Switch Axe Guide and Best Combos in Monster Hunter Wilds

The Switch Axe is a technical and versatile melee weapon that combines two very different move sets into one tight package, having an answer for almost any situation. It is ideal for hunters looking for a weapon with a lot of depth and flexibility, with explosive damage potential.

The Switch Axe mixes two different modes together, which can be fluidly swapped between during combat. Axe mode boasts long reach and full mobility while drawn, while the Sword mode reduces your move speed in exchange for incredible damage potential. It morphs between the two using the Switch Gauge, which encourages swapping between each mode throughout a fight. Each Switch Axe also comes with one of a variety of unique Phials, which empower certain attacks with additional status effects or damage types.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Switch Axe in Monster Hunter Wilds, from its mechanics and best combos to its strengths, weaknesses, and how to use it during hunts.

In the event you are looking for our Switch Axe builds, please click the link below.

Strengths

• Versatility - Two different modes depending on the situation, and approach combat in a variety of ways
• Flexible Status Effects - Different Phials add on bonus effects to every Switch Axe
• Fluid Combos - Variety of interchangeable combos that can be linked into high damage finishing moves
• Built-in Mind's Eye - Sword mode does not bounce off monsters regardless of sharpness

Weaknesses

• Lower Defense - Only defensive moves require precise timing, using Offsets and Counters
• High Commitment Finishers - Strongest attacks require aiming well, and leave you wide open during the animation
• Low Sharpness - Many Sword Mode attacks drain sharpness alarmingly fast
• Switch Gauge Management - Requires you to carefully manage this between the two modes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Switch Gauge defines how you approach combat with the Switch Axe. It is represented by a UI element underneath your Stamina Bar, with each section showing different states your Switch Axe is currently in:

All of your Axe Mode attacks will build up the Switch Gauge, and so long as you are above 30% - represented by the line on the main bar - you can freely morph between Sword and Axe mode at will using Morph Strikes.

All of your Sword Mode attacks will consume the Switch Gauge, and if it is fully depleted you will be forced back into Axe Mode until you have built some back up. This will not regenerate on its own, unless your weapon is sheathed, but you can manually reload it while below 30% using / / .

During Axe Mode you have full movement speed and longer range sweeping attacks at the cost of swing speed. Conversely in Sword Mode you are much slower with a smaller attack range, but attack much faster and your attacks cannot bounce, no matter your sharpness. You will still consume it though, especially with certain attacks such as Element Discharge, so always be watching to avoid the disaster of morphing into a bounce!

While in Axe Mode, certain attacks will charge the Power Axe portion of your Switch Gauge, turning it orange. When in this state, all of your Axe attacks will deal additional damage and build the Switch Gauge faster. There are a couple of ways to activate this:

• Offset Rising Slash: After pulling off a perfect offset, follow it up by pressing + / + / +
• Heavy Slam: After executing at least two Wild Swings by tapping / / , follow it up with a Heavy Slam by pressing / / .

Try to have this active whenever you are trying to build up gauge and weave between both modes to give you the freedom to switch things up on the fly.

While in Sword Mode, all of your attacks will build up the Amp portion of your Switch Gauge on the bottom right. When this fills up it will turn red and activating your Switch Axe's Phial effects. When fully amped, you can use the explosive finisher Full Release Slash by holding + + / + + / + + . New in Monster Hunter Wilds, this has hyper armor during the animation, will consume whatever is currently in your Switch Gauge and your Amped Gauge, and reset you back to Axe Mode.

You can also use Zero Sum Discharge from this state by holding + / Hold + / Hold + beyond the point where an Elemental Discharge would be triggered. This will latch onto the monster, allowing you to rapidly tap / / to perform the Zero Sum Discharge Finisher.

Each individual Switch Axe comes with the addition of a special Phial type attached to it. These are fixed and cannot be changed, but they provide an additional effect from Amped attacks during Sword Mode. Right now there are the following different types:

• Power Phial: Boosts raw damage.
• Element Phial: Boosts elemental damage.
• Poison Phial: Adds poison buildup.
• Paralysis Phial: Adds paralysis buildup.
• Dragon Phial: Adds dragon element.
• Exhaust Phial: Adds stun/energy drain.

These bonus effects make deciding which Switch Axe you take on a hunt a bit more interesting, and open up some build choices depending on if you want the extra damage or bonus effects.

New in Monster Hunter Wilds, Switch Axe has finally been given two extremely useful defensive options depending on which mode you are in. Both of these are aggressive tools, countering a monster's attack to open up a window of opportunity for huge payoffs. They both require good timing, but are an excellent addition to the toolkit.

While in Axe Mode you can perform the Offset Rising Slash at any point in your combo by pressing + / + / + . This will dash forward briefly and swing your Axe upward, and if it connects with a monster attack in the process will heavy damage, topple them and allow for a follow-up attack. You have two options when you pull off a perfect offset:

• Offset Heavy Slam: Press + / + / + to follow up with a heavy Axe attack and activate Power Axe.
• Offset Morph Slash: Press / / to follow up with a powerful morphing slash that will transition you to Sword Mode.

While in Sword Mode, at any point during your combo you can mix in a Counter Rising Slash by pressing + / + / + . This will briefly step backward, and if a monster attacks you during this feint you will counterattack quickly. This blocks the majority of the attack, though you will still take a small amount of chip damage. You can then transition from this straight into Heavenward Flurry by pressing / / , or any of your other combo attacks.

Focus mode is a new feature in Monster Hunter wilds that lets you aim your strikes by holding / / . Your strikes will aim toward your camera while using this, allowing you to target wounds or specific monster areas.

The Switch Axe in particular makes great use of this since it has some very high commitment attacks in its combos. The biggest winner from previous games is Element Discharge, allowing you to swing around before thrusting forward to make sure you hit the sweet spot. Keep in mind though, once you start the discharge animation and begin tapping / / you are locked in that direction!

Switch Axe also has a special attack which can be used from either Axe or Sword Mode: Morph Combination. Pressing / / while in focus mode from either of them will make you step forward and swing, and if it connects with a wound will deal heavy damage and initiate a morph combo. During this you can press / / up to two times to switch modes, and then either Power Axe Finisher or Element Discharge Finisher depending on which mode you end up in.

In Monster Hunter Wilds you have access to your very own Seikret mount, and comes with its own attacks both while mounted and when dismounting. You can perform a Standard Attack swinging to the side with your Axe using / / and this will level your Switch Gauge if it connects.

You also have three different dismounting options when engaging a monster from your Seikret:

• Jumping Slash Dismount: Pressing / / followed by / / will dismount in Axe Mode.
• Jumping Morph Slash Dismount: Pressing / / followed by / / will dismount in Sword Mode.
• Dismount Slam: Pressing + / + / + will dismount your Seikret and perform a heavy slam in Axe Mode.

Lastly, while mounted on a monster, after a wound is created you can execute a powerful finishing strike by pressing / / . This leads into a Zero Sum Discharge and topples the monster.

The Switch Axe has fluidity at its core, with almost every part of its move set having the ability to transition into each other. Once you have a grasp of all of the things it can do, you can get very creative with how you link them together and transition between Axe Mode and Sword Mode depending on the situation. Knowing how to build and spend Switch Gauge, how and when to Morph and timing your finishers is everything.

Basic combos are easy to pull off, and are the fundamentals of the Switch Axe. Many of these are your go to tools even when performing more advanced linked combos, so knowing them is vital.

Overhead Slash ➜ Side Slash ➜ Spiral Burst Slash
The most basic combo to build up the Switch Gauge.

1. Overhead Slash: Press / /
2. Side Slash: Press / /
3. Spiral Burst Slash: Press / /

Wild Swing ➜ Wild Swing ➜ Heavy Slam
The most basic combo to build up the Switch Gauge.

1. Wild Swing: Press / /
2. Wild Swing: Press / /
3. Heavy Slam: Press / /

Wild Swing can be repeated as many times as you want (so long as you still have Stamina) before transitioning into Heavy Slam to activate Power Axe.

Overhead Slash ➜ Right Rising Slash ➜ Left Rising Slash ➜ Triple Slash ➜ Heavenward Flurry
Fully refills your Amp Gauge when completed, but requires a lot of Switch Gauge to complete.

1. Overhead Slash: / /
2. Right Rising Slash: / /
3. Left Rising Slash: / /
4. Triple Slash: / /
5. Heavenward Flurry: / /

You can transition to this from any other point in the combo, so long as you have enough Switch Gauge.

Once you have the basic combos under your belt, knowing how to link them together smoothly is helpful. While a lot of Switch Axe's gameplay is about mixing basic combos together into single finishers, there are a handful of important switch-ups to know how to quickly take advantage of an exposed enemy.

Element Discharge ➜ Element Discharge Finisher ➜ Full Release Slash
Spends your Switch Gauge on Sword Mode's most powerful attacks in a brutal combo. Best served for when monsters are open.

1. Element Discharge: Press + / + / +
2. Element Discharge Finisher: Tap / /
3. Full Release Slash: Hold + + / + + / + +

If you are not currently in the Amped state, you can instead replace the Full Release Slash with Unbridled Slash.

Wild Swing ➜ Morph Sweep ➜ Right Rising Slash ➜ Morph Double Slash ➜ Spiral Burst Slash
Weaves between the two weapon states to use the strongest attacks in each combo, which building both Switch Gauge and Amped Gauge.

1. Wild Swing: Press / /
2. Morph Sweep: Press / /
3. Heavy Slam: Press / /
4. Morph Double Slash: Press / /
5. Spiral Burst Slash: Press / /

Wild Swing ➜ Wild Swing ➜ Heavy Slam ➜ Morph Rising Double Slash
Activates your Power Axe mode and quickly morphs into Sword Mode to spend your Switch Gauge.

1. Wild Swing: Press / /
2. Wild Swing: Press / /
3. Heavy Slam: Press / /
4. Morph Rising Double Slash: Press / /