Quick answer
Key takeaways
- Raw and elemental builds answer different questions. Raw damage is usually easier to use across many targets, while elemental value depends on the weapon's damage behavior, available skills, and the target part's elemental weakness.
- Check current weapon-specific guidance rather than judging by hit count alone. Attack frequency matters, but motion values, elemental scaling, skills, and the target's hit zones can change the result.
- Do not compare raw and elemental numbers without considering hit frequency, sharpness, skills, and monster hit zones.
Armor & builds
Raw and elemental builds answer different questions. Raw damage is usually easier to use across many targets, while elemental value depends on the weapon's damage behavior, available skills, and the target part's elemental weakness.
The best way to approach it
Check current weapon-specific guidance rather than judging by hit count alone. Attack frequency matters, but motion values, elemental scaling, skills, and the target's hit zones can change the result.
Build separate elemental options only when you can maintain them. A weaker but well-upgraded general weapon is better than several unfinished elemental branches.
Use monster weakness information to decide when a swap is worth it. Do not assume every target needs a unique elemental loadout during early progression.
A mistake to avoid
Do not compare raw and elemental numbers without considering hit frequency, sharpness, skills, and monster hit zones.
FAQ
Should every weapon use elemental damage?
No. Elemental value depends on weapon behavior and target weakness; many general-purpose builds perform well with raw damage.