The Switch Axe tends to be the weapon that, for new players, begins to separate their knowledge of Monster Hunter from other games. You can understand a long sword, a sword and shield and perhaps even the lance – they all have the kind of attacks that make a certain amount of sense for a gamer. Of course they’re hard to master, but the attacks at least make some sort of thematic link to others – a slash here, a shield block there, it works. The Switch Axe however, turns from an axe into a sword, with attacks that take place between the transformation period, it has a gauge that restricts your sword time and it also comes in different types, like Power & Exhaust? It can be dizzying for the new player to learn.
Petrified Axe

The first Switch Axe that we’ll recommend is actually already in your inventory when you start the game. Luckily, it’s also one of the best that you’ll get your hands on for a good while, at least in terms of viability against any monster. This is mainly because, as you upgrade the axe, it retains a very high amount of raw damage and a good amount of green sharpness. Both of these are critical, especially in the early game where your ability to tailor your axe type to the monster is limited. You’re not exactly going to be over flowing with different elements and such, so having a good stalwart axe like this is ideal.
The ‘Power’ type on this axe means that you’ll get a 20% damage boost to your sword type attacks, which is a great boost to have at any point and is generally considered by far the best type of Switch Axe to use throughout Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. It might seem simple, but the upgrade path is so easy that it quickly eclipses most other models at the start of the game.
Low Rank Benefits
- Very easy to upgrade to level 4 or 5, quickly.
- Power type Switch Axe, which adds 20% damage boost to your sword attacks.
- Good level of sharpness as it upgrades.
- You’ll be hard pressed to find a better Switch Axe until…
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Aksa Switch

Sticking with the same Switch Axe for the entirety of Low Rank isn’t going to fly now is it, no matter how good the upgraded Petrified model is. So this, the Seregios Switch Axe, makes for the ideal upgrade. Much like all of it’s other weapons, you’ll regain a bit of sharpness after evading 5 times. This makes the fact that it comes with a sliver of natural blue sharpness all the more attractive. When you add this to a respectable amount of raw damage, that 10% affinity and the fact that it’s a ‘Power’ type, then you’re left with probably the absolute best Switch Axe available in low rank MHGU. To be honest, it retains this position throughout most of the game too, even as you climb the ranks, as long as you keep upgrading it.
For reference, both this and the Petrified model are Switch Axes that we’d recommend you use in the ‘usual’ Swag style: Get it into sword mode as quickly as possible and hop from weak spot to weak spot, shredding monster health. We say this, because our next option might be slightly different…
Low Rank Benefits
- Great level of raw damage.
- Excellent sharpness, which automatically sharpens itself after 5 unsheathed dodges.
- Another Power type Switch Axe, which boosts sword mode damage by 20%.
- Extra 10% affinity is a nice bonus.
- An excuse to fight the legend that is Seregios.
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Eisenleib

The Eisenleib is a Switch Axe that you can swing around like a purple glowing scythe.
So, this next weapon is actually the Gore Magala switch axe. It doesn’t have the best raw damage – as you can see it’s very much below the Seregios’ one that we detailed above – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without it’s benefits: There’s a good amount of affinity on there, an extra slot and a tiny amount of Dragon damage is included – there are only a few monsters in the game that are truly weak to Dragon, but it’s still nice to have.
Did we mention you could swing a purple scythe around?
Eh alright look, it’s not a fantastic switch axe from a statistical perspective. It is however, absolutely crammed full of Swag. This is the swaggest of Low Rank swag axes. So we’re only going to offer one more piece of advice: Choose Adept Style and learn to love that Adept evade into axe mode follow up attack. It’s truly one of the most stylish counter attacks in MHGU, right up there with the Greatsword follow up. Why not use a glowing purple scythe whilst you’re doing it? Monster Hunter is if nothing else, all about having fun whilst you hunt.
Low Rank Benefits
- Whilst not considered high, the raw damage is respectable.
- Sharpness improves as it’s upgraded.
- 15% Affinity is quite high for it’s early crafting point.
- Did we mention that, with Adept Style, you can swing around a massive purple scythe? Monster Hunter is, if nothing else, about having fun, and purple scythes are fun!

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