Monster Hunter Rise features 14 different types of weapons, all designed to take down enormous, terrifying creatures. Most of which are larger than the hunters themselves, because the bigger the better, but some actually fit into the hunters' hands properly and still manage to tear down the monsters just as efficiently.
One of these weapons is the humble Sword and Shield, offering a hybrid of defensive and offensive capabilities. It is simple to use but has plenty of devastating moves and crafty combos to help the player stay alive and be victorious.
The Sword and Shield is a two-for-one weapon. This weapon features a small, slick sword as well as a small, sturdy shield. Using the Sword and Shield, the player can slash and stab monsters with the Sword while blocking and stunning them the Shield.
How To Play Sword And Shield
• X - Chop
• X > X - Side Slash
• X > X > X - Sword and Shield Combo
The player will perform a Chop, a vertical attack, when pressing the X button. If they hit the X button twice, the player will do a Side Slash. And mashing the X button three times will let them execute a Sword and Shield Combo.
• A - Lateral Slash
• A > A - Return Stroke
• A > A > A - Round Slash
A Lateral Slash, a horizontal attack, is performed when the player presses the A button. If they hit the A button twice, a Return Stroke is executed. And a Round Slash is done if the player makes the A button three times.
Shield Up!
By holding down the ZR button, the player will raise their shield and guard themselves against monsters' attacks. While they could just dodge, this works when the player cannot. There is even more potential to the shield than just blocking.
If they tilt the L stick in a certain direction and hit the A button, the player will Shield Attack. This stuns the monster too if it makes contact with the head. Moreover, while guarding (holding down the ZR button), they can do a Guard Slash by pressing the A button. And, the player can do a Backstep during guarding by tilting the L stick downward and pressing the A button.
• ZR - Guard
• ZR > L + A - Shield Attack
• ZR > A - Guard Slash
• ZR > L (downward) + A - Backstep
Here's a fun fact. They can also use items while guarding. The Sword and Shield is the only weapon where this is possible. Other weapons must be sheathed before doing so.
Best Combos For Sword And Shield
There are many combos when it comes to the Sword and Shield (aside from the Sword and Shield Combo and Round Slash.)
After attacking, the player can perform a Super Round Slash by pressing the X button and the A button. By hitting the X button and the A button (without attacking previously), they will do an Advancing Slash, rushing forward and thrusting their sword down. The Rising Slash is executed when the player presses the ZR button and the X button and the Midair Rising Slash is executed when they press the X and the A button while midair.
• X + A - Advancing Slash
• (after attacking) X + A - Super Round Slash
• ZR + X - Rising Slash
• (while midair) X + A - Midair Rising Slash
• (after Backstep) A - Falling Bash
• (after Backstep) X - Leaping Slash
• (after Leaping Slash) X > X > X - Perfect Rush
It does not stop there! After a Backstep, hitting the A button will allow the player to do a Falling Bash; and hitting the X button means a Leaping Slash. Finally, a Perfect Rush is performed when they hit the X button three times after a Leaping Slash.
More complicated combos would be a Chop followed by a Backstep, throwing in a Roundslash after an attack, and mixing together Perfect Rush and Round Slash.
• X > L (downward) > A
• X > X > A > A > X + A
• ZR + A + L (downward) > X > X > X> X> A > A > A
Falling Shadow And Windmill
Falling Shadow is one of the Silkbind Attacks for the Sword and Shield. By pressing the ZL button and the X button, the player will leap forward and strike. If the hunter makes contact with a monster, they will perform a Scaling Slash. (This may be followed up with another attack too.)
Windmill is the other Silkbind Attack for the Sword and Shield. By pressing the ZL button and the A button, the hunter's sword is latched onto the Wirebug and whipped around. In fact, a monster's attack will be canceled if timely properly and the player gets a few invincibility frames too. (This move consumes two segments of the Wirebug Gauge.)
• ZL + X - Falling Shadow
• ZL + A - Windmill
The Switch Skills
At some point in the game, the player is introduced to Switch Skills and therefore unlocks the Drill Slash Combo, Sliding Slash, and Metsu Shoryugeki. The Drill Slash Combo replaces the Hard Basher Combo, Sliding Slash replaces Advancing Slash, and Metsu Shoryugeki replaces Windmill. They have the choice of using either or when it comes to each.
The Drill Slash Combo upgrades the Hard Basher Combo; so, now the hunter will perform a better finisher for the Shield Bash. This means shoving the sword deep into and then ripping it right back out to deal vicious damage. The Sliding Slash improves the Advancing Slash, having the hunter slide forward and cut the target (twice). Metsu Shoryugeki is similar to Windmill. It launches the hunter into the air while bashing the monster vertically along the way. There is an invincibility frame and cost two segments of the Wirebug Gauge too.
Some Tips And Tricks
The Sword and Shield is neat because the hunter's movement speed stays the same whether the weapon is drawn or not. Also, drawing and sheathing the Sword and Shield is insanely fast. On top of that, the player can use items in the middle of combat without putting away the weapon. This more than makes up for the short reach and vulnerability Sword and Shield users suffer from.
Moreover, the weapon features a high rate of attacking; so, Elemental Damage reigns supreme when it comes to the Sword and Shield. And any attack that involves using the Shield will count as Stun Damage.
This is the kind of hybrid weapon that allows the player to fill the role of Attacker or Supporter, depending on what they like better or what their team needs at the time.