Charge Blade

Weapons

Weapon Overview

Charge Blade (チャージアックス / Chājiakkusu / Charge Axe) is a new weapon first introduced in MH4. This weapon is very similar to the Switch Axe with its ability to switch between two different weapon modes; the Sword and Shield-Mode and the Axe-Mode. The Axe-Mode is capable of unleashing a powerful charged attack called "High-Powered Slash" by using charges built up in the wepon. Charges can be collected by attacking enemies with the Sword and Shield-Mode, in which the phial located on the hilt will glow yellow after enough hits have landed, and red with further hits. The hunter can then load the charged energy into the weapon, which will show up as glowing bottles beneathe the sharpness bar. Yellow charge will net 3 bottles worth, while the red charge will net a full 5 bottles worth of charge energy. After the weapon has charges in it, the Axe-Mode's attacks will now use 1 bottle of charge energy per attack (including the High-Powered Slash). It is important to keep watch on the charge level of the Charge Blade, because if left on the red charge level, the weapon will become "overheat", and bounces off enemies when being used to attack. The hunter must constantly load the weapon, as to not only build up the charge for powerful attacks, but to keep the weapon from overheating as well. Though, the Axe-Mode doesn't seem to suffer from this problem. The Charge Blade has received an upgrade in MH4U with new attacks, and a new charge system. The hunter can now do a blunt, shield-attack that can be used after any normal attacks. The hunter can also cancel the High-Powered Slash and instantly returns to the Sword and Shield-Mode, in which if the Axe-Mode had charges built up, the energy will be transferred to the Sword and Shield-Mode instead. In this "Enhanced State", the Charge Blade will glow red and deals more damage than usual, before the glow turns to yellow, and eventually fade away along with the effect. However, during the Enhaced State, if the hunter managed to build up another full charge, they can use the Charge Blade's strongest attack: "Super High-Powered Slash" that uses up all 5 bottles of charge energy at once. The Super High-Powered Slash will be different depending on what type of Charge Blade it is; which is either a linear-splash shockwave for the Explosive Type, or rapid strikes of bolts for the Elemental Enhance Type.

Weapon Traits

The Charge Blade's usage is similar to that of the Switch Axe, but focuses more on the rapid and speedy attack of the Sword and Shield-Mode, and charged attacks that can be used multiple times in the Axe-Mode. Its other features in general are:

• The user can do the unsheathe-attack in either Sword and Shield-Mode or the Axe-Mode.
• The user can do the unsheathe-attack in either Sword and Shield-Mode or the Axe-Mode.
• When the user switches between the mode, the switch animation also counts as an attack, so they can continues the combo as they changes modes.
• The Sword and Shield-Mode functions similarly to the Sword and Shield, but it has a unique 2-hit charged attack that's very useful for collecting the charge energy to make up for its slower speed and less number of hits.
• Just like Dual Blades, and Switch-Axe, the Charge Blade can collect charge energy through attacking. But it can only collect the energy in the Sword and Shield-Mode.
• The weapon uses bottles to represent the charge energy, rather than energy bar like other weapons. The max number of charge one can have at a time is 5 bottles.
• After hitting the enemies enough time, the phial on the Charge Blade will glow yellow, which will fill up 3 bottles. If the hunter continues to land more hits, the phial will glow red which will fill up 5 bottles.
• If the hunter leave the Charge Blade with the red glow on, the weapon will become overheat, and bounces off enemies when used, regardless of how sharp the weapon may be. This forces the user to keep an eye on the state of the weapon and load the energy regularly.
• The Axe-Mode is very slow compared to the Switch-Axe, and has less normal attacks, but it has a special round-house combo that ends with the powerful High-Powered Slash. If the weapon has charges in it, the round-house combo will use up 1 bottle of charge energy per swing for extra damage.
• While the High-Powered Slash is significantly more powerful than the powered round-house slashes, it still uses only 1 bottle of charge energy. So with careful use, the hunter can use 5 High-Powered Slashes in a row. Though, the hunter must make at least one normal attack before they can use the High-Powered Slash.
• When an enemy is hit with the High-Powered Slash, it will suffer multiple explosive hits where the attack has landed. This makes it a risk vs. reward move, since it's considerably slow, and can be hard to aim, but deals quite a high damage.
• Charge Blade comes in 2 different types: Explosive Type, and Element Enhance Type. The Explosive Type adds Stun damage to the High-Powered Slash, while the Element Enhance Type increases the weapon's elemental damage.
• The Charge Blade is the third hybrid weapon in the series, with Gunlance being the first, and Switch Axe the second.
• As of 4U, the Charge Blade gains a new shield-bash attack that deals Stun damage. The attack is considerably fast and launches upward, making it very useful for hitting monsters' heads, or even hovering monsters.
• Another significant addition is the new Enhanced State, which requires the hunter to charge up the weapon then used the High-Powered Slash, but cancel back into the Sword and Shield-Mode before the move is finished. The will allow the charged energy to be transferred back to the weapon, giving it an attack boost as it glows red. The glow will eventually change to yellow and fade out.
• By entering the Enahanced State, then getting another full charge on top, the user can perform the Super High-Powered Slash which is the most powerful attack. This move will use up all 5 bottles of charge energy at once. Though, the move can still be used without any charge energy, it would simply be a powerful axe-swing with no added benefit.
• The attack' special effect will be different based on the type of the weapon. The Explosive type will create splash shockwaves in a straight line, while the Element Enhance Type will create bolts of lighting that strike repeatedly.

Sword and Shield-Mode

Just as the name implies, this mode is based on the classic Sword and Shield, with the main differences in that the sword can be combined with the shield, and the much larger sizes in general. While the attacks and its combo may not be as fluids and continuous, it makes up in sheer power, including its ability to do a charge attack that often staggers monsters.

This mode is also the only mean for the weapon to build up charge energy from attacking the enemies, to be used for either the High-Powered Slash, or for the Enhanced State. But be careful not overcharge the sword to the point of overheating, or it will become useless and bounce off when attacking.

In 4U, the user can now perform the High-Powered Slash straight from the Sword and Shield Mode, right after the shield-bash move.

Axe Mode

Axe-Mode boasts a higher attack power and longer reach than the Sword and Shield-Mode, but sacrifices guarding and speed. However, it has a round-house combo, and a powerful High-Powered Slash special attack that consume charge energy that can easily topple a great beast, or blow away many small ones.

In most cases, many prefer to do a full combo with the round-house slashes, then end with the High-Powered Slash. But this method often miss, as the combo takes too long for the final hit to land, and the monsters will either dodge or counter-attack the user first. It is highly recommended for the user to do a sheathe attack into the Axe-Mode, then immediately follow with the High-Powered Slash.

Videos

Video
File:Monster Hunter 4 Charge Axe Tutorial ver.3 English commentary online gameplay
Title	Charge Blade Controls by iCEMANnoob

Controls

R when in Sword Mode = Block
R when in Axe Mode = Side Slash into Sword Mode

In Sword Mode
X = Diagonal Slash
X + X = Slash and Uppercut Slash
X + X + X = Finishes with Roundhouse Slash
X+A = Moves Forward and Slashes

A = Uppercut Slash with slight angle
A + A = Uppercut slash and roundhouse slash
X + A = Side Slash and Diagonal Uppercut Slash

R+A To Charge Weapon
R+X to Change into Axe Mode

In Axe Mode
X = Uppercut Slash as seen in Switchaxes' axe mode
X + X = Uppercut + Overhead downwards chop
A = Side Chop
>X + A = Uppercut Slash and Roundhouse Slash
A + A = Side Chop and Roundhouse Slash
A + A + A = Side chop, roundhouse slash and charged slash.

Gallery

The silhouette first revealed.

The new weapon type, the Charge Blade.

Sword Mode

Mh4 swordmode 04 thumb.jpg

Axe Mode

Charge Blade Transforms

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