S&S Build?

[Knight]

Hello :) I am wondering if anyone knows a good S&S build. I looked on Youtube and the only ones I am mainly finding seem to be outdated. Anyone have any good recommendations? MAX DPS kind of builds in particular. Thanks!

[Sugoi]

There's nothing particularly special about SnS compared to other melee. You want all the normal DPS skills. The most popular builds are either 3 piece teostra + 2 piece raging brachy or full safi. Although if you want to do an elemental build, 3 piece safi + 2 alatreon is growing in popularity as a comfy option.

Edit: I should also add that if you're asking for a MAX DEEPS build and it doesn't have HB3 in it, you shouldn't consider it. You are going to need it.

[Greb]

SnS is nice, like a Hammer, because it really doesn't hunger for or benefit from any particular skills, it's so protean in nature you can pretty much do anything with it.

Question time for Sword and Shield mains - does the Perfect Rush attacks that involve jumping into the monster, specifically the last one, count as aerial? I'm guessing no, since you can't mount with them, but I figured I'd ask anyway. Would synergise nicely with Airborne (Flight?) jewels if so

Otherwise you just go for the usual DPS stuff that you should know off by heart by now. Agitator, Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, Attack Boost, maybe even Maximum Might if you want to get laughed at somewhat, etc.

I have a friend who runs a Masters Touch Safi'Jiiva Blastsword (whatever it's called) with the Teostra Essence on it, as well as another identical sword that I've never paid attention to that he uses for a Wide Range build with Kulve Taroth stuff. I guess just go from there - copy any generic Dual Blades Max DPS build and remove the stamina skills for quality of life skills?

[EL TORO]

https://imgur.com/a/YMlXvFD
Credits to the people who made it.

[StopItStepBro]

I have one that's a strong DPS build with free meal secret and gobbler paired with it to keep you alive and constantly dishing out damage.

I'll screenshot if that's the playstyle you want.

[TwoArmedMan15]

S&S also works well with Velkana frostcraft. The perfect rush combo can hit for about 2300 damage on the training dummy with a good frostcraft build.

[Waffles]

For the love of god, if you're going for a pure DPS build... Don't.

At least slap in Health Boost/Vitality.

[Recel]

Originally posted by Gen:

For the love of god, if you're going for a pure DPS build... Don't.

At least slap in Health Boost/Vitality.

They don't need Health or Vitality. They have Cart Rank 3!

[𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒶𝒶𝒶𝒶𝒶]

Originally posted by Zekken:

MAX DPS kind of builds in particular.

That's going to trigger casuals really hard lol.

[Emerald Lance]

Max DPS in any build is going to involve Critical Eye, Critical Boost, and Weakness Exploit. If you max those out, that's pretty much baseline for high DPS. Additionally, adding jewels to boost the element/status of your weapons will also help, particularly with poison and blast. Handicraft is also a good choice if you have untapped purple sharpness. Going that far for DPS will leave you lacking in defensive skills though, so you'll need to pick up that slack for yourself to compensate.

Personally I prefer a more rounded build. No matter my DPS, I'm a burden to the team if I keep carting. So instead of Critical Boost, I use Evade Window and Guard Up. Still high damage, but now I'm also able to survive much easier.

Either way, I can't speak for your play style, so it's just general advice.

[Senpai]

Originally posted by EL TORO:

https://imgur.com/a/YMlXvFD
Credits to the people who made it.

I second this for max DEEPESS. It's the SnS meta builds album from the math guys' server.

.......But if you want something stronger, you can run Heroics I guess. Just don't run it in teams, since you'll get trolled hard with multiple Health Boosters and dust spams

[Senpai]

Originally posted by Emerald Lance:

Personally I prefer a more rounded build. No matter my DPS, I'm a burden to the team if I keep carting. So instead of Critical Boost, I use Evade Window and Guard Up. Still high damage, but now I'm also able to survive much easier.

Do you run Offensive Guard with that? I've seen some SnS players use it, but not sure if it's worth sacrificing a few skills for.

[Emerald Lance]

Originally posted by Senpai:

Originally posted by Emerald Lance:

Personally I prefer a more rounded build. No matter my DPS, I'm a burden to the team if I keep carting. So instead of Critical Boost, I use Evade Window and Guard Up. Still high damage, but now I'm also able to survive much easier.

Do you run Offensive Guard with that? I've seen some SnS players use it, but not sure if it's worth sacrificing a few skills for.

Personally I'm not a fan of Offensive Guard on any weapon, includig lance/gunlance. So much so that I forgot to even list it, though technically it can boost DPS. Likewise, I also don't consider it worth the sacrifice of skills that are generally more useful.

[Waffles]

Originally posted by Emerald Lance:

Originally posted by Senpai:

Do you run Offensive Guard with that? I've seen some SnS players use it, but not sure if it's worth sacrificing a few skills for.

Personally I'm not a fan of Offensive Guard on any weapon, includig lance/gunlance. So much so that I forgot to even list it, though technically it can boost DPS. Likewise, I also don't consider it worth the sacrifice of skills that are generally more useful.

I'll have to disagree with you.

Percentage-based boosts are powerful in Iceborne. A 15% boost in attack is nothing to scoff at. If you're skilled enough to proc it often, it's very worth it.

[Knight]

Originally posted by EL TORO:

https://imgur.com/a/YMlXvFD
Credits to the people who made it.

Thank you! :)