User blog comment:Cerberus24/Element or status?/@comment-2255183-20100911005209

Status Weapons, are best if you plan on using a Sword and Shield, or a Spear. You can attack many times and their easier for Status damage. Poison and Paralyze are the best. Sleep is best to bomb, if you need horns or wings.

Element is good too, but for exemple, each element is only very effective for 2-3 Monsters (except Dragon).

I prefere Status weapons, since all monsters are effected by it, it's a very good choice, even better if all your patners take Paralyze weapons and such.

But Element Weapons can reach higher Sharpness, soo it all depends on your fighting style :)