Switch Axe
[!NOTE]
Please refer to the MHWI Damage Formula and MHWI General Data Sheet by MoonBunnie & Deathcream for up to date information.
The Switch Axe (SA) morphs freely between Axe and Sword modes. In Axe mode, the player moves faster and has longer reach, while in Sword mode, the SA attacks faster and is able to augument its attacks with its Phial.
Strength & Weakness
| Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|
|
|
Axe Mode
[[images/sa_axe_mode)
With its long vertical and horizontal reach, Axe Mode enables hitting difficult to reach monster parts. Axe mode attacks also have a large window for making side steps (<<X>>), thus making it easy to reposition between attacks.
While in Axe mode, the Switch Gauge energy slowly regenerates.
Sword Mode and Switch Axe Phials
[[images/sa_sword_mode)
All Switch Axes come with a predetermined Phial. Phials are stored in the Switch Gauge and grants the Switch Axe an unique effect while in Sword mode. There are 6 kinds of Switch Axe Phials:
- Power Phial: Boosts the Attack power of the weapon.
- Power Element Phial: Boosts the Attack Power and the natural Elemental/Status attribute of the weapon
- Dragon Phial: Attacks now deal bonus Dragon elemental damage
- Poison Phial: Attacks now deal bonus Poison status damage.
- Paralysis Phial: Attacks now deal bonus Paralysis status damage.
- Exhaust Phial: Attacks now deals bonus [[Stun/KO and Exhaust|understanding-monster#exhaust]] status damage.
Attacking in Sword mode consumes the Switch Gauge. When the Switch Gauge depletes, the Switch Axe forcibly switches back into Axe mode. In order to use Sword mode again, the Switch Gauge must be filled to a specific threshold. This can be accomplished by letting the Gauge regenerate normally or by manually reloading the Phial to restore some Switch Gauge.
In Sword mode, landing enough attacks will cause the Switch Axe to enter an Amped State. Being in an Amped state increasess the Switch Axe's attack power, and allows the player to perform a Zero-Sum Discharge.
[[images/sa_gauge)
Top to bottom: No Amp, Buidling Amp, In Amped State
[[images/sa_amped)
Amped State
The Switch Axe in Sword mode comes with a natural Mind's Eye effect, so it [[will not bounce even when hitting tough hitzones|understanding-monster#bouncing]].
Combat Tips
- If there is an opening in a monster's attack onslaught, the player may opt to reload the Switch Gauge Phial manually.
- Amped Switch Gauge doesn't cancel when morphing back into Axe mode.
- Axe: Fade Slash and Sword: Downward Fade Slash moves the player backward. These are good tools to position oneself out of harm's way.
- In Sword mode and Axe mode, after most attacks, the player has a large window to perform sidesteps to reposition.
- Although Sword mode attacks do not bounce due to its natural Mind's Eye effect, it is still preferable to hit weaker monster Hitzones to maximize damage output.
Movelist: Axe
Mid-air attacks are done in the air, such as after hopping off a ledge, jumping off a vine, or climbing up a wall and jumping off.
| Move | Button (+Condition) | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Morph | Standing/Walking > R2 | Switch to Sword mode. If the Switch Gauge is under the threshold for Sword mode, this becomes a Reload instead. |
| Axe: Morph Slash | Mid Combo > R2 | Switch to Sword Mode. Becomes a Reload when the Switch Gauge is under the threshold for Sword mode. Perform Sword mode: Overhead Slash. Combos into:
|
| Reload | R2 | Reload the Switch Gauge. |
| Axe: Side Slash | Draw Attack > <<T>> Standing > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
| Axe: Forward Slash | Walking > <<T>>/<<C>> |
Combos into:
|
| Axe: Rising Slash | Mid-combo > <<T>>+<<C>> |
Combos into:
|
| Axe: Overhead Slash | Rising Slash > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
| Axe: Wild Swing | Mid-combo > <<C>> |
Mash <<C>> to do multiple Wild Swings, but doing so will consume stamina. Combos into:
|
| Axe: Fade Slash | Mid-combo > Back+<<C>> |
Combos into:
|
| Axe: Morph Sweep | Wild Swing > R2 | Automatically connects into an Axe: Morph Slash |
| Axe: Jumping Slash | Mid-air > <<T>> Mid-air Draw Attack > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
| Axe: Jumping Morph Slash | Mid-air > R2 Mid-air Draw Attack > R2 |
Perform Sword: Jumping Slash |
| Jumping off the edge with weapon out | Combos into:
|
|
| Mid-air with weapon sheathed | Combos into:
|
|
| Axe: Jumping Sweep | Sliding > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
Movelist: Sword
Mid-air attacks are done in the air, such as after hopping off a ledge, jumping off a vine, or climbing up a wall and jumping off.
| Move | Button (+Condition) | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Morph | Standing/Walking > R2 | Switch to Axe mode. The player will be forced to morph into Axe mode when the Switch Gauge is fully depleted. |
| Sword: Morph Slash | Mid-combo > R2 | Switch to Axe mode. Perform Axe: Side Slash. Combos into:
|
| Sword: Downward Fade Slash | Mid-combo > Back + R2 | Switch to Axe mode. Combos into:
|
| Sword: Overhead Slash | Standing > <<T>> Draw Attack > R2 |
Can press forward to move forward while attacking. Combos into:
|
| Sword: Right Rising Slash | Overhead Slash > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
| Sword: Left Rising Slash | Right Rising Slash > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
| Sword: Double Slash | <<C>> |
Combos into:
|
| Sword: Heavensward Flurry | Double Slash > <<C>> |
Combos into:
|
| Sword: Element Discharge | Mid-combo > <<T>>+<<C>> |
If the Switch Gauge is in an Amped State (yellow glow), then it automatically connects into a Zero-Sum Discharge when the first hit lands on a monster. Mash <<T>> constantly to reach the Element Discharge Finisher. Combos into:
|
| Element Discharge Finisher | Maintain Element Discharge Back + <<T>> to finish the Element Discharge early |
|
| Zero Sum Discharge | With an Amped Switch Gauge, connect the first hit of a Sword: Element Discharge or the first of a Sword: Jumping Element Discharge | Mash <<T>> constantly to eventually reach the Element Discharge Finisher. This does not count as a mount. Combos into Zero Sum Discharge Mash <<T>> |
| Jumping off the edge with weapon out | Combos into:
|
|
| Sword: Jumping Slash | Mid-air > <<T>> |
Combos into:
|
| Sword: Jumping Element Discharge | Mid-air > <<T>>+<<C>> |
Changes into an Element Discharge when the player landed. If the Switch Gauge is in an Amped State (yellow glow), then it automatically connects into a Zero-Sum Discharge when the first hit lands on a monster mid-air. |
| Sword: Jumping Morph Slash | Mid-air > R2 | Perform Axe: Jumping Slash |
| Sword: Jumping Rising Slash | Sliding > R2 | Combos into:
|
Motion Values
Section has been moved to the database.