Combat tips?

[Larry]

I haven't a clue what I'm doing. I've got that charged sword and shield/greataxe and I never use the sword and shield because it keeps bouncing back off enemies I hint at random(Even while sharped to green).

I'm not too happy with the greataxe given how slow it is and how hard it can be to try and land an attack and cancel it.

Any tips or good starter weapons to switch to? Also, how do I stop my weapon from bouncing back at me?

Seems like if you attack weakspots like tails, heads and break armour around feet and hands you can then do extra damage and not have your weapon bounce back on attack but with normal swords you just can't attack some of these weakspots like tails because they're so damn high up in the air.

Any tips for combat in general and what I absolutely need to learn and realise about combat mechanics?

[ImHelping]

Capturing is easier than it sounds and lets you skip a large chunk of fighting. So look into that ASAP.

As for bouncing in particular? Charge blade's gimmick makes EVERYTHING bounce if you don't stop to babysit it's phials.

Sharpness also matters vs bouncing for all weapons (there are meters past green later.)

As well, and different monster parts are harder to not bounce off than others (Green will bounce off barroth's nose regardless in the early game), etc.

But charge blade when not managed just goes into straight up joke weapon mode.

It's not as hard as it sounds, it's just busywork. But Chargeblade is the only weapon in the game that activley punishes you for not babysitting it's gimmick. Rather than simple "Oh I'm not doing optimal DPS" at worst like say, the switch axe.

[Marius]

Go to training area and try out some weapons. Learn the combo's, read hunters note in pause menu. Then just learn the game. Servering weapons can cut, etc. Blunt are good for the head.

Just learn the game by your own trail and error. It's like learning to ride a bicycle. You didn't learn it in 10 mins. No you need lots of hours till you can ride without using your arms and such.

[Buddhacheese]

Your sword gets charged with every attack you do. When the sword is full you have to hold B (on controller) after that you can load up your greataxe that has vials in them. Press RB + B to fill up the vials in your greataxe.

If you don't press B on time while attacking with the sword, the sword will overcharge and your attacks will bounce off. So its not the easiest weapon to use tbh. But once you get a bit better with it and get used to the mechanics its alot of fun.

Im also a beginner and just tried all the weapons in the training area. Go to your house, speak with the housekeeper and tell him that you wanna do some training.

In this training area you can try all the weapons that are avaible. Just choose one that feels good and fun.

My 2 cents.

[Bike Knight]

Charge Blade is arguably the most complex weapon to learn and use in the game, so it's understandable you're having trouble using it if you didn't spend half an hour learning how to use it in the training area. I'm not totally familiar with it's mechanics so I can't help you about it's phial system or bouncing problem, but if you want a more easy to use weapon to start out with you can try the Sword and Shield, Lance, or Hammer.

[Wicked001]

Tips:
1 - Try all the weapons out and see if any of them speak to you. Do this in the training area of astera. You can get there by talking to the cat in your house or selecting to travel to astera from the map.

If one of the weapons calls out to you, you should try that out.

CB is a terribly complex weapon to master. If you really want to use it, watch some videos on youtube about how to maximize your experience. However, I would recommend a handful of others to start with... Honestly, any blade weapon that isn't technical or have lance in the name.

You said you don't like the slow axe, so GS or hammer may not be your thing.

Sns, easy to pick up... combos are all infinite now... and difficult to master. Plus you can eat and drink items while the shield is out... and shooting slinger from behind the shield too.

LS, this is my old go-to from back in the day. This weapon is amazing, but with only a few moves you would be surprised at how nuanced it is and how hard it is to learn mid combo re-positioning and avoiding damage. The main thing about most weapons is to remember the GS motto. "Strike, dodge, sheath."

2 - When you put your weapon away, you can survive ANYTHING. I skipped the end of the list because LS reminded me of the most important tip for hunting. Survive, and get in damage when you can do it safely. Put your weapon away and practice surviving. When you can't survive, put your weapon away.

PRACTICE SUPER MAN, when you are running away from a monster, you will run faster and drain more stamina. When you dodge while doing this you will belly flop to the ground and you get something like 3 full seconds of invulnerability. From the frame where your feet leave the ground all the way til the frame where you start to stand back up again. Superman will save your life! Know it, practice it, love it. And then wonder why so many people cart against nergle.

Back to weapons!
DB, Dual Blades are amazing! The hardest thing about dual blades is learning when to NOT use demon dance. Sure, everyone wants to demon dance. I am using a different weapon and I want to demon dance... but demon dance will get you killed. Just practice your meat and potatoes combo: Y + B, Y, Y, Y or B, B for shorter windows. Y + B gives a gap closer then the Y combo does 7 hits end to end about 2.5 seconds. Very good dps and you can dodge out at any moment as necessary.

Um... I guess those are my 3 recommendations. Hammer and GS are slow. Guns/bow are too squishy, CB, IG, and Swaxe are technical, and HH is also slow and technical.

I think any of those 3, Sns, DB, and LS are a good pick for you though! Try them out today, and let me know what you decide!

LS is the most complicated of them because of its charging mechanics. The Sns is the simplest, since it only has two really timing dependent attacks and the db's are very frenetic.

[Nightryderace]

Do what Bike Knight says. Charge Blade is much more complex than the other weapons and isn't an ideal beginner weapon. I recommend recommend Sword&Shield, Hammer, or Long Sword. All fairly easy to understand weapons with great mobility. Lance is also fairly easy to use, but it's immobile playstyle can be difficult to get used to.

[Larry]

So with the charge blade you have to hit the cancel button(B? I use mouse and keyboard mostly) just as you're about to land an attack in order for it not to bounce? The game never told me that just mentioned the sharpness element... o.O

Also, when you have the greataxe out you're incredibly slow... is there anyway to at least jog with it out? Or do I have to keep dodge rolling with the greataxe to move at a decent pace?

[Wicked001]

Publicado originalmente por Larry:

So with the charge blade you have to hit the cancel button(B? I use mouse and keyboard mostly) just as you're about to land an attack in order for it not to bounce? The game never told me that just mentioned the sharpness element... o.O

Also, when you have the greataxe out you're incredibly slow... is there anyway to at least jog with it out? Or do I have to keep dodge rolling with the greataxe to move at a decent pace?

The real trick is to put it away when you aren't using it.

edit: you can draw straight into the axe. There is no reason to try running with it out.