My Katana Build+combos(for newcomers, no xtal or slotted equips needed)

STATS:

Max DEX, rest into STR
(I didn't spend any into VIT cause i'm using tapir arm)
Alternate Max DEX 40VIT rest STR


SKILLS:

Magic skills(SP used 22)
Arrows Lv5
Javelin Lv5
Lances Lv5
Impact Lv7
MP Charge LV1

Halberd Skills(SP used 1)
Quick Aura Lv1

Mononofu Skills(SP used 81)
Issen Lv5
Pulse Blade LV10
Triple Thrust Lv5
Hasso Happa Lv1
Pommel Strike Lv5
Magadachi Lv5
Zantei Settetsu Lv10
ALL PASSIVES AT LV10

Survival Skills(SP used 15)
Safe Rest Lv5
HP Boost Lv10

Battle skills(SP used 65)
Attack UP Lv10
Whack Lv5
Critical UP Lv10
Intimidating Power Lv10
Defense UP Lv10
Dodge UP Lv5
Accuracy UP Lv5
Defense Mastery Lv10

TOTAL SP USED : 184 (Rest 26 can be used to get Flash Blast from Dual Wield Skills)
try to get the skills which I marked red first

COMBO(s):

Starter Combo
100MP (or 1MP)
ISSEN>QUICK AURA(swift)>MEIKYO SHISUI(cons)
Gives ASPD and crit rate near 100% for some time(around 1min), good to use between fights too if its a long fight but using it too much will lower HP too much. In case you're low on MP, just use this and do 3-5 attacks from far(by double tapping the action button) and you'll get 300-450MP.


The LONG Combo
100MP (or 1MP)
PULSE BLADE>HASSO HAPPA(save)>POMMEL STRIKE(cons)>IMPACT(cons)>MEIKYO SHISUI(swift)>ZANTEI SETTETSU(smite)>TRIPLE THRUST(cons)
Long but fast, I spam this and get Zantei Settetsu perfectly 4 out of 7 times(count on your luck). Gives a huge damage and 100% CRIT rate(unless evasion occurs) of zantei. Proration is good too and if Zantei didn't counter a boss you can get behind the boss. Skill damage of next skill increases.


FAST Combo
400MP (or 4MP)
IMPACT>ZANTEI SETTETSU(smite)>MEIKYO SHISUI(cons)
If timed correctly Zantei can be triggered. Gives near 100% critical rate for next skill or attack. I use this after the long combo if the boss tried to do huge AOE(red area surrounding the whole map) or the red line appears.

Well I think these are the best combo sets(its my opinion) for the Mononofu skills. If you have any good combos like these please post in comments, I'd like to see what type of combos everyone using.

EQUIPMENTS:
Main hand-
Kuro Tsurubami(70%)
try to get stats like STR ATK and CD(and refine up to which you can afford)

NOTHING IN SUB WEAPON

ARMOR-
Just use what you normally wear, but try to get a good one and remodel it to heavy
I'd recommend tapir armor cause it gives a huge boost for hp and with this build i get lots of hit cause i'm noob

ADDITIONAL GEAR
up to you, critical rate isn't needed for my build

SPECIAL GEAR
Steeplejack Talisman(tumble unavailable)
this is important for my build cause without it Impact will tumble the target and Zantei will never get the counter.
you can get this by completing side quest from NPC Juan at El Scaro.

That's all, i made this build cause i've seen many people posting better builds for katana but only vaterns can follow them cause they need slotted equips and XTALS, which isn't easy to get for newcomers and if you have the xtals and a huge amount of money to spend you can be op with the combos I made. I hope the readers can get help.