Artifacts play an important role in Genshin Impact for equipment. Through these, you gain additional stats and set bonuses. We at MeinMMO will reveal to you which are the best artifacts and where to get them.
How do artifacts work? Instead of armor, as you might be used to from other RPGs, Genshin Impact relies on artifacts. Each of your characters can equip 5 artifacts. These artifacts grant you additional stats like attack power, health points, or critical hit chance.
Like the weapons and characters, they are divided into a system of 1 to 5 stars, with the 5-star artifacts being the best.
Each artifact is also assigned to one of 5 types, with you able to equip only one artifact of each type:
- Eonothem Cup
- Flower of Life
- Circle of Logos
- The Sands of Eon
- Death’s Banner
Additionally, each artifact belongs to a set. Generally, 2 or 4 artifacts of the same set grant a bonus effect. However, there are also sets where one piece suffices.
Farming and upgrading artifacts – Here’s how
Where do you get artifacts? The first 1- and 2-star artifacts you get from opening chests in the world, playing the story, and completing side quests. However, these are not particularly strong and do not necessarily need to be upgraded.
Only the 3-star artifacts begin to be truly worthwhile. You also obtain these from chests but also from the first dungeons.
From adventure rank 20, the enemies get stronger, and you also begin to receive the first 4-star artifacts. You obtain these almost exclusively by looting boss chests or completing dungeons.
5-star artifacts are available starting from adventure rank 40 in the normal dungeons. However, some bosses, including the two weekly ones, also give you a chance to receive them earlier. Additionally, there is a quest through which you can earn an artifact.
How to upgrade artifacts? Upgrading artifacts is very simple:
- Select the artifacts in the character menu
- There, click on “Enhance” in the bottom right
- Now you must sacrifice other artifacts to improve the desired one. A certain amount of gold is also required.
Depending on the rarity of the artifacts, they can be upgraded a different number of times. 1-star artifacts can reach level 4, 2-star artifacts level 8, and the following levels are 12, 16, and 20.
How do I get my desired artifact? In your journal, you can look up the bosses and dungeons and see what possible rewards there are. You must then farm these to obtain the desired artifact.
However, keep in mind: Many bosses in Genshin Impact have a cooldown, and if you want to repeat dungeons, you must spend resin.
The best artifacts in the game
What are the best artifacts to start with? At the beginning of the game, you should primarily focus on the main attribute of the artifact and not necessarily on the set bonuses. Because a well-upgraded 3-star artifact with the right attribute for your character is worth more than most set bonuses.
This is nicely explained by YouTuber Sonius94 in his video using an example (from second 40):
At the beginning, especially the values attack damage and elemental burst are worthwhile, depending on whether your character deals damage with the weapon or their element.
What are the best artifact sets in the endgame? We based this question on the video by Sonius94 as well. At the end, he explains which artifact sets are particularly strong.
There are two generally strong sets, as well as 3 sets that specifically target one element type and, when looking at the tier list, address a specific character.
Elegy of the Gladiator (all 4 pieces):
- ATK +18% + Sword, Claymore, and Polearm users deal 35% more damage
- Perfect for your DMG dealers like Chongyun, Xiangling or Razor
Wanderer’s Troupe (all 4 pieces):
- Increases healing effectiveness by 15% + Elemental Burst heals all allies for 20% HP for 10 seconds
- Perfect for healers like Qiqi or Barbara
Verdant Venerer (all 4 pieces)
- Increases Anemo damage by 15% + Swirl damage +60%, weakens the elemental resistance of the enemy by 40% for 10 seconds
- Perfect for Venti
Thundering Fury (all 4 pieces):
- Increases Electro damage by 15% + Electrically charged damage increases by 40%. Reduces the cooldown of elemental abilities by 1 second
- Perfect for Keqing
Burning Pyro Witch (all 4 pieces):
- Increases Pyro damage by 15% + Burning and Overload damage increases by 40%. Vaporize and Melt damage increases by 15%. If the character uses an elemental skill, the damage increases by a total of 65% for 10 seconds
- Perfect for Diluc
All Set Bonuses at a Glance
| Set | Set bonus (2 pieces) | Set bonus (4 pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| Adventurer | +1000 Max HP | Opening treasure chests regenerates 30% HP within 5 seconds. |
| Old Court Ritual | +20% Elemental Burst | If the character uses Elemental Burst, all party members’ attack increases by 20% for 12 seconds. |
| Archaic Petra | +15% Geo damage | After a crystal is generated through a Geo elemental reaction, all individuals gathered deal 35% increased damage on this specific component for 10 seconds. |
| Instructor | +80 Elemental | If the character uses an elemental ability, the elemental damage of others increases by 120 for 8 seconds. |
| Berserker | +12% Crit Rate | If your HP is below 70%, the Crit Rate increases by another 24%. |
| Guardian Instinct | +30% Defense | Elemental Res +30% for each element present in the party. |
| Electro Charge | -40% affected by Electro | – |
| Bloodstained Knight’s Way | +25% Phys. damage | After defeating an enemy, a charged attack deals 50% more damage. Stamina consumption is canceled for 10 seconds. |
| Burning Pyro Witch | +15% Pyro damage | Burning and Overload damage increases by 40%. Vaporize and Melt damage increases by 15%. If the character uses an elemental skill, the damage increases by a total of 65% for 10 seconds. |
| Thunder Soothing Sage | +40% Electro Res. | +35% damage on enemies hit by Electro. |
| Thundering Fury | +15% Electro damage | Electrically charged damage increases by 40%. Reduces the cooldown of elemental abilities by 1 second. |
| Ice Sacrifice | +15% Cryo damage | Elemental Burst increases Cryo damage by 25% for 10 seconds. |
| Wanderlust | +18% Attack | Crit Rate +30% when using charged attack. |
| Fire Wandering Holy | +40% Pyro Res. | Damage against burning monsters +35% |
| Fire Sacrifice | -40% affected by Pyro | – |
| Scholar | Energy charges 20% faster. | Every 3 seconds, all magic-wielding characters and those equipped with a bow receive three energy units. |
| Lucky Mushroom | +100 Defense | When you collect Mora, you regenerate 300 HP. |
| Gambler | +20% Elemental damage | If you defeat an enemy, the cooldown can be reduced by 100%. |
| Verdant Venerer | +15% Anemo damage | Swirl damage +60%, weakens the elemental res. of the opponent by 40% for 10 seconds. |
| Heart’s Closed Girl | Strengthens healing abilities by 15% | If you use an elemental skill, healing of other members increases by 20% for 10 seconds. |
| Martial Artist | Normal and charged attack +15% | After an elemental technique, attack increases by 25% for 8 seconds. |
| Reversed Meteor | +35% shield strength | +40% normal and charged damage while the character is surrounded by a shield. |
| Banished | Energy charges 20% faster. | Elemental Burst regenerates 6 energy units for other party members. |
| Elegy of the Gladiator | +18% Attack | Sword, Claymore, and Polearm users deal 35% more damage with normal attacks. |
| Bravery | +18% Attack | Damage +30% if the opponent has more than 50% HP. |
| Wanderer’s Troupe | +20% Healing | Elemental Burst regenerates 20% HP |
| Wander Orchestra | +80 Elemental | Charged attack +35% damage when the character uses magic or bow. |
| Water Sacrifice | -40% affected by Hydro | – |
| Wonder | +20% Elemental Res | Elemental damage increases by 30% every 10 seconds. |
More useful tips around Genshin Impact particularly suitable for beginners have been compiled here for you.
