Still alive and kicking: A significant outburst in changing-look AGN Mrk 1018

Context. Changing-look active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been observed to change their optical spectral type. Mrk 1018 is partic-ularly unique: first classified as a type 1.9 Seyfert galaxy, it transitioned to being a type 1 Seyfert galaxy a few years later before returning to its initial classification as a type 1.9 Seyfert galaxy after -30 years.Aims. We present the results of a high-cadence optical monitoring programme that caught a major outburst in 2020. Due to sunblock, only the decline could be observed for -200 days. We studied X-ray, UV, optical, and infrared data before and after the outburst to investigate the responses of the AGN structures.Methods. We derived a u'-band light curve of the AGN contribution alone. The flux increased by a factor of -13. We confirmed this in other optical bands and determined the shape and speed of the decline in each waveband. The shapes of H/3 and Ha were analysed before and after the event. Two XMM-Newton observations (X-ray and UV) from before and after the outburst were also exploited.Results. The outburst is asymmetric, with a swifter rise than decline. The decline is best fit by a linear function, ruling out a tidal disruption event. The optical spectrum shows no change approximately eight months before and 17 months after. The UV flux is increased slightly after the outburst but the X-ray primary flux is unchanged. However, the 6.4 keV iron line has doubled in strength. Infrared data taken 13 days after the observed optical peak already show an increased emission level as well.Conclusions. Calculating the distance of the broad-line region and inner edge of the torus from the supermassive black hole can ex-plain the multi-wavelength response to the outburst, in particular: i) the unchanged H/3 and Ha lines, ii) the unchanged primary X-ray spectral components, iii) the rapid and extended infrared response, as well as iv) the enhanced emission of the reflected 6.4 keV line. The outburst was due to a dramatic and short-lasting change in the intrinsic accretion rate. We discuss different models as potential causes.