Monster Hunter Wilds 1.041 Anniversary Update Hits Hard
MHW Turning Up the Heat With Anniversary Update 1.041
Anniversary events are usually pretty chill. Log in, grab yourself some freebies, maybe craft a funderful seasonal armor set and then just call it a day…
That’s not what’s happening here.
Update 1.041 drops tomorrow, February 18, and while Capcom is absolutely still handing out login bonuses and rotating Festivals of Accord, the real headline is much simpler: 10★ Arch-tempered monsters are here, and they are permanent. The party balloons are up, but so is the difficulty ceiling.
If you’ve been coasting through endgame thinking your build is untouchable, this update might be the reality check that you’ve been waiting to hate on.
Arch-Tempered Arkveld Is the Main Event
The highlight debut is the big ‘ol 10★ Arch-tempered Arkveld, launching in a new permanent event quest starting with the update’s release on February 18th.
This isn’t a limited-time flex. It’s a fixture that will eternally loom over you until you find the power to man up and die trying.
Arch-tempered versions have always meant one thing: everything you’re used to, but dialed up to 30, well past most players’ comfort zones. More health. More damage. Faster pressure. Less room for bad positioning and misclicks. You can’t just tank through mistakes and call it “skill expression”.
Image: 10★ Arch-tempered Arkveld | Monster Hunter Wilds Anniversary Update | Capcom
Arkveld at 10★ signals a clear shift in Wilds’ endgame philosophy: Capcom isn’t just giving us more monsters. They’re stress-testing builds and looking to exploit the weaknesses inour armor.
And it doesn’t stop there.
On March 19th, Arkveld also gets a Free Challenge Quest version. That means optimized clears, speedrun attempts, leaderboard energy, and a whole lot o’ hunters discovering quickly that their damage uptime isn’t as clean as they thought – it’s just adorable.
If your squad thrives on sweaty hunts, this is your moment. If you’ve been running comfort builds with triple safety nets, you may want to revisit the forge.
Apex Predators Are Getting the Same Glow Up
But don’t worry – Arkveld isn’t alone.
Each apex predator is also receiving the 10★ Arch-tempered treatment through permanent event quests. Permanent is the key word here.
This isn’t some half-assed rotating novelty. This feels like Wilds establishing its true endgame loop. Harder monsters that stick around. Content that demands optimization instead of casual farming. Tears streaming down your face as you see more carts than kills.
Image: Other 10★ Arch-tempered Apex Predators | Monster Hunter Wilds Update | Capcom
Expect a few funsies:
Greedy melee playstyles will likely get punished hard (sorry my hammer bros!)
Burst windows will matter more than ever
Resistance builds may become more relevant
Multiplayer coordination might separate real teams from random lobbies
Yeah, a lot of this is speculation at this point – BUT if these quests follow past Arch-tempered trends, they won’t just be stat bumps. Subtle mechanical tweaks, tighter openings, and heavier punishment for poorly timed dodges could change how a lot of weapons perform.
TL;DR: the tier lists might start looking very different soon.
Fashion Hunters Still Win
It’s not all pain.
The winning designs from the Original Weapon and Pendant Design Contest are being added through the event quest “Every Hunter’s Dream.” That means new weapon and pendant cosmetics created by the community are finally obtainable.
Good times…okay, let’s be honest for a second: for a lot of players, drip is the real endgame.
Image: OMG Too Sexy | Monster Hunter Wilds Update | Capcom
Balancing brutal 10★ hunts with high-tier cosmetics is honestly a pretty smart design. Hunters will grind harder when the reward looks fire in screenshots. And if you’re going to get carted by an Arch-tempered behemoth of doom…you might as well be looksmaxxing while doing it.
Stories 3 Collab Content Is Here
Capcom is also rolling out collaboration content tied to Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.
This includes Palico equipment styled after Rudy, the Royal Palico, along with some Monstie-themed pendants. It’s a…lighter…addition compared to the insane 10★ chaos, but it signals something bigger.
Image: Monster Hunter Stories 3 Collab Event | Monster Hunter Wilds Update | Capcom
Capcom is clearly trying to align its Monster Hunter ecosystem ahead of the next phase.
Collabs are rarely random. They keep engagement high across titles and remind players that the franchise is expanding. So, if you’re even mildly curious about Stories 3, this is a subtle nudge.
Also, your Palico is about to show up to hunts looking like it has its own main character arc, so there’s that.
Anniversary Event: What You Should Actually Prioritize
From February 18th to March 18th, the MWH Anniversary Event runs for a full month. Here’s what matters the most if you’re trying to min-max your time:
Special anniversary login bonuses
Hunter Appreciation Pack
Weekly rotation of previous Festivals of Accords you might have missed
New event quests every week
Gala Suit α armor set
Felyne Star α Palico equipment
So even if you’re busy, log in!
Image: What to Prioritize in the MHW Update | Monster Hunter Wilds Update | Capcom
Free resources stack up fast, and appreciation packs are honestly rarely useless.
For weekly rotations, I would recommend prioritizing the limited cosmetics and armor first, because the materials tied to seasonal quests have a fun habit of becoming really annoying to reacquire later. If you’re really trying to take advantage of the time you have, knock out all of the time-sensitive rewards early, then move on to Arch-tempered farming once your build feels solid.
There’s also a unique quest featuring the least hunted monster…?
That could mean one of two things: either it’s mechanically underplayed and easier than expected, or Capcom adjusted it to make sure it earns that spotlight.
Whatever the case, make sure to go in prepared.
This Feels Like An Obvious Future Expansion Setup
Buried under all the celebration talk is a bigger message: Capcom confirmed they’re working on a large-scale expansion and plan to share more information about it this summer.
That timing matters.
Introducing permanent 10★ Arch-tempered monsters now feels intentional. It raises the baseline. It conditions the player base. It tests how far builds can go before the next ceiling gets installed.
If this follows the pattern of previous Monster Hunter expansions, we could be looking at:
A new biome
A higher rank tier
Expanded monster variants
Systems that push build diversity further
And right now, the 1.041 update feels like a calibration patch disguised as an anniversary event. Capcom is watching how we perform.
Anniversary Update Feels like it's doing Two Things at Once
It’s celebrating a year of hunts with free rewards, festivals, and cosmetics – and – it’s quietly ramping up the difficulty curve in a very permanent way.
Harder monsters. Permanent 10★ quests. Community-designed gear. Cross-title collabs. An expansion looming in the background…it’s almost exhausting!
If you’ve been waiting for Monster Hunter Wilds to demand more from us, this is it. If you’ve been comfy cozy, wrecking everything you come into contact with – you probably won’t be for long.
Sharpen your weapons. Check your resistances. And maybe test your build before a new and improved Arkveld does it for you. Make sure to check back for more Monster Hunter Wilds Guides and News!
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