These builds use weapons and armor that are unlocked by the time you clear Chapter 5 of the story.

Best Great Sword Builds

Weapon
Great SwordBlacksteel Chopper II
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
261Dragon1313.9%Green
Armor
HeadBaan Helm III
ChestAnja Mail II
ArmsBaan Vambraces III
WaistBaan Coil III
LegsRathalos Greaves II
Active Skills
Radobaan's Bulwark (Set)Charge Enhancement Lv5
Immovable Stance Lv2Fire Resistance Lv2
Fearless Lv1Sleep Resistance Lv1
Wrecker Lv1Bleeding Resistance Lv1

A build with Charge Enhancement and Immovable Stance, two skills that suit the Great Sword. Landing charged attacks increases your damage, and thanks to Immovable Stance, your damage also goes up when you take a hit during a tackle. The element specialty bonus activates with any of the five elements, so equip the highest-damage weapon you can craft among the five elements.

See the best Great Sword builds

Best Long Sword Builds

Weapon
Long SwordWyvern Blade "Fall" II
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
261Fire1313.9%Green
Armor
HeadRathian Helm II
ChestRadiant Rathian Mail II
ArmsRathian Vambraces II
WaistRadiant Rathian Coil II
LegsRadiant Rathian Greaves II
Active Skills
Rathian Vigor (Set)Rathian's Instinct (Set)
Flash Draw Lv2Hunting Instinct Lv2
Spirit Bind Blade Lv2Radiant Sense Lv2
Health Boost Lv1Botanical Expert Lv1

An armor setup packed with skills that fill the Spirit Gauge, while also activating both the Radiant Rathian Set and Rathian Set skills. Filling the Spirit Gauge is essential for any Long Sword, so every Long Sword user can run this general-purpose setup.

See the best Long Sword builds

Best Dual Blades Builds

Weapon
Dual BladesRadiant Madness Pangas II
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
274Water1370Green
Armor
HeadRadiant Girros Mask III
ChestRadiant Kulu Mail III
ArmsRadiant Girros Vambraces III
WaistKulu Coil III
LegsRadiant Kulu Greaves III
Active Skills
Great Girros's Command (Set)Kulu-Ya-Ku's Skill (Set)
Combo Enhancement Lv7Fire Resistance Lv2
Flinching-Free Lv1Insight Lv1
Radiant Sense Lv1Grace Under Pressure Lv1
Paralysis Resistance Lv1

Maxes out Combo Enhancement, which pairs extremely well with Dual Blades. Combo Enhancement Lv7 gives +50 elemental attack, so if you can, equip Dual Blades that match the monster's elemental weakness.

See the best Dual Blades builds

Best Lance Builds

Weapon
LanceBlacksteel Lance II
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
274Dragon1370Green
Armor
HeadAlloy Helm II
ChestBarroth Mail III
ArmsIngot Vambraces II
WaistIngot Coil II
LegsBarroth Greaves III
Active Skills
Barroth Mudguard (Set)Ingot Blast Shield (Set)
Offensive Defense Lv3Pierce Lv2
Battle Spirit Lv2Guard Technique Lv1
Water Resistance Lv1Defense Up Lv1
Windproof Lv1Grace Under Pressure Lv1

An armor setup that strengthens the Lance's Perfect Guard follow-ups and its Dash Attack playstyle. The materials are easy to gather, so it's cost-effective, and Arkaya can use it too.

See the best Lance builds

Best Heavy Bowgun Builds

Weapon
Heavy BowgunRadiant Datura Blaster III
AttackElementAffinityDeviation
382Blast1910—
Armor
HeadRadiant Jagras Helm III
ChestKing Beetle Thorax II
ArmsRadiant Jagras Vambraces III
WaistRadiant Barroth Coil II
LegsKing Beetle Crura II
Active Skills
Great Jagras's Roll (Set)Monocerus Divinity (Set)
Capacity Boost Lv3Insight Lv2
Charge Up Lv1Blessing Lv1
Geo Expert Lv1Bento Lover Lv1
Breaker Lv1Battle Spirit Lv1

Takes Capacity Boost, which pairs well with bowguns, and combines it with gear that raises affinity so you can deal high damage at all times.

See the best Heavy Bowgun builds

Best Bow Builds

Weapon
BowRadiant Kadachi Strikebow III
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
276Thunder1381.9%—
Armor
HeadRadiant Pukei Hood III
ChestKadachi Mail III
ArmsRadiant Kadachi Vambraces III
WaistRadiant Kadachi Coil III
LegsRadiant Pukei Greaves III
Active Skills
Pukei-Pukei Territory (Set)Tobi-Kadachi Thunderplate (Set)
Bow Skill Boost Lv4Thunder Resistance Lv3
Stamina Conversion Lv2Charged Power Shot Lv2
Improviser Lv2Unleashed Lv1
Flawless Lv1

Boosts damage with Bow Skill Boost, Charged Power Shot, Stamina Conversion, and other skills that suit the Bow. With a Bow, each skill's condition is easy to meet, so you can expect a damage boost whatever your weapon's element.

See the best Bow builds

Best Charge Blade Builds

Weapon
Charge BladeRadiant Kadachi Kaina III
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
276Thunder1381.9%Green
Armor
HeadBone Helm III
ChestRadiant Kulu Mail III
ArmsHigh Metal Braces II
WaistHigh Metal Coil II
LegsRadiant Kulu Greaves III
Active Skills
Kulu-Ya-Ku's Skill (Set)Silence of the Veins (Set)
Morph Boost Lv4Combo Enhancement Lv3
Health Boost Lv1Relentless Pursuit Lv1
Ice Resistance Lv1Insight Lv1
Fire Resistance Lv1Grace Under Pressure Lv1

Maxes out Morph Boost, which pairs well with the Charge Blade. In Axe Mode with Power Axe Mode active, you can meet Combo Enhancement's condition, so go for Power Axe Mode whenever you can.

See the best Charge Blade builds

Best Hammer Builds

Weapon
HammerGuild Crimson Crest Hammer (Ice) III
AttackElementAffinitySharpness
328Ice1640Green
Armor
HeadBaan Helm III
ChestKadachi Mail II
ArmsBaan Vambraces III
WaistRadiant Anja Coil II
LegsKadachi Greaves II
Active Skills
Radobaan's Bulwark (Set)Tobi-Kadachi Thunderplate (Set)
Charge Enhancement Lv5Stamina Conversion Lv2
Unleashed Lv1Fearless Lv1
Breaker Lv1Bleeding Resistance Lv1
Thunder Resistance Lv1

An armor setup built on the assumption that you use stamina-consuming attacks, such as the Hammer's Charge: Resolute. Rhodes also uses stamina while attacking, so Rhodes can use it too.

See the best Hammer builds