Charge Blades are a great choice of weapon in Monster Hunter Rise, but as with any weapon class, there are great and not-so-great pieces among the ranks. You may also prefer a blade with various specialties depending on what you're up against, and that's what we're here to help with.
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After taking a look at charge blades during the steam beta, we've compiled the best of the best for each element and status effect you may be looking to inflict upon any given monster. These suggestions should carry well across platforms, whether you're on the Switch or adventuring on the PC port.
10 Dragonsong (Dragon Element)
The Dragonsong is a sturdy charge blade with a 200 base attack and a Dragon Element of 36. It is one of the most well-crafted blades in the game and as is common with high-ranking weapons, it does suffer a negative five percent Affinity, which is a small setback compared to some.
When you start piling on additional elemental buffs, the five percent doesn't matter as much. The Dragonsong is counted as one of the strongest charge blades in the game, so you certainly can't go wrong.
9 Scream In The Night (No Element)
Scream In The Night is one of the sharpest charge blades available, and it harbors an astonishing critical rating of 40 percent. A critical like that outshines the weapon's 190 base attack, which you should look into enhancing with a Rank Three Attack Boost so that the weapon's affinity can shine all the brighter.
Overpowering the already significant affinity of this charge blade with an Affinity Rank Two Rampage Skill makes the Scream In The Night strike with deadly accuracy.
8 Etherward (Poison Element)
Etherward is a fine blade with a 190 base damage. But it's the weapon's deadly 39 point Poison element that grabbed our attention.
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Once built up with additional Rampage Skills such as Rank Three Attack and Defense Boosts, this charge blade can easily become any hunter's favorite.
7 Daora's Thwartoise (Ice Element)
The Daora's Thwartoise is a well-rounded blade with a 190 base attack. The charge blade's elemental abilities and critical rating earned it a spot on our list though.
Daora's Thwartoise harbors a 36 Ice element, and a ten percent Affinity. With a more than sufficient elemental rating, it's smart to boost the weapon's standard attack and give an extra push to the affinity with Rampage Skills to fully maximize the weapon's potential.
6 Bardichion Blade (Fire Element)
The Bardichion Blade pacts a lot of heat with a 210 base attack and 27 Fire elemental points. Such robust base and elemental damage paired together makes this charge blade one of the absolute strongest in the game.
Piling on an additional Element Exploit, Fire Boost, and a Rank Three Attack Boost is a sure-fire way to make quick work of monsters, when running an everyday hunt. But it could just save your life on your next grand expedition.
5 Final Fieldblade (Water Element)
The Final Fieldblade is a well-rounded charge blade with a 190 base attack, a 30 Water elemental status, and a 20 percent Affinity. Balance is key on a hunt, as any shortcomings make for the monster's greatest advantage.
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Hunters can build upon this weapon's potential further with Rampage Skills such as rank two Affinity and Water Boosts. Then throw on a hefty Rank Three Attack Boost to round it all out.
4 Ikaji Immortal or Abyssal Storm Ward (Thunder Element)
The Ikaji Immortal is one of the most powerful charge blades in the game at 240 base attack. It also has a 16 point thunder elemental bonus which can be bolstered with additional Rampage Skills. When looking at general and overall damage, the Ikaji is one of the best charge blades around.
However, if you're looking for the most elemental damage of this sort, you'll want to go with the Abyssal Storm Ward which has a base 38 Thunder. You can then boost its 190 attack with Rampage Skills to make it more formidable.
3 Rotaxion (Paralysis Status)
The Rotaxion charge blade holds a small 19 point paralysis effect, which isn't dazzling compared to the other entries on this list. But it has other merits, or it wouldn't have made it on this list.
Those merits namely lie within the building possibilities left to the hunter. Stacking its 200 base damage with a Rank Four Attack Boost and throwing on other Rampage Skills such as Defense Boost Rank Two and Defense Grinder ensure this weapon will always have your back on a hunt.
2 Rampage C. Blade S (Sleep Status)
When looking for additional sleep status effects, it's best to go with the sturdy and versatile Rampage weapon tree. The Rampage C. Blade S can actually serve as a viable weapon for several elements depending on how you build it.
But as there are plenty of great choices for the other elements, we'd suggest channeling this charge blade's talents into catching a few extra zzz's by building it up with a Rank Two Sleep Rampage Skill, along with a Rank Four Attack Boost and an Affinity Surge.
1 Teostra's Nova (Blast Element)
When looking to deal explosive damage, there's no better than the Teostra's Nova with its 43 Blast damage. Throw the Fireblight Exploit Rampage Skill onto that and prepare for impact.
Using further Rampage Skills to ramp up the weapon's base attack, you'll be knocking monsters on their ass left and right!
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