So, you’ve ventured into the vast, beautiful world of Genshin Impact and found yourself knee-deep in artifacts, wondering what’s worth keeping, what to toss, and how to optimize your characters. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Artifacts are one of the most important mechanics in the game, and honestly, they can feel a bit overwhelming at first. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll see why everyone’s so obsessed with getting that perfect crit ratio. Let’s break it all down together, step by step.
What Are Artifacts Anyway?
Think of artifacts as your character’s gear in Genshin Impact. They’re like armor, but instead of just offering defense, they pack a punch with stats that can boost your character’s performance dramatically. Each character can equip five artifact pieces:
- Flower of Life – Always gives HP as its main stat.
- Plume of Death – Always provides ATK as its main stat.
- Sands of Eon – Offers a choice of ATK%, HP%, DEF%, Energy Recharge, or Elemental Mastery.
- Goblet of Eonothem – Usually your Elemental Damage Bonus slot, but can also roll ATK%, HP%, DEF%, or Elemental Mastery.
- Circlet of Logos – Often holds critical stats like Crit Rate, Crit Damage, Healing Bonus, or DEF%.
How to Get Artifacts
If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered, “Why does it take so much resin to farm these things?” Well, welcome to Genshin’s endgame grind. Here’s where you can snag artifacts:
1. Domains
Domains are your go-to for artifact farming. Each domain has a specific pool of artifact sets that drop, so you’ll want to focus on the ones that align with your team. For example, Viridescent Venerer is perfect for your Anemo characters, while Emblem of Severed Fate is a favorite for burst-heavy builds.
2. World Bosses
Defeating bosses like the Pyro Regisvine or Primo Geovishap will reward you with artifacts, though they’re usually lower-tier (4-star). Good for early-game, but you’ll quickly outgrow these.
3. Weekly Bosses
Ah, the weekly grind. These bosses—like Andrius or Signora—drop higher-tier artifacts, but they’re a bit of a lottery.
4. Strongboxes
Here’s a neat trick for those drowning in useless artifacts. The crafting bench lets you exchange three 5-star artifacts for one from a set of your choice. It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s better than letting bad artifacts collect dust.
Main Stats vs. Substats: What’s the Difference?
Main Stat
The main stat is the primary attribute on an artifact. It’s fixed and scales as you level up the artifact. For example, a Flower of Life will always have HP as its main stat, no exceptions.
Substats
Substats, on the other hand, are random. These are the stats that make or break an artifact. When you level up an artifact, one of its substats gets a boost. Here’s what you’re aiming for:
- Crit Rate and Crit Damage – These are the holy grail for DPS characters.
- Energy Recharge – Essential for characters who rely heavily on their Elemental Burst.
- Elemental Mastery – Great for reaction-based teams, like Vaporize or Melt setups.
What Makes a Good Artifact?
Let’s be real—most artifacts are trash. You’ll spend days farming for a decent piece, only for it to roll flat DEF four times in a row. (We’ve all been there.) But when you finally get that perfect crit roll? Oh, it’s worth it.
Here’s what to look for:
- Right Main Stat: No point having DEF% on a DPS character.
- Matching Substats: Crit Rate, Crit Damage, Energy Recharge, and Elemental Mastery are usually what you’re after.
- Consistent Rolls: If an artifact keeps boosting its worst substat, it’s probably not worth keeping.
Artifact Set Effects
Artifact sets offer bonus effects when you equip two or four pieces from the same set. Here are some popular options:
DPS Sets
- Gladiator’s Finale: Increases ATK. Great for general-purpose damage.
- Shimenawa’s Reminiscence: Boosts ATK but at the cost of Energy. Perfect for normal attack-heavy characters.
- Crimson Witch of Flames: Amplifies Pyro damage. Amazing for characters like Diluc or Hu Tao.
Support Sets
- Noblesse Oblige: Boosts Elemental Burst damage and buffs the entire team. A staple for supports.
- Emblem of Severed Fate: Increases Energy Recharge and Burst damage, ideal for characters like Raiden Shogun.
- Viridescent Venerer: Shreds enemy resistances, making it a must-have for Anemo supports like Kazuha.
Healer Sets
- Maiden Beloved: Straightforward healing buff.
- Ocean-Hued Clam: Heals and deals bonus damage based on healing output.
Tips for Efficient Artifact Farming
Artifact farming is a resin sink, so you’ll want to maximize your efforts. Here are a few tips:
1. Focus on One Domain at a Time
Spreading yourself thin across multiple domains will only slow you down. Prioritize the set you need most and stick with it.
2. Know When to Stop
If an artifact rolls flat stats repeatedly, don’t sink more resources into it. Cut your losses and move on.
3. Use Resin Wisely
Farming artifacts is best done at AR45 and above when 5-star drops become more frequent. Before that, focus on leveling your characters and weapons.
Leveling Artifacts: When and How?
Upgrading artifacts is a resource-intensive process. Here’s a general rule of thumb:
- Level 4: If the substats are promising, take it to level 4 and see where it rolls.
- Level 12-16: For mid-game, aim for level 12 or 16 on your main artifacts.
- Level 20: Only max out artifacts that have excellent main stats and substats.
Pro Tip: Don’t waste Mora leveling artifacts with bad rolls. It’s tempting, but trust me, future you will thank you.
The RNG Struggle is Real
Let’s face it—artifact farming can be brutal. The RNG gods have a twisted sense of humor, and sometimes it feels like they’re laughing at your misery. But that’s part of the charm (or frustration?) of Genshin Impact.
Final Thoughts
Artifacts might be the bane of every Traveler’s existence, but they’re also what makes Genshin Impact so rewarding. The thrill of finally getting that perfect crit-damage roll? It’s unmatched. Take your time, be patient, and remember—Genshin is a marathon, not a sprint.
And hey, if you ever feel overwhelmed, just step back and enjoy the game’s stunning world. Artifacts will still be there when you’re ready to dive back in.
Good luck, Traveler! May your rolls be ever in your favor.