Hey guys! Are you a Monster Hunter World player rocking the Long Sword and aiming to optimize your build before taking on the mighty Fatalis? You've come to the right place! This guide will walk you through crafting a powerful Long Sword build that will help you conquer even the toughest monsters the game throws your way prior to the Fatalis update. We'll cover everything from weapon selection and armor skills to decorations and playstyle tips. So, grab your weapon, sharpen your blade, and let's dive in!

Why Focus on a Pre-Fatalis Build?

Okay, so you might be thinking, "Why bother with a pre-Fatalis build when Fatalis gear is so powerful?" That's a valid question! Fatalis gear is undeniably top-tier, but getting there requires, well, defeating Fatalis! That's where a solid pre-Fatalis build comes in super handy. A well-optimized build will make farming for materials and challenging endgame monsters like Alatreon and Arch-Tempered Elders much more manageable. Think of it as your stepping stone to greatness – a powerful foundation that will allow you to effectively farm and prepare for the Fatalis showdown. Plus, it’s just plain fun to experiment and perfect your setup, right? Let’s get to it!

Key Skills for a Long Sword Build

Before we jump into specific gear recommendations, let's talk skills. Certain skills are absolutely crucial for maximizing your Long Sword's potential. These skills will boost your damage output, survivability, and overall effectiveness in hunts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most important ones:

• Critical Eye: This is a big one, guys! Critical Eye increases your affinity (critical hit chance). The higher your affinity, the more often you'll deal critical hits, which translate to significant damage boosts. Aim for as close to 100% affinity as possible for maximum damage output. Trust me, seeing those critical hit numbers pop up consistently is super satisfying.
• Critical Boost: Critical Boost amplifies the damage dealt by critical hits. It's the perfect complement to Critical Eye. Once you've stacked enough affinity, Critical Boost becomes the next priority to maximize your damage potential. Think of it as the cherry on top of your critical hit sundae!
• Weakness Exploit: Weakness Exploit grants you a massive affinity boost when hitting a monster's weak spots (those juicy, glowing bits!). This skill is incredibly effective, especially when combined with good aim and monster knowledge. Learn those monster weak points, and Weakness Exploit will become your best friend.
• Attack Boost: A classic for a reason! Attack Boost provides a flat increase to your attack power. While not as impactful as Critical Eye or Weakness Exploit in the late game, it's still a valuable skill to have, especially in the early to mid game. Every little bit of extra damage helps!
• Agitator: This skill activates when a monster is enraged, providing boosts to both attack power and affinity. Since monsters spend a significant amount of time enraged in Master Rank, Agitator is a consistently effective damage-boosting skill. Plus, it's kind of fun to get stronger when the monster gets angrier, right?
• Focus: The Long Sword relies heavily on its Spirit Gauge, and Focus speeds up its charge rate. This allows you to unleash your powerful Spirit Blade combos more frequently. Faster gauge filling means more damage output, so don’t sleep on this skill!
• Health Boost: Okay, let's be real, nobody likes carting. Health Boost increases your maximum health, making you significantly more resilient to monster attacks. This is a fantastic survivability skill, especially when learning new monster attack patterns. Staying alive means dealing damage, so it's always a good investment.
• Evade Window/Evade Extender: Long Sword users often rely on foresight slashes, but having some extra evasion skills can be a lifesaver, or rather, a hunt-saver. Evade Window increases the invulnerability window during your dodges, while Evade Extender increases the distance you travel while dodging. Choose the one that suits your playstyle best!

Recommended Long Swords (Pre-Fatalis)

Now that we've covered the key skills, let's talk weapons! There are several excellent Long Sword options available before Fatalis. The best choice will depend on your playstyle and the specific monster you're hunting, but here are a few top contenders:

• Lightbreak Edge (Raging Brachydios LS): This is often considered the best pre-Fatalis Long Sword, and for good reason. It boasts high raw damage, blast element (which can trigger explosions!), and decent sharpness. It's a fantastic all-around weapon that performs well against a wide variety of monsters. If you haven't crafted this yet, make it a priority!
• Golden Lune Longsword (Gold Rathian LS): If you're looking for a Long Sword with excellent sharpness and a decent amount of poison, the Golden Lune Longsword is a solid pick. Poison can deal consistent damage over time, which is especially useful against monsters with large health pools. Plus, it looks pretty awesome!
• Acid Shredder II (Acidic Glavenus LS): This Long Sword offers high raw damage and the defense boost is always welcome, its negative affinity can be mitigated with proper skill investment (Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, etc.). If you're comfortable managing negative affinity, this can be a very powerful option. But be mindful of this, ok?
• Frostfang Barioth LS: The Frostfang Barioth Long Sword is a great choice if you're facing monsters weak to ice. It has good raw damage, ice element, and some built-in Critical Eye. It's a solid elemental option that can really shine against the right matchups. Don't underestimate the power of elemental damage!

Example Armor Sets (Pre-Fatalis)

Alright, let's get to the juicy part – armor sets! Here are a couple of example builds that you can use as a starting point. Remember, these are just suggestions, and you can customize them to fit your specific needs and playstyle. Don't be afraid to experiment and tweak things to your liking!

Set 1: High Damage General Use

• Head: Teostra Head Alpha +/Beta +
• Chest: Raging Brachydios Mail Beta +
• Arms: Teostra Vambraces Alpha +/Beta +
• Waist: Raging Brachydios Coil Beta +
• Legs: Garuga Greaves Beta +
• Charm: Challenger Charm V

This set focuses on maximizing damage output with skills like Critical Eye, Critical Boost, Weakness Exploit, and Agitator. The Teostra pieces provide Master's Touch, which reduces sharpness loss, a crucial skill for maintaining damage output with the Long Sword. The Raging Brachydios pieces contribute Agitator and some helpful defensive skills. This is a well-rounded set that can tackle most monsters effectively.

Set 2: Focus and Survivability

• Head: Velkhana Head Beta +
• Chest: Raging Brachydios Mail Beta +
• Arms: Teostra Vambraces Alpha +/Beta +
• Waist: Raging Brachydios Coil Beta +
• Legs: Yian Garuga Greaves Beta +
• Charm: Focus Charm

This set prioritizes Focus for faster Spirit Gauge charging and includes Health Boost for increased survivability. It still maintains good damage skills like Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Agitator, but it's a bit more forgiving for players who prefer a safer playstyle. If you're still learning monster attack patterns, this set is a great option.

Decoration Recommendations

Decorations are like the sprinkles on your build sundae – they add that extra bit of flavor and customization! Here are some of the most important decorations to slot into your armor:

• Expert Jewel: Grants Critical Eye skill.
• Critical Jewel: Grants Critical Boost skill.
• Tenderizer Jewel: Grants Weakness Exploit skill.
• Attack Jewel: Grants Attack Boost skill.
• Agitator Jewel: Grants Agitator skill.
• Focus Jewel: Grants Focus skill.
• Vitality Jewel: Grants Health Boost skill.
• Handicraft Jewel: Grants Handicraft skill (for weapons that benefit from increased sharpness).

Fill your decoration slots with these gems to fine-tune your build and maximize its effectiveness. Remember to prioritize the skills that are most important for your playstyle.

Playstyle Tips for Long Sword

Having a great build is only half the battle. Mastering the Long Sword's playstyle is just as crucial. Here are some tips to help you become a Long Sword master:

• Master the Foresight Slash: This is the Long Sword's signature move, allowing you to counter monster attacks with a stylish slash. Practice the timing, and you'll become nearly untouchable. It's not just about avoiding damage; it's about turning defense into offense! This is seriously the bread and butter of the LS gameplay.
• Spirit Gauge Management: The Long Sword's damage is tied to its Spirit Gauge. Keep it charged by landing attacks and using Spirit Blade combos. Don't let that gauge drop! A fully charged gauge allows you to unleash the devastating Spirit Helm Smasher.
• Iai Spirit Slash: This is your bread and butter move after successfully landing a Foresight Slash or Special Sheath. A well-timed Iai Spirit Slash not only deals good damage but also levels up your Spirit Gauge, which is crucial for damage output.
• Utilize the Special Sheathe: The Special Sheathe is an integral part of the Long Sword's moveset. It allows you to perform the Iai Spirit Slash and the Iai Slash, each with its own utility. Learning when to use each move is key to maximizing your damage and mobility.
• Learn Monster Attack Patterns: Knowing when to dodge, Foresight Slash, or reposition is essential for Long Sword users. Study monster attack patterns, and you'll be able to anticipate their moves and counter them effectively. Prediction is key, guys!

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – a comprehensive guide to crafting the best pre-Fatalis Long Sword build in Monster Hunter World! Remember, this is just a starting point. Feel free to experiment with different gear, skills, and decorations to find what works best for you. Most importantly, have fun and happy hunting! With the right build and a bit of practice, you'll be slicing and dicing your way through monsters in no time. Now go out there and become a Long Sword legend! You got this!