Charge Blade

Unleash devastating combos with the Charge Blade in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate! Learn Sword and Axe modes, Guard Points, Super/Ultra Bursts, and essential skills.

Alright, so you're looking at the Charge Blade, huh? This weapon is for the hunter who really can't make up their mind – it's like having two weapons in one! It's a bit complex, but stick with me, and you'll be unleashing some serious power.

Basically, you've got Sword Mode and Axe Mode. In Sword Mode, it feels like a standard Sword and Shield, pretty quick attacks, and you can even sidestep. While you're wailing on monsters in Sword Mode, you're charging up these things called phials. Think of them as your special ammo. Then, you can switch to Axe Mode, where you attack slower but hit way harder and have more range. That's where you unleash those charged phials as Super and Ultra Bursts – they're incredibly powerful!

You also get a shield in Sword Mode, which is pretty decent. The really cool part is something called Guard Points. If you time a guard just right, you can smoothly transition straight into Axe Mode and keep the pressure on. It's a bit like a parry that lets you counter-attack immediately.

Pros

• Super versatile – switch modes to fit the situation.
• Impact Phials can actually KO monsters when you hit 'em hard in Axe Mode!
• Mastering Guard Points lets you flow from blocking straight into attacking.
• Those Super and Ultra Bursts? Absolutely massive damage.

Cons

• Switching modes or sheathing takes a while, so watch your openings.
• You move like a snail in Axe Mode.
• If you overcharge your phials in Sword Mode, your attacks will just bounce off monsters – super annoying.
• Using those phial attacks eats up your weapon's sharpness faster.
• Guarding also uses up sharpness.
• This weapon has a steep learning curve, so don't get discouraged if it takes a while to get the hang of it.

Sword Mode Controls

Here’s what you can do while you’re in Sword Mode:

Attack	Controls
Unsheathing Attack	While moving, press X
Morphing Unsheathe	Press R+X while moving to unsheathe directly into Axe Mode
Forward Slash	X, can combo three times
Double Slash	A, can be used after X combo
Guard	R
Switch to Axe Mode	R+X
Load phials	R+A

Axe Mode Controls

And when you're in Axe Mode, ready to bring the pain:

Attack	Controls
Rising Slash	X
Overhead Slash	After performing rising slash, press X
Elemental/Phial Discharge	A, chains twice
Final Super/Ultra Burst	After pressing A twice, press A again. Will automatically revert you to Sword Mode
Change to Sword Mode	R
Cancel out of a Super Burst and activate Elemental Boost Mode	While preparing a Super Burst, cancel by pressing R

Usage Tips

Okay, so the real game-changer is something called Elemental Boost mode. You want to get into this as soon as possible. When it's active, you get some sweet buffs: you can unleash elemental bursts when you Guard Point (which also makes your blocking way stronger), and your attacks in Axe Mode get a massive 20% damage boost. Plus, you unlock the Ultra Elemental Burst! The Ultra Burst uses all your phials at once for maximum impact, and unlike the Super Burst, it doesn't even need to hit the monster directly – the explosions will still do damage. Super Burst just uses one phial.

Outside of Elemental Boost, your main goal is to charge up those phials quickly and then unleash a burst whenever you see a big opening. Some hunters like to unload everything when a monster is knocked down, while others prefer to use Axe Mode for smaller openings and then switch back to Sword Mode. It really comes down to your personal playstyle. Don't forget to use that sidestep in Sword Mode to weave around monsters and keep the pressure on. If you love using shields, mastering Guard Points is key for staying fluid and flexible in your attacks. Honestly, there's no single 'right' way to play this weapon, so experiment!

Recommended Skills

If you're more of an evasive player and don't block too much, skills like Evasion+1/+2 and Evade Distance Up are going to be super helpful. But if you prefer to guard and nail those Guard Points, then Guard+1/+2 and Guard Up are essential. If you happen to be using a Charge Blade with an Impact Phial, congrats – you can KO monsters! To make those Impact bursts even stronger, grab the Artillery Master skill.