Switch Axe |
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| 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
- (
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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) - ( after 3+ swings) Heavy Slam: 15 + 72 (applies a temporary part damage buff to axe attacks)
- + : Rising Slash
+ : Forward Slash. MV: 19- after any attack: Morph Slash (morphs into Sword). MV: 29 (Amped: 30 + 9)
- without enough sword gauge: Reload
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 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
- ( + during Element Discharge) Finishing Discharge (performs Finisher immediately)
- ( 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 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
- : Morph Slash (morphs into Axe). MV: 23
- + : Downward Fade Slash (morphs into Axe). MV: 45
Both Forms
- : Morph
- off a ledge: Jumping Slash. MVs: 43 (Axe)/35 (Sword)
- off a ledge: Jumping Morph Slash (morphs and performs the Jumping Slash for the mode you're morphing into)
- + off a ledge: Jumping Elemental Discharge (Sword)
- while sliding: Jumping Sweep (Axe). MV: 74
- while sliding: Jumping Rising Slash (Sword). MV: 35
- after Jumping Rising Slash: Jumping Slash (Sword). MV: 35
- + 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
Switch Axes Gallery MHW
Switch Axe Ore Weapons
Switch Axe Bone Weapons
Kulve Taroth Switch Axes
Safi'jiiva Weapons
AnonymousI literally went to this page just to be confused by the endless people who understand this weapon.
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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?
- Anonymous
Zero sum discharge also gives hyperarmor, I'm new player so not 100% sure
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!
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- Anonymous
How are Element and Phial combined when they both have damage values?
- 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?
- Anonymous
Kinda wished Power, Element and Exhaust Phials were explained on this page.
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
- Anonymous
This is like a modified charge blade used mainly to EXPLODE your enemies quicker.
- Anonymous
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After 1k monsters with the gunlance this feels like cheating!
- 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...
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If your using the weapon with the Dragon vials does crit element effect that damage?
- 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 (????).
- Anonymous
The elemental discharge can also be shortened by inclining the joystick down while doing the move
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.
Triangle + Circle in Axe mode can slug btw, do it all the time
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