4/16/2021: Added Thunder and Fire builds.
4/7/2021: Replaced Goss Harag all-purpose build with Narga all-purpose. Added some enhanced builds using Weakness Exploit 2 talismans.
4/5/2021: Added Dragonsong build
4/4/2021: Changed Spinning Axe to use Attack Boost 7
4/1/2021: Added Bludgeoner Rajang builds
3/30/2021: Created page and added progression builds and some basic endgame builds. More builds soon.
Q: I can't find X armor at the blacksmith
A: Some armor pieces have different names depending on your character's gender. These include Utsushi/Channeler and Skalda/Spio as the most commonly used.
Q: I still can't find Skalda/Spio armor at the blacksmith
A: You need to get Quality Stomach from Altaroth (small monster) in HR. Also, you need a Toxic Kumori to craft it which is a random bonus material from Argosy Buddy Trading while trading for Herbs or other items with a fish icon next to them.
Q: I don't have a Weakness Exploit talisman
A: Once unlocked the third option at the melder can be used to get a basic charm with Weakness Exploit 1 without too much trouble. For better charms, the 4th or 5th options should be used but are much lower chance to get a charm with Weakness Exploit.
Q: Why Rapid Morph?
A: Rapid Morph speeds up ALL actions that involve changing from Sword or Axe or Axe to Sword. Notably, this includes Condensed Spinning Slash and the first half of AED/SAED (up to when the shield is behind the character's head). It doesn't increase the damage of AED/SAED. It's a good quality-of-life skill for all CB builds, but is not a required/core skill for CB.
Q: Why Load Shells?
A: Load Shells is basically the replacement for Focus in World. At level 2 Load Shells, it functions like Load Up in MHGU, meaning reloading at yellow phial outlines fills all your phials. This is a good choice for CB builds besides those using Condensed Spinning Slash or Counter Peak Performance extensively.
Q: How much Guard should I use?
A: (Updated 4/8/2021) In the current state of the game I recommend running 0 or 1 Guard, 0 being the default. If monsters' attacks deal too much knockback, you can use Counter Peak Performance or simply super armor with Advancing Morph, or fade back and counter with Axe Hopper, etc. Some monsters I would recommend Guard 1 for are Zinogre, Diablos, and Magnamalo.
Q: Do Offensive Guard and Rapid Morph work with Counter Peak Performance?
A: Yes.
Q: Does Counter Peak Performance let you block unblockable moves?
A: No, you still need Guard Up if you want to block unblockable moves (some lasers, gas, etc).
Q: Which level 1 decorations should I use?
A: Speed Sharpening, Flinch Free, Free Meal, Stun Resistance are all fine choices. For elemental builds, the corresponding element attack decorations should be used.
Q: Does Bombardier affect phial damage?
A: The armor skill "Bombardier" does not, but the Dango skill "Dango Bombardier" does for Impact Phials only.
Weapon
Wind Thief Sickle I/II
(Izuchi tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Critical Eye 4
Artillery 1
Armor
Izuchi
Izuchi
Rhenoplos
Izuchi
Lagombi
Weapon
Regas Hyper / Elite Blade I
(Ore tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Critical Eye 5
Artillery 1
Attack Boost 1
Armor
Zinogre
Zinogre
Rhenoplos
Barioth
Ingot
Substitutions
Kadachi and Nargacuga torso armor can also be used.
Weapon
Elite Blade II
(Ore tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Critical Eye 5
Weakness Exploit 2
Artillery 2
Attack Boost 2
Armor
Izuchi S
Izuchi S
Rhenoplos S
Skalda S
Ingot S
Weapon
Kaiser Blade
(Ore tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Critical Eye 4
Weakness Exploit 3
Artillery 2
Attack Boost 2
Armor
Zinogre S
Izuchi S
Rhenoplos S
Skalda S
Ingot S
Weapon
Scream in the Night
(Nargacuga tree)
Rampage Skill
Attack Up
Switch Skills
Pick your favorites
Skills
Attack Boost 4
Weakness Exploit 3
Artillery 2
Critical Boost 2
Rapid Morph 2
Load Shells 2
Latent Power 1
Armor
Almudron S
Vaik S
Rhenoplos S
Skalda S
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 1
Decorations
Attack x4
Magazine x2
Any level 1 decoration x4
Substitutions
You can use Barroth S torso and Rathalos S arms to craft fewer Attack decorations (and more Artillery decos) but this loses two small slots.
Weapon
Scream in the Night
(Nargacuga tree)
Rampage Skill
Attack Up
Switch Skills
Pick your favorites
Skills
Attack Boost 4
Weakness Exploit 3
Artillery 3
Critical Boost 2
Rapid Morph 2
Load Shells 2
Latent Power 2
Armor
Almudron S
Zinogre S
Rhenoplos S
Anja S
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 2
Decorations
Attack x2
Magazine x2
Artillery x1
Any level 1 decoration x6
Notes
Inspired by CB runners いわたわし and しーどまぅん.
Weapon
Scream in the Night
(Nargacuga tree)
Rampage Skill
Any
Switch Skills
Condensed Spinning Slash
Either
Counter Peak Performance
Skills
Attack Boost 7
Weakness Exploit 3
Rapid Morph 2
Critical Boost 2
Critical Eye 1
Latent Power 1
Armor
Almudron S
Vaik S
Rathalos S
Skalda S
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 1
Decorations
Attack x5
Expert x1
Any level 1 decoration x3
Substitutions
Chest can be switched to Almudron S if you want Razor Sharp 2. You can use Barroth S instead of Vaik if you want to craft 1 fewer Attack decoration but it loses 1 small slot.
Weapon
Scream in the Night
(Nargacuga tree)
Rampage Skill
Any
Switch Skills
Condensed Spinning Slash
Either
Counter Peak Performance
Skills
Attack Boost 6
Weakness Exploit 3
Critical Boost 3
Rapid Morph 2
Latent Power 2
Heroics 1
Maximum Might 1
Armor
Almudron S
Zinogre S
Rathalos S
Golden
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 2
Decorations
Attack x4
Any level 1 decoration x4
Substitutions
You can optionally drop Rapid Morph 2 for the last point of Attack by using Zinogre S helm, Remobra S chest, and Anja S waist instead.
Weapon
Undying Blade II
(Rajang tree)
Rampage Skill
Dulling Strike
Switch Skills
Either
Either
Counter Peak Performance
Skills
Attack Boost 6
Offensive Guard 3
Artillery 3
Bludgeoner 3
Guard 1
Defense Boost 2
Armor
Barroth S
Vaik S
Rhenoplos S
Anja S
Barroth S
Talisman
Bludgeoner 2
Decorations
Attack x3
Guardian x1
Artillery x1
Blunt x1
Any level 1 decoration x6
Weapon
Undying Blade II
(Rajang tree)
Rampage Skill
Dulling Strike
Switch Skills
Either
Counter Morph Slash
Axe Hopper
Skills
Attack Boost 7
Artillery 3
Bludgeoner 3
Load Shells 2
Rapid Morph 2
Stun Resistance 2
Armor
Almudron S
Rhenoplos S
Rhenoplos S
Anja S
Hunter S
Talisman
Bludgeoner 2
Decorations
Attack x3
Magazine x2
Blunt x1
Any level 1 decoration x4
Weapon
Undying Blade II
(Rajang tree)
Rampage Skill
Dulling Strike
Switch Skills
Either
Counter Morph Slash
Axe Hopper
Skills
Attack Boost 7
Artillery 3
Bludgeoner 3
Load Shells 2
Rapid Morph 2
Stun Resistance 2
Critical Eye 2
Armor
Almudron S
Rhenoplos S
Rhenoplos S
Anja S
Ingot S
Talisman
Bludgeoner 2
Slots: 2-0-0
Decorations
Attack x3
Magazine x2
Blunt x1
Any level 1 decoration x5
Weapon
Dragonsong
(Dragon tree)
Rampage Skill
Dragon Boost II or Element Exploit*
Switch Skills
Pick your favorites
Skills
Attack Boost 7
Dragon Attack 5
Weakness Exploit 3
Bludgeoner 3
Rapid Morph 2
Critical Eye 2
Mind's Eye 1
Armor
Almudron S
Vaik S
Tigrex S
Skalda S
Ingot S
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 1
Slots: 1-0-0
Decorations
Dragon x5
Attack x5
Blunt x1
Notes
*Element Exploit increases elemental damage by 30% but only on hitzones of 25 or above. Many monsters despite being weak to an element only have one or two parts where this would activate, so it may not always be better than Dragon Boost II.
Substitutions
You can use Rathalos S gloves instead if you want to craft fewer Attack decorations but this loses Mind's Eye 1.
Weapon
Die Walküre
(Thunder tree)
Rampage Skill
Thunder Boost
Switch Skills
Pick your favorites
Skills
Attack Boost 6
Thunder Attack 5
Weakness Exploit 3
Rapid Morph 2
Load Shells 2
Critical Boost 2
Latent Power 1
Armor
Almudron S
Vaik S
Rathalos S
Skalda S
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 1
Slots: 1-1-0
Decorations
Bolt x5
Attack x4
Magazine x2
Weapon
Despot's Thundergale
(Zinogre tree)
Rampage Skill
Thunder Boost II or Anti-Aquatic
Switch Skills
Condensed Spinning Slash
Either
Counter Peak Performance
Skills
Attack Boost 7
Thunder Attack 5
Weakness Exploit 3
Rapid Morph 3
Critical Boost 2
Latent Power 1
Armor
Almudron S
Vaik S
Rathalos S
Skalda S
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 1
Slots: 1-1-0
Decorations
Bolt x5
Attack x5
Quickswitch x1
Notes
Zinogre CB has better raw stats but much lower element compared to Die Walküre making it less suitable for SAED spam. It also has the unique Anti-Aquatic Species ramp-up skill making it useful for certain matchups.
Weapon
Biting Edge II
(Rakna-Kadaki tree)
Rampage Skill
Fire Boost
Switch Skills
Pick your favorites
Skills
Attack Boost 6
Fire Attack 5
Weakness Exploit 3
Rapid Morph 2
Load Shells 2
Critical Boost 2
Latent Power 1
Armor
Almudron S
Vaik S
Rathalos S
Skalda S
Golden
Talisman
Weakness Exploit 1
Slots: 0-0-0
Decorations
Blaze x5
Attack x4
Magazine x2