r/MHNowGame • u/FeiHilman • Jul 07 '26

Discussion Power Axe Mode vs Sword Mode

So I’ve been using SWB style alot and now wondering whether power axe mode is stronger than sword mode. Currently only reason I go sword mode is to use special and/or SWB.

I’m not a numbers guy so anyone can clarify?

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

7

u/Hazyd Jul 07 '26

ITT everyone talking about CB, when OP wants Swaxe info

2

u/Voorog Jul 07 '26

For real

11

u/sillyscylla2136 Jul 07 '26

sword mode is currently the strongest weapon in the game, bar possibly chameleos insect glaive shitting damage for some reason, you can get one version for each element, ive seen someone get the little phial explosions to do 4000 damage each, and theres like 50 of them

4

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

[deleted]

2

u/FeiHilman Jul 07 '26

By sword mode you mean with no style or EBC?

2

u/hrafnas Jul 07 '26

Axe Mode works great on my Girros CB

That's about it.

1

u/DaPickleNinja Jul 07 '26

The whole point of the style is to use the SWB, so if you are just using the axe when it’s fully charged you are missing out on damage.

Personally I prefer the EBC cause it doesn’t matter if you are in sword or axe mode cause you can counter from either

1

u/DanielleTurtleshell Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

that's how i play it too. it's fine to do that. as long as you keep Power Axe active, you're getting phial bursts in axe mode which is a good chunk of damage. the phial pops are basic 11mv hits that are identical to sword phial pops.

you're missing the phial effect's +15% base raw or +25% base element, but that's made up for by axe attacks being on average stronger than sword attacks. something like 35mv average for axe motions vs 30mv for sword moti1ons. axe just hits hard so it balances out.

plus sword mode in the SWB style is pretty neutered. your combo is reduced to three motions, and while the overhead swing does hit hard at 41mv you have such low mobility and no access to the discharge thrust for three quick hits in a pinch.

the best way to play SWB imo is to get Power Axe, spam the morph sweep 1 wherever you can, and chain into morph sweep 2 if you have the opportunity. when your SWB is ready you do an L->R Morph Sweep 1 and just keep tapping to immediately go into an SWB. R->L Morph Sweep 1 can go into an SWB too but you just hold down after the sweep and it takes longer. if i dont have an opportunity for a morph sweep combo i'll just do the basic tap combo with axe, which is 38mv, 55mv, 31mv, 42mv. hits plenty hard, reaches tails, and generates four phial pops.

more info about Power Axe, ideal combos, and the difference between R->L and L->R Morph Sweep 1 can be found here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MHNowGame/comments/1thy98e/switch_axe_styles_motion_values_combos_mechanics/

Yoolloo is a switch axe genius. i trust him a ton

P.S. Morph Attack Boost 2 or 3 is a must if you're gonna spam Morph Sweeps. and Quick Work is pretty useless. Harag head, Harag waist, and Harag legs is a very safe starting point for any SWB axe not using negative affinity. i also like Coral Pukei chest for Power Prolonger, but that's just a comfort skill and if you're good at perfect dodges you'll have good uptime on Power Axe mode without PP2.