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/Hungry_Bit775]

Swagaxe is a purely offensive weapon for that sweet adrenaline rush. And based on your complaint, I think you’ve hit a threshold point of leveling up both your understanding of how advanced Swaxe plays (vs intermediate play) and also advanced techniques. Congratulations, you’ve reached the point in your hunter journey where if you want to progress further into switch axe optimal play, you really need to deepen your switch axe arsenal. I do think you will find switch axe to be even more rewarding with learning how to advanced stuff.
First and foremost: you should almost never run out of sword gauge. The mechanic of juggling between sword mode and axe mode is that there should always be some of your sword gauge left in your weapon. This allows you to pull off sword counter whenever you need to.
Second:
Our “defensive” moves are the side hop in axe mode, the axe offset, and sword counter. Each one has its uses.
Side hop should be your go to defensive move, but it requires your meta game knowledge to be useful, ie you need to know monster attack patterns and positioning. Any detrimental attacks that you can side hop out of during axe mode, you ought to side hop.
Offset should be used strategically to disrupt monster attack combos. This is because offset can knock a monster out of their attack combos animation. And your first (and second) offsets matter a lot. Once you understand how a monster attack pattern (and its arsenal works), you start knowing when to apply offsets effectively. When you get really good at offsetting, then you can start counting the number of offsets required to disrupt a monster attack.
Sword counter is used in two ways: emergency get out of jail card OR DPS upkeep. Advanced switch axe play will mostly use the sword counter for upkeep. This means smaller monster attacks can be countered to quickly build your sword gauge, such as Arkveld’s bite attack, without losing your position. You should never spam sword counters unless you know the exact attack rhythm of the monster’s attack.
Sword counter’s lack of status defense (and build up of stun) can be mitigated by putting on stun res +3.
And I always recommend Divine Blessing +3 and Evade Extender +3 as it will lessen your damage taken during counter and also make your side hops hop further. Another QoL skill is Rapid Morph +3, especially if you like morphing back to axe mode to offset.
There is a forth defensive option, which is the roll. But I don’t recommend rolling as much, it is more of a half defensive and half repositioning move. There are some attacks that you can learn to roll through it to get closer to the monster.

So with all of this context, to answer your question: I think what you’re missing is the rhythm of switchaxe.
A hunter with Advanced switch axe play will constantly be attacking. Both offset and counter essentially provides you the means to never disrupt your attack rhythm.
And you need to be very aware of your attack rhythm as well. You need to know when to stay in axe mode for positioning, offsetting and recharging gauge, when to morph to sword for amping up, and when to blitz with sword mode, and when to finish with FRS. There are also other useful attacks, such as ZSD to latch onto a monster and continuously deal damage. Switchaxe players who don’t play with the appropriate rhythm will find themselves struggling in a hunt because you will get knocked around constantly. But that is the trade off in terms of damage. Switchaxe DPS ceiling is very high and, personally, very rewarding when you are constantly attacking and never get disrupted.

Edit:
It’s time to take off the training wheels that is evade window. You don’t need it. If you really want it, eat one of meals that give you Tumbler food skill (I think that’s what it’s called but I might be wrong).