Artian weapons represent the pinnacle of gear customization in Monster Hunter Wilds. Unlike the standard weapon trees that progress linearly from one monster to another, the Artian system allows hunters to construct high-performance tools using salvaged technology from a lost era. As of the current Title Update 4 cycle, these weapons have become the definitive meta for endgame players looking to balance raw power with highly specific elemental or utility needs.

These weapons are not found in the standard forge menu. Instead, they occupy a dedicated section at the smithy, requiring a specialized set of materials known as Artian fragments and shards. Because they are assembled from individual parts, no two Artian weapons are necessarily identical, offering a level of variance that traditional crafting simply cannot match.

Unlocking the Artian Forging System

Access to the Artian weapon system is restricted to hunters who have reached the high-rank endgame. The feature officially unlocks upon the completion of the key quest "Wyvern Sparks and Rose Thorns." This mission serves as an introduction to the concept of Tempered Monsters, tasking hunters with taking down a Tempered La La Barina and a Guardian Fulgur Anjanath.

Once this quest is cleared, Gemma at the smithy will notify you that the ancient technology can now be repurposed. You will receive your first Damaged Weapon Shards, which are the basic building blocks for Rarity 6 Artian equipment. As you progress through the Hunter Rank (HR) and Master Rank (MR) equivalents, you will eventually gain access to higher tiers of materials and the ability to challenge stronger Tempered threats.

Understanding Artian Materials and Tiers

Artian weapons are built from four primary component types: Blades, Tubes, Discs, and Devices. These parts are obtained by appraising shards dropped by Tempered Monsters. These monsters are significantly more aggressive than their standard counterparts and are tracked by unique, glowing scoutflies.

The Three Tiers of Shards

  1. Damaged Weapon Shards (Rarity 6): These drop from Tier 1 Tempered Monsters like Balahara, Chatacabra, and Congalala. They are the entry point into the system and provide Blue sharpness and moderate base attack.
  2. Rusted Weapon Shards (Rarity 7): Obtained from Tier 2 threats such as Rathalos, Diablos, and Ajarakan. These weapons typically feature White sharpness and significantly better slots.
  3. Ancient Weapon Fragments (Rarity 8): The highest standard tier, earned by hunting Tier 3 Tempered Monsters like Rey Dau, Ark Veld, and Gore Magala. These are the foundations for the most powerful builds before moving into the Go Gma variants.

If you find yourself short on a specific part, the Melding Pot in Suja offers a solution. You can trade Bloodstones or Relic Tickets to meld specific Rarity 8 materials, though the exact properties (element and bonus) will still be randomized upon creation.

Crafting Recipes for All 14 Weapon Types

Every weapon in the Artian category requires exactly three parts of the same rarity to forge. The specific combination of parts determines the weapon's base archetype. Knowing which parts to save is crucial for optimizing your build.

  • Great Sword: 2 Blades + 1 Tube
  • Long Sword: 1 Blade + 2 Tubes
  • Sword and Shield: 1 Blade + 1 Tube + 1 Disc
  • Dual Blades: 2 Blades + 1 Disc
  • Hammer: 2 Discs + 1 Tube
  • Hunting Horn: 1 Disc + 2 Devices
  • Lance: 1 Blade + 2 Discs
  • Gunlance: 2 Discs + 1 Device
  • Switch Axe: 2 Blades + 1 Device
  • Charge Blade: 1 Blade + 1 Disc + 1 Device
  • Insect Glaive: 1 Blade + 1 Tube + 1 Device
  • Light Bowgun: 1 Tube + 2 Devices
  • Heavy Bowgun: 1 Disc + 1 Tube + 1 Device
  • Bow: 2 Tubes + 1 Device

It is important to note that you cannot dismantle an Artian weapon to recover these base materials. Dismantling only yields reinforcement materials, so ensure your part combination is exactly what you want before hitting the forge button.

Mechanics of Elements and Artian Bonuses

The true power of an Artian weapon lies in its internal properties, which are inherited from the three parts used in its construction. Each part carries an element (Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, Dragon, Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, or Blast) and an Artian Bonus (+5 Attack or +5% Affinity).

Element Dominance

The weapon's final element is determined by the dominant element among the three parts.

  • If you use two parts with Fire and one with Water, the weapon will be Fire-based.
  • If all three parts have the same element, you trigger an Element Infusion. This provides a massive boost to the base elemental damage—ranging from +20 to +45 depending on the weapon type and rarity.
  • If you use three different elements, the weapon will have no elemental properties (becoming a pure Raw weapon).

For Bowguns, these elements translate into specific ammo capacities (e.g., three Thunder parts will maximize Thunder Ammo capacity and recoil performance).

Stat Infusions

Each of the three parts also contributes to the hidden stat bonuses. If you select three parts that all feature the +5 Attack bonus, your weapon starts with a +15 Raw Attack advantage before any upgrades. Mixing and matching allows you to fine-tune your crit rate versus your base damage.

The Reinforcement System: Leveling to Max

Once a weapon is forged, it can be reinforced up to Level 5. This process is similar to upgrading armor but uses specialized ores like Drearisite, Specklite, and Argecite. These are primarily gathered through the smelting foundry or acquired by dismantling unwanted Artian weapons.

Every time you level up an Artian weapon, it receives a random reinforcement bonus. These can include:

  • Attack Boost: +5 Raw (can stack up to 5 times).
  • Affinity Boost: +5% Crit (can stack up to 3 times).
  • Element Boost: Significant increases to elemental value (up to +80 for Great Swords).
  • Sharpness Boost: +30 units of Sharpness.
  • Ammo Capacity: +1 to specific ammo types for Bowguns.

Because these bonuses are randomized, reaching the "perfect" roll for a specific build often requires several attempts or a large stockpile of reinforcement materials. If you are unhappy with the rolls on a Rarity 8 weapon, you can eventually "amend" them, though this is an expensive process reserved for the true endgame.

Title Update 4: Go Gma Artian Weapons

With the arrival of Gogmazios in the latest update, the Artian system has expanded into the Go Gma tier. This is an upgrade path for existing Rarity 8 Artian weapons. To unlock this, you must reach HR 100 and complete the mission "Ghosts Pay No Heed to Tomorrow."

Go Gma weapons are unique because they break the standard rules of weapon skills. By using "Tarred Devices" dropped by Gogmazios, you can infuse your Artian weapon with:

  1. A Random Set Bonus Skill: This allows your weapon to count as one piece of a specific armor set (e.g., Rathalos Essence or Gore Magala Secret), opening up immense possibilities for set-building.
  2. A Random Group Skill: These are utility skills that benefit the entire hunting party, such as localized attack buffs or stamina recovery speed.

At the Go Gma tier, you can also re-roll your reinforcement categories more reliably, allowing you to choose whether you want to focus exclusively on Attack, Affinity, or Element during the final upgrade steps.

Strategic Farming for Rarity 8 Fragments

To build the most effective Artian weapons, you need to farm Tier 3 Tempered Monsters efficiently. Monsters like Uth Duna and Jin Dahaad are currently popular targets due to their predictable move sets and high shard drop rates.

When farming, focus on Investigations with at least two Tempered targets. These quests offer higher purple-box reward counts, which are the primary source for Ancient Weapon Fragments. Additionally, breaking parts on these monsters has a small percentage chance to drop extra shards, so a team with a mix of blunt and cutting damage is recommended.

For those specifically looking for the Go Gma materials, the quest "Specter of Their Sins" is the most reliable way to farm Tarred Devices. It is a grueling fight against a Tempered Gogmazios, but the rewards are necessary for the final stage of Artian evolution.

Summary of Artian Weapon Names

When you successfully forge a Rarity 8 weapon, it sheds the generic "Artian" prefix and receives a unique name based on its type. These names are often associated with the high-tech aesthetic of the ancient civilization:

  • Great Sword: Varianza
  • Long Sword: Dimensius
  • Sword & Shield: Verdoloto
  • Dual Blades: Tilt Kreise
  • Hammer: Moteur Vankel
  • Hunting Horn: Omil Tika
  • Lance: Skyscraper
  • Gunlance: Argenesis
  • Switch Axe: Mundus Altus
  • Charge Blade: Chrono Gear
  • Insect Glaive: Di Priel Cha
  • Light Bowgun: Animilater
  • Heavy Bowgun: Greifen
  • Bow: Angel Bein

Final Recommendations for Your Build

If you are just starting your Artian journey, do not ignore Rarity 6 and 7 weapons. While they lack the raw power of Rarity 8, they are excellent for filling elemental gaps in your arsenal while you farm for the more elusive Ancient Fragments. For Dual Blades and Bow users, prioritize the Element Infusion (three parts of the same element) as early as possible, as the +30 bonus outweighs almost any other raw stat increase at that level.

For heavy hitters like the Great Sword or Hammer, a mix of two Attack-bonus parts and one Affinity-bonus part provides a balanced foundation that can be further specialized through the reinforcement system. The flexibility of the Artian system ensures that as the meta shifts with new monster releases, your weapon can be adjusted to meet the challenge of the Forbidden Lands.