Switch axe power vials vs elemental power vials

[Kaida]

Which is better under what circumstance? An elemental axe with a regular power vial, which as I understand is just pure damage, versus the elemental power vial, which deals specific damage. What's the difference? Which do you like more?

[Fregi]

use element against monsters who are ridiculously weak against certain elements (e.g, diablos)

use power against monsters who aren't ridiculously weak against certain elements

P.S, i'm not a switch axe main

[Mr. Orion Quest]

^ pretty much this. I meant to reply but forgot to, sorry.

Think of the difference as a raw weapon versus an elemental.

In the case of a weapon that has a proc based debuff, damage or dot like paralysis, poison, blast, sleep etc, it usually doesn't matter which type is used, it matters more how many consecutive hits you can get in.

[JPM岩]

Power boosts overall non elemental damage. Elemenral boosts overall elemental damage. Either work well, but power phial is technically a better choice, but element with the right mix can be just as strong.

[Rester]

As far as I know most people just stick to the gold rathian SA due to the raw damage but do what you wanna do.

[JPM岩]

Originally posted by Rester:

As far as I know most people just stick to the gold rathian SA due to the raw damage but do what you wanna do.

People stick to it due to having an absurdly high raw, plus decent affinity, plus poison.

[Mango]

even with elemental weapon you still want to use power phial.
Power phile give you 15-20% (dont remember the exact number) more raw when your sword bar is full wich is a very big increese in damage.

[JPM岩]

Originally posted by Mango:

even with elemental weapon you still want to use power phial.
Power phile give you 15-20% (dont remember the exact number) more raw when your sword bar is full wich is a very big increese in damage.

To a degree, again, it depends on the monster; for example, rajang is weak to ice, and the two best ice SA options are Velkhana and Shrieking Legiana; howver, even tho Niddoq, Velkhana's SA, is stronger in terms of raw, Hector, Shrieking's SA, is a better choice because you can build a mix to hit about 900 element at least, comboing that with True Crit element, meaning youll outdamage Niddoq against heavily ice-weak monsters;
In very rare cases, some SAs, like Coral Pukei's, can hit 1400 Water element, which can destroy anything weak to water

[Mr. Orion Quest]

The best way to know for sure is to just test it out at the training area. Throw in a few "rotations" and try to think of a few various situations. In most cases you'll find out quickly which type is favorable.

Take the knowledge you just gained and think about what you're going to use it against. You'll want to slap that dodo with as much ice as possible because he's a sitting duck in MHW standards. Its going to feel like the iceberg that sunk the Titanic on the poor thing. So the elemental phial is best against it in most situations.

Essentially, the SA can hit deceptively fast (if you throw in ZSD), which is pretty good if you want to use a weapon with a good amount of elemental that also happens to use an elemental phial.