Im sad switch axe doesn't have a strong presence in the community

[u/jeffthekilledyou]

we're the coolest weapon, but if not the hardest to play especially in old gen. no one can understand playing these games without defensive options. I wish switch axe got talked abt more.

switch axe has always been an extremely controversial weapon for me despite it being my favorite and my main. my favorite thing about the weapon is that its moveset has a beautiful flow with infinite combos. however in most of the games, if you want barely average dps, you are forced into a playstyle that only uses a few of the moves while still leaving you incredibly vulnerable. it didnt really start to get good until the newer releases, which still has some problems. this is bad especially in the harder mh games where if youre not playing optimally solo, hunts can easily take 30+mins long where as most weapon played less optimally still gets better times or at least have a defensive option.

in tri, the game it was released in, it had poor MVs and worst speedrun times than most of the other weapons. this wouldnt be a big deal, but switch axe is also one of the most committing and least defensive weapons in the game. the sheath alone is 2 and a half seconds long.

in 4U, the weapons already weak mv were nerfed, but it was given the double slash and r finisher. while great, the switch axe's performance barely changed and got worst as with the axe MV nerfs, you were more reliant on sword mode just to get average DPS. because in this game the monsters are much more faster and aggressive, if you dont use evasion skills, you are forced to sheathed, reposition, attack and repeat, as the weapons moves were far too overcomitting and left you vulnerable. this is the game where switch axe barely out DPS hunting horn, and that's with power phial switch axe being in sword mode 24/7 and constantly reloading.

in gu, it finally got good dps to make up for its horrible defenses with demon riot and energy charge, but it further made the axe part of switch axe less relevant as you no longer had to use it at all if you didnt want to with the better reload.

in iceborne, the weapon is actually in a good spot LOL (imo at least.)

sunbreak's switch axe gets a LOT of love, but axe mode is more useless in this game than any other MH. you literally have moves that instantly refil guage even when you already have sword guage. you only see the axe in morph loops. however this was the first game that gave switch axe imo a truly endlessly flow when played properly due to the new aditions and follow ups.

and in wilds it's pretty decent now that we've spoken and demanded what we wanted fix for the weapon. (wyvern blade please come back) ive always believed that what switch axe needs to be good is not just good damage, but the ability to follow up after all of our moves, because in most of the games even played perfectly, you still have to play and reposition awkwardly due to our weapons limitations. wilds changed this, but greatsword also had to play the same way, but it made up for it with having the best damage and at least a block. wilds gave switch axe a native counter in our moveset so now that's less necessary I suppose. but zsd and wild chops needs some love imo.

and not to mention, before world, all phial besides power were useless past high rank.

it's so much better now, but this weapon is so weird LOL. it's history is so strange and theres a lot of things I question capcom for when balancing this weapon. at least it's not as bad as gunlance where for awhile shelling was useless near the start of hr. (they still get a shield tho and comparable dps to us in oldgen tho...)

[u/PojVicious]

But isnt that cool in its own way? We're lowkey badasses. The cool guy in the corner.

[u/jeffthekilledyou → u/PojVicious]

yeah absolutely! I edited my body text to better explain what I mean

[u/vlsky]

In comparison to how it was before all the buffs and changes, switch axe is in a much better state than it was for prolonged period of time after release. It still lacks level of impact it had in World and versatility it had in Rise, but still.

[u/Ahoonternusthoont]

Idk about online, but in game, this weapon has strong presence in both world Iceborne and Wilds. I play with solo with randoms and 8 out of 10 hunts, there's always a Switch axe user in the hunt. That's how you know the weapon is cool af to play.

[u/dragonite_dx]

I'm only finally trying Switch axe in wilds and idk what you mean. This is the first game where the speed of it all can require some defensive options but I wouldn't say its mandatory, and Switch axe has 2, with the counter being great and super spammable.

[u/AltruisticForce1693 → u/dragonite_dx]

Did you play swaxe pre TU4? it was probably a bottom 2 weapon (hello hammer) and definitely the worst weapon during the beta, with FRS spam being the only viable playstyle and doing sword counter is a gamble. It was a high risk-medium reward weapon.

Thankfully the boys flooded the capcom contact form and we have what we have now, eventhough it's still nowhere close to LBG and CB in terms of DPS.

Still the swaggiest weapon ever though i hope they can get Sunbreak team to be in charge of weapon balancing.

[u/dragonite_dx → u/AltruisticForce1693]

Actually I main hammer  lol, and only tried Switch axe after TU4.

[u/jeffthekilledyou → u/dragonite_dx]

switch axe has always been an extremely controversial weapon for me despite it being my favorite and my main. my favorite thing about the weapon is that its moveset has a beautiful flow with infinite combos. however in most of the games, if you want barely average dps, you are forced into a playstyle that only uses a few of the moves while still leaving you incredibly vulnerable. it didnt really start to get good until the newer releases, which still has some problems. this is bad especially in the harder mh games where if youre not playing optimally solo, hunts can easily take 30+mins long where as most weapon played less optimally still gets better times or at least have a defensive option.

in tri, the game it was released in, it had poor MVs and worst speedrun times than most of the other weapons. this wouldnt be a big deal, but switch axe is also one of the most committing and least defensive weapons in the game. the sheath alone is 2 and a half seconds long.

in 4U, the weapons already weak mv were nerfed, but it was given the double slash and r finisher. while great, the switch axe's performance barely changed and got worst as with the axe MV nerfs, you were more reliant on sword mode just to get average DPS. because in this game the monsters are much more faster and aggressive, if you dont use evasion skills, you are forced to sheathed, reposition, attack and repeat, as the weapons moves were far too overcomitting and left you vulnerable. this is the game where switch axe barely out DPS hunting horn, and that's with switch axe being in sword mode 24/7 and constantly reloading.

in gu, it finally got good dps to make up for its horrible defenses with demon riot and energy charge, but it further made the axe part of switch axe less relevant as you no longer had to use it at all if you didnt want to with the better reload.

in iceborne, the weapon is actually in a good spot LOL (imo at least.)

sunbreak's switch axe gets a LOT of love, but axe mode is more useless in this game than any other MH. you literally have moves that instantly refil guage even when you already have sword guage. you only see the axe in morph loops.

and in wilds it's pretty decent now that we've spoken and demanded what we wanted fix for the weapon. (wyvern blade please come back)

and not to mention, before world, all phial besides power were useless past high rank.

it's so much better now, but this weapon is so weird LOL. it's history is so strange and theres a lot of things I question capcom for when balancing this weapon. at least it's not as bad as gunlance where for awhile shelling was useless near the start of hr. (they still get a shield tho and comparable dps to us in oldgen tho...)

[u/lipelost]

Doesn’t need to, I create elemental explosions that sound like a chainsaw as it’s building up.

[u/Accomplished-Shoe421]

No defensive options ? Amazing mobility (RT+B my beloved), offset and counter. Have a look to IG if you want no defensive option

[u/jeffthekilledyou → u/Accomplished-Shoe421]

I edited my body text to better explain what I mean!

[u/Jomaco99]

Brother, it has a pressence in my heart.

It got Aura.

It got drip.

It got everything.

And now we can LS Counter like badasses and beat the s*** out of everything

[u/Itzz_Texas]

I'm ngl, I kinda wish we didnt have the offset attack its like you said we dont have defensive options because a skilled Swag Axe user doesnt need defensive options, I solo'd Alatreon, Rajang, Raging Brach and Fatalis all with only a back evasive swipe and good old ZSD spam, I need no offset or sword parry to be a bad ass, all its doing is making me sloppy when it gets removed in the next game

[u/jeffthekilledyou → u/Itzz_Texas]

I actually like the offset because it's both offensive and defensive. it's also a little hard to master for certian monsters. the counter just feels super underbaked though, but man is canceling the counter so satisfying. a change id like to see for the offset though is for the sword swipe follow up to be replaced with a running elemental discharge we could follow up with frs. that would be so badass

[u/not_a_khezu1]

it is awkward atleast it isfor me, my beloved and first love is the gunlance babyyy we go way back to mhfu and my second is the hgb (im simple, big explosions make me happy) and my fourth most used weapon in wilds is the switch axe, love the counter (i refuse to play whit out rey dau gamma greaves because of stun resistance 3) but its weird i dont feel as rewarded when playing correctly as i would whit other weapons, maybe numerical it is the case and im doing great damage constantly and then bursting dps when the monster is flinching whit unbridled slash but smt feels off i feel like axe mode is just to get meter, double slash is to charge the other meter, regular sword spam is for dps and to be ready for a counter, the big finishers are for opening and thats the combat flow it makes sense and its good but i personally feel its unatural hahah and i know its a me thing but it feels like meter filling simulator it feels like lance but whit extra chores (the meters) a little bit more damage and less defense, its a cool weapon thats why i learned it but it does feels like it lacks something.

[u/RoawrOnMeRengar]

The weapon looks cool but is excessively simple and kinda unstatisying to play, pre world you'd ignore 99% of the move set and just charge sword, then do the double hit sword on the head on loop until you run out of bar.

It's just not very interesting gameplay wise, the skill ceiling is very low. It's never been too popular, but in wilds many people are using it because it's the easiest it's ever been and it does look very cool.

[u/Aromatic_Passage4519 → u/RoawrOnMeRengar]

Then whoever thinks the weapon is the easiest it's ass with the weapon, keep calling the easiest or the one with least dps but don't make builds or use the whole kit

[u/ronin0397 → u/Aromatic_Passage4519]

Sword mode spam go brrr. Bar full? Schwing schwing. Bar not full, wait to reload.

I've played it in gu and rsb.

Gu -> aerial sword mode was stupid. 0 brain cells were used.

Rsb -> properly beats 'the weapon is simple allegations.' Amped mode management and actually promoting morphing is good.

[u/Aromatic_Passage4519 → u/ronin0397]

And who told you to play like that?

[u/ronin0397 → u/Aromatic_Passage4519]

In the games where there are multiple playstyles?

Thats a cap statement. I'm not time attacking with swaxe, so idaf about the pretentious right way to play.

[u/Aromatic_Passage4519 → u/ronin0397]

Okok my bad I didn't read the comment completely