Are Guard Points An Integral Part Of Playing Charge Blade?

[TuskSpin]

Or are they a bonus? I'm just now picking up the weapon and I want to know what I should be focusing on while I learn.

[Mr. September]

It's like the Foresight Slash for Longsword. Focusing on it is good for practice, but is a bonus. Just like Guard Point.

It's not as "essential" as Demon Mode for Dual Blades, for example.

[Jaevwyn]

Learn them early rather than learn the weapon then learn to guard point imo, they arent essential but the payoff can be huge

[Astrallight]

Its good to use cause it generate empty yellow/red phials you can use to reload into phials to start your combo. Charging shield is important to get started and sword gives you Minds Eye so your attacks wont bounce.

[SotiCoto]

I've been using Charge Blade on and off since MHGU, and I still can't guard-point. Heck, I only block by accident if I'm hit when charging phials.

[misterpeekz]

I think so! Guard points let you perform discharges much faster which is essential for faster monsters.

A good way to practice is to hold guard (R2) and then click 'Triangle' (I use PS controller) to morph which has a longer guard point duration. Once you have this down, I would practice the other guard points which are more difficult to pull off.

The basic combo would be R2 + Triangle into Triangle or Triangle + Circle.

[Shadow Wizard Fluffy Gang]

It can only benefit you to learn them.
I don't know if I would call them integral, but it is helpful for certain.

[Krasus]

Guard points will be huge beneficial if you can do it. So try to practice it. If you are able to do it, you can damage monster each time you use guard point while your shield is charged and immediately go to savage axe mode or AED/SAED spam.

Othewise you have to do animation manually which leave vulnerable. You can gp in several different ways ( like 7 or smh ). To the point you can even do guard point while your weapon is sheathed, it is THAT powerful. There are guides in youtube, check them.