One of the most efficient ways to gauge your damage output in Monster Hunter is by observing the time it takes you to complete a quest or investigation. When embarking on a standard Master Rank (MR) hunt, aiming for a clear time of roughly 10 minutes or less is ideal. You can expect that to increase slightly when facing off against Elder Dragons. If your clear times are exceeding this benchmark, don’t fret. There are numerous strategies you can employ to improve your hunt times.
The first thing you should always do is assess your build. While Health Boost 3 is practically mandatory for survivability, there’s a wide selection of damage skills you can incorporate to improve your damage output. Experiment with mixing armor pieces from various sets to maximize your results. Top-tier skills to prioritize include Agitator, Critical Boost, Weakness Exploit, and Critical Eye. Note that Attack Boost isn’t as effective as it once was. Only slot it in once you’ve maxed out the aforementioned skills.
Mastering the Longsword (LS) itself is also a crucial component to consider. The Longsword is a relatively simple weapon without overly complex mechanics compared to other weapons. Thus, your main goal is to fill up your Spirit Gauge. Efficiently utilizing the Longsword’s i-frame attacks is essential, as is properly charging your Spirit Helm Breaker for maximum burst damage.
Practice is key to mastering the Longsword’s rhythm, as the weapon provides exceptional safety thanks to its generous i-frames. Once you master the timing of these moves, you’ll find it significantly more difficult for monsters to land hits on you.
When learning a new weapon, start by watching videos that break down the weapon’s moveset. Next, observe how experienced players seamlessly weave these moves together in actual hunts. Studying weapon builds is also a good idea, so you have a general understanding of which skills complement the weapon and allow it to shine. Understanding concepts like elemental matchups and monster weaknesses is also important for effective hunts.
By using these basic guidelines, you should be able to master the Longsword in no time!
