How much of a difference between shields would I see if I used Guard 5 and Guard Up?

[Holneer]

I heard that SnS < CB < Lances, but I wanna know just how much better thoes two are than the SnS. Are there like any technical percentages saying that SnS blocks let's say 80% damage and Lances 92% or something?

[Suzaku]

Here's a link to a big table of useful info, including information related to guard:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ5HFkHnEP74gD-SCVta9syb9GaF1_nSmMFgV4hxvZt9iu4HmfhGlP2KbnIbC-cAx5kkvsd8L7oB0Uy/pubhtml#

TL;DR :
There are 3 knockback levels (small, medium, large) that result in 100%/90%/80% of the damage being blocked.

Each shield has a different guard thresholds, typically meaning smaller shields will suffer from higher knockbacks and also have smaller guard angles. The Guard skill increases the weapon's thresholds by a set amount.

Charge Blade actually has the strongest shield in the game when the shield is charged and a guard point is performed, beating the Lance by 10 points (Lance threshold being 50 while CB can reach 60).

[Rantzas]

Also guard up only makes it so you are able to block otherwise unblockable attacks like Teostras fire nova

[Kawalorn]

It's also important to point out that medium and low knockback allow you to cancel the animation into attacks and dodge. Very useful for countering. In case of Charge Blade Guard 5 is pretty much required for the endgame monsters, but 3 should suffice for Iceborne campaign if you charge the shield and use guard points well. Lance/gunlance should prioritize getting Guard 5 as soon as viable.

[overmage]

Also to add, HBG Shield level 4 has the highest damage reduction in the game... not that I would recommend it to anyone!

Originally posted by Kawalorn:

Lance/gunlance should prioritize getting Guard 5 as soon as viable.

Lance yes... But Gunlance has almost 0 combos off guarding, so despite the shield going the evade route is superior in every way. Pain in the butt though

[Deadbubble]

Yeah, shield on Gunlance actively sucks. Its not integrated into its kit at all, unlike CB or Lance.

As for how much Guard to Use and when to use Guard Up, Ill post it in next comment

[Deadbubble]

Guard Levels

Only covering T2 and T3 monsters. If something is not listed here, assume it's a Guard 3 matchup.
Guard levels are a small optimization, if you want to always run Guard 5, go for it.

Guard 5:
Fatalis
Alatreon
AT Namielle
F. Rajang
R. Brachydios
Safi'jiiva
Rajang
Ruiner Nergigante
Shara Ishvalda
Yian Garuga
AT Velkhana (If you want to block ice beams, take Guard 5 with Guard Up. Otherwise Guard 1 is enough)
Kulve Taroth (If you want to block lava pools, take Guard 5 with Guard Up. Otherwise Guard 3 is enough)
Stygian Zinogre (If you want to block his big combos, take Guard 5. If you're confident in your ability to position/dodge, Guard 1 is enough)
Namielle (If you want to block Namielle's multihits, take Guard 5. Otherwise, Guard 3 is enough)
Velkhana (If you want to block ice beams, take Guard 5 with Guard Up. Otherwise Guard 1 is enough)

Guard 1:
Teostra (Guard 3 is comfier)
Lunastra (You need Guard Up)
Kirin (Guard 3 if you're not confident in your ability to avoid big lightning attacks with positioning)

[Deadbubble]

https://i.imgur.com/P4NgfcE.png

Monsters not covered in picture:
Safi'jiiva - Need Guard Up for laser attacks
Raging Brachydios - Need Guard Up for final area explosion attack
Furious Rajang - Need Guard Up for beam attacks
MR Kulve Taroth - Need Guard Up for lava pools
AT Namielle - No Guard Up required
Alatreon - Need Guard Up for AOE fire and ice breath attacks. Need Guard Up for sweeping fire beam, but not straight beams
Fatalis - Need Guard Up for charged fireballs. Pin is true unblockable
AT Velkhana - Need Guard Up for ice beams. Ice breath and nova beam are true unblockable

[overmage]

The great thing about fatalis gear is that now you have almost no excuse not to run guard 5 + guard up all the time unless you're really trying to squeeze out every last drop of dps

But without fatty gear, some compromise is needed

[Deadbubble]

You should not be running Guard Up the time. Only against monsters that actually need it, and you'd have to ask yourself if its not just better to dodge said unblockable attack.

[overmage]

It's Fatalis gear. You can certainly spare the slots five times over. Besides, at that point you'll probably just be fighting ala/at velk / fatty on repeat.

[Deadbubble]

Hmm true, missed that.

[Definively Not Alchman]

since we talking about blocking, there is something i always wondered and never been sure.
does perfect blocking like one that one that would trigger offensive guard, affect anything besides offensive guard?

[Deadbubble]

Originally posted by Definively Not Alchman:

since we talking about blocking, there is something i always wondered and never been sure.
does perfect blocking like one that one that would trigger offensive guard, affect anything besides offensive guard?

no

[𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒶]

CB > Lance >> SnS.

Originally posted by Kawalorn:

In case of Charge Blade Guard 5 is pretty much required for the endgame monsters.

Using guard for CB is a basically a waste of slots as you will likely get punished if you try to SAED or AED. Monsters in IB have high movement speed, low recovery times against a slow weapon with exaggerated animations and long recovery frames. We got the short end of the stick in iceborne.

[Deadbubble]

Originally posted by ✿Sᵂᴱᴱᵀ Tᴱᴬ:

CB > Lance >> SnS.

Originally posted by Kawalorn:

In case of Charge Blade Guard 5 is pretty much required for the endgame monsters.

Using guard for CB is a basically a waste of slots as you will likely get punished if you try to SAED or AED. Monsters in IB have high movement speed, low recovery times against a slow weapon with exaggerated animations and long recovery frames. We got the short end of the stick in iceborne. :s_crying:

GPing can still be a useful tool. After all, its icnreased block strenght. Besides, you dont have to (S)AED after evry GP. A fast offensive option is a sidestep into roundslash. Or you can just, walk away, lol.

But yeah, CB is a much slower weapon than you'd think lmao. The idea of CB vs fatty fills my nightmares.