One of Monster Hunter’s craziest weapon types returns in Monster Hunter Wilds with this latest trailer

One of Monster Hunter's craziest weapon types returns in Monster Hunter Wilds with this latest trailer

What you need to know

  • Capcom’s upcoming next-gen entry in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds, has received its seventh weapon overview trailer.
  • The trailer provides a look at the Charge Blade, a weapon that can shift back and forth from being a sword & shield to a gigantic battle axe that doubles as a buzz-saw.
  • Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam later next year in 2025.

As a seasoned Monster Hunter veteran who started my journey with the Charge Blade in Monster Hunter World, I can confidently say that this weapon is not just a tool for hunting monsters – it’s a lifestyle! The intricate dance between sword and shield, the raw power of the Axe mode, and the spectacle of the Ultra Elemental Discharge have always left me in awe.


For the past week, Capcom has been unveiling daily trailers for Monster Hunter Rise, highlighting modifications and new moves for the game’s fourteen weapon classes. We’ve now reached the midpoint in this series of weapon overview trailers, with today’s release offering players a sneak peek at arguably one of the hardest and intricate weapon types to master: the Charge Blade.

The Charge Blade stands out as it functions as two weapons in one, offering the unique ability to switch between them. In its primary form, it assumes the role of a Sword & Shield, providing robust defense through a massive shield and swift offensive maneuvers with the blade for attacks.

Apart from regular strikes, you can execute powerful charge attacks using the sword. During these charges, you accumulate energy for the Charge Blade’s exclusive mechanic, Phials. When your Phials are fully charged in the sword, you can move this stored energy to the shield, enhancing its defense capabilities temporarily, allowing it to endure more intense enemy attacks. Additionally, while the shield is augmented by Phials, you can amplify the sword’s power too, enabling it to dish out extra elemental or raw damage based on the weapon’s inherent properties.

Beyond just those abilities, Phials also have some hidden tricks up their sleeve. Once you’ve accumulated enough of them, it’s time to transition your Charge Blade into its secondary form – the Axe mode. In this mode, the Charge Blade merges its sword and shield functions into a colossal battle axe that not only serves as a powerful weapon but also operates like a buzz-saw, shredding monsters, at the cost of its defensive capabilities for an immense attack increase.

One of Monster Hunter's craziest weapon types returns in Monster Hunter Wilds with this latest trailer

In Sword & Shield mode, the Phials you collect can enhance the Axe Mode’s power, causing it to emit small explosions upon striking monsters. Furthermore, these Phials enable the activation of buzz-saw attacks with the axe, allowing for deep cuts into a monster’s tough hide.

When Phials activate the Charge Blade’s power, you can unleash its final attack called the Ultra Elemental Discharge. This incredible move requires Axe mode and involves swinging the Charge Blade widely before slamming it onto a monster’s head, all while firing off your Phials at once. The result is a massive explosion that inflicts immense damage.

After using the Ultra Elemental Discharge, all your accumulated Phials will be depleted, causing the weapon to revert to Sword & Shield form. In other words, playing Charge Blade involves stockpiling Phials in Sword & Shield mode, followed by switching to Axe Mode to launch Phial-powered attacks. Finally, the Ultra Elemental Discharge should be used judiciously to annihilate your foes.

In the trailer for Monster Hunter Rise’s Charge Blade, it appears that significant alterations to the weapon type may not be expected, given its similarities to how it functioned in Monster Hunter World. However, some discernible differences in the trailer include:

  • A new follow-up attack that can be used after the Super-Amped Elemental Discharge attack.
  • A reworked version of the axe mode’s running charge attack where instead of performing an overhead swing on the monster’s head, you run and perform a right-diagonal swing on them.
  • A reworked user interface that more clearly shows which parts of the Charge Blade have been powered up by Phials.
  • A Focus Strike where you quickly swipe at a monster’s weak spot or wounds, then transform into Axe Mode to shred them with a deadly buzz-saw attack.
  • A new fast-wide attack that can transition into the Ultra Elemental Discharge attack.
  • The speed at which you perform the Ultra Elemental Discharge attack has increased exponentially compared to previous games.

Once you master the Charge Blade, you will become an unstoppable hunter

One of Monster Hunter's craziest weapon types returns in Monster Hunter Wilds with this latest trailer

In Monster Hunter World, where I embarked on my hunting journey for the first time, the Charge Blade was the weapon I initially chose. This type of weapon remains among my favorites due to its imaginative design, exceptional damage potential, and balanced combination of defensive and offensive features. Furthermore, it boasts some truly awe-inspiring, visually stunning attacks that are hard to find elsewhere in Monster Hunter games.

Mastering the art of wielding the Charge Blade may initially prove challenging due to its dual modes, each requiring distinct skills and mechanisms to manage effectively. Nevertheless, I can confidently say that the sense of accomplishment you’ll experience upon perfecting your technique will more than compensate for the initial struggle.

After mastering the Charge Blade, you’ll have the sensation of being an invincible force, skillfully deflecting even the most lethal strikes while retaliating with Ultra Elemental Discharges that are so powerful and dramatic, they might challenge the explosive force of Gunlance shellings.

I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming reveal of the changes in weapon types for Monster Hunter Wilds, particularly the Switch Axe, which is a formidable counterpart to the Charge Blade. This exciting preview will be featured in Monster Hunter Wilds’ next major cinematic trailer, scheduled to debut at Gamescom 2024.

In 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds – the highly anticipated follow-up to Capcom’s popular Xbox and PC game, Monster Hunter World – will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC through Steam.

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2024-08-11 14:10