Charge Blade Sword Only or Savage?

[Aelin Galathynius]

Which gives more DPS on elemental charge blades?

I feel like I only get decent opportunities to get a good savage combo off when the monster is KO'd/tripped since most of the damage with savage comes from the second B attack which takes a while to get too. So far I've been playing it sword only until I get a KO/trip then go for the savage. What is the optimal way to do it?


Just in case anyone is wondering what sword only is

Video of it in practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyqMsFzzRKc&ab_channel=Tom


An explanation of how it works, quoted from https://mhwbuilds.net/charge-blade/#builds-meme

Three interesting properties coincide to make this strategy stronger than you expect: (1) “overcharged” sword (when you attack too much before reloading) is forced to bounce on every attack (2) if you prevent an attack that would normally bounce from bouncing, it will have no hitstop (3) Charge Blade can give itself Mind’s Eye on all sword attacks by charging the sword. Basically, you can attack SUPER fast when your sword is overcharged and get tons of sword phial explosions (Video).

This is only recommended for elemental CBs as you get the benefits of much higher damage phial explosions and Critical Element. Also, it can still work without charged sword as Shield Thrust always creates a phial explosion (you will need Mind’s Eye decoration if you do this). Power Prolonger is also optional.

[♋Phenex]

Savage axe is probably stronger. There's a reason sword only is a meme. Although for elemental CB, SAED should also do a crap ton of damage so that playstyle is also quite strong.

[Kaldor Draigo]

Charged sword is mostly a meme strat and it works the best with Kjarr CBs. It's certainly strong against monsters like Velkhana, Odogaron, etc but Savage Axe should be stronger most of the time.

[ssx extreme]

salvage axe is way stronger ,but you get hit alot more

[r∞l]

It's quite hard to say because it's based on each monster.

The doggos are fast but have good 25~ super easy to hit zones so savage axe will shred them.
I stick with savage axe against them, do quick attacks, AED but do use traps to maximize the damage, sword only is not a bad option.

SAED spam is also another very viable play style against larger monsters.

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by ssx extreme:

salvage axe is way stronger ,but you get hit alot more

not me, i run evade 5 over guard 5 + guard up.

as for which is better, depends on the target, its overall resistances and weak points to elemental damage and physical damage, and any immunities it might have.

for example, i'd probably go evasion savage axe for a Kirin, but i'd go SAED phial dump with a fire CB against a Vaal hazak. the difference is, Kirin has one spot that actually takes decent elemental damage, its face, the rest of its body is fairly resistant. Vaal is a big box of tinder with a bad smell of gasoline waiting to be ignited, so a full 6 phial discharge will do wonders.

in terms of committing to optimal actions for the best damage output, some monsters give you fewer options than others when it comes to CB elemental phial, those monsters, its typically better to go status impact phial.

[Maffeketel]

Savage axe mode deals significantly more damage and a build focusing on the sword mode should be considered niche at best.
The monster that youre fighting is a factor and some monsters can be a bit weaker to the sword mode due to their hitzones.

Savage axe is almost always the better option, but there are some very specific situations where the sword mode can outdamage savage axe. Your build is also a factor as sword mode can be a lot more useful in defensive builds that focus on guardpointing and standing your ground.
Savage axe leaves you dangerously exposed and that might be a bit too risky if you want to opt for a more defensive playstyle.
If you favor defense over dps then the sword mode can be more broadly usable.

Overall I would have to say savage axe as per your question. Elemental charge blades deal more damage with savage axe form then they do with sword mode. You also have access to the SAED, which increases the gap even further.

The difference between the 2 forms was extremely obvious to me when I was fighting Alatreon.

[Aelin Galathynius]

Originally posted by Xilo The Odd:

Originally posted by ssx extreme:

salvage axe is way stronger ,but you get hit alot more

not me, i run evade 5 over guard 5 + guard up.

as for which is better, depends on the target, its overall resistances and weak points to elemental damage and physical damage, and any immunities it might have.

for example, i'd probably go evasion savage axe for a Kirin, but i'd go SAED phial dump with a fire CB against a Vaal hazak. the difference is, Kirin has one spot that actually takes decent elemental damage, its face, the rest of its body is fairly resistant. Vaal is a big box of tinder with a bad smell of gasoline waiting to be ignited, so a full 6 phial discharge will do wonders.

in terms of committing to optimal actions for the best damage output, some monsters give you fewer options than others when it comes to CB elemental phial, those monsters, its typically better to go status impact phial.

What kind of mad man takes a charge blade vs Kirin?

Kirin is a monster that requires an adapted playstyle rather than any specific builds. You should play hit and run and avoid long committed animations.

To take the greatsword for a simple example you would play it crit draw style rather than true charge slash style when fighting Kirin.


I checked a speedrun before posting this comment. It seems the strategy for Kirin is the same as I've seen used for Rajang. You spam AED on the face until you get a KO then Savage while it's down and repeat.

[Kaldor Draigo]

Originally posted by Aelin Galathynius:

What kind of mad man takes a charge blade vs Kirin?

Kirin is a monster that requires an adapted playstyle rather than any specific builds. You should play hit and run and avoid long committed animations.

To take the greatsword for a simple example you would play it crit draw style rather than true charge slash style when fighting Kirin.


I checked a speedrun before posting this comment. It seems the strategy for Kirin is the same as I've seen used for Rajang. You spam AED on the face until you get a KO then Savage while it's down and repeat.

CB is kinda fun on Kirin, you just mix up Sword attacks with AED and some Savage Axe hits when you have big openings.

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by Aelin Galathynius:

Originally posted by Xilo The Odd:

not me, i run evade 5 over guard 5 + guard up.

as for which is better, depends on the target, its overall resistances and weak points to elemental damage and physical damage, and any immunities it might have.

for example, i'd probably go evasion savage axe for a Kirin, but i'd go SAED phial dump with a fire CB against a Vaal hazak. the difference is, Kirin has one spot that actually takes decent elemental damage, its face, the rest of its body is fairly resistant. Vaal is a big box of tinder with a bad smell of gasoline waiting to be ignited, so a full 6 phial discharge will do wonders.

in terms of committing to optimal actions for the best damage output, some monsters give you fewer options than others when it comes to CB elemental phial, those monsters, its typically better to go status impact phial.

What kind of mad man takes a charge blade vs Kirin?

hello, my name is Xilo, i've slain everything with charge blade.

Kusha is still by far the worst, but thats true of anything that isnt gunlance or sticky bowgun.

[Aelin Galathynius]

Originally posted by Xilo The Odd:

Originally posted by Aelin Galathynius:

What kind of mad man takes a charge blade vs Kirin?

:mhwgreeting: hello, my name is Xilo, i've slain everything with charge blade.

So have I but from pc release until today it's all been impact phials.

https://imgur.com/a/nqAKyls

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by Aelin Galathynius:

Originally posted by Xilo The Odd:

hello, my name is Xilo, i've slain everything with charge blade.

So have I but from pc release until today it's all been impact phials.

https://imgur.com/a/nqAKyls

yeah i took the fun path and challenged myself with elemental phials. before IB, definently not the best source of damage on a LOT of targets, then AT kulve came along and shouted KJAAARRRRRRRRRR and birthed the Ice CB that is still broken as hell in master rank today xD.

and with savage axe, elemental is just doing so much more than it used to.

but yeah, if didnt want to eff with it, i'd typically go sticky bowgun. pretty much always my "this hunt annoys me" go to. or hammer if i didnt feel like having to aim.

[Aelin Galathynius]

Originally posted by Xilo The Odd:

Originally posted by Aelin Galathynius:

So have I but from pc release until today it's all been impact phials.

https://imgur.com/a/nqAKyls

yeah i took the fun path and challenged myself with elemental phials. before IB, definently not the best source of damage on a LOT of targets, then AT kulve came along and shouted KJAAARRRRRRRRRR and birthed the Ice CB that is still broken as hell in master rank today xD.

and with savage axe, elemental is just doing so much more than it used to.

but yeah, if didnt want to eff with it, i'd typically go sticky bowgun. pretty much always my https://imgur.com/a/nqAKyls go to. or hammer if i didnt feel like having to aim.

Spread 3 HGB with 3 shield mods is the king of "didnt want to eff with it".

Although I love getting matched with sticky in multiplayer. when you check other peoples gear and see 2 Demonlord Beastbusters you know it's gonna be an easy hunt as the monster will spend at least half of it flailing around on the floor.

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by Aelin Galathynius:

Originally posted by Xilo The Odd:

yeah i took the fun path and challenged myself with elemental phials. before IB, definently not the best source of damage on a LOT of targets, then AT kulve came along and shouted KJAAARRRRRRRRRR and birthed the Ice CB that is still broken as hell in master rank today xD.

and with savage axe, elemental is just doing so much more than it used to.

but yeah, if didnt want to eff with it, i'd typically go sticky bowgun. pretty much always my https://imgur.com/a/nqAKyls go to. or hammer if i didnt feel like having to aim.

Spread 3 HGB with 3 shield mods is the king of "didnt want to eff with it".

Although I love getting matched with sticky in multiplayer. when you check other peoples gear and see 2 Demonlord Beastbusters you know it's gonna be an easy hunt as the monster will spend at least half of it flailing around on the floor.

i think the last time i fought something people said was a pain the butt, i brought my slugger secret, punishing draw, sticky bowgun set. i got like, 6 or 7 KOs on my demonlord buster? if im really close and i have to reload i like to melee, and since i typically pack glider mantle i'll CC onto the face, hop off and draw reload if i feel its safe.

i need to get video of it one of these times.

[cruste]

he cheated twice by using the axe for tenderizing