Monster Hunter Wilds - Switch Axe Mechanics Guide

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Switch Axe Mechanics and Changes: Iceborne vs. Wilds

Ву easternkingfisher.

General details on Switch Axe mechanics and changes between Iceborne and Wilds. Please note that the Switch Axe in Wilds is definitively a sequel to Iceborne’s mechanics and not Sunbreak’s. We’re almost definitely not getting back Rapid Morph loops (and possibly Rapid Morph at all), and we’re looking at a potentially much more raw-focussed weapon.

Methodology

I acquired every damage value possible from the “training barrel” by the first subcamp you spawn next to, at both Green and Yellow Sharpness (and where appropriate, Orange and Red also). Given the known hitzones of the barrel of 80 slash, I was able to manually calculate all the relevant motion values, which were then backed-up by the datamined motion values.

Using this I was also able to determine the modifiers for both the Heavy Slam and Power Phial buffs. Attacks which were not able to be determined via barrel attacking were instead calculated based on monster combat.

Datamine sheet by dtlnor available here.

Results

Moveset and motion values have been either based heavily on or taken directly from Iceborne, to the point that the datamine may contain some removed attacks from the Iceborne moveset (such as Axe: Rising Slash).

Passive Sword Gauge gain in combat has been removed, meaning that once you start fighting, you can only regain Sword Gauge by attack in Axe.

Phial types are the same as in Iceborne: Power, Element, Poison, Paralysis, Dragon and Exhaust, however I only have details related to Power Phials.

Switch Axes appear to no longer have a “sweet spot” where they get bonus raw damage when hitting with specific parts of the weapon.

Power Phials appear to have a 1.17x multiplier to raw damage in all Sword Mode attacks, the same value as Iceborne.

Phial Bursts work the same way as Iceborne, ie they are only while in Sword mode, likely pushing Switch Axe more towards raw damage.

Heavy Slam’s Power Axe buff has a new effect which applies a 1.1x multiplier to raw damage in all Axe Mode attacks – this can be activated by the normal Heavy Slam combo, as well as the Offset and Focus Assault variants. Realistically there’s no way to determine whether the partbreaker effect is still there.

Update: This might actually only be a +10 raw damage buff instead. I thought this was possible, but it seemed unlikely that they would make such a small buff when they’re trying to encourage players to use more individual mode attacks. I need to do more testing to be sure.

Power Phials can be amped with a single loop of B > B > Y > B (Double Slash > Heavenward Flurry > Overhead Slash > Double Slash), meaning they very likely have an amp gauge length of 100, like Iceborne.

More information can be found at CoffeeGamer.com

Motion Value Comparison Table

In addition to the details in the table below, amped sword attacks also no longer receive a small 1 – 2 MV buff as they did in Iceborne.

This is not an exhaustive list of all motion values, only the most notable and knowable ones.

Attack Name	Wilds MV	Iceborne MV	Notes
Axe: Overhead Slash	45	45
Axe: Side SlashSword: Morph Slash	23	23
Axe: Rising Slash	Removed	31
Axe: Spiral Burst Slash I	20	N/A
Axe: Spiral Burst Slash II	35	N/A
Axe: Forward Slash	20	19
Axe: Forward Overhead Slash	45	N/A
Axe: Wild Swing I	23	23	In Wilds, no longer receives a 1.3✕ raw multiplier after two swings.
Axe: Wild Swing II	21	21	In Wilds, no longer receives a 1.3✕ raw multiplier after two swings.
Axe: Heavy Slam I	15	15
Axe: Heavy Slam II	72	72	Applies the 1.1✕ raw Power Axe buff
Axe: Offset Rising Slash	50	N/A
Axe: Follow-up Heavy Slam I	15	N/A
Axe: Follow-up Heavy Slam II	45	N/A	Applies the 1.1✕ raw Power Axe buff
Axe: Follow-up Morph Slash	120	N/A
Axe: Fade Slash	34	34
Axe: Morph Sweep I	20	20
Axe: Morph Sweep II	70	70
Axe: Morph Sweep III	35	35
Axe: Morph Rising Double Slash I	21	N/A
Axe: Morph Rising Double Slash II	18	N/A
Sword: Overhead SlashAxe: Morph Slash	29	29
Sword: Right Rising Slash	31	21
Sword: Left Rising Slash	28	18
Sword: Triple Slash I	15	15
Sword: Double Slash ISword: Triple Slash II	22	22
Sword: Double Slash IISword: Triple Slash III	26	26
Sword: Heavenward Flurry I	24	24
Sword: Heavenward Flurry II	36	35
Sword: Unbridled Slash	60	N/A
Sword: Full Release Slash I	45	N/A
Sword: Full Release Slash II	70	N/A
Sword: Counter Rising Slash I	28	N/A
Sword: Counter Rising Slash II	35	N/A
Sword: Downward Fade Slash	45	45
Element Discharge (thrust)	10	10
Element Discharge (ticks)	8	8	Applies a 0.7✕ element and status modifier.
Finishing Discharge	60	~62	In Iceborne rather than a distinct motion value, ending a Discharge early instead applied a 0.7✕ raw multiplier to the equivalent Finisher attack.Always calculated without Sharpness – in Iceborne was calculated as if Green.
Element Discharge Finisher	135	~89 – ~107(85)	In Iceborne Element Discharge Finisher applied a 1.2✕ multiplier if used while amped.Always calculated without Sharpness – in Iceborne was calculated as if Green.
Zero Sum Discharge (thrust)	Removed	18	See equivalent Element Discharge attack
Zero Sum Discharge (ticks)	Removed	13	See equivalent Element Discharge attack
Zero Sum Discharge Finisher (early)	65	~62	In Iceborne rather than a distinct motion value, ending a Discharge early instead applied a 0.7✕ raw multiplier to the equivalent Finisher attack.Always calculated without Sharpness – in Iceborne was calculated as if Green.
Zero Sum Discharge Finisher	160	~125(85)	In Iceborne Zero Sum Discharge Finisher applied a 1.4✕ raw multiplier, giving it an effective motion value of 119.Always calculated without Sharpness – in Iceborne was calculated as if Green.
Phial Burst	9	9	Always calculated without Sharpness.
Unbridled Slash Phial BurstFull Release Slash I Phial Burst	10	N/A	Always calculated without Sharpness.
Full Release Slash II Phial Burst	20	N/A	Always calculated without Sharpness.

Monster Hunter Wilds – Switch Axe Mechanics Guide