So, you’ve hit the endgame. You’re looking at Gemma’s smithy menu, staring at that Rarity 8 weapon upgrade you’ve been dreaming about, and there it is: Hunter Symbol 3. It’s basically a piece of paper. A certificate. But in Monster Hunter Wilds, it’s the hardest piece of paper you’ll ever try to find. Honestly, the game is kinda cryptic about where these things actually come from.
I've spent way too many hours chasing these. You can’t just go out and mine them. You can't carve them off a tail. They are purely quest rewards, and specifically, they’re tied to the monsters that can—and will—delete your health bar in about two seconds flat.
If you're stuck, don't worry. Most people are. Basically, you’re looking for the toughest "Tempered" fights in the game. But there is a very specific logic to which monsters drop which symbols.
What Actually Is a Hunter Symbol 3?
In the world of Wilds, a Hunter Symbol is essentially proof of merit. Think of it like a high-tier commendation. Specifically, Hunter Symbol 3 is the highest rank of these tickets (pre-expansion, anyway).
You need them for the "final" forms of almost every weapon line. If you want those orange Rarity 8 icons in your equipment box, you’re going to need a stack of these. They also pop up in endgame armor sets like the Guild Ace set—that sleek, professional-looking gear Olivia wears.
The Tier System
The game breaks these down by the "Star" difficulty of the Tempered monster you're hunting:
- Hunter Symbol 1: Dropped by 5-Star Tempered monsters (think Lala Barina or Rathian).
- Hunter Symbol 2: Dropped by 6-Star Tempered monsters (the Doshaguma or Rathalos tier).
- Hunter Symbol 3: Reserved for the 7-Star and 8-Star heavy hitters.
If you’re hunting 5-star stuff and wondering why your Symbol 3 count is still zero, that’s why. You’re overqualified for the fight but looking in the wrong loot pool.
Where to Find Hunter Symbol 3
To get the "Three," you have to target the Apex predators of each region or the true endgame threats. We are talking about the monsters that define the ecosystems.
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Specifically, you need to be hunting Tempered versions of:
- Rey Dau (The lightning railgun wyvern of the Windward Plains)
- Uth Duna (The Scarlet Forest's watery nightmare)
- Nu Udra (The oil-slicked terror of the Oilwell Basin)
- Jin Dahaad (The icy apex from the Whitepeak Mountains)
- Gore Magala (The classic "frenzy" bringer)
- Arkveld (The White Wraith itself)
You generally won't see these quests until you've cleared the main story. Specifically, you need to finish Chapter 4-3, "Wyvern Sparks and Rose Thorns," for Tempered monsters to even start showing up. After that, you need to push your Hunter Rank (HR) up. Most of the 7-star and 8-star Tempered investigations don't really start appearing frequently until you hit HR 41 or higher.
The Fastest Way to Farm Them
Look, nobody wants to spend forty minutes on a single hunt just for one ticket. If you're looking to bulk up your inventory, stop just doing random expeditions.
The most efficient way to grab Hunter Symbol 3 is through Investigations.
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When you see a Tempered Apex on the map, don't just jump in. Open your map, hover over the icon, and use the "Create Quest" function. Save it as an Investigation. Investigations often give bonus rewards, and since Hunter Symbols are quest rewards, having more slots in that purple box at the end is your best friend.
Pro-Tip: The SOS Shuffle
If you don't have any good 7-star or 8-star investigations saved up, go to the Quest Board. Search for SOS Flares. Filter by "High Rank," "Tempered," and set the target to one of the Apexes mentioned above.
A lot of people find Tempered Rey Dau or Tempered Nu Udra to be the "fastest" hunts. Rey Dau has a lot of health, but its movements are predictable once you've fought it twenty times. Nu Udra can be annoying with the oil, but it tends to stay in place more than something like Gore Magala, which flies across the map every three minutes.
The "Double" Quest Secret
Sometimes you'll find Event Quests or high-rank multi-monster investigations—like a Tempered Rey Dau plus a Seregios. These are gold mines. Users have reported getting 3 to 6 Hunter Symbol 3s in a single run from these high-intensity hunts. It's risky, but if you have a solid build, it's the fastest way to get your Rarity 8 gear finished.
Why Can’t I See These Quests?
If you're looking at your quest list and only seeing Symbol 1 or 2, you probably haven't unlocked the higher "Star" tiers yet.
Keep doing your Field Surveys. Talk to Alma frequently. The game gates the 7-star and 8-star content behind your progression in the post-game. If you’re still HR 25, you simply aren't "authorized" to take on the hunts that reward the level 3 symbols.
It's also worth noting that regular, non-Tempered versions of these monsters will not drop the symbols. You can hunt twenty regular Arkvelds and you'll get plenty of scales and plates, but zero Hunter Symbols. Look for the purple glow on the monster icon; if it’s not glowing, it’s not Tempered.
Putting the Symbols to Use
Once you've finally gathered a handful of these, head over to Gemma. You'll notice that the top-tier upgrades often require 5 symbols per weapon. If you're a multi-weapon user (like someone trying to master both the Great Sword and the Bow), you're going to need dozens.
Don't forget the charms, either. The final levels of the best talismans in the game also eat these symbols for breakfast.
The grind is real. It’s supposed to be. These symbols are Capcom’s way of making sure you don't just "finish" the game and quit; they want you mastering the hardest fights.
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Actionable Next Steps
- Check your HR: If you aren't at least HR 41, focus on clearing any remaining Optional Quests or high-rank Field Surveys to level up.
- Map Scouting: Every time you return from a hunt, check the world map for Tempered Apex monsters (purple icons).
- Save Investigations: Never hunt a Tempered Apex in the wild without saving it as an Investigation first to maximize your rewards.
- Target Rey Dau: For most players, this is the most "farmable" Apex for consistent Symbol 3 drops due to its telegraphed attacks.
- Multi-Monster Quests: Always check the Event Quest tab for any "Special" hunts involving 8-star monsters, as these often have higher drop rates for symbols.
Stay sharp, keep your armor upgraded, and don't let the Tempered Arkveld catch you off guard with that wing-stab. You'll have that Rarity 8 loadout sooner than you think.