Best Sword and Shield for Iceborne | Monster Hunter World (MHW)｜Game8 (2024)

This is a list of the best Sword and Shield to use in Monster Hunter World Iceborne. Learn what's the best Sword and Shield to use in Iceborne including the best Iceborne starter Sword and Shield up until pre and post-Fatalis Sword and Shield!

Best Sword and Shield (Early Iceborne)

The Sword and Shield are one of the most flexible weapons in monster hunter world. It can focus on raw damage, status ailments, and elemental attacks. We will list all the weapons viable for each type and reasons they're good (we will also be listing only blast status weapons due to the other ailments being extremely niche/situational).

Best Early Non-Elemental Weapon

For raw damage, you don't have many options early on. You'll be stuck with the iron tree for Chrome Knight Sword or the Great Jagras tree for Saber's Gullet II. Both are decent options but there several elemental weapons that can give you more advantages against the monsters you encounter early on.

Best Early Fire Weapon

The Anjanath weapon features a small negative affinity but gives a massive fire damage of 450! The negative affinity can be easily offset by a few Critical Eye jewels and Anjanath can easily be encountered early on.

Best Early Thunder Weapon

There isn't much option for early game thunder weapons for the SnS. The other thunder weapons are locked behind higher difficulty monsters such as the Fulgur Anjanath and Zinogre. A saving grace is that there aren't many monsters that are weak to thunder so in these monsters' case. going for raw weapons or status ailment weapons can be the smart choice.

Best Early Water Weapon

A pretty easy to craft water weapon from the Coral Pukei Pukei. Beware as its last upgrade path is locked behind the Acidic Glavenus but it is still a great water weapon for the early stages of the game.

Best Early Ice Weapon

The best Ice weapon comes from our shrill-voiced Legiana. It features a 450 element but its next upgrade path is blocked by Velkhana Materials. Nonetheless, the Hoarcry Rimespire will be able to provide all the ice element attribute you need even until the endgame if need be.

Best Early Dragon Weapon

This is one of the easiest to craft SnS for Iceborne that provides a decent amount of stats. It provides 450 dragon and can easily be crafted using bone materials that are picked up from MR quests.

Best Early Blast Weapon

A sealed weapon with a decent status ailment value. The Lumu Nightmare isn't the best raw weapon but it is the best early blast weapon but it will need the Free Elem/Ammo Up skill to show its true potential. It sports a 480 blast value which can rapidly inflict blast ailment to monsters and much more if you're playing single player.

Best Sword and Shield Lategame (Pre and Post Fatalis)

Best Non-Elemental Weapon

Why is it Good?

A level 4 slot, a sealed element which allows it to be buffed by Non-Elemental Boost, and high base damage. Acid Razor II is one of the best raw weapons to craft.

Best Fire Weapon

Why is it Good?

High Base damage, high sharpness, high Affinity, high fire elemental damage, what else do you need?

Best Thunder Weapon

Why is it Good?

High base damage, a decent thunder element, a 15% affinity boost, and a purple sharpness. It does suffer from having no decoration slot but its raw stats more than make up for it.

Best Ice Weapon

Why is it Good?

While it loses out on 15 affinity from Nardebosche (the normal Barioth variant), it more than makes up for it with higher sharpness and higher elemental and raw damage. The Silverbosche's stats is enough to make it the best Ice elemental SnS for the late game.

Best Water Weapon

Why is it Good?

Both weapons provide their own unique quirk. The Laguna Blossom II has a higher water element and sharpness and has move decoration slots. Hydros Discus, on the other hand, has higher base damage and a higher affinity stat. Both weapons will suffice as a water elemental SnS so craft either of them according to your preference.

Best Dragon Weapon

Why is it Good?

While the True Fatalis Sword also belongs to the Dragon Element path, the Alatreon Star has it beat in nearly every category (only losing out on raw damage by 70 points and both deco slots can only house level 2 decos as opposed to the Fatalis' lvl 4 deco slots). If you're looking for a great Dragon SnS, give Alatreon Star a try.

Best Blast Weapon

Why is it Good?

High base damage and a blast status ailment make the Lightbreak Sword the go-to weapon against any monster types. This sword also beats out every non-elemental SnS so if you don't wish to run an elemental build, give the Lightbreak Sword a try!

Related Links

Weapon Types and List of Weapons

Melee Weapons
Great Swords		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Great Sword for Each Element
	Best Great Sword for Iceborne
Long Swords		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Long Sword for Each Element
	Best Long Sword for Iceborne
Swords and Shields		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Sword and Shield for Each Element
	Best Sword and Shield for Iceborne
Dual Blades		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Dual Blades for Each Element
	Best Dual Blades for Iceborne
Hammers		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Hammer for Each Element
	Best Hammers for Iceborne
Hunting Horns		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Hunting Horn for Each Element
	Best Hunting Horn for Iceborne
	Hunting Horn Notes and Effects
Lances		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Lance for Each Element
	Best Lance for Iceborne
Gunlances		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Gunlance for Each Element
	Best Gunlance for Iceborne
Switch Axe		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Switch Axe for Each Element
	Best Switch Axe for Iceborne
Charge Blade		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Charge Blade for Each Element
	Best Charge Blades for Iceborne
Insect Glaive		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Insect Glaive for Each Element
	Best Insect Glaive for Iceborne

Kinsects
Kinsects	Kinsect Tree and Complete Kinsect List	Best and Recommended Kinsects

Ranged Weapons
Bows		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Bow for Each Element
Light Bowguns		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Light Bowgun for Each Element
Heavy Bowguns		How to Use
	Overall Best List	Best Skills
	Layered Weapon Augments
	Best Heavy Bowgun for Each Element