In World of Warcraft: Legion, a lot revolves around artifact weapons. These are given to players early on and grow alongside their bearers throughout the entire expansion. Each talent specialization gets its own weapon, which is why Druids have a total of 4 artifacts available. Let’s take a look at each weapon.
Balance – Scythe of Elune (Artifact Weapon for Balance Druids)
Background: The Scythe of Elune has a dark past that spans several millennia. Forged from the staff of Elune and the fang of the demigod Goldrinn, this weapon was created to tame beasts and ward off dangers from the night elves. However, those who are not careful fall victim to the power of the scythe and are dominated by Goldrinn’s wildness. Such an accident resulted in the creation of the Worgen, under whose curse the former inhabitants of Gilneas still suffer today.
Traits of the Scythe of Elune: As a typical caster weapon, most traits of the scythe are rather “common”, increasing critical strike chance and the damage of abilities. However, one interesting trait grants the Druid an additional 20% haste when using Regrowth.
All begin with the ability New Moon, a spell with a short cast time. After the first casting, the ability transforms into Half Moon, causing even more damage on the next use.
Echoing Stars enhances Starfall. Each time this deals damage, another nearby target also suffers minor damage.
Power of Goldrinn is a direct enhancement to Starsurge. Each time Starsurge is cast, there’s a chance to summon the spirit of Goldrinn, dealing significant damage to the target.
Moon and Stars ensures that every spell cast while affected by Celestial Alignment increases your haste by 3%.
Feral – Fangs of Ashmane (Artifact Weapon for Feral Druids)
Background: When the War of the Ancients began 10,000 years ago and the Burning Legion besieged Azeroth, the demigod Cenarius called upon the other demigods for help. The great panther Ashmane was one of the first and most powerful of these beings to join the fight. After saving many lives, Ashmane fell in battle against the Legion. A monument was erected in Val’sharah to honor Ashmane, and her fangs are displayed there – still pulsating with the power of this demigoddess.
Traits of the Fangs of Ashmane: The traits of the Fangs of Ashmane are also classic damage enhancements. However, an exciting ability could be to gain 100% dodge chance for 5 seconds when transforming into a cat (can only occur once every 30 seconds).
Ashmane’s Frenzy makes the Druid attack the target 15 times over three seconds. After this, the target suffers heavy bleed damage over 6 seconds.
Shadow Thrash enhances the ability Thrash. Each time it is used, there’s a chance to unleash the soul of Ashmane, dealing heavy shadow damage to all nearby enemies over 2 seconds.
Open Wounds improves the Druid’s armor penetration. While enemies are affected by Rip, they ignore 15% of the enemy’s armor.
Ashmane’s Bite gives Raging Bite a chance to summon the spirit of Ashmane, who uses a “shadow version” of Rip.
Guardian – Claws of Ursoc (Artifact Weapon for Guardian Druids)
Background: The Claws were forged by the Titan Keeper Freya. She entrusted the weapons to the wild god Ursoc, the great bear, who wielded them in countless battles until he lost his life in the War of the Ancients. Although the great bear died, part of his power remained in the claws, which later fell into the hands (or paws) of the Furbolgs. After a group of Druids managed to obtain the claws from the Furbolgs, they brought them to the Emerald Dream to reunite them with the spirit of Ursoc.
Traits of Ursoc’s Claws: All enhancements of the claws are tailored to the needs of a tank. Cooldowns are reduced, armor and stamina are increased, and threat generation through increased damage is enhanced.
All bears start with Rage of the Sleeper. For 10 seconds, the damage taken is reduced by 25%, and part of that is reflected back to all attackers.
Adaptive Fur makes the Druid particularly resilient against spell casters. Whenever the Druid suffers elemental damage, there is a chance that damage from that school of magic will be reduced by 10% for 15 seconds.
Gory Fur gives the ability Shred a chance to reduce the rage cost of the next Ironfur or Mark of Ursol by 50%.
Embrace the Nightmare increases the Druid’s damage and survivability. While Rage of the Sleeper is active, the Druid deals 25% more damage and has 25% lifesteal, while also being immune to all effects that lead to loss of control of the character.
Restoration – G’Hanir, the Mother Tree (Artifact Weapon for Restoration Druids)
Background: The staff is a single branch from G’Hanir, the first tree, which the Druids received as a gift from the demigoddess Aviana. The staff is directly connected to the Emerald Dream and thereby has a healing influence on its surroundings. This made it the perfect weapon to push back the madness and corruption of the Nightmare – which, in turn, drew the wrath of the Satyrs, who now seek to destroy G’Hanir.
Traits of G’Hanir, the Mother Tree: The artifact traits of G’Hanir are also quite “straightforward”. Almost always, healing from abilities is improved or mana costs are reduced.
All healing Druids start with Essence of G’Hanir. When activated, all allies under your HoTs are healed double while affected for 8 seconds.
Power of the Archdruid grants the ability Wild Growth a 25% chance to have the next Rejuvenation or Renewal hit two additional allies within a radius of 15 meters around the target.
Dreamwalker is another enhancement for Wild Growth. When the Druid casts the spell, there’s a chance to briefly switch to the Emerald Dream, instantly healing all the targets affected by Rejuvenation for a moderate amount.
Tranquil Mind increases the Druid’s serenity by 20%. It can now also be cast while moving.
World of Warcraft, the most-played online role-playing game of all time, offers a vast, diverse, and atmospheric game world. There is something there for every ...
