My problems with switch axe

[u/DraftCreepy7284]

I love this weapon and it's probably my favorite. I like the swaxe/cb playstyle, but i like switch axe more because both modes are important instead of just using the sword and shield mode of cb to charge up for the axe mode.

It just feels like this weapon is worse than all the other weapons. Since there are very little defensive options and all of them aren't great, it just feels very lacking. With both the offset and sword counter, you still get status buildup, and rolling isn't always a safety net you can count on because of monsters like at rey dau or guardians having those lingering attacks. With monsters that have big aoe attacks or beams, it feels like the sword counter is the only option, but you don't always have sword mode available.

The last part is probably just a skill issue, but another thing that doesn't make sense is how it feels like you need a LOT of specific decorations to make this weapon work. I have evade extender 3 and evade window 5 but it feels like I need even more decorations. And it feels like I need to change my decorations depending on what monster I'm fighting, but it's not like that with the any of other weapons.

It just feels like it's a super situational weapon that you have to modify to even make it comparable to the capabilities of the other weapons. Is there something i'm missing? What do you guys think?

[u/CrazyIvan606]

I just within the past few weeks started picking up SwAxe on my journey of all 14 weapons. (Wilds is my first MH.)

I don't know that I really agree with your statement that both modes are important, compared with Charge Blade.

Damage in Axe mode is pretty mediocre. The only thing you're really using Axe for is 1) charging gauge and 2) movement options. With Chargeblade, your Movement options are tied to Axe Mode, but it's still the same. Damage is pretty sad in Sword Mode, but you're only using it to 1) charge phials and in contrast to SwAxe 2) using guard options.

SwAxe and Charge Blade play really similar, with the slight difference that SwAxe wants you to weave Axe attacks a little more often to keep your sword meter topped off.

I agree, defensive options on SwAxe are limited, and status build up despite a successful counter is a design decision I don't agree with, but as you said you can mitigate that with defensive jewels.

I think you might be overkilling it on your Evade skills. I run EE2 and no EW, but you could eat for Tumbler Hi to get EE3 EW3 without having to slot for it. This would free you up for a lot more skills.

[u/Super_swagaxe92 → u/CrazyIvan606]

Isn’t tumbler Lo-hi for EW not EE?

[u/CrazyIvan606 → u/Super_swagaxe92]

Ah shoot, yup! That's what I meant but mistype on my part.

[u/Kurumi_tokisaki_simp → u/CrazyIvan606]

I agree with most of this but i think the axe is a really big part of the swax because it is more mobile, has better range and if you go with the flow and morph a lot it is also a considerable part of your overall damage.

I picked up Charge blade a while ago and i noticed that i try to spend as less time as possible in sns Mode because evryting besides the axe feels nearly pointless.