Want to know the best Sword and Shield (SnS) builds for Monster Hunter Now? Read the article here.
Best Build Armor for Sword and Shield Players (Before Anjanath)
This build is ideal for beginners in the early stages of the game. It emphasizes the Critical Eye skill, which increases affinity by 20%.

Armor | Grade | Skills |
---|---|---|
Kulu Headpiece | Grade 2 | Lock On |
Leather Mail | Grade 2 | Attack Boost |
Girros Vambraces | Grade 2 | Sneak Attack |
Leather Belt | Grade 2 | Health Boost |
Kulu Greaves | Grade 2 | Critical Eye |
Optional: You can replace Girros Vambraces with Kulu Vambraces to unlock the Critical Eye skill, which becomes available at Grade 4.
Optional Armor Build for Sword and Shield Players

Armor | Grade | Skills |
---|---|---|
Kulu Headpiece | Grade 2 | Lock On |
Leather Mail | Grade 2 | Attack Boost |
Paolumu Vambraces Concentration | Grade 3 | Concentration |
Paolumu Coil | Grade 3 | Divine Blessing |
Kulu Greaves | Grade 2 | Critical Eye |
Best Sword and Shield Weapons in Monster Hunter Now
(Early Game)
Weapon Sword and Shields | Description |
---|---|
Blooming Knife (Pukei) | A recommended sword and shield choice for beginners, capable of delivering raw damage to help defeat large monsters early in the game. |
Jagras Edge (Jagras) | A worthwhile early upgrade option for effectively combating monsters like Kulu, Girros, Tobi, and Anja. |
Lumu Knife (Paolumu) | An alternative for dealing raw damage without elemental properties. |
Aqua Messer (Jyuratodus) | A sword and shield type weapon with a more potent Water element, boasting superior statistics compared to the Jagras weapon. |
(Mid to End Game)
Weapon | Description |
---|---|
Thunder Edge | The Thunder Edge is the only sword and shield weapon with a lightning element. You can use it to combat monsters weak to electricity. |
Glacial Grace (Legiana) | The Glacial Grace (Legiana) is a weapon with an ice element that you can utilize to take on Diablos, a monster vulnerable to ice. |
Flame Knife (Rathalos) | The Flame Knife (Rathalos) is a fire-element weapon that you can wield to battle monsters with a weakness to to fire-element. |
Best Build Armor for Sword and Shield Players (Mid Game)

Armor | Grade | Skills |
---|---|---|
Kulu Headpiece | Grade 4 | Critical Eye |
Leather Mail | Grade 2 | Attack Boost |
Kulu Vambraces | Grade 4 | Critical Eye |
Jagras Coil | Grade 4 | Rising Tide |
Kulu Greaves | Grade 6 | Critical Eye |
Best Build Armor for Sword and Shield Players (End Game)

Armor | Grade | Skills |
---|---|---|
Kulu Headpiece | Grade 4 | Critical Eye |
Rathalos Mail | Grade 5 | Weakness Exploit |
Kulu Vambraces | Grade 4 | Critical Eye |
Anjanath Coil | Grade 6 | Special Boost |
Kulu Greaves | Grade 6 | Critical Eye |
You can find other build guides here:
- Best Light Bowgun Builds in Monster Hunter Now
- Best Hammer Builds in Monster Hunter Now
- Best Long Sword Builds in Monster Hunter Now
- Best Great Sword Builds in Monster Hunter Now
- Best Bow Builds in Monster Hunter Now
Of course, you can change the parts of the set and make it fit your liking. You are not restricted to the set mentioned earlier.
So that’s information about best Sword and Shield (SnS) builds for Monster Hunter Now. I hope this helps as a reference.