This page is showing builds for a previous version of the game. Click here to return to the current patch version of this page
6/28/22: Page created
6/30/22: Added 2 progression builds (Early and Late Master Rank)
7/2/22: Added 2 progression builds (Postgame MR6+ and MR30+)
7/3/22: Added recommended rampage decos
7/4/22: Added first wave of endgame builds (2 general purpose impact, 1 spinning axe, 5 element)
7/8/22: Added non-dereliction spinning axe build, best endgame charge blades section
7/12/22: Added Elemental SAED Dereliction and "Double Suicide" builds. Changed Dragon SAED build to use Valstrax weapon
8/13/22: Updated builds for patch 11.0.1
10/1/22: Updated builds for patch 12.0.0.0 (TU2). Added Impact Elemental charge blade recommendations.
Q: How do you unlock Knight Squire armor?
A: Complete Fiorayne's follower quest M★2 Flicker in the Night.
Q: How do you unlock Hoplite/Heavy Knight armor?
A: Complete Arena Master Arlow's follower quest M★4 Unknown Invader.
Q: What to augment on armor? (Qurious crafting system)
A: The armor augment system is too difficult to aim for specific skills for, so I won't include them in the builds here. For general advice, try upgrading level 2 or 3 slots to level 4 slots, or getting points of skills that can free up decoration slots.
Q: Some of these decorations aren't available until Anomaly Research level 100+ (i.e level 4 element attack)! What can I make in the meantime?
A: Please check the previous versions of those builds under Previous Revisions to see what they used before those decorations were added.
Defense Master (Level 3)
Prevents sharpness loss on guarding; restore sharpness by 1 instead.
Kushala Daora Soul (Level 3)
Increase affinity by 5% for 3 seconds when landing a hit. Upgrades to 15% after landing 5 hits without expiring.
Elembane (Level 3)
Increase damage by 15% when exploiting an enemy's elemental weakness. Affects hitzones with elemental value greater than 25, and works on phial damage. Only use for power element phial charge blades. Note that for some monsters, this decoration is not very impactful as they may only have elemental hitzone value over 25 on a small part of their body, meaning most SAED phials will not benefit.
Narwa Soul (Level 2)
Increase affinity by 5% for each piece of Ibushi armor equipped (10% for the Narwa/Ibushi mixed set).
Valstrax Soul (Level 2)
Increase base Dragon element value by 20% when affected by dragonblight (from Valstrax armor).
Brutal Strike (Level 2)
When affinity is negative, gives a 25% chance to negatively crit for +50% damage instead of -25%. Only use if using a weapon with high negative affinity (Final boss or Diablos) and no affinity skills.
Anti-Aquatic/Anti-Aerial/Anti-Dragon/Fanged Exploit (Level 2)
Boosts damage vs a specific monster type by 5%, including phial damage.
Defense Edge (Level 1)
Prevents sharpness loss on guarding.
Weapon
Barroth Guardian
(Barroth tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Guard 5
Offensive Guard 1
Attack Boost 3
Artillery 2
Load Shells 2
Critical Eye 2
Defense Boost 3
Flinch Free 1
Armor
Barroth X
Hermitaur X
Rhenoplos X
Chainmail X
Ingot X
Notes
Upgrade to Garangolm's weapon after unlocking it.
Weapon
Golm Heart+
(Garangolm tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Guard 3
Guard Up 3
Artillery 3
Razor Sharp 3
Load Shells 2
Offensive Guard 2
Quick Sheathe 2
Weakness Exploit 1
Critical Boost 1
Armor
Hoplite
Hoplite
Hoplite
Knight Squire
Hoplite
Weapon
Abyssal Splitter
(Final boss tree)
Switch Skills
Anything works
Skills
Agitator 5
Guard 5
Razor Sharp 3
Guard Up 3
Artillery 3
Load Shells 2
Armor
Bazelgeuse X
Bazelgeuse X
Bazelgeuse X
Bazelgeuse X
Bazelgeuse X
Notes
Bazelgeuse armor is quite similar to Hoplite so switching is optional. If you don't want to farm a Bazelgeuse mantle for gloves, Diablos X gloves are a good alternative.
These are not ranked in order.
Impact Phial (All-Purpose)
Abyssal Splitter (Final boss tree)
Pure Axe Omonshiro (Violet Mizutsune tree)
Impact Phial (Fire)
Flamlion Blade (Rathalos tree)
Impact Phial (Ice)
Daora's Worldbearer (Kushala Daora tree)
Impact Phial (Water)
Divine Fieldblade+ (Mizutsune tree)
Impact Phial (Thunder)
Thunderclap Otenta+ (Tobi-Kadachi tree)
Impact Phial (Dragon)
Skull Edge (Aelucanth tree)
Element Phial (Fire)
Crawling Crusher (Rakna-Kadaki tree)
Element Phial (Ice)
Flicker Blizzard Wail (Auroracanth tree)
Element Phial (Water)
Armordraad (Vaik tree)
Element Phial (Thunder)
Asylum Peal (Narwa tree)
Element Phial (Dragon)
Crimson Mechwing (Valstrax tree)
Weapon
Abyssal Splitter
(Final boss tree)
Augment
Attack 1
Affinity 1
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
Attack Boost 4
Agitator 3
Artillery 3
Offensive Guard 3
Flinch Free 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Rapid Morph 3
Razor Sharp 3
Load Shells 2
Guard Up 1
Armor
Flaming Espinas
Hoplite
Bazelgeuse
Bazelgeuse
Violet Mizutsune
Decorations
Artillery x1
Attack x2
Challenger x2
Ironwall+ x1
Quickswitch x1
Quickswitch+ x1
Razor x1
Tenderizer x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Critical Boost, etc.
Weapon
Abyssal Splitter
(Final boss tree)
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
Thunder Alignment 5
Stormsoul 5
Wind Alignment 4
Guard Up 3
Offensive Guard 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Slugger 3
Artillery 3
Partbreaker 3
Flinch Free 3
Rapid Morph 3
Load Shells 2
Agitator 2
Good Luck 1
Armor
Narwa
Ibushi
Narwa
Narwa
Ibushi
Decorations
Tenderizer x3
Magazine x2
Challenger x2
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
An easy-to-make comfy farming build with Narwa/Ibushi giving almost all required skills plus quality-of-life skills like Slugger, Partbreaker, and Guard Up. Lacks slightly in damage compared to the mixed set build.
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Agitator, Critical Boost, etc.
Weapon
Abyssal Splitter
(Final boss tree)
Augment
Attack 1
Affinity 1
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Artillery 3
Guard 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Dereliction 3
Offensive Guard 3
Rapid Morph 3
Resentment 2
Agitator 2
Load Shells 2
Blood Rite 1
Partbreaker 1
Razor Sharp 1
Armor
Guild Palace
Malzeno
Archfiend
Bazelgeuse X
Archfiend
Decorations
Quickswitch x3
Tenderizer x2
Artillery+ x1
Artillery x1
Challenger x1
Guardian x1
Ironwall+ x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
Dereliction gives a large boost to Attack when using the blue switch skill scroll, but drains your health. 1 point of Blood Rite is taken to offset this, but if you do not need it, use Archfiend/Lunagaron chest instead.
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Agitator, Critical Boost, etc. Add points to Guard/Guard Up as necessary.
Weapon
Pure Axe Omonshiro
(Violet Mizutsune tree)
Augment
Attack 1
Rampage Slot 1
Switch Skills
MS
CSS
PF
CPP or RS
MA or AD
Skills
Attack Boost 7
Agitator 5
Weakness Exploit 3
Master's Touch 3
Critical Boost 3
Burst 1
Slugger 1
Resentment 1
Guard Up 1
Guard 1
Mail of Hellfire 1
Coalescence 1
Bloodlust 1
Razor Sharp 1
Armor
Auroracanth
Archfiend
Bazelgeuse X
Sinister Grudge
Shagaru Magala
Decorations
Attack x7 (yep)
KO x1
Challenger x1
Critical x3
Mastery+ x1
Tenderizer x2
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
Also great for Air Dash spam!
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Burst, Wirebug Whisperer, etc. Personally, I like Evade Extender too.
Weapon
Pure Axe Omonshiro
(Violet Mizutsune tree)
Augment
Attack 1
Rampage Slot 1
Switch Skills
MS
CSS
PF
CPP or RS
MA or AD
Skills
Resentment 5
Agitator 5
Attack Boost 4
Critical Eye 4
Weakness Exploit 3
Critical Boost 3
Master's Touch 3
Burst 1
Slugger 1
Guard 1
Guard Up 1
Dereliction 1
Embolden 1
Adrenaline Rush 1
Armor
Archfiend
Archfiend
Bazelgeuse X
Violet Mizutsune
Archfiend
Decorations
KO x1
Attack x4
Critical x3
Expert x4
Furor x1
Mastery x1
Mastery+ x1
Tenderizer x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Burst, Attack Boost, Wirebug Whisperer, etc. You can run Malzeno chest for some sustain but this costs about 4 points of other skills.
Weapon
High element Impact CB
Augment
Depends on weapon
Switch Skills
MS
CSS
PF
CPP or RS
MA or AD
Skills
[Element] Attack 5
Resentment 5
Agitator 5
Critical Eye 4
Weakness Exploit 3
Critical Boost 3
Razor Sharp 3
Embolden 2
Burst 1
Stamina Surge 1
Adrenaline Rush 1
Dereliction 1
Slugger 1
Armor
Archfiend
Archfiend
Violet Mizutsune
Violet Mizutsune
Archfiend
Decorations
KO x1
Critical x3
[Element] x1
Hard [Element]+ x1
Expert x4
Furor x1
Razor x3
Tenderizer x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
See Best Endgame Charge Blades section for weapon recommendations. Impact Phial is recommended over Element because the spinning axe playstyle greatly benefits from KOs.
Improvements
Razor Sharp 3 can be swapped for Master's Touch 3 using the corresponding decorations. With a good talisman, add points of Burst, Attack Boost, Wirebug Whisperer, Guard, etc.
Weapon
Asylum Peal
(Narwa tree)
Augment
Rampage Slot 1
Element 2
or
Element 5
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
Thunder Attack 5
Stormsoul 3
Rapid Morph 3
Load Shells 2
Burst 3
Thunder Alignment 2
Weakness Exploit 1
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Wind Alignment 1
Offensive Guard 1
Partbreaker 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Narwa
Silver Sol
Narwa
Archfiend
Ibushi
Decorations
Chain x1
Quickswitch+ x1
Magazine+ x1
Ironwall+ x1
Ironwall x2
Bolt+ x2
Bolt x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Weakness Exploit, Offensive Guard, Attack Boost, Agitator, Razor Sharp, etc.
Weapon
Crimson Mechwing
(Valstrax tree)
Augment
Rampage Slot 1
Element 2
or
Element 5
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
Dragon Attack 5
Stormsoul 3
Rapid Morph 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Burst 3
Load Shells 2
Thunder Alignment 2
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Wind Alignment 1
Offensive Guard 1
Partbreaker 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Narwa
Silver Sol
Narwa
Archfiend
Ibushi
Decorations
Tenderizer x2
Quickswitch+ x1
Magazine+ x1
Ironwall+ x2
Dragon+ x2
Dragon x1
Chain x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
Draquila Reaver+ (Dragon tree) is usable for this build (and craftable much earlier) but I think Valstrax wins by a bit if using an anti-type rampage deco.
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Offensive Guard, Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Agitator, etc.
Weapon
Flicker Blizzard Wail
(Auroracanth tree)
Augment
Rampage Slot 1
Element 2
or
Element 5
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
Ice Attack 5
Burst 3
Flinch Free 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Offensive Guard 3
Rapid Morph 3
Stun Resistance 2
Kushala Blessing 2
Agitator 2
Load Shells 2
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Razor Sharp 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Astalos
Silver Sol
Kushala X
Bazelgeuse X
Violet Mizutsune
Decorations
Frost x5
Chain x2
Guardian x1
Ironwall+ x2
Quickswitch+ x1
Quickswitch x1
Shield x1
Tenderizer x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Razor Sharp, etc.
Weapon
Armordraad
(Vaik tree)
Augment
Element 5
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
Water Attack 5
Burst 3
Agitator 3
Flinch Free 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Offensive Guard 3
Rapid Morph 3
Stun Resistance 2
Kushala Blessing 2
Load Shells 2
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Razor Sharp 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Golden Lune
Silver Sol
Kushala X
Bazelgeuse X
Violet Mizutsune
Decorations
Chain x1
Challenger x1
Guardian x1
Ironwall+ x2
Quickswitch+ x1
Quickswitch x1
Shield x1
Stream x3
Stream+ x2
Tenderizer x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Razor Sharp, etc.
Weapon
Crawling Crusher
(Rakna tree)
Augment
Rampage Slot 1
Element 2
or
Element 5
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Fire Attack 5
Guard 5
Burst 3
Critical Boost 3
Flinch Free 3
Weakness Exploit 3
Offensive Guard 3
Rapid Morph 3
Teostra Blessing 2
Load Shells 2
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Peak Performance 1
Critical Eye 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Golden Lune
Silver Sol
Golden Lune
Kaiser X
Violet Mizutsune
Decorations
Blaze x2
Critical x2
Guardian x1
Ironwall x1
Ironwall+ x2
Magazine+ x1
Quickswitch+ x1
Quickswitch x1
Shield x1
Tenderizer x1
Talisman
2-2-0
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Razor Sharp, etc.
Weapon
Any
Augment
Depends on weapon
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
[Element] Attack 5
Dereliction 3
Rapid Morph 3
Weakness Exploit 2
Burst 2
Load Shells 2
Resentment 2
Blood Rite 2
Attack Boost 1
Partbreaker 1
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Golden Lune
Silver Sol
Archfiend
Malzeno
Archfiend
Decorations
[Element]+ x1
[Element] x3
Ironwall+ x2
Ironwall x1
Magazine x2
Quickswitch+ x1
Quickswitch x1
Shield x1
Tenderizer x2
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
This set uses Dereliction with Blood Rite to give some lifesteal. Since no specific element-boosting "Blessing" skills are needed, this template should work for any element with minor changes. If using Fire element, Silver Sol chest and Malzeno waist will give more room for skills.
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Weakness Exploit, Offensive Guard, Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Razor Sharp, etc.
Weapon
Any
Augment
Depends on weapon
Switch Skills
CMS
CES
PF:FP
CPP or AH
MA or AD
Skills
Guard 5
[Element] Attack 5
Dereliction 3
Burst 3
Rapid Morph 3
Weakness Exploit 2
Coalescence 2
Resentment 2
Load Shells 2
Bloodlust 1
Element Exploit 1
Critical Element 1
Guard Up 1
Armor
Shagaru Magala
Silver Sol
Archfiend
Bazelgeuse X
Archfiend
Decorations
Chain x3
Hard [Element]+ x1
[Element]+ x1
Ironwall+ x2
Quickswitch+ x1
Quickswitch x1
Shield x1
Tenderizer x2
Talisman
2-2-0
Notes
This set uses both of the HP-draining skills Dereliction and Bloodlust (with Coalescence) to maximize elemental damage. Since no specific element-boosting "Blessing" skills are needed, this template should work for any element with minor changes.
Improvements
With a good talisman, add points of Weakness Exploit, Offensive Guard, Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Razor Sharp, etc.