A list of the best choices for endgame SnS, sorted by element/status

A note for newcomers: the thing with SnS is that in order to deal good damage you have to pick the one with the element that the monster you're fighting is weak against. That means that there's not the one SnS which you can use against every monster in the game, like the Cera Cymmetry for Greatswords (or Ukanlos Skycleaver). To use this weapon properly you should own at least one SnS of every element and check the elemental weaknesses of a monster on the internet before a fight in order to know which SnS you should use (you can also find out by looking at the monster's armor parts at the smith; the lower the armor's elemental resistance, the weaker the monster is against that element). If you only want to give the weapon a try to see how it handles, I'd say make a blast one, but if you plan to actually main SnS, build one weapon for every element.

I made this list for myself to see what Sword and Shield I should aim for, using kiranico, but I thought that maybe other people might be interested in this as well. If you find any mistakes or think that a certain weapon would be a better choice, let me know. This list is not set in stone, and I'm open for suggestions.

The stats listed are those of the final weapon in that line. The first number is the raw damage, the second number is the elemental/status damage. The first sharpness color is standard, the second color is with Sharpness+1. My priorities when picking those weapons were elemental/status damage and sharpness. The alternatives are weapons that are either easier and/or earlier to get, or that are better but need either Sharpness+1 or Awaken for that.

How to get to those weapons:

• Water: The Seltas Queen weapons are just the continuation from the Seltas weapons like the Celestial Sword. Tidal Najarala can be built from scratch or by upgrading the Velocidrome line to Najarala and then switch the the Tidal line at the Paraspiked Circle. Both Dah'ren Mohran and Ludroth weapons have to be built from scratch.

• Fire: You can build the Poison Battleaxe from scratch and upgrade it to the first Rathalos sword (or you start with the Hunter's Knife). The G-Rank version of the Silver Rathalos is available via the DLC event quest "The Silver King's Slumber", and for the G-Rank Golden Rathian you have to do the event questline "Episode 5: Sweetheart Square Off" that you can start at the felyne that's standing next to your equipment box. You'll have to do two quests, "Kill a mini Daimyo Hermitaur" and "Steal a Great Wyvern Tear from a Brachydios" before you'll get the Rathian quest. The Master Sword is the Zelda DLC weapon, available via the HR DLC event quest "Fire Fight".

• Thunder: Rajang weapons are built with the Crimson Club as basis, a weapon built from Monoblos, Daimyo Hermitaur and Cephadrome parts. Kirin has to be built from scratch. The first Zinogre weapon can be built as well, or you upgrade the Velocidrome Bite+ (or you start with the Hunter's Knife).

• Ice: You can get a Rusted SnS (with some luck) from a Rust Shard that you can mine in LR and HR volcano and Heaven's Mount, as well as HR Frozen Seaway. After you upgraded that SnS once you can either go down the Dragon path or the Daora path. Kirin Sub has to be built from scratch. Zamtrios can be upgraded from the Bone Kris. The Tusk Gear can either be found in Rustshards or you can build it from scratch.

• Dragon: White Fatalis can be build directly once its DLC becomes available. The first Magala SnS can eithe be built directly or you upgrade to it from the Commander's Dagger (or from the Hunter's Knife). Stygian Zinogre can be built from Zinogre weapons, see Thunder.

• Poison: You can build the Poison Battleaxe directly or you upgrade it from the Hunter's Knife. The Rathian line starts by upgrading the Commander's Dagger, as does the G. Jaggi line. For the last version of the Rathian SnS you'll need the G-Rank Golden Rathian, see Fire on how to get it.

• Paralysis: Upgrade a Hunter's Dagger to reach the Gendrome/Gobul line. The Cat weapons can be built with Vouchers, Najarala Fangs and Pawprint Stamps (dropped from wild Felynes and Melynx).

• Sleep: You can either build the Scaly Sword directly, upgrade to it from the Celestial Sword, or start at the beginning with the Bone Kris. Plesioth weapons can be built with the parts you get from that fishing machine on the cat island (you get there through singleplayer).

• Blast: You can get a Worn SnS (with some luck) from an Ancient Shard that you can mine in HR and G Rank volcano and Heaven's Mount, as well as HR Dunes (Night) and the secret mining spot in G Rank Frozen Seaway. After you upgraded that SnS once you can either go down the Dragon path or the Teostra path. The Crimson Fatalis SnS is built fresh with HR Crimson Fatalis parts. The Brachydios SnS is an upgrade from the Djinn, the first Rathalos SnS, so see Fire on how to get there.