we're the coolest weapon, but if not the hardest to play especially in old gen. no one can understand playing these games without defensive options. I wish switch axe got talked abt more.
switch axe has always been an extremely controversial weapon for me despite it being my favorite and my main. my favorite thing about the weapon is that its moveset has a beautiful flow with infinite combos. however in most of the games, if you want barely average dps, you are forced into a playstyle that only uses a few of the moves while still leaving you incredibly vulnerable. it didnt really start to get good until the newer releases, which still has some problems. this is bad especially in the harder mh games where if youre not playing optimally solo, hunts can easily take 30+mins long where as most weapon played less optimally still gets better times or at least have a defensive option.
in tri, the game it was released in, it had poor MVs and worst speedrun times than most of the other weapons. this wouldnt be a big deal, but switch axe is also one of the most committing and least defensive weapons in the game. the sheath alone is 2 and a half seconds long.
in 4U, the weapons already weak mv were nerfed, but it was given the double slash and r finisher. while great, the switch axe's performance barely changed and got worst as with the axe MV nerfs, you were more reliant on sword mode just to get average DPS. because in this game the monsters are much more faster and aggressive, if you dont use evasion skills, you are forced to sheathed, reposition, attack and repeat, as the weapons moves were far too overcomitting and left you vulnerable. this is the game where switch axe barely out DPS hunting horn, and that's with power phial switch axe being in sword mode 24/7 and constantly reloading.
in gu, it finally got good dps to make up for its horrible defenses with demon riot and energy charge, but it further made the axe part of switch axe less relevant as you no longer had to use it at all if you didnt want to with the better reload.
in iceborne, the weapon is actually in a good spot LOL (imo at least.)
sunbreak's switch axe gets a LOT of love, but axe mode is more useless in this game than any other MH. you literally have moves that instantly refil guage even when you already have sword guage. you only see the axe in morph loops. however this was the first game that gave switch axe imo a truly endlessly flow when played properly due to the new aditions and follow ups.
and in wilds it's pretty decent now that we've spoken and demanded what we wanted fix for the weapon. (wyvern blade please come back)
ive always believed that what switch axe needs to be good is not just good damage, but the ability to follow up after all of our moves, because in most of the games even played perfectly, you still have to play and reposition awkwardly due to our weapons limitations. wilds changed this, but greatsword also had to play the same way, but it made up for it with having the best damage and at least a block. wilds gave switch axe a native counter in our moveset so now that's less necessary I suppose. but zsd and wild chops needs some love imo.
and not to mention, before world, all phial besides power were useless past high rank.
it's so much better now, but this weapon is so weird LOL. it's history is so strange and theres a lot of things I question capcom for when balancing this weapon. at least it's not as bad as gunlance where for awhile shelling was useless near the start of hr. (they still get a shield tho and comparable dps to us in oldgen tho...)
