An often-overlooked weapon set that gets a bad rap for being beginner-friendly, the humble sword and shield represent one of the most versatile options for a weapon in the game, despite often being pushed to the side because of the lower damage capabilities. This is something that's easily supplemented in the hands of a skilled player, opening up battle situations wider than most weapons allow.
Some of these weapons rise to the top of the pack, mostly due to the boosted damage and intense elemental boosts. Reserved only for the most dedicated players that put in the work to farm their rare crafting materials, these weapons make for the most enjoyable gameplay in Monster Hunter: World.
Updated On February 16, 2022, By William Quick: Though Monster Hunter Rise recently became available on PC, there are still those exploring Monster Hunter World. There are tons of armor and weapons to craft with the Sword and Shield sets being some of the most balanced. We've added in some more options for you to choose from.
15 Taroth Slicer ''Water''
The only way to get this set is by completing the Banquet In The Earthern Hall quest. Players have to defeat the Kulve Taroth elder dragon before acquiring the slicer, then it's time to unleash all of its water damage upon any enemy who dares challenge it.
It has a 420 water stat that will surpass most other weapons as far as elemental damage, this isn't counting the ten percent affinity that could boost both elemental and base power. Its Elderseal will also prevent elder dragons from using their special abilities, making them easier to take out in future battles.
14 Empress Edge ''Ruin''
This set is one of the most popular among SnS players, with durability being one of the key factors. Edge just stays sharper for longer and has an inherent health regen built into it, meaning the slightly lower attack power evens itself out when players aren't having to sharpen it every few swings.
It can also be combined with other health regen items to maximize how much damage the character can take, perfect for those who are a little less mobile. It also deals out some extra blast damage once in a while that tops off the experience, unleashing rapid-fire combos.
13 Lightbreak Sword
Blast damage can be very handy when it comes to staggering monsters and getting the most out of your critical hits, but you don't want to rely on it. It's always good to have a solid foundation of base damage to carry you through the fight. The stylish Lightbreak Sword comes with several gem slots and a high amount of raw attack power.
If you're hoping to get this set, you'll need to craft it separately from the tree. In order to get all the necessary materials, you'll have to hunt down the Raging Brachydios to harvest its body parts as well as some very rare materials. Don't forget to have at least 80,000z to pay the crafting cost.
12 Radobaan Os 2
Of all the monsters you'll encounter in the World, the Radobaan is one of the more surprising ones. Its armored body and signature ability enable it to roll around and steam-roll over you make it a tricky opponent. However, it also has the unique ability of being able to induce stunning debuffs with some of its attacks which can carry over to the Radobaan Os 2.
Though it has a fair amount of raw damage, it complements it with having a high amount of sleep damage that can quickly put monsters to bed after a series of combos. It'll require a lot of different master monster parts starting from the Radobaan Os 1 and costing a total of 56,000z.
11 Master Bang
Truly bringing the thunder to any monster it comes into contact with, Master Bang brings some of the heaviest damage without creeping into the master rank weapons. Coming with a whopping 330 thunder damage, most beasts will fall rapidly with a few jump attacks.
A 20 defense upgrade also comes in very handy, boosting the shield that usually gets overlooked in the equation. If players develop the free-element skill then damage takes a dramatic climb, even raising the chance to stagger. All resting on its big 280 base damage foundation, propelling this set to one of the best.
10 Lunatic Rose
Normally you'd want to avoid using gold in the construction of weapons, but when it's harvested from a tough monster then it can tempt you to make an exception. While roaming across the world, you'll have the chance to encounter a Gold Rathian. Hunting this down can set you on the Rose tree path and culminates in the Lunatic Rose.
This flashy but surprisingly efficient set has a fairly high damage rating that gets extra power from its poison damage to quickly start whittling targets down. From the Rose Highness, you'll need a lot of Gold Rathian parts to reach this weapon, so you can show it off to your fellow hunters as you charge into the fray.
9 Fatal Bite
The dragon damage is cranked up when players wield fatal bite, having to take down the Deviljho to get the prize. It has 308 attack power with added dragon damage, both lining up to tackle any wyvern that happens to come the player's way.
It also has an incredible level of white sharpness, putting the damage potential well in the top SnS range. Simply put it's one of the biggest hitters in the game, having the best starting point and potential for catastrophic damage, it's only right to give it a try.
8 Silverbosche
Though not as valuable as gold, silver has a reputation for a being a metal with mystical properties. Though you won't be fighting any were-creatures in the world, a well-made silver weapon can still prove to be quite effective. The Silverbosche set shines like the moon with a good amount of raw damage and elevated ice damage.
It also comes with 15 percent Affinity and reliable durability. This set is different in that you can craft it from scratch or upgrade it from the Icicle Spike. Either way, it'll require you to hunt down a number of Frostfang Barioths as well as stockpiling the quest materials known as Frostfang Tickets.
7 Ruinous Madness
One of the highest raw damage stats in the sword & shield class, a 406 base damage that is sure to cut through most enemies like butter. This is especially true when it comes to dragons, taking them down easier than any SnS build in the game.
It has a high Elderseal, taking away most of their effective battle abilities and opening up the damage window almost indefinitely. One of the rarest items around, it has to be heavily upgraded from the eradication vanguard and becomes the powerhouse in the later game.
6 Manifested Lotus
Even though every rose has its thorn, it's not the only flower that can be made deadly. The Manifested Lotus is a set designed to look like a flower and leaf while having a burnt pink color palette. Though it has a delicate beauty to it, it dishes out solid damage while focusing on increased dragon damage which makes it ideal for elder dragon hunts.
To unlock this set, you need to hunt the Shara Ishvalda multiple times just to get the materials. Additionally, you need to make sure you have the Free Elem/Ammo Up skill in order to unlock its full dragon damage. Once you have all the necessary materials, it'll cost you around 80,000z to craft it.
5 Royal Rose
While most prefer raw damage over elemental, Poison is one of those elements that sinks its claws into you. It's not always about the stats but what players enjoy, and a well-crafted Rapier is enough to put a smile on anyone's face.
While some might outperform in the damage department, that doesn't mean Royal Rose is a slouch, 266 raw damage and the speed of SnS means any manner of beast will fall quickly to a fast flurry.
4 Teostra's Emblem
Besides bringing some thick qualities to the blade department, Teostra's Emblem is the set that can set a player apart from the pack. Taking down a Teostra elder dragon is no easy task, but the reward is one of the highest raw damage sets with blast power to cap.
The most important thing to consider when wielding the blade is its sharpness needs some help, as much as a blunt heavy weapon sparks the imagination. Coming with a 30 percent affinity boost when it's oiled up, it can also wear down the enemy before they even get started.
3 Xeno Mabura
A great end-game dragon slayer that will help anyone take on the elder dragons, having 270 dragon damage that will hack away at their health very quickly. This is complemented by a 15 percent affinity that will ratchet up the damage even more, making one of the most formidable enemies in the game a specialty.
Having a passive Elderseal that takes away the special abilities and boosted attack. Xeno Mabura also comes with level three slots that allow the player to further customize the effects of the weapon, molding it in multiple different styles.
2 Baan Claw 3
Taking down the Radobaan to get ahold of this powerful sleep machine is one of the best choices for this element, on top of the damage, it will also render the enemy helpless to large-scale attacks. Putting the monsters to sleep before the player rains down a heavy beating that kicks them back to consciousness.
Its 20 defense will supply some protection while the battle focuses on a steady cycle of dulled response. It also has one of the widest spreads that's effective against a big chunk of enemies, dropping the need to switch out against some of the more niche foes and keep the Baan Claw in hand.
1 Grand Barong 2
The Grand Barong 2 doesn't seem like the most obvious choice with an attack of 266 and blue sharpness with a level three slot to be modified. While it's certainly nothing to sneeze at, it wouldn't stand out in the crowd of other weapons. Luckily, its defense bonus and elemental power really take it up a few notches.
The defensive boost gives players peace of mind, but its paralysis power is one of the best in the game. Though its properties are few, the elemental enhancement makes this bone weapon a formidable piece in the puzzle.