confused about charge blade

[aaronlg]

This is my first Monster Hunter game, and I just finished the Giant Jagras mission. I've been using the Charge Blade because it seemed cool, but I'm confused how it works. Whenever I start a mission, I'm allowed to use sword & shield mode for just a few hits, and then the sword gets permanently stuck in some kind of overheated state where my attacks bonk off of things.

At one point, I think the handler told me to do something in axe mode to release the charge, but the message blasted by so fast I didn't understand what she was saying. Is there some specific set of buttons I'm supposed to press when the sword turns red? Thanks.

[Smaugi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvlVtfSzO2Y&ab_channel=ArekkzGaming

check this.
You chose one of the most complicated weapons in the game as a start.

[D. Flame]

You are supposed to land hits with the sword which builds up a charge on the sword, then you store that charge in your phials. Then you used those vials to buff your sword, buff your shield, then use it to unless BIG DAMAGE attacks.

Watch the video Smaugi posted when you get a chance.

[BickyMonster]

Attacking with the sword creates a charge that needs to be stored in phials, those 5 icons in the top left below the sharpness gauge.

When those icons are yellow, storing the charge provides 3 phials.

When they're red you'll get 5.

If the whole section is glowing red, your sword is overcharged and every attack will bounce.

To store charge you need to guard with the shield (R2 on controller) and press the secondary attack button (B on my XBOX controller).

Arrekz gaming on Youtube has excellent guides for each weapon.