When used while the shield is charged, temporarily buffs your sword attacks with the following properties:

• Sword attacks each create a weak phial explosion identical to the one left by shield thrust (this can KO monsters if using Impact Phials)
• Phial Follow-up switch skill slot determines what type of phial is created by this
• Sword attacks are immune to bouncing off hard monster parts
• The buff is not removed by switching to Axe mode or even if the shield becomes uncharged
• Lasts 60 seconds

Can still be used if the shield is not charged to deal a strong blow, but this is not recommended (keep your shield charged at all times).

The reincarnation of Iceborne's Savage Axe Slash. When used, indefinitely buffs your axe with the ability to deal multiple hits with a single attack. This skill is typically used only when the primary focus of the playstyle is remaining in Axe mode.

• While buffed, for certain Axe attacks, holding the attack button when performing them will cause the axe head to spin and deal multiple hits
• Spinning axe attacks have greatly increased hitlag
• Hitting a monster with spinning axe attacks will regenerate phials slowly, around 3 spinning axe hits to charge 1 phial.
• The buff lasts until exiting Axe mode or sheathing. All types of guarding exit Axe mode with the exception of Ready Stance, only if small knockback is received.
• All grounded Axe attacks can be modified except for Amped Element Discharge and Super Amped Element Discharge
• Air Dash can be modified to have spinning hits on the two initial hits
• This counts as a morphing attack for Rapid Morph
• When activating this skill, you can release as soon as the axe starts spinning with no downside

• Switch Skill swapping between CES and CSS will preserve the buff if possible (i.e with CES equipped and in Axe mode, you can swap to CSS and it will be active)

In Sword mode: ZR + X.

In Axe mode: ZR.

The usual that everyone is familiar with. Has a guard point when morphing to and from axe mode.

• When morphing from sword to axe mode, there is a guard point at the beginning of the attack
• When morphing from axe to sword mode, there is a guard point at the end of the attack

Modifies both of your morph attacks with longer guard points but longer overall animation and ending lag.

• When morphing from sword to axe mode, there is a longer guard point at the beginning of the attack
• When morphing from axe to sword mode, there is a long guard point at the beginning (not end) of the attack
• On a successful guard point, a follow-up Morph to Axe or AED/SAED will have higher power than normal (phial damage is buffed significantly too)

Default behavior for Sword mode phials created by shield thrust (X + A after any attack) and Condensed Element Slash.

• The phial explodes by itself after about 1 second

Alternate behavior for Sword mode phials.

• The phial does not explode by itself and instead lingers for 25 seconds
• Explodes when struck by an Axe attack or Axe phial
• Subsequent phial applications near an existing phial will make it bigger and stack the number of explosions it creates when triggered, up to 6 per phial
• Has slightly increased power compared to non-Firing Pin phials
• Shield charge duration is increased very slightly when triggering Firing Pin phials

In Sword or Axe mode: ZL + A.

A defensive action which pairs very well with SAED-focused playstyle:

• Has "infinite" block strength and always takes small recoil, even from attacks that would cause large recoil when blocking using guard points
• Has long and punishable end lag if you do not block anything
• Because it can transition into condensed spinning slash, you can immediately re-apply the spinning axe buff after losing it due to morphing out of axe mode

After blocking an attack:

• A: Morph to Axe
• X: Condensed Element/Spinning Slash
• X + A: (Super) Amped Element Discharge
• ZL + X + A: Switch Skill swap

The return of aerial style!

• Upon use, deals a medium strength hit and launches your character into the air
• SAED's falling axe hit and phial origin point can be adjusted by timing the X + A press. An early press makes the phials come out closer and a late press just before touching the ground makes the come out much further.
• Late SAED will have more end lag since the SAED will transition into a grounded SAED, while early/middle SAED will immediately unmorph upon landing

While airborne:

• A: Aerial AED
• X + A: Aerial SAED
• X: Axe attack
• ZR: Sword attack

An alternative to Counter Peak Performance that has synergy with Condensed Spinning Slash.

• Does not have infinite block like CPP, but has stronger blocking power than guard pointing
• You can immediately exit the stance by dodging
• You can use the attacks in the below table out of Ready Stance without needing to block anything, or after blocking an attack and receiving small knockback
• You will not exit Axe mode (and preserve CSS buff) if receiving small knockback
• If you receive medium or higher knockback, the recoil animation will be the same as if you regular blocked or guard pointed
• Alternating Ready Stance and Element Discharge 2 gives very high DPS with CSS

In Ready Stance, or after small knockback:

• X: Sword Rising Slash
• ↑ + X: Sword Advancing Slash
• A: Axe Element Discharge 2
• ↑ + A: Axe Rushing Element Discharge 1

You cannot combo into SAED with Ready Stance unless you receive medium knockback!

In Sword or Axe mode: ZL + X.

A repositioning skill that is useful for all playstyles:

• Grants super armor starting from the first frame until your character starts moving
• Can follow up with various actions shown in the below table
• Follow up actions can be aimed in any direction which makes it ideal for quickly setting up SAED
• The action to morph to sword ignores the switch skill set to Morph Slash and always uses the default quick motion

After dashing:

• A: Element Disharge 2
• X or ZR: Morph to Sword
• X + A: (Super) Amped Element Discharge

Monkey flip!

• Dashes forward a medium distance and flips into the air, dealing 2 strong axe hits. You can then follow-up with an additional action in the air.
• Grants super armor starting from the first frame until around the 2nd axe hit (longer duration than Morphing Advance)
• When Condensed Spinning Slash is active, you can hold X to apply the extra spinning axe hits to the 2 axe hits
• The follow up phial burst has very high stun value or element value depending on the phial type of your weapon
• The follow up phial burst can only be aimed in roughly 90 degree cone in front of you

While airborne:

• A: Phial burst
• X: Axe attack
• ZR: Sword attack