First unlock: quest progress
Reach Village 3★ or Hub 2★, then talk to Master Utsushi in the Gathering Hub. Return when he has further dialogue for you.
Craft or upgrade one weapon type
Craft or upgrade eight different weapon-tree nodes within the same weapon type, then speak to Utsushi to receive that type’s skill.
Upgrading the same physical weapon through different nodes counts. Repeatedly making the same model does not, and mixing eight different weapon categories does not meet a single category’s requirement. You do not need to keep eight finished weapons in your inventory.
This count is eight new crafts/upgrades; counting the starter weapon as well gives nine distinct models. Track new nodes rather than the number of copies you own.
Complete the weapon-specific Hub quest
Progress through High Rank Hub Quests, speak to Utsushi to receive the relevant task, and complete it.
| Hub quest level | Weapon types |
|---|---|
| 4★ | Sword and Shield, Hunting Horn, Switch Axe, Light Bowgun |
| 5★ | Great Sword, Hammer, Lance, Charge Blade, Heavy Bowgun |
| 6★ | Long Sword, Dual Blades, Gunlance, Insect Glaive, Bow |
Light Bowgun is in the 4★ group; Bow is in the 6★ group. These groups describe unlock routes, not a universal numbering order for every weapon’s skill slots.
Equip your unlocked skills
At an Item Box, select Change Switch Skill and choose your preferred skills.
Sunbreak’s Switch Skill Swap, which switches between two scroll setups during a hunt, is an expansion feature with its own progression. It is separate from equipping base-game Switch Skills at an Item Box.