Read this Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Sword & Shield guide on the best endgame weapon tier ranking & by elements. Find out info on stats, weapon skills, & why they're good!!!
【Iceborne Endgame Tier Ranking】
- Iceborne: Best Endgame Tier List
- Tier 1: Lumu Nightmare II
- Tier 2: Booming Barrage
- Tier 3: Manifested Lotus
【MHW: Ranked By Elements】
- Elementless / Fire / Water
- Thunder / Ice / Dragon 1
- Dragon 2 / Paralysis
Related Sword & Shield Articles
| How To Use | Best Builds |
| Recommended Skills |  Endgame Tier List |
Check Out All Weapon Types Here!
Iceborne Best Endgame Sword & Shield Weapons List
Notice: We are still investigating best weapon in Iceborne. Please wait for update.
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Lumu Nightmare II | Booming Barrage | Manifested Lotus |
Best Endgame Sword & Shield: Tier 1
Lumu Nightmare II
| Lumu Nightmare II | Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | (Blast 480) | 0% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 3/1/- | - |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
Heavy Blast Damage With Free Elem/Ammo Up Skill
With Free Elem/Ammo Up builds such as the Artian set, Lumu Nightmare II gets a heavy Blast damage of 480 (which exceeds its own raw damage) & becomes much more threatening.
Can Reach Purple Sharpness With Handicraft
Lumu Nightmare II can reach purple sharpness gauge with Handicraft Skill, which is helpful for a Sword & Shield.
Good Slots Level & Number
One Lv.3 and Lv.1 slot gives Lumu Nightmare II better expandability & build customization.
Easily Accessible
Lumu Nightmare II lies on the top of the Paolumu tree and can be farmed relatively early on. Combined with the high blast damage you can unlock with Free Elem/Ammo Up, you now have a powerhouse weapon early in the late-game.
Want One? Check out How To Beat Paolumu and get yours Today!
Best Endgame Sword & Shield: Tier 2
Booming Barrage
| Booming Barrage | Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | Blast 360 | 0% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 1/-/- | - |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
High Blast Damage
Booming Barrage has a good 360 Blast damage that exceeds even its own raw damage.
Has A Long White Sharpness Gauge
Booming Barrage has a long white sharpness that helps out the quick slashing playstyle of Sword & Shield.
Good From The Start
No Free Elem/Ammo Up skills are needed for Booming Barrage, making it more viable for many builds.
Want One? Check out How To Beat Brachydios and get yours Today!
Best Endgame Sword & Shield: Tier 3
Manifested Lotus
| Manifested Lotus | Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 392 | (Dragon 450) | 0% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| (High) | 1/1/0 | +30 |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
High Raw Damage With Good Utility
Manifested Lotus has a decently high 392 raw damage for Sword & Shield, 2 Lv.1 slots, & a +30 Defense bonus making it a very well-rounded choice.
Can Reach Purple Sharpness With Handicraft
Manifested Lotus can reach a decent length purple sharpness gauge through the Handicraft Skill. Having longer white gauge won't hurt either.
Use Non-Elemental Boost If Not Using Free Elem/Ammo Up
Non-Elemental Boost skill will increase 5% raw damage when Free Elem/Ammo Up skill isn't up.
Want One? Check out How To Beat Shara Ishvalda to get yours Today!
MHW: List Of Best Best Sword & Shield By Elements
| - | Fire | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Taroth Slicer "Mud" | Taroth Slicer "Fire" | Taroth Slicer "Water" |
| Thunder | Ice | Dragon 1 |
| Kjarr Slicer "Myth" | Kjarr Slicer "Stream" | Fatal Bite |
| Elderseal High | Paralysis | - |
| Witcher's Silver Sword+ | Taroth Slicer "Numb" | - |
Best Elementless Sword & Shield Weapon
Taroth Slicer "Mud"
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 308 | (Paralysis 180) | -10% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 1/-/- | +25 |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
The Sword & Shield With Highest Attack power
Taroth Slicer "Mud" has the highest attack power (308) of all Sword & Shields, which can be further enhanced with Non-elemental Boost skill. With rarity 7, it can be upgraded twice, negating it's -10% Affinity drawback.
Good Specs With High Flexibility
Good slots, Defense Bonus, and Attack Power make it a high spec choice weapon with tons of flexibility, so keep one around.
Best Fire Sword & Shield Weapon
Taroth Slicer "Fire"
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 252 | (Fire 390) | 0% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 3/1/1 | +20 |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
A Stable Powerhouse
Taroth Slicer "Fire" has high Attack power, a good elemental attribute of 390, and a white sharpness gauge. Its level 3 Slot gives it much flexibility in builds.
If You Don't Want To Use Free Elem / Ammo Up Skill:
If you don't want the hassle of using a "Free Elem / Ammo Up" Skill, choose Taroth Slicer "King" as an alternative. Thought it lacks a white sharpness gauge, it makes up for it with +30% affinity.
Best Water Sword & Shield Weapon
Taroth Slicer "Water"
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 266 | (水420) | 10% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 3/-/- | +20 |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
Best Water Elemental Attack Power!
Taroth Slicer "Water" has a staggering 420 water attack and high stats. It's better attack power than Taroth Slicer "Fire" together with +10% affinity makes this weapon a bane for monsters with water weakness.
Best Thunder Sword & Shield Weapon
Kjarr Slicer "Myth"
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 238 | Thunder 330 | 10% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 1/-/- | - |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|---|
| Weapon Skill | Critical Element |
Don't Need "Free Elem / Ammo Up" Skill To Work
Good Thunder damage of 330, while not requiring a "Free Elem / Ammo Up" skill to be effective unlike the Master Bang, gives Kjarr Slicer "Myth" more choices in builds.
Best Ice Sword & Shield Weapon
Kjarr Slicer "Stream"
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 238 | 氷300 | 10% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| - | 1/-/- | - |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|---|
| Weapon Skill | Critical Element |
Has A White Sharpness Gauge
A decent 330 water damage as well as having a default white sharpness gauge allows Kjarr Slicer "Stream" to maintain a stable damage output. Prepare one to combat monsters weak to water.
Best Dragon Sword & Shield Weapon
Fatal Bite
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 308 | Dragon 210 | -20% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| High | ― ― ― | - |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
Top Class Damage Output Vs Elder Dragons
With over 300 Attack power, Dragon 210, and Elderseal High, Fatal Bite is highly effective vs Elder Dragons. While it has the same Attack Power with Taroth Slicer "Mud", you can increase Fatal Bite damage by turning sharpness into white with Handicraft Lv1.
Best Dragon Sword & Shield Weapon
Witcher's Silver Sword+
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 266 | Dragon 330 | 0% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| High | 1/-/- | - |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
Another Good Tool To Fight Elder Dragons With
Witcher's Silver Sword+, though has less Attack power than Fatal Bite, has a higher dragon attack at 330. Considering Witcher's Silver Sword+ already has a white sharpness gauge, it is a versatile tool in many builds.
Best Paralysis Sword & Shield Weapon
Taroth Slicer "Numb"
| Attack Power | Element | Affinity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | Paralysis 240 | 30% | |
| Elderseal | Slots | Defense Bonus | |
| ― | ― ― ― | +20 |
| Default Sharpness | |
|---|
Great For Support Build!
Taroth Slicer "Numb"'s high affinity and paralysis allows it to be a great addition for support-oriented builds. Compared with Numb Gold Scimitar, it is a rarity 7 weapon and can be augmented twice to maintains versatility in builds.
