Best weapon to learn melee?

[Not a Kobold spy]

Not strongest or easiest, just best for learning. I'm making a new character after I've reached later parts of Iceborne using pretty much only bow and LBG.

I used CB before running into LR Diablos (or rather, Diablos running into me. Repeatedly.) and switching to ranged weapons. I had no problems with technical aspects of CB, but it was hard to get enought charges to keep shield charge up while spamming SAED, so I'm a little weary of using weapons with charges that needs to be maitained (looking at you, LS).

[~KeNnEtH~]

If you plan to use shields, Lance. It is the bare bones of the shield weapons.

If you plan to go without shields, Longsword.

Yes, longsword has a meter and 3 levels of gauge to maintain. However, it is a mid-speed weapon. If you really don't want longsword, then dual blades is a good alternative but don't expect the same speed for other non-shield melee weapons except maybe the insect glaive (but insect glaive has gauge to manage too).

If you are just using them as a stepping board then you don't need to use Lance's counter thrust or Longsword's foresight slash (note that you will need meter for this). However, if you learn them, it will help a lot down the road since you can only pull them off if you know what is coming so it does help as a sort of learning tool for monster attacks.

If you still have not decided on going with or without shields, then take the Sword & Shield.

[Woter Meron]

GS or hammer, they are simple in mechanics but require good positioning.
If you want to switch weapons later on the line you already have learned positioning that helps with every weapon atleast a bit.

[Smug Kot]

Go swagger axe or go home, theres nothing more clunky and slow than a swagger axe, you will learn by force how to position yourself or get insta killed.

[✙205🍉🐆→]

SnS and charge blade

[Lemonidas of Sourta]

I'd say hammer. It's mobile enough to learn the monster moves and their hit ranges. But also capable of heavy moves that require you to stand still. Longsword is too forgiving since it has a lol-nope move that encourages you to keep attacking and then counter any attacks the monster makes. You can always pick up an LS later but you can't go back to a hammer (or other weapons) after using counters since it's more of a methodical approach.

Hammer teaches both the quick and heavy moves while still remaining quite mobile.

[Bishop]

Longsword pretty much. Good range, good speed, good mobility,built in parry, satisfying finisher. It has everything.

Though personally I started replaying it from scratch with switch axe now. No mantles, no power prolonger, no evade extenders, no gems, nothing. See these good things about sword, now take them all off and that gonna be SA. This weapon is brutally painful and punishing for mistakes, but pretty satisfying, when used correctly.

[Hammer Of Evil]

if you've already run the gauntlet with CB, everything else is going to be easy tbh. nothing is more complicated than that thing.

hammer has the easiest combos. the range is short though, and no ability to block will see you enjoying a lot of ragdolling unfortunately, till your dodge game is on point. evade window going to help a lot when learning.

both lances aren't nearly as complicated as well, so give those a try. even the gunlance combos are very basic compared to cb, and no charging required. there is a combo reload for the gun as well.

very important to learn and memorize the repositioning movements and counter combos, so you can be a chad spartan in combat while everyone else is riding the meat wagon you can just bang your lance against your shield and rest your armored boot on the monster's head while your friends come rushing back to carve before the hunt ends. lol.

[BigCheese]

I played entirely too long before trying the switch axe. It's fun and can do some great damage. It isn't as complicated as it looks either.

[Dagný]

Publicado originalmente por Rainspren:

I used CB before running into LR Diablos (or rather, Diablos running into me. Repeatedly.) and switching to ranged weapons. I had no problems with technical aspects of CB, but it was hard to get enought charges to keep shield charge up while spamming SAED, so I'm a little weary of using weapons with charges that needs to be maitained (looking at you, LS).

Try CB again and forget about SAED, use Savage axe instead. Some people say it's better to charge the shield (10% dmore damage they said) but I didn't notice any difference

[Spirit]

If you want to freely be able to break anything and everything, with a high damage all around well-balanced weapon, then GS. It is also fairly simple, not requiring a bunch of fancy input commands. The downside is you will have to learn timing more than some weapons. Good luck.

[Xilo The Odd]

simple melee weapon to learn...

hammer. singular focus is to try and hit the head or legs as much as possible. if you want something that can cut a tail, lance is pretty easy to learn, it also teaches you blocking isnt always the answer to a given attack.

for something to step up to for more advanced weapons that can be hillariously fun, Switch axe is great, it honestly to me feels like a way better longsword. if you want something thats advanced but still simple in its function, Sword and shield. it does literally everything good.

[mewlynx]

If I had to answer, I think the slow weapons are best since you really have to learn the monster and understand openings and attack patterns to be proficient with them, and the transition to using a faster weapon is much less painless. That being said, just use whichever weapon you're interested in and go from there. There's no point in forcing yourself to use a weapon you don't want to use if you won't enjoy it.

[Dundo]

Hunting Horn. The answer is always, the Hunting Horn.

[Not a Kobold spy]

Thank you for all the input!

I'm doing it the hard way and picked a switch axe. It feels a little clunky, but I'm quite sure it's on me. I'll probably switch to hammer if SA will tour out to be too awkward to use, but so far it seems fun!

[GladiatorDragon]

Publicado originalmente por Rainspren:

Thank you for all the input!

I'm doing it the hard way and picked a switch axe. It feels a little clunky, but I'm quite sure it's on me. I'll probably switch to hammer if SA will tour out to be too awkward to use, but so far it seems fun!

Here's some advice from a Switch Axe user:

Right-Click combo in sword mode (Heavenward Flurry, if I recall) should only be used in its entirety to charge the sword. Afterward, it's better to mix in left-click attacks to deal more damage, as Heavenward Flurry isn't the best in the speed or damage departments.

Zero Sum Discharge is awesome, but be careful when using it. Latching to the monster can leave you open to damage.

Wild Swing (right click attack in Axe mode) is an excellent choice if Sword mode isn't ready or optimal. Finishing the combo with a Heavy Slam will deal a lot of damage in a burst, as well as temporarily buff your axe, allowing it to deal extra damage to monster parts.

The Switch Axe's lack of defensive measures can cause problems. Slot in evasion skills, to buff the only defensive measure available to you. However, Sword mode is less mobile than Axe mode, so it's best to be in Axe mode if the monster is going to unleash some hard to evade attacks.

Switch between Axe and Sword frequently. Switching from Sword to Axe will restore some charge on Sword mode, allowing you to take advantage of the Sword's charged state even more.