye (ideally maxed out)Ice AttackGuardHealth Enhance (ideally maxed out)Capability BoostProtective PolishEvade Window
By slotting in DPS abilities like Essential Eye and Ice Assault, you’ll be capable to maintain your individual with this construct. Furthermore, because you’ll have Guard, Evade Window, and Well being Enhance, it’ll take the strain off of you to keep away from getting one-shotted by elders.
Let the Hunt Start!
With the Cost Blade feeling like a convoluted weapon, to say that it’s difficult to grasp is an understatement. Hopefully, you realized a factor or two about what you’ll be able to construct across the CB and how one can faucet into its fullest potential.
