Among Monster Hunter Wilds' wide assortment of weapons, the Switch Axe stands out as one of the most unique tools you can use. This versatile weapon does as its name suggests, switching between two distinct forms with different functions. By fluidly alternating from one form to another, you can unleash devastating attacks that release elemental discharges to decimate enemy monsters.

Similar to the Charge Blade, the Switch Axe has two primary modes you interact with as you wield the weapon. However, like all weapons, the Switch Axe still abides by the same rules as all other weapons in the game. You can still mount monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds with this weapon, sheath it using the same input, or enter Focus Mode with the same button as every other tool.

• Nihil Switch Axe I
• Nihil Switch Axe II

How To Manage The Switch Axe Gauges

Build Up Energy By Switching Between Forms

When you pick the Switch Axe, you'll notice that a symbol similar to the weapon's design sits under your health bar. This is the Switch Gauge, a unique resource with two different meters associated with the Switch Axe and its multiple forms. The constant management between the Axe Gauge and the Sword Gauge creates an interesting back-and-forth you constantly have to pay attention to.

Attacks with your Axe form build the Axe meter, while attacks with your Sword form build the Sword meter​​​​​​. This feature in Monster Hunter Wilds may seem simple at first until you realize that attacks in the Sword form also reduce the Axe Gauge. Since you can only use Sword form when the Axe Gauge is at 30% or higher, it creates a delicate balance you have to maintain.

Whenever you unleash an attack that would put your Axe Gauge below a certain point, your weapon automatically goes back to its default state whenever you finish the attack your character is performing.

To manage the entire Switch Gauge, your goal should be to try to keep both meters full after building them up. Attacking first with your Axe form will fill its Gauge, allowing you to transform into Sword form for longer. When in Sword form, you can do more attacks to increase its Gauge, which unlocks powerful techniques that can lead to the weapon's highest damage output.

How To Use Both Switch Axe Forms

Counter Attacks And Unleash Stored Potential

The Switch Axe morphs between its Axe form and Sword form, with each mode having its own pros and cons. The Axe mode has wide, sweeping slashes that can hit monsters from greater distances, but has slower strikes. Meanwhile, the Sword form has fast attacks that charge up elemental energy with every successful blow against a monster.

For the purposes of this guide, the inputs for Switch Axe attacks will be listed as they would appear on a PlayStation controller. For example, the Switch Axe's basic attack in both forms is performed with Triangle.

You start off in Axe mode by default, but you can freely switch between forms by pressing R2 during a combo. Most of the basic Triangle or Circle attacks with both forms combo into each other fluidly, so you have chances to morph between the Axe and Sword whenever you want.

Every Attack In Axe Form

Since Axe form is your default mode for the Switch Axe, it has the most attacks to use against the various monsters of Monster Hunter Wilds​​​​​. Your basic attacks include:

• Overhead Slash (Triangle)
• Axe: Wild Swing (Circle)
• Axe: Heavy Slam (Triangle after Wild Swing)
• Axe: Offset Rising Slash (Triangle + Circle)
• Axe: Fade Slash

The Overhead Slash is your basic attack, which you can use multiple times in a simple combo. The Wild Swing is an automatic combo of multiple attacks where you swing your Axe from side to side, hitting anything near you. You can conclude this natural combo with the Axe form with the Heavy Slam, a powerful finishing move that empowers other aspects of your weapon.

The Fade Slash is a maneuver with the Switch Axe where your character moves backward while doing an upward slash in Axe form. This can help you avoid incoming monster attacks while still striking back.

The Offset Rising Slash is an upward-slashing attack with your Axe meant to hit targets above your character. However, the Offset Rising Slash has a new feature called Perfect Offset in Monster Hunter Wilds when you time this strike perfectly against an incoming monster's attack. When you do this, you counter the impending strike and can follow up the Perfect Offset with a Heavy Slam or a small Elemental Discharge with your Sword.

Every Attack In Sword Form

When you morph into Sword form, you gain a new set of moves you can perform to attack monsters. Sword attacks deal higher damage than Axe attacks, so this mode is meant to be used explosively to injure your enemies. If you've managed your Switch Gauge well, you'll be able to use the attacks in this form for longer.

The main attacks you'll be using in Sword form are:

• Sword: Overhead Slash (Triangle)
• Sword: Double Slash (Circle)
• Counter Rising Slash (RT + Triangle)
• Element Discharge (Triangle + Circle)
• Zero Sum Discharge (rapidly press Triangle + Circle during Element Discharge)
• Compressed Slash (RT + Triangle + Circle)

Your Overhead Slash attacks are your basic strikes, with the Double Slash unleashing two swift slashes against a monster. Similar to the Axe's Offset Rising Slash, the Counter Rising Slash allows you to parry an incoming attack before spinning forward with a whirlwind of sword swings.

The most powerful move of the Switch Axe comes from its Element Discharge, which you can only access once you've filled the Sword part of the Switch Gauge. When partially full, this attack will release pent-up energy into an explosion in front of your character, knocking back any nearby monster. When your Gauge is totally full, you'll mount a monster when doing this attack, unleashing an ultimate blast that deals massive damage.

You may choose to keep the Elemental Discharge stationary by doing a Compressed Slash instead of the full Element Discharge. By rapidly pressing the input for Element Discharge, you can cause mini-explosions before the larger one to build up even more damage. Knowing how to ramp up and time the release of an Element Discharge will generate your highest damage output with the Switch Axe.

Best Ways To Master The Switch Axe

Watch Your Gauges And Stay Aggressive

While not necessarily for beginners, the Switch Axe has an easy-to-approach playstyle for fans of aggressive weapons. To truly master this weapon, you need to balance your offense between the Axe and Sword modes evenly by watching your Switch Gauge. Building up enough Axe power to use the Sword mode for longer will give you higher DPS as you rack up enough energy to disperse elemental damage with your attacks.

One thing I've found with the Switch Axe is to not be afraid to switch back into Axe mode for extra reach. The Sword mode may have higher damage, but the Axe is still a very strong weapon that can hit targets more often. Surprisingly, the Axe mode also has slightly more mobility than the Sword, giving you more ways to avoid attacks from dangerous monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Using elemental attacks when a monster leaves itself open will help you stagger any creatures you come across. Practice finding the right timing of enemy monster attacks to properly use the counter strikes in both forms of this weapon to never slow down your offense. Once you learn how to use the Switch Axe in Monster Hunter Wilds, you'll have a weapon that can adapt to nearly any situation.