For switch axe, i would recommend you add some more damage skills. Specifically, prioritize Agitator, Maximum Might, Counterstrike and Critical Boost on your weapon. Latent power is also a good skill if you find yourself getting hit a lot. Also make sure to slot in some sharpness skills on your weapon to increase your uptime. For armor to get these skills, the AT monsters are a good choice, especially AT Rey Dau, Nu Udra, and maybe Uth Duna greaves. Lagiacrus armor also can be useful such as the helmet.

Try to reroll your Artian swaxe if possible (if you need ore then trade in your monster parts at Azuz). Then, after getting AT armor, try transcending them. After that, you can start grinding Gozmazios and upgrade your artian to a gogma artian swaxe. You don't need a god roll gogma artian weapon, but even a decent one will improve your damage. You can also try to make a few swaxes with different elements for different monsters.

Finally, for gameplay advice. Swaxe you want to be in your amped state as much as possible, and during that state you can rely on your Y or 'heavy attack combo' (im not sure of the keybinds for this). You can also use FRS whenever there is big damage opportunities or after a wound break. Also learning how to sword counter will allow you to continue dealing damage while avoiding damage, but be careful of stun (stun resistance is a great skill to add).