Monster Hunter Glaive: Ultimate Guide & Builds

by Jhon Lennon 47 views

Hey guys! Ready to become an aerial ace in Monster Hunter? Then you've come to the right place! This guide is all about the Insect Glaive, one of the most mobile and versatile weapons in the game. We'll cover everything from basic controls to advanced techniques, plus some killer builds to get you started. So, grab your Glaive, call your Kinsect, and let's jump in!

What is the Insect Glaive?

The Insect Glaive is a unique weapon that combines a staff with a Kinsect, a bug that can be sent out to gather extracts from monsters. These extracts buff your attack, defense, and speed, making you a formidable hunter. But the Glaive's main draw is its aerial combat. You can vault into the air at any time, allowing you to mount monsters with ease and deal massive damage from above. It's a super fun and engaging weapon that rewards skillful play and monster knowledge.

Why Choose the Insect Glaive?

So, why should you pick up the Insect Glaive? Here's a few reasons:

  • Mobility: The Glaive offers unparalleled mobility, allowing you to quickly traverse the battlefield and evade attacks.
  • Aerial Combat: If you love jumping and diving, the Glaive is your weapon. Master the aerial attacks and become a mounting machine.
  • Buffs: The Kinsect extracts provide valuable buffs that can significantly boost your combat prowess.
  • Versatility: The Glaive is effective against a wide range of monsters and adapts well to different playstyles.
  • Fun Factor: Let's be honest, soaring through the air and smacking monsters with a bug is just plain fun!

Insect Glaive Controls and Combos

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Here's a breakdown of the Insect Glaive's basic controls and some essential combos to get you started. Remember to practice these in the training area to get a feel for the weapon.

Basic Controls

  • X (or Y on Xbox): Standard attack.
  • A (or B on Xbox): Vault.
  • ZR (or RT on Xbox): Send out Kinsect.
  • ZL + X (or LT + X on Xbox): Recall Kinsect.
  • ZL + A (or LT + B on Xbox): Kinsect Charge.

Essential Combos

  • Ground Combo: X > X > X (or Y > Y > Y). This is your bread-and-butter combo for dealing consistent damage on the ground.
  • Vaulting Attack: A > X (or B > Y). Vault into the air and perform a downward thrust attack. Great for initiating aerial attacks.
  • Mid-Air Combo: X > X > X (or Y > Y > Y). Unleash a series of aerial attacks while airborne. This is your main source of mounting damage.
  • Kinsect Charge Combo: ZL + A > X (or LT + B > Y). Charge your Kinsect and then perform a quick attack. This is great for applying elemental or status effects.

Kinsect Mechanics: Extract Hunting

The Kinsect is more than just a fancy bug; it's your personal buffing machine! Here's how to use it effectively:

  1. Send out your Kinsect: Press ZR (or RT) to send your Kinsect towards the monster.
  2. Target specific body parts: Aim for the head for attack extract (red), the body for speed extract (white), and the legs/wings for defense extract (orange). Some monsters may have different extract locations, so experiment and learn!
  3. Recall your Kinsect: Press ZL + X (or LT + X) to recall your Kinsect with the extract.
  4. Buff Up: Collecting different extracts will grant you various buffs. Having all three (red, white, and orange) gives you the triple buff, which is the strongest and provides attack, speed, and defense boosts.

Mastering the Kinsect is crucial to playing the Insect Glaive effectively. Always keep your buffs up!

Insect Glaive Builds

Alright, let's talk builds! Here are a few Insect Glaive builds to get you started, catering to different playstyles and stages of the game. Remember to adjust these builds based on your available decorations and armor pieces.

Early Game Build

  • Weapon: Iron Glaive I (or any early-game Glaive with decent raw damage)
  • Armor: Bone Helm, Bone Mail, Bone Vambraces, Bone Coil, Bone Greaves
  • Skills: Attack Boost (prioritize this!), Defense Boost, Speed Sharpening

This build is all about maximizing your raw damage and survivability in the early game. The Bone armor set provides a good balance of attack and defense, while the Iron Glaive offers reliable damage output.

Mid Game Build

  • Weapon: Defender Glaive V (or any Glaive with good sharpness and elemental damage)
  • Armor: Rathalos Helm, Rathalos Mail, Rathalos Vambraces, Anjanath Coil, Jagras Greaves
  • Skills: Attack Boost, Weakness Exploit, Critical Eye, Fire Attack (if using a Fire Glaive)

This build focuses on exploiting monster weaknesses and maximizing your critical hit rate. The Rathalos armor set provides excellent offensive skills, while the Defender Glaive offers a good balance of raw and elemental damage.

Late Game/End Game Build

  • Weapon: Lightbreak Press (or any top-tier Glaive with high raw damage and sharpness)
  • Armor: Dragonhead Alpha +, Dragonhide Alpha +, Dragonclaw Alpha +, Dragon Tail Alpha +, Dragonfeet Alpha +
  • Skills: Critical Eye 7, Weakness Exploit 3, Critical Boost 3, Agitator 7, Attack Boost 4

This build is designed for maximizing damage output in the late game. The Fatalis armor set (Dragon) provides a plethora of offensive skills, while the Lightbreak Press (Safi'jiiva) offers incredible raw damage and sharpness. This is the ultimate damage-dealing build for the Insect Glaive.

Elemental Build

  • Weapon: Kjarr Glaive (any element) or Safi'jiiva Glaive (customized for element)
  • Armor: Silver Rathalos set (4 piece), with a flexible head piece (e.g., Kirin Horn Alpha + for Thunder builds)
  • Skills: Critical Element, Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, appropriate Elemental Attack Up (e.g., Thunder Attack for Thunder Glaive)

This build is focused on taking advantage of elemental weaknesses of monsters. The Silver Rathalos armor provides Critical Element, which greatly boosts elemental damage on critical hits. Use a Kjarr Glaive (from Kulve Taroth) for innate Critical Element, or customize a Safi'jiiva Glaive with elemental augments.

Remember, these are just starting points. Experiment with different armor pieces and decorations to create builds that suit your playstyle and the monsters you're hunting.

Advanced Insect Glaive Techniques

Want to take your Insect Glaive game to the next level? Here are some advanced techniques to master:

Kinsect Management

  • Kinsect Charge: Use Kinsect Charge (ZL + A or LT + B) to power up your Kinsect's speed and stamina. This allows it to gather extracts more quickly and efficiently.
  • Kinsect Recall Timing: Learn to time your Kinsect recalls to maximize your uptime. Don't wait until your buffs expire; recall your Kinsect just before they run out to maintain a constant flow of buffs.
  • Kinsect Dust Effects: Some Kinsects have special dust effects that can inflict status ailments on monsters. Experiment with different Kinsects to find the ones that suit your playstyle.

Aerial Combat Mastery

  • Directional Vaults: Use the directional input to control the direction of your vaults. This allows you to evade attacks and position yourself for optimal aerial attacks.
  • Mid-Air Dodges: You can dodge in mid-air by pressing the dodge button (B or Circle). This is essential for avoiding attacks while airborne.
  • Mounting Optimization: Focus on dealing damage to the monster's back and head while mounting to increase your chances of successfully mounting and topple.

Ground Game Enhancement

  • Utilize Ground Combos: Don't neglect your ground combos. They are a reliable source of damage when you can't safely go airborne.
  • Positioning: Pay attention to your positioning relative to the monster. Stay mobile and avoid getting cornered.
  • Evade Extender: The Evade Extender skill can greatly improve your mobility on the ground, allowing you to dodge attacks more easily.

Understanding Monster Weaknesses

  • Elemental Weaknesses: Exploit monster elemental weaknesses to deal increased damage. Use a Glaive with the appropriate element and build your armor skills accordingly.
  • Part Weaknesses: Target monster parts that are weak to your weapon type (blunt, severing, or shot). The Insect Glaive deals primarily severing damage.
  • Status Ailments: Inflict status ailments like poison, paralysis, or sleep to create openings for attacks.

Tips and Tricks

  • Practice makes perfect: The Insect Glaive can be challenging to master, so don't get discouraged if you don't get it right away. Keep practicing and experimenting, and you'll eventually become an aerial ace.
  • Watch gameplay videos: Watching videos of experienced Insect Glaive players can help you learn new techniques and strategies.
  • Experiment with different builds: Don't be afraid to try different builds and find the ones that suit your playstyle.
  • Have fun!: The most important thing is to have fun! The Insect Glaive is a rewarding and engaging weapon to play, so enjoy the ride.

Conclusion

The Insect Glaive is a fantastic weapon for hunters who love mobility, aerial combat, and strategic gameplay. With its unique Kinsect mechanics and versatile move set, the Glaive offers a rewarding and engaging experience. So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your Glaive, master the controls, and become the ultimate aerial hunter!