Switch Axe

switch axe_mhw-weapon

Use the mobility and attack power of the Axe, and when you see a chance, switch to the powerful Sword. While in Sword Mode, aim to unleash a powerful Element Discharge.

Weapon Type Melee
Damage Type Cut Damage
Upgrades ??

Switch Axe (スラッシュアックス surasshu akkusu, "slash axe") is a weapon category in Monster Hunter World (MHW). Like all Weapons, it features a unique moveset and an upgrade path that branches out depending on the materials used. Please see Weapon Mechanics for details on the basics of your hunter tools.

The switch axe morphs between axe and sword modes. Axe mode boasts power and long reach, while sword mode features faster attacks and explosive finishers.

 

Switch Axe Weapon Tree

For full details, including rare 9 and above weapons added with Iceborne please see Switch Axe Weapon Tree

You can also see Master Rank Iceborne Switch Axes.

 

Switch Axe Traits & Abilities

  • A complex weapon with two forms and a phial system.
  • Axe mode has good reach and mobility
  • Sword mode has extra damage and uses the phial's bonus 

Switch Axe Guide

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Switch Axe is a complicated weapon that is extremely powerful in the hands of a master. It has two forms, axe mode and sword mode, and a phial system that adds additional effects to sword mode. Axe form has excellent reach and good mobility. It is also capable of a rapid chain attack that depletes stamina. Axe mode attacks can be combo-ed into sword mode. Sword mode has rapid attacks with the added bonus of the phial. Sword form is capable of an Elemental Discharge attack, where the hunter thrusts the sword forward, builds up rapid hitting power, and then unleashes it in a massive explosion. Being in sword form drains the phial gauge, and the Elemental Discharge takes a chunk out of it. The gauge will recover naturally in axe form, but if it gets too low it will have to be reloaded before sword form can be used again. The type of phial determines what bonus is gained whenever the switch axe is in sword form. Phials can give bonus attack, elemental attack, status effects, or even drain a monster's stamina.

Switch Gauge

Attacking in Sword Mode consumes the Switch Gauge. Switching from Sword Mode to Axe Mode refills a small amount of the gauge. The gauge will also refill automatically over time.

 

Sword Mode Attacks

Attacks in Sword Mode utilize the effects of the switch axe's phial, making them much harder to deflect. This makes Sword Mode useful for targeting tough body parts.

 

Amped State

Land enough attacks on a monster while in Sword Mode to enter an Amped State, which increases your attack power. The number of hits it takes to enter Amped State depends on the type of switch axe phial. 

 

 

 

Switch Axe Advantages

  • Long combos which are relatively easy to chain and allow for switching mid-way
  • Good reach and mobility in Axe form, and great damage in sword form
  • 2nd highest DPS out of all melee weapons (after Dual Blade) in sword form
  • Phials can be used to add bonus effects to a weapon
  • Power axe mode and slinger burst are excellent at flinching monsters

 

Switch Axe Disadvantages

  • Poor defense
  • Powerful attacks have long recovery times
  • Restricted to hopping after attacking, which has inferior i-frame as well as distance covered compared with rolling
  • Reduced mobility when using sword form

 

Switch Axe Controls

Each move has its own Motion Value (MV), which is used when calculating Raw (physical) Damage. See the article on Attack Power for more information.

Axe Form

  • : Standard Attack (can be chained up to three times). MVs:
    • Side Slash: 23
    • Rising Slash: 31
    • Overhead Slash: 45
    • (back-ps4-controls-small + circle-ps4-controls-small after any Standard Attack) Fade Slash: 34
  • : Wild Swing (can be mashed repeatedly until stamina runs out; damage increases after two swings). MVs:
    • Wild Swing (right): 21
    • Wild Swing (left): 23
    • ( after any swing) Morph Sweep: 20 + 70 + 35 (morphs into Sword)
    • (triangle-ps4-controls-small after 3+ swings) Heavy Slam: 15 + 72 (applies a temporary part damage buff to axe attacks)
  • + : Rising Slash
  • forward-ps4-controls-small + : Forward Slash. MV: 19
  •  after any attack: Morph Slash (morphs into Sword). MV: 29 (Amped: 30 + 9)
  • r2-ps4-controls-small without enough sword gauge: Reload
  • l2-ps4-controls-small after certain attacks: Slinger Burst

Sword Form

  • : Standard Attack (can be chained indefinitely). MVs:
    • Overhead Slash: 29
    • Right Rising Slash: 21
    • Left Rising Slash: 18
    • (Amped) Overhead Slash: 30 + 9
    • (Amped) Right Rising Slash: 22 + 9
    • (Amped) Left Rising Slash: 19 + 9
  • : Strong Attack (can be chained up to 2 times). MVs:
    • Double Slash: 22 + 26
    • Heavenward Flurry: 24 + 35
    • (Amped) Double Slash: 23 + 9 + 26 + 9
    • (Amped) Heavenward Flurry: 25 + 9 + 38 + 9
  • + : Element Discharge (can mash triangle-ps4-controls-small to increase number of hits up to 7 max, consumes a lot of gauge). MVs:
    • Element Discharge: 10 + 8 * number of hits
    • Element Discharge Finisher: 85
    • (back-ps4-controls-small + triangle-ps4-controls-small during Element Discharge) Finishing Discharge (performs Finisher immediately)
    • (l2-ps4-controls-small during Element Discharge) Claw Shot: 7 + 55 (clings onto the monster)
  • Amped  + : Zero Sum Discharge (will climb on the monster if it connects and gains Earplugs lv4 while on the monster; can mash triangle-ps4-controls-small to increase the number of hits up to 12 max). MVs:
    • Zero Sum Discharge: 18 + 9 + 13 * number of hits + 9 * number of hits
    • Zero Sum Discharge Finisher: 85
  • r2-ps4-controls-small: Morph Slash (morphs into Axe). MV: 23
  • back-ps4-controls-small + r2-ps4-controls-small: Downward Fade Slash (morphs into Axe). MV: 45

Both Forms

  • r2-ps4-controls-small: Morph
  • triangle-ps4-controls-small off a ledge: Jumping Slash. MVs: 43 (Axe)/35 (Sword)
  • r2-ps4-controls-small off a ledge: Jumping Morph Slash (morphs and performs the Jumping Slash for the mode you're morphing into)
  • triangle-ps4-controls-small + circle-ps4-controls-small off a ledge: Jumping Elemental Discharge (Sword)
  • triangle-ps4-controls-small while sliding: Jumping Sweep (Axe). MV: 74
  • r2-ps4-controls-small while sliding: Jumping Rising Slash (Sword). MV: 35
    • triangle-ps4-controls-small after Jumping Rising Slash: Jumping Slash (Sword). MV: 35
    • triangle-ps4-controls-small + circle-ps4-controls-small after Jumping Rising Slash: Jumping Elemental Discharge (Sword)

 

Switch Axes are a type of Weapon in Monster Hunter World (MHW). This page shows a visual gallery of all different styles for Switch Axes. Weapons are often upgraded based on previous decisions, with different paths leading to different looks and necessitating different materials. You can find detailed upgrade path information in the Switch Axe Weapon Tree or by clicking each individual weapon below.

Iceborne Switch Axes are Master Rank Switch Axes in Monster Hunter World Iceborne (MHW). These rare 9 and above weapons were added with the Iceborne Expansion and can only be obtained by players who own the expansion. The weapons use Master Rank Materials that can be obtained by completing quests and doing endgame content.

Iceborne Switch Axes

 

Name Attack Affinity Element Rare
Chrome Machina I gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
770 0% poisonPoison (450) 9
Chrome Machina II gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% poisonPoison (480) 10
Chrome Machina III gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 0% poisonPoison (510) 11
Blackwing Switch Axe I gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 20% poisonPoison 210 10
Blackwing Switch Axe II gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 25% poisonPoison 240 11
Legia Frostreaver + n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
735 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 420 10
Hoarcry Frostreaver n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
770 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 510 10
Hector Glacia n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 540 11
Lightning Chopper IV gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
700 0% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 240 9
Thundercleave I gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 300 10
Thundercleave II gem_level_2gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 420 11
Hidden Axe n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
770 10% poisonPoison (360) 10
Hidden Axe + n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 15% poisonPoison (450) 10
Night's Crescent n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 20% poisonPoison (540) 11
Datura Garden I gem_level_2gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
700 0% poisonPoison 600 9
Datura Garden II gem_level_2gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% poisonPoison 660 10
Deep Lagoon I gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
770 0% waterWater 510 9
Deep Lagoon II gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% waterWater 540 10
Gigan Motor I gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 0% fireFire 210 10
Gigan Motor II gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 0% fireFire 240 10
Rex Raider I n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 -15% waterblight Blast (390) 10
Rex Raider II gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 -15% waterblight Blast (420) 10
Saber's Bite I gem_level_3gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 0% Sleep Sleep (390) 9
Saber's Bite II gem_level_3gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 0% Sleep Sleep (420) 10
Amber Slash n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 15% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 210 10
Amber Slash + n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 20% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 300 10
Amber Hoarfrost n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 30% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 390 11
Bazelheart gem_level_2gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 -15% waterblight Blast 270 11
Rathbringer Axe III gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
770 15% fireFire 210 10
Azure Rathbringer gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 20% fireFire 240 10
Dragonmaiden Axe gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 10% poisonPoison 330 9
Dragonmaiden Axe + gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 10% poisonPoison 360 10
Mighty Gear I gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 10% None 9
Mighty Gear II gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 10% None 10
Mighty Gear III gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 10% None 11
Icerood decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 270 11
Wicked Niddoq decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 300 12
Deathedge Vaal Demios gem_level_2gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% Dragon 510 11
Acid Smasher I decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 0% Paralysis (360) 10
Acid Smasher II decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 0% Paralysis (390) 11
Jyura Cataclysm I gem_level_3gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 0% waterWater 360 9
Jyura Cataclysm II gem_level_3gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 0% waterWater 420 10
Mammoth Halberd I decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce (360) 9
Mammoth Halberd II decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 0% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce (450) 10
Mechanical Lumu I gem_level_3gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 20% waterblight Blast (480) 9
Mechanical Lumu II gem_level_3gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 20% waterblight Blast (540) 10
Nyx Smasher I gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
770 0% Sleep Sleep 360 9
Nyx Smasher II gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% Sleep Sleep 450 10
Glavenus Smasher I gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 0% fireFire 330 10
Glavenus Smasher II gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% fireFire 420 10
Barroth Dozer I gem_level_2gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 -20% Paralysis (330) 9
Barroth Dozer II gem_level_2gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 -20% Paralysis (360) 10
Dios Smasher I n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% waterblight Blast 360 10
Dios Smasher II gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% waterblight Blast 480 10
Axe of Demons + gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 -30% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce (240) 10
Axe of Hades gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 -30% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce (270) 10
Gnashing Flammenbeil + n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
805 -20% fireFire 540 9
Lohenbeil n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 -20% fireFire 600 10
Donnerbeil n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 10% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 210 10
Donnerbeil + n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 15% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 240 10
Fulguration's Bite n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 20% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 270 11
Dragonseal Axe I gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
735 0% Dragon 540 10
Dragonseal Axe II gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% Dragon 600 11
Evanescent Glow gem_level_1gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 0% Dragon (510) 12
Archbeast Kirin n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
840 0% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 540 11
Hydra Strobila n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 15% waterWater 210 11
Black Strobila n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 15% waterWater 270 12
Teostra's Hellebarde n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
910 10% waterblight Blast 360 11
Saligia Vileaxe n/a
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 -30% Dragon 330 12
Undying Axe  gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 -15% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 90 11
Undying Light  gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
1085 -15% mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 120 12
Ruinous Light gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 0% Dragon 210 12
Accursed Raider gem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 -30% Sleep Sleep 360 11
Silver Rathbringer gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 20% fireFire 300  12
Golden Crescentgem_level_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 15% poisonPoison 330 12
Soulfire Scourge "Blaze"gem-level-2gem-level-1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 875 20%  waterblight Blast 270 12
Soulfire Scourge "Ruin" gem-level-2gem-level-2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 0% waterblight Blast 210  12
Soulfire Scourge "Styx"gem-level-3gem-level-3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875  10%  waterblight Blast 330  12
Infernal Cleave-axe gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% Dragon 270 11
Infernal Cleave-axe + gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 0% Dragon 300 12
Xeno Martshu + decoration_level_4_mhw_wikidecoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 15% Dragon 270 12
Safi's Hellaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 5% fireFire 240 12
Safi's Aquaaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 5% waterWater 240 12
Safi's Boltaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5%  mhw-thunder-damage Thunder 240 12
Safi's Frostaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5%  iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 240 12
Safi's Drakaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5%  mhw-dragon-damage Dragon 240 12
Safi's Bindaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5%  Paralysis 240 12
Safi's Dreamaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5%  Sleep Sleep 240 12
Safi's Shatteraxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5% waterblight Blast 240 12
Safi's Venomaxe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
945  5% poisonPoison 240 12
Guild Palace Cleaver gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 10% waterWater 420 10
Royal Titan Axe  gem_level_3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 15% waterWater 510 12
Demonlord Edge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1015 15% mhw-thunder-damage_s300 12
Lightbreak Axe decoration_level_4_mhw_wiki
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 0% waterblight Blast 270 12
Dark Switch Axe gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
875 0% mhw-dragon-damage Dragon 510 11
Black Harvest gem_level_2gem_level_2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
980 0% mhw-dragon-damage Dragon 660 12
Moonstone Hoarfrost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
945 15% iceblight-monster-hunter-worldIce 480  11

 

Switch Axes Gallery MHW

 

Switch Axe Ore Weapons

 

 

 

 

 

Switch Axe Bone Weapons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kulve Taroth Switch Axes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safi'jiiva Weapons

 

 name_switch-axe-monster-hunter-world 
Safi's Boltaxe  mhw-thunder-damage

 name_switch-axe-monster-hunter-world 
Safi's Bindaxe  Paralysis

 name_switch-axe-monster-hunter-world 
Safi's Venomaxe  poison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   




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    • Anonymous

      Using (true) razor sharp, I did not notice any difference in how much sword mode chews through durability. Is it me or are phial attacks unaffected by it?
      What about master's touch?

      • Anonymous

        ZSD-ing with elemental weapons (Kjarr as my example) does way less damage than physical/burst weapons (Safi, Brachy). Does ZSD ignore the weapons elements? I only really "feel" the element working when using sword mode. What's going on with elemental Switch Axes?

        • Let's you controle the fight. Rocksteady on, power it up, claw to any part you want and destroy it. Bit of a hidden gem until you get the mechanics into your system and unlock the mantles but then it's an absolute beast! Things just die!

          • Anonymous

            While in Axe mode, Pressing Circle twice and perfectly timing pressing Triangle will have you do the Heavy Slam. How you know you hit the timing is that the weapon will glow.

            • Anonymous

              does having earplugs 1 mean that ZSD will give you a total of earplugs 5 and not stagger you off the monster?

              • Hi, just here to notify you that it lacks at least two move values :
                1) The sword double slash becomes a triple slash after three consecutives triangle attacks
                2) The ZSD finisher is weaker when canceled early

                Also I don't know if it is possible to datamine that but I noticed that SA is a very good weapon to mount monster, maybe having the numbers for the mounting "status" of each aerial would be interesting.
                Anyway thanks for the work !

                • Anonymous

                  They need to update this a bit more, a new attack was added in iceborne when you heavy swing a couple of times you can do a heavy slam that activates some kind of feature for the axe mode, just not 100% sure what it does as you can see the axe section glowing red/white/purple

                  • Anonymous

                    Anyone know if there's any skills the will make it harder to get knocked off a ZSD? Already run earplug 1 to max it out during it but I seem to get knocked off so often I've started to hitting him a few times before setting it off early...

                    • Anonymous

                      Help. My favorite weapon starting to become shitty along with the franchise growing.. Who design this amped state anyway? Normal attack without amped 80 and amped with 50 + 30 spark damage (????). And zero sum, wow really showwyy but when you notice teostra going to supernova and you still sliding on the ground (????).

                      • Highly recommended for Bloodborne veterans who like the concept of trick weapons. If you want an axe for crushing hard shells, a sword for slicing tails, and a freakin CHAINSAW to unleash the elemental discharge with a BAM at the same time, then Switch Axe is the best for you.

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