User blog comment:Noobking87/Must be getting better at this.../@comment-8923133-20130506091510

i like to roll stuff with longswords but thats just because i dislike long battles although i'll admit this leads me to get knocked out every once in awhile on the more troubling monsters that i fight (at this point i'm at the end of single player and HR 4 online); if you find your having trouble with monsters its best to study thier atk patterns and figure out safe spots, maybe work for weps/armor that is strong against it, defensive weps are great if your good at blocking (SnS fire w/ auto block charm is my go to against lagi's in water) hammers are nice stam drains and if you can get enough head shots in you'll get those stuns, but usally they aren't the best for breaking and claiming those rare carves unless your teaming it. still wanna experiment with some of the newer wep styles but that'll come.

anyway if you wanna have an easier time with monsters a few little things:

1. gear up; both items and what your using/wearing is important from the sound of it you've got that covered

2. study the monster; i'm a 'purist' i like to figure out monsters on my own then go to the guide for help, watch what sorts of moves it does, where it likes to run to when its hungry and/or tired and if it likes to throw in new moves when its raging

3. take your time; usally the oposite of my play style but you need to take a deep breath in this game and aim at those spots you wanna break, most mosters get a lot easier if you can cut off thier tails (another downfall of the SnS it will get there, but it usally has issues reaching high up break points) for the barroth focus on its front arms and a leg if you get it on the side go for that tile

I know you weren't looking for help and it seems like you have most everything in hand, maybe this will help you, maybe you think its stupid, just trying to help.

last thing i'd just venture to say you should focus on blades or guns for a bit (espically since you still need to work your way up to the high rank stuff, not to mention G rank online) and try and get some strong equips to help out with the battles you find hard