Mastering the Cost Blade in Monster Hunter World is an intimidating impediment; not solely do you must keep in mind plenty of combos, however the idea of it being half of a sword and protect and half of an axe will be vexing. Because of this, the Cost Blade is commonly touted as a weapon that’s not for the simply overwhelmed. There may be 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 attempting the Cost Blade out or seeking to put collectively a number of builds after ending the Iceborne growth, you’ve come to the appropriate 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 possibly can 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 protect 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 the next attain and harm output, it’s the best mode for attacking monsters that love staying up within the air (sure—I’m you, Kushala Daora!) or reducing horns. When you could have sufficient phials saved, you may 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 straightforward to overlook, particularly if the monster you’re searching is consistently transferring.
- The Energy Axe Construct
For this construct, we are going to prioritize armors, expertise, 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 growth. Mainly, it permits 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:
| Tools | Armor |
| Challenger Appeal V | Kaiser Crown β+ |
| Rocksteady Mantle+ | Brachydium Mail β+ |
| Temporal Mantle+ | Kaiser Vambraces β+ |
| Safi’s Shattershield | Kaiser Coil β+ |
| Brachydium Greaves β+ |
This construct goals to deal as a lot uncooked harm as attainable and use your phials to energy up your axe as an alternative of dealing any extra elemental or impression harm. We’ll benefit from Agitator Secret and Teostra Approach right here; these are thought-about one of the best CB Monster Hunter World set bonuses since they ship affinity and sharpness boosts.
Right here’s the pre-decoration talent checklist for the Energy Axe construct:
- Agitator 7
- Weak point Exploit 3
- Latent Energy
- Important Eye 2
- Warmth Guard
- Blast Assault 2
As soon as you fit within the decorations, keep in mind to prioritize Capability Increase because it powers up your axe head. Right here’s what I like to recommend slotting in:
- Important Eye (ideally maxed out)
- Capability Increase
- (Blast Assault (ideally maxed out)
- Assault Increase
- Energy Prolonger
- Razor Sharp
- The Commonplace Unga Bunga DPS Construct
For the sort of construct, I’ll lean extra in 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 most recent construct guides, you’ll little doubt acknowledge the armor we’ll be rocking right here—there’s a cause why it’s thought-about the present meta (outdoors of the Fatalis construct units). The Lightbreak Cost Blade is one of the best decide for this construct as a result of its non-Woke up uncooked harm, gnarly Blast harm, and beautiful Impression phials.
Very like the Energy Axe construct, Agitator Secret and Teostra Approach 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 may robotically unfavourable the harm and evade it.
Right here’s the tools and armor:
| Tools | Armor |
| Challenger Appeal V | Kaiser Crown β+ |
| Rocksteady Mantle+ | Brachydium Mail β+ |
| Temporal Mantle+ | Kaiser Vambraces β+ |
| Lightbreak Cost Blade | Kaiser Coil β+ |
| Brachydium Greaves β+ |
You’ve most likely observed that we’re roughly utilizing the identical armor and tools because the Energy Axe construct, so you may count on the talents additionally to be equivalent:
- Agitator 7
- Weak point Exploit 3
- Latent Energy
- Important Eye 2
- Warmth Guard
- Blast Assault 2
Listed here are the decorations/expertise which might be really useful with this construct:
- Offensive Guard
- Important Eye (ideally maxed out)
- Black Assault (ideally maxed out)
- Guard
- Focus
- Razor Sharp
- Capability Increase
- Artillery (for extra harm when utilizing phials)
- Ice Elemental Construct
For those who’re on the lookout for 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:
| Tools | Armor |
| Dragonvein Awakening | Safi Crested Crown β+ |
| True Dragonvein Awakening | Safi Crested Chest β+ |
| Frost Appeal V | Safi Crested Vambraces |
| Kjarr Strongarm Ice | Safi Crested Belt β+ |
| Safi Crested β+ |
As you may see, you’ll be utilizing the entire 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 may also heal 20-50% of the self-damage you take care of when it’s lively.
Right here’s the talent checklist for the Ice Elemental construct with none decorations slotted in but:
- Important Increase (maxed out)
- Evade Window
- Blight Resistance
- Ice Assault
And listed here are the decorations I like to recommend utilizing with this construct:
- Focus (ideally maxed out)
- Important Eye (ideally maxed out)
- Ice Assault
- Guard
- Well being Increase (ideally maxed out)
- Capability Increase
- Protecting Polish
- Evade Window
By slotting in DPS expertise like Important Eye and Ice Assault, you’ll be capable of maintain your personal with this construct. Furthermore, because you’ll have Guard, Evade Window, and Well being Increase, 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 may construct across the CB and how one can faucet into its fullest potential.
