The Great Sword is one of the strongest weapons in Monster Hunter Outlanders when it comes to delivering heavy charged attacks and dealing massive damage in a short amount of time. However, getting the most out of this weapon depends on choosing the right armor, weapon, and skills.
In this guide, I will go through the best Great Sword builds for the Fated Adventurer, Pyro, and Luxheart. These setups focus on increasing charged attack damage and making the most of the Great Sword’s tackle mechanics. I’ll also explain why each piece of equipment is worth using so you can understand how the build works instead of simply copying the equipment list.
All the builds below use weapons and armor that you can unlock by the time you complete Chapter 5 of the main story.
Monster Hunter Outlanders Great Sword Builds Guide – Equipment
For the Fated Adventurer, I recommend a general-purpose Great Sword setup built around Charge Enhancement and Immovable Stance. These skills work particularly well together because the Great Sword relies heavily on charged attacks, while its tackle mechanic lets you maintain your offensive pressure even when a monster tries to interrupt you.
Recommended Equipment
Weapon: Blacksteel Chopper II
| Weapon Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 261 |
| Element | Dragon 131 |
| Affinity | 3.9% |
| Sharpness | Green |
Armor Set
| Armor Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Head | Baan Helm III |
| Chest | Anja Mail II |
| Arms | Baan Vambraces III |
| Waist | Baan Coil III |
| Legs | Rathalos Greaves II |
Active Skills
| Skill | Level |
|---|---|
| Radobaan’s Bulwark (Set) | Charge Enhancement Lv5 |
| Immovable Stance | Lv2 |
| Fire Resistance | Lv2 |
| Fearless | Lv1 |
| Sleep Resistance | Lv1 |
| Wrecker | Lv1 |
| Bleeding Resistance | Lv1 |
Why This Build Works
The main reason I recommend this setup is its focus on charged attacks. Charge Enhancement Lv5 improves the damage potential of your charged attacks, which is exactly what you want when playing Great Sword.
Immovable Stance Lv2 is another important part of the build. Great Sword users can use the tackle mechanic to push through certain attacks instead of constantly interrupting their charge. With this skill, taking a hit during a tackle can also increase your damage, giving you another way to maintain pressure against aggressive monsters.
The remaining skills provide additional defensive and combat benefits. Fire Resistance, Sleep Resistance, and Bleeding Resistance can help in fights where those effects are a problem, while Fearless and Wrecker add further utility.
My recommendation: Keep Charge Enhancement and Immovable Stance as the main priorities. The other skills are useful additions, but these two are what make the setup work particularly well for Great Sword.
Best Great Sword Build for Pyro
Pyro can use the same general Great Sword setup as the Fated Adventurer. Rather than building around a completely different equipment combination, this setup focuses on the same two important skills: Charge Enhancement and Immovable Stance.
Recommended Equipment
Weapon: Blacksteel Chopper II
| Weapon Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 261 |
| Element | Dragon 131 |
| Affinity | 3.9% |
| Sharpness | Green |
Armor Set
| Armor Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Head | Baan Helm III |
| Chest | Anja Mail II |
| Arms | Baan Vambraces III |
| Waist | Baan Coil III |
| Legs | Rathalos Greaves II |
Active Skills
| Skill | Level |
|---|---|
| Radobaan’s Bulwark (Set) | Charge Enhancement Lv5 |
| Immovable Stance | Lv2 |
| Fire Resistance | Lv2 |
| Fearless | Lv1 |
| Sleep Resistance | Lv1 |
| Wrecker | Lv1 |
| Bleeding Resistance | Lv1 |
Why This Build Works
Pyro benefits from the same Great Sword playstyle that makes this setup effective for the Fated Adventurer. Instead of relying on quick attacks, you want to create opportunities to land fully charged hits.
Charge Enhancement Lv5 supports that approach by increasing the value of your charged attacks. Immovable Stance Lv2 complements it by rewarding you when you take a hit during a tackle.
When using this build, try not to rush every attack. Watch the monster’s movements, look for openings, and use your tackle to stay aggressive when appropriate. Landing a well-timed charged attack is generally more valuable than repeatedly swinging without a clear opening.
My recommendation: If you are using Pyro as your main Great Sword character, this is a solid general setup to work toward. You do not need to change the entire armor combination just to use the weapon effectively.
Best Great Sword Build for Luxheart
Luxheart uses a Thunder-focused Great Sword build. The armor combination remains the same as the other two characters, but the weapon changes to take advantage of Thunder damage.
This is the setup I would use when I want to bring a Thunder element Great Sword into a hunt while keeping the benefits of Charge Enhancement and Immovable Stance.
Recommended Equipment
Weapon: Radiant Lightning Punisher III
| Weapon Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 282 |
| Element | Thunder 141 |
| Affinity | 0% |
| Sharpness | Green |
Armor Set
| Armor Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Head | Baan Helm III |
| Chest | Anja Mail II |
| Arms | Baan Vambraces III |
| Waist | Baan Coil III |
| Legs | Rathalos Greaves II |
Active Skills
| Skill | Level |
|---|---|
| Radobaan’s Bulwark (Set) | Charge Enhancement Lv5 |
| Immovable Stance | Lv2 |
| Fire Resistance | Lv2 |
| Fearless | Lv1 |
| Sleep Resistance | Lv1 |
| Wrecker | Lv1 |
| Bleeding Resistance | Lv1 |
Why This Build Works
The biggest difference here is the Radiant Lightning Punisher III. It provides 282 Attack and 141 Thunder element damage, making it the Thunder weapon choice for this setup.
The armor remains unchanged because the main goal is still to strengthen the Great Sword’s charged attacks. Charge Enhancement Lv5 and Immovable Stance Lv2 work together to support the weapon’s slower, heavier combat style.
Luxheart’s build is particularly useful when you want to use Thunder damage without giving up the benefits of the general Great Sword armor setup.
My recommendation: Use the Radiant Lightning Punisher III when you want a Thunder-focused Great Sword. Keep the armor combination and skill priorities the same so you can continue taking advantage of charged attacks and tackles.
General Great Sword Build Tips
Choosing the correct equipment is only part of making a strong Great Sword build. You also need to understand how to use the weapon properly.
Here are a few things I recommend keeping in mind:
1. Prioritize Charged Attacks
The Great Sword is designed around powerful charged attacks. Avoid treating it like a fast weapon. Instead, look for opportunities to charge your attacks and hit the monster when it is recovering, repositioning, or otherwise vulnerable.
2. Make Use of Tackle
Tackle is an important part of the Great Sword’s combat style. It allows you to deal with incoming attacks while maintaining your offensive approach. With Immovable Stance Lv2, taking a hit during a tackle can also increase your damage.
3. Match Your Element to the Hunt
Do not assume that one elemental Great Sword is always the best choice. Consider the monster you are fighting and choose the weapon that makes sense for that encounter.
The Blacksteel Chopper II provides Dragon damage, while the Radiant Lightning Punisher III provides Thunder damage. Having different elemental options available gives you more flexibility when preparing for hunts.
4. Keep Your Core Skills
If you decide to experiment with different armor pieces, try to preserve the main skills that make these builds effective.
- Charge Enhancement: Your primary charged attack damage skill.
- Immovable Stance: Supports the tackle-focused playstyle and rewards taking a hit during a tackle.
You can adjust secondary skills depending on the monster and the kind of hunt you are preparing for. Overall, the Fated Adventurer and Pyro can use the Blacksteel Chopper II setup, while Luxheart has a Thunder-focused alternative with the Radiant Lightning Punisher III.
The good thing about these builds is that they share the same armor combination and core skills. Once you have the equipment ready, switching between the recommended weapons is straightforward.
If you are still progressing through the story, I would focus on getting the Baan and Anja armor pieces first, then work toward the weapon you want to use. Once you have Charge Enhancement Lv5 and Immovable Stance Lv2, you will have the foundation for a strong Great Sword build.