Sword and Shield

Understand the Sword and Shield's strengths: high mobility, fast combos, ability to use items without sheathing, and the application of special oils.

Learn the basic controls: X for basic slash, A for horizontal slash, X+A for forward lunging slash, R to block, R+A for guard slash, R+X for vertical slash, R+Y to use item or apply oil, and B for evasive roll.

Experiment with combos: The A combo can chain three times, and the X combo can chain twice followed by a charged slash. The forward lunging slash can lead into an X combo or oil application.

Utilize oils: Consistently bring affinity oil to boost power.

Maintain pressure: Stay close to the monster and keep attacking, leveraging your mobility for high damage per second.

Adapt to different Styles:

Guild Style: Offers a wide variety of unique combos to discover.

Striker Style: Loses the charged slash but gains three Hunting Art slots to compensate for damage.

Aerial Style: Features fixed Shield Attacks for A combos, automatic vertical slashes after vaulting, and one Hunting Art slot.

Adept Style: Fixes A attacks to shield attacks, removes the charged attack, and introduces two perfect evade types.

From a traditional evasive roll, press X for a jumping attack (deals mount damage) followed by the horizontal slash combo, or X+A for a lower jumping attack (deals mount damage) followed by the horizontal slash combo.

Press R+Y after a perfect evade roll to quick-use an item.

Evade during the backhop of the (not really) charged attack to launch forward with an overhead slash. Follow up with X for the horizontal slash combo or X+A for the low jumping attack.

Focus on recommended skills: Guard skills are not very effective. Prioritize Attack, Critical Hit, Elemental/Status Up, and Evasion skills.

Consider utility skills: Wide Range is excellent for online play, affecting your party with ingested items. Speed Eating +2 further enhances item usage speed.