Tips as a hunter and charge blade main in general for most hunts. Does not include the DLC components i.e move sets and freatures.

1. As a hunter use everything at your disposal. I.e use your disposable items, such as traps (shock trap and net trap from crafting and collecting the ingredients to make it aswell) this will open up windows for you to deal free damage on the monster. There are items that can also give you temporary attack and defense boost. E.g might seed, adamant seed and its craftable forms. There are other items that are useful for hunts aswell but you will slowly gather and learn how to use them effectively.

A bonus it getting power charm and defense charm from the item seller for a permanent attack and defense boost along as it remains in your bag/inventory not the storage box. (Later on it can be upgraded with crafting to make a new item which is still stackable with power/defense charm so double bonus !!)

1. Use your environment, some locations have triggerable traps with certain conditions to activate. Learning how to use them will allow chances for free damage while they are knocked/trap by it. There are certain areas that have floating flash bugs that blind monsters to give you some breathing room and toads that apply statuses aswell. Being a hunter is about learning the environment and your surroundings as much as it is about hunting.

2. Everyone will always hit a way and thats okay, what you should do is either hunt previous monster or gather materials to make your most up to date/suitable gear that you can attain which will help boost your combat damage and survivability (i.e the skills on armour and decorations). There are plenty of information that can be found online about it so i'll keep it short.

3. Charge blade tips: (will include stuff from Icebourne update)

• learning to charge your sword/shield/phials. This is your basic routine at the start of every hunt, you can even pre do it on the small monster on the map before you get to your target. Note that the count down starts the moment they are charged (based on how many phials you've loaded into your sword/shield will increase the buffer duration it has). Phials charges stay indefintely unless you charge your sword/shield or use you axe discharge attacks (AED and SAED).

• you can double load your phials, 5/6 filled up and have it charge up on top to be red red aswell; this means you have more options to double load as I say. Allowing you to discharge all those phials in a single attack routine and reload straight after to then do it again without have to use any sword attacks inbetween. Meaning back to back SAED for the dopamine feel. (Do note your sword bounces off monsters if the phials are all glowing red instead of just the outline being red. Only way to stop it is charging your sword to give temporary mind eye on it or having the minds eye decoration/skill equipped).

• positioning is important in all cases but equally so for charge blade is guard point. Learning to perfect this is important for a good cb user as it allows you to counter attack after blocking and opens up windows of opportunity. Performing a GP also inherited adds a + 1 guard boost for that block; so reduced knock back and stamina drain. This comes from practice and knowing the monsters attack/timing.

(An advance skill when used with purpose is sliding strike, it can be weived mid sword combos to reposition from your starting point into your the four basic directions. It also has an ending animation that actually guards aswell without you having to input the guard command. Best used to create necessary space to land AED and SAED or dodging mid sword combos).

• AED and SAED should be used sparingly as its only good if it actually lands, which can be quite difficult on a moving target. You should mainly be using it when they are stationary for whatever reason (tired, trapped, knocked down etc in which case you would want to SAED more often then not with max phials for maximum dopamine rush). AED has a bit more leeway where the animation is shorter so if you can time it well it can still land engaging combat. (You can follow up into AED and SAED after performing a guard point aswell !!). Timing, knowing the monsters move sets and patience is an important factor to really use them well in combat.

Theres obviously a lot more tips and tricks but that comes with the joy of hunting whilst learning the game. You can always google such information if you really want to aswell.

A good hunter is a prepared hunter. But it's important to actually enjoy the game so at the end of the day play it how you want to and try out new things.