Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade Guide

The Charge Blade is one of those weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds that feels like you need a PhD just to use it. Is it technical? Absolutely. Does it have too many things to keep in mind? No doubt. But is it one of the most satisfying weapons in the game? Hell yes! In this Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know, from its core mechanics to advanced combos, so you’re not just swinging blindly—you’re wielding it like a pro.

The Charge Blade is like a Swiss Army knife of destruction—it’s got a tool for every situation. Need defense? It’s got a shield with Guard Point. Want massive damage? It transforms into a giant axe that unleashes explosive energy attacks. And let’s be honest—nothing beats the feeling of slamming a spinning blade into a monster’s face. Let’s dive in!

Let’s be honest: the Hope Charge Blade isn’t going to cut it if you intend to beat the game. If you need more Charge Blades to practice with but don’t want to spend hours farming materials, check out SkyCoach’s Weapon Farming service. Whether you need a specific Charge Blade from the crafting tree or extra resources to upgrade your gear, this is the fastest and safest way to get fully equipped. Don’t let grinding slow you down—power up and start unleashing devastating axe attacks today!

Read our other articles:

• Great Sword Guide
• Long Sword Guide
• Switch Axe Guide
• Leveling Guide
• Best Armor Sets
• Best Weapons Tier List
• Beginner's Guide

 

 

Charge Blade Basics: Modes & Phials Explained

Charge Blade has two modes:

1. Sword and Shield – for charging and storing phials, blocking damage and generally more mobile.
2. Axe mode – for spending phials with attacks that have longer reach and way more damage.

To understand the Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade mechanics we should take a look at the weapon’s UI element located under the health and stamina bars.

From left to right you have: Sword, Shield, Axe, and six phials. The idea is when you attack in sword and shield mode (aka sword mode), each attack charges phials. The phials will glow yellow, then red, and if you continue to attack, they’ll glow bright red and your attacks will bounce, which is bad.

So, generally speaking, you attack until you see red and you then store (charge) your phials. With your phials stored, you can either switch to Axe mode and use some of these files to power up certain attacks, or transfer the stored phials into your shield to boost your shield’s defense, sword to apply phial type damage to your sword attacks, and even the axe to make it consume less phials on attack.

Phials can be overcharged, which is a new mechanic in MH Wilds. If you already have all phials charged, and then continue to accumulate more to store that energy into the filled phials, it will cause the phials to overcharge which will be displayed as these fiery phials. With overcharged phials, the Axe mode deals additional damage. If you choose the spend them to power up the shield or a sword, these buffs will last 60% longer than normally. That’s basically all there’s to it. Now, let’s summarise everything. 

Charge Blade Basic Flow (Summary)

Here’s how to use Charge Blade in Monster Hunter Wilds in compact bite-size points:

1. Attack in sword mode to generate phial energy. This mode provides mobility, letting you reposition and avoid attacks while building up energy through combos. BLOG20
2. Charge the shield by transferring stored phials. This strengthens your defense and powers up axe attacks, making them significantly stronger. Shield charging is an essential step in the weapon’s flow.
3. Optionally charge the sword for enhanced damage. This step isn’t mandatory, but many Charge Blade players do it because it gives the sword phial-infused attacks, adding elemental or impact-based damage. It’s especially useful when staying in sword mode for extended fights.
4. Enter Power Axe Mode for boosted axe swings. This can be done by landing Focus Double Slash on a wound or executing a Perfect Guard. In this mode, axe attacks hit multiple times and consume fewer phials, making it a highly effective option for sustained damage. It also unlocks Savage Axe Slash, a move that temporarily enhances your axe attacks even further.
5. Unload phials in axe mode when the monster is vulnerable. When you see an opening—such as a knockdown or trap—it’s time to switch to axe mode and unleash devastating phial-consuming attacks. The Amped Elemental Discharge uses one phial for a strong burst, while the Super Amped Elemental Discharge (SAED) releases all stored phials in a massive explosion.
6. Repeat the cycle. After spending phials in axe mode, switch back to sword mode to replenish them and prepare for another round. The key to mastering Charge Blade is knowing when to shift between modes, balancing defensive energy-building with high-damage bursts at the right moments.

The shorter version of this is – Generate phial energy → Store phial energy → Charge shield → Store more energy → Go for big damage in Axe Mode with Amped Elemental Discharge and Super Amped Elemental Discharge.

Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade Phial Types

Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade phials determine how the weapon deals extra damage in Axe Mode. In this game, two phial types return: Impact Phials and Element Phials. These phials are consumed when performing Element Discharge attacks, creating powerful explosions that enhance the weapon’s damage output.

Impact Phial – Raw Power and Stun Potential

• Boosts physical (raw) attack damage in Axe Mode.
• Generates explosive bursts that pierce through a monster’s hide.
• Adds stun and exhaust damage, making it easier to knock out monsters when striking the head.
• Best suited for aggressive, KO-focused gameplay.

Element Phial – Elemental Damage Enhancement

• Increases elemental attack power in Axe Mode.
• Stronger when used with SAED spams, maximizing elemental burst damage.
• Can deal significant elemental damage when targeting a monster’s elemental weakness.
• Ideal for Charge Blades with high elemental stats.

During the beta and while writing this guide, the Hope Charge Blade in Monster Hunter Wilds was confirmed to have an Impact Phial, making it a strong choice for KO-based playstyles. However, both phial types offer unique advantages, and the best choice depends on your preferred approach to combat.

Charge Blade Moves in Monster Hunter Wilds

Now, let’s learn the buttons you’ll be mashing to execute your moves. You’ll see a table below which lists all of the moves for Charge Blade, but to make them easier to remember you basically only have 5 active inputs for sword and shield:

1. / – fast attacks
2. /– chargeable attacks and movement attack
3. + / +– shield thrust or forward slash
4. / – shield block
5. / + any attack – additional moves.

And even less buttons to memorise in Axe mode:

1. /– slashes with built-in directional movement
2. /– element discharge or simply attacks that spend phials
3. + / +– Amped Element Discharge, an attack that spends all phials.
4. / – switch to sword and shield mode

That’s basically it. Now, the full Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade moveset is below:

You should try executing every move just to see what they look like and what properties they have. The Axe mode moves are:

The Axe Mode should have a much simpler moveset that doesn’t involve any conditional moves. If you struggle to execute specific moves, you’ll actually have a lot of helpful prompts on the screen in Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade tutorial mode that should make it easier if you try to follow the tooltips.

 

Guard Points and Perfect Guard – Advanced Defense Techniques

The Charge Blade in Monster Hunter Wilds has two advanced defensive mechanics: Perfect Guards and Guard Points. While both allow you to block while attacking, they have different properties and follow-up options. Understanding the difference between them is key to mastering the weapon’s defensive playstyle.

Perfect Guard – The Ultimate Defense with Offensive Follow-ups

A Perfect Guard is the Charge Blade’s strongest defensive maneuver, offering increased guard level, reduced knockback, and powerful counter options.

Key Features of a Perfect Guard:

• Triggers Power Axe Mode – Unlocks Savage Axe Slash, allowing continuous phial-enhanced axe attacks.
• Grants Immediate Access to SAED – Can immediately follow up with Super Amped Elemental Discharge after blocking.
• Deals Phial Damage on Block – If Element Boost is active, Perfect Guards trigger phial explosions on impact.
• Can Trigger a Power Clash – Has a chance to initiate a Power Clash against certain monster attacks, preventing knockback.
• Higher Guard Strength – Offers more knockback resistance compared to Guard Points.
• Must Be Performed from Neutral – Cannot be used mid-combo and requires deliberate positioning.

A Perfect Guard is visually identified by a distinct clank sound and bright spark effect, different from regular Guard Points. After performing it, a control tooltip may appear, indicating a Savage Axe Slash follow-up option.

Guard Points – Defensive Timing Within Combos

Unlike Perfect Guards, Guard Points act as a built-in defensive mechanic during certain animations. While they don’t provide access to Power Axe Mode, they allow for blocking while attacking and setting up counterattacks.

Key Features of a Guard Point:

• Available During Specific Attacks – Works at specific moments within a combo animation.
• Can Follow Up with SAED – If timed correctly, allows for an immediate counterattack.
• Provides Some Knockback Resistance – Reduces interruptions from attacks but offers less protection than a Perfect Guard. BLOG20
• Does Not Unlock Power Axe Mode – Unlike a Perfect Guard, it cannot transition into Savage Axe Slash.
• Boosted Guard Level with Element Boost – When the shield is charged, Guard Points deal phial damage on block.

A Guard Point window is visually marked by a white flash on the shield, indicating the exact moment the weapon will block automatically. Here are the moves that have Guard Points in them:

1. Morphing into Axe Mode ( + / + ) – The fastest and most accessible Guard Point.
2. Morphing Back to Sword Mode ( / ) – Lasts slightly longer but is harder to time.
3. Sword Mode Finishers – Moves like Fade Slash, Roundslash, and Elemental Roundslash include built-in Guard Points.

Both Guard Points and Perfect Guards are crucial to Charge Blade mastery, allowing you to remain both defensive and aggressive while maximizing your offensive potential.

Charge Blade Combos in Monster Hunter Wilds

Here comes the fun part! It’s time to learn some Charge Blade combo for every need and situation. We’ve included all things you’re going to need from basic “AED to SAED” combo to combos involving Perfect Guards and Guard Points.

Mode Charging Combos

The Charge Blade isn’t just about wild swings and flashy explosions—you need to fuel the destruction first. These Monster Hunter Wilds Charge Blade combos focus on quickly charging your phials, reinforcing your shield, and even powering up your sword to get the most out of every attack. Get these down, and you’ll always be locked, loaded, and ready to wreck.

Combo to Charge All Phials Fast

This simple yet effective sequence lets you build phial energy rapidly by alternating between fast sword strikes and charging. Despite being a setup combo, it still deals solid damage.

Combo Input:

(+ ) → Hold → (+ ) → Hold → ( + )

Charge Shield Combo

This combo builds up phials while immediately reinforcing your shield with Element Boost. A charged shield boosts guard effectiveness and enhances phial explosions, making it easier to transition into SAEDs.

Combo Input:
(+ ) → Hold → (+ ) → Hold → (+ ) → ( + ) ▶ Hold

Charge Sword Combo

This combo ends with Condensed Element Slash, powering up sword attacks by infusing them with phial damage. It’s particularly useful for keeping up offense in Sword Mode while waiting for an opening to switch to Axe Mode.

Combo Input:

Hold → → Hold → ( + ) ▶ Hold

Combos with AED and SAED Finishers

Now we’re getting to the good stuff—Amped Elemental Discharge (AED) and Super Amped Elemental Discharge (SAED). These are your big, flashy, phial-consuming attacks that make Charge Blade feel like the powerhouse it is. These Monster Hunter Wilds best Charge Blade combos show you how to set them up efficiently so you can hit hard and make every explosion count.

Sword to Axe to AED Combo

This is a core combo for shifting from Sword Mode into Axe Mode while immediately dishing out Amped Element Discharge (AED). It allows for flexible follow-ups based on monster positioning.

Combo Input:
→ (+ ) → →

AED + Follow-Up Combo

This Axe Mode combo focuses on AEDs, making it a powerful yet efficient damage-dealing sequence. It works even better when enhanced by Savage Axe Mode.

Combo Input:
(+ ) → (+ ) →

AED & SAED Combo

This quick combo lets you immediately follow AED with SAED, unleashing all stored phials for an explosive finisher. Best used against knocked-down monsters for maximum effect. You can extend this sequence by adding extra Elemental Discharge attacks before SAED to optimize phial consumption.

Combo Input:
(+ ) → (+ )

Perfect Guard Combos

Blocking is for cowards—Perfect Guarding is for Charge Blade players. A well-timed Perfect Guard lets you tank even the nastiest monster attacks while instantly setting up devastating counters. Whether you’re transitioning into Savage Axe Mode or punishing a monster with a SAED right after blocking, these combos will turn your defense into an offense that hits like a truck.

Perfect Guard into Spinny Axe Combo

This is one of the best ways to capitalize on a Perfect Guard, allowing you to transition into Savage Axe Slash, which further boosts damage over time. This combo shines when used during monster aggression, as it lets you counter while staying in Axe Mode for prolonged phial-enhanced attacks.

Combo Input:
→ →

Perfect Guard into SAED Combo

This is a fast, high-damage sequence that allows you to go from Perfect Guard straight into Super Amped Element Discharge. It’s best used when you already have a charged shield and full phial energy for maximum impact.

Combo Input:
→ (+ )

This can also be executed after a Guard Point, providing another option for reactive counterplay. BLOG20

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the Charge Blade is a difficult weapon. Not just because it has a ton of combos and moves that require precise timing, but because you’re constantly managing phials, keeping track of your sword, shield, and axe buffs, and making sure they stay active.

But once you get the hang of it—and you will, especially after going through this guide and spending just 10–15 minutes in the practice range—it clicks. Blocking and dodging a monster’s strongest attacks feels badass, landing a Perfect Guard or Guard Point is even flashier, and Axe Mode is your ultimate “my turn” moment. All the setup, all the positioning, all the resource management—it all leads to that one perfect SAED, an explosion of damage that makes every second of effort worth it.

So here’s the message—dedicate some time to learning the Charge Blade. You’ll be glad you did.

F.A.Q.