Sword and Shield

Learn the basics of the Sword and Shield in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Discover its combos, starting weapons like the Hunter's Knife, and early-game options.

Hey there, hunter! So you're looking to get into the Sword and Shield in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne? Awesome choice! It's one of the 14 Unique Weapon Sets, and while it's pretty straightforward to pick up, mastering it is a whole different ballgame. It's super fun, and like everything else in MHW, you've got tons of upgrades and cool moves to learn.

The Sword and Shield work together, obviously. You've got your basic sword attacks, and then you can use the shield for guarding or bashing. There are a bunch of combos to remember, so definitely take a peek at the Hunter's Tips section in your Options Menu. It's got tutorials for every weapon, including this one!

Starting Out: The Hunter's Knife

This is your very first Sword and Shield, coming from the Ore Tree. You can forge it (or the Bone variation) at the Smithy in Astera. These weapons usually have up to three tiers, and they can evolve further later on, getting better stats while looking the same. The Hunter's Knife III is pretty neat because it has Blue sharpness at Tier III, which is really good for an early weapon. It hits for 140 base damage. The Ore Tree's trade-off for power is usually sharpness compared to the Bone Tree. You can upgrade it with common ores like Earth Crystal, Malachite, and Iron.

Early Game Options: Blooming Knife & Bone Kukri

If you're looking for something with a bit of poison, the Blooming Knife is an option. It's great against monsters weak to poison, and it looks pretty unique. You'll need to hunt the Pukei-Pukei a few times to get the parts for it – Investigations are your best bet here. You can rank this one up to Tier III as well.

Then there's the Bone Kukri. At Tier III, it deals a solid 168 damage and is upgraded with monster bones. Depending on the tier you choose, you might branch off into different weapon lines. For example, at Tier II, you could go for Jagras Sword and Shield weapons, but if you stick to the Tier III Sword and Shield tree, you get other options. It can seem a bit confusing with all the branching, but it all makes sense as you get deeper into the game's weapon system. Just remember, the Ore Tree focuses on sharpness, while the Bone Tree often leans more towards raw power.