Mastering the Monster Hunter Now Great Sword: A Sleep-Based Build Guide
The Great Sword in Monster Hunter Now is a powerful weapon capable of devastating blows, but its size can make it unwieldy. This guide details a build maximizing its potential using the sleep element. This build requires a strategic approach, focusing on maximizing sleep effects and opportune attacks.
Optimizing Your Great Sword Build
Unlike poison-focused builds for other weapons, this Great Sword build leverages the sleep effect for maximum damage. While it necessitates hunting a relatively rare monster, the majority of the required materials are obtainable from more common creatures.
Complete Great Sword Build Breakdown
| Item |
Effect |
| Weapon |
Frilled Blade (Sleep element, Evade Extender I) |
| Helmet |
Nightshade Paolumu Helmet (Rude Awakener I/II) |
| Mail |
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Mail (Status Sneak Attack, Artful Dodger) |
| Vambraces |
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Vambraces (Status Sneak Attack I/II) |
| Coil |
Tzitzi-Ya-Ku Coil (Evade Extender, Status Sneak Attack) |
| Greaves |
Nightshade Paolumu Greaves (Rude Awakener, Status Sneak Attack) |
Weapon Selection: Frilled Blade
The Frilled Blade is the optimal sleep-based Great Sword. Its inherent Evade Extender skill enhances defensive maneuvers, crucial for a weapon with the Great Sword's slower attack speed. Somnacanth is the source for this weapon's crafting materials.

Helmet and Greaves: Leveraging Nightmare Paolumu
The Nightmare Paolumu, introduced in an early paid event, provides crucial components. Its parts offer the Rude Awakener skill (all three levels), significantly increasing damage against sleeping monsters. While less frequent now, it remains obtainable through events or rare spawns.
Mail, Vambraces, and Coil: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's Contribution
The remaining armor pieces come from the more readily available Tzitzi-Ya-Ku. These pieces primarily boost the Status Sneak Attack skill, guaranteeing sleep buildup with rear attacks. Additional benefits include Evade Extender and Artful Dodger for improved evasion.
Optimizing Driftstone Slots
This build offers a considerable advantage with readily available Driftstone slots. While five Sleep Attack slots are ideal, consider using slots to further enhance dodging (Artful Dodger, Evade Extender) or increase rear attack damage (Sneak Attack).
| Driftstone Skill |
Effect |
Slot Color |
| Sleep Attack |
Increases weapon's sleep buildup value (50 at rank 1, 150 at rank 5) |
Azure |
| Sneak Attack |
Increases damage from rear attacks (10% at rank 1, 30% at rank 5) |
Pale |
| Artful Dodger |
Improves evasion ease |
Azure |
| Evade Extender |
Extends evasion distance |
Pale |
This comprehensive guide provides a powerful and effective Great Sword build for Monster Hunter Now, emphasizing sleep-based attacks for maximum damage output. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the specific monster you're hunting.