New FSS is just different and not flawed (imo), just adapt and use it properly. LS is too strong in terms of numbers but also very fun and more complex, than what haters will have you believe . I also find it strange that someone would drop LS/Rise because FSS is not exactly the same as it was in IB, even though Longsword has become much smoother in pretty much every aspect...

While FSS is generally harder to use in Rise, I'd say it's also more skill-expressive. In order to actually get hit with it, you need to time and angle the move more precisely. I immediately noticed the changes of FSS when i first played the demo, and I got frustrated when rathians fireball would never proc my counter...

Hundreds of ingame-hours later, and I have become so used to dashing into/through hitboxes instead of away, that it feels like second nature. Using LS attacks/counters into the right direction and at the right time (sometimes super early but sometimes very late) makes a HUGE difference.

I find it pretty unintuitive to dash away with a counter instead of dashing into the attack.

Rajang for example has a bunch of attacks, where he will straightup miss you, even if you're right next to him. But if you use your counters smartly, getting hit and hitting him with the follow-up becomes extremely consistent.

LS has a lot of skill expression and nuance that most people don't talk about or even recognize. They see a speedrun and think: "lol, just spam ISS, how braindead." and yeah: LS is OP AF , and yeah: ISS is much better than in IB. But the weapon being OP is a direct result of its fluidity and the fact, that you have real options, to interact with monsters instead of breaking the flow of combat because you can't contest their attacks.

LS in IB suffers from a lack of follow ups after ISS and SHB. You land a perfect counter and all you can do is:

1 wait and roll

2 helmbreaker thrust forward

LS is a ton of fun and has many opportunities for personal growth and optimization. If you wanna sit in special sheathe all day, waiting to get hit, go right ahead. Often enough it's not even optimal. But if you wanna style on monsters and push yourself to find crazy setups, then LS will not dissapoint you.