Risk of Rain 2 Artifacts: Unlock, Types, and Codes [2023]

Risk of Rain 2 artifacts are an example of the sheer ingenuity of the developers as they are hidden in different stages of the game in a way that you can complete the whole game without even noticing their existence. However, finding these artifacts requires a basic understanding of the Survivors so our guide of Ranking all the Characters in Risk of Rain 2 can be your accomplice. 

RIsk of Rain 2 Artifacts

Risk of Rain 2 update 1.05 introduced Artifacts to the game, essentially revitalizing the replay value. Unlocking an Artifact requires a tremendous amount of effort, and once it is paved off, you can utilize the effect of the Artifact to bring unique additions to future runs.

Since Risk of Rain 2 tucks away many things in plain sight, exploring 100% of the content requires multiple playthroughs. So, Artifacts, by all means, are just another means to an end. Don’t get worked up as this concise guide is all you need to know about the Risk of Rain 2 artifacts

How to Unlock Artifacts?

To unlock Artifacts, the first step you need to do is visit the Compound Generator. It is located below the Sky Meadow map, and reaching there requires a tad bit of technique. You may need a couple of Hopoo Feather items to jump the enormous gap between you and the Compound Generator. Artificer’s Ion Surge and hover ability can come in handy in crossing the wide gap if you do not have multiple jump ability-related items.

Once you are at the said location, you’ll see a laptop in front of cylindrical interactables. All you are required here is to punch in the correct Artifact code to spawn a portal that takes you to Bulwark Ambry: a hidden realm in Risk of Rain 2.

These Artifact codes are scattered in various locations of the game’s environment, and finding them requires a keen eye. However, for the sake of convenience, we have mentioned the codes and their locations below. So, just use these codes and step into the portal to proceed with the Risk of Rain 2 Artifacts guide.

How to Complete an Artifact Encounter

Completing an Artifact encounter requires you to visit Bulwark Ambry. Once you are there, you will notice a unique boss in the center of the stage called Artifact Reliquary, surrounded by floating rectangular-shaped platforms. The key objective here is to interact with the boss, trigger the spawning of monsters to defeat, and collect an item called Artifact key.

Artifact Reliquary is immune to all sorts of incoming damage from the survivors. The only way to hurt it is to equip Artifact key that drops after killing enemies in the area. Once you do that, all Artifact keys in the area or in other survivor’s possession get wiped. Additionally, all survivors and enemies get pushed away from Artifact Reliquary by a shock wave, causing the whole process to repeat until its health is depleted 100%.

So, to end the encounter, you need to repeat this process four times to take down the Bulwark Ambry boss completely. Once you achieve this, the Artifact item (based on the Artifact code you punched at Compound Generator) will drop for you to pick up. A portal also appears as soon as you defeat the boss, indicating your ticket to get out of this godforsaken place.

It’s noteworthy that the effects of all artifacts are applicable for this Trial with the exception of Artifact of Kin. Moreover, Time is also paused in this realm just like Gold and Celestial Portals.

Tiers and Types of Artifacts:

Artifacts are game qualifiers that innovate the gameplay experience drastically depending upon the type and combination of different artifacts being used. Basically, Artifacts are the modifiers that developers introduced in the ‘Artifacts Update’ on March 31, 2020. Currently, there are sixteen Artifacts in Risk of Rain 2, and unlocking them allows you to toggle modifiers at the character selection screen. They alter the in-game scenario and may make a run extremely challenging or breeze depending on what Artifact you enabled before starting the run.

The Artifacts Update has arrived on PC! The fourth content update for Risk of Rain 2 is available now to everyone on Steam!

Patch Notes: https://t.co/XKceElwRK5 pic.twitter.com/a8kAgd3cpn

— Risk of Rain 2 (@RiskofRain) March 31, 2020

The explanation of these artifacts which includes their purpose, pros, cons, and their standings on the tier-list are explained in the following sections. However, it’s worth mentioning that ranking all the Risk Of Rain 2 artifacts is difficult and there’s always an underlying probability of inaccuracy primarily due to the hidden details associated with these artifacts. Nonetheless, after considering all the efficacious features and flaws, we did our best to make a tier list in which all artifacts are listed and ranked according to their relative contribution to survival on the planet, Petrichor V.

Tier-D

Tier-D includes Artifact of Death, Evolution, Frailty, and Vengeance that makes the game more challenging for the players. A brief explanation of all these artifacts is as follows:

Artifact of Death

If one player in your team dies, everyone dies.

This artifact is mocked as the most useless out of all the Risk of Rain 2 artifacts by the players. It can be used if you want to hone your skills to achieve next-level competence.

Artifact of Evolution

Monsters will get random items between stages.

This artifact can be pretty perilous as monsters can obtain items that will deal damage. This artifact can be used if you are grinding at lower levels but it can be annoying at higher difficulties. Monsters can’t get special items like Lunar and Boss items.

Artifact of Frailty

It doubles the fall damage making it a lethal practice.

It’s one of those artifacts that makes the gameplay harder due to the irregular topography of the game that includes rocky ridges and cliffs. Accidental falls can now be fatal so it’s better to keep your distance from the edges of cliffs. However, few characters are capable of nullifying this effect due to their special abilities. For instance, Loader is immune to this damage due to its specific perk which prevents fall damage. Huntress is also an effective survivor against this artifact. Hoopo Feather could come in handy as well if you jump just before striking the ground.

Artifact of Vengeance

An identical copy of Player will spawn having the same items and pieces of equipment.

Another artifact that will prove challenging for you because a Copy of your Player will spawn after every 10 minutes. This can be a good artifact for practice as the AI of your Copy is pretty strong having the same number and variety of items. So, keep an eye on the timer as the AI will spawn automatically, once it hits the ten-minute mark.

Tier-C

The artifacts that belong to this category are Artifact of Honor, Soul, Swarms, and Spite. The concise details of Tier-C artifacts are explained below:

Artifact of Honor

Enemies spawn as Elites.

If this artifact is activated, it becomes difficult to fight all enemies because every foe will spawn as an Elite. Elites have extra abilities, additional health buffs so defeating them can be troublesome. However, facing them will become easier if you use Old Guillotine (that we mentioned in our Risk of Rain 2 Item Tier List) because it can instantly kill an Elite if its health drops below 13%. Avoid the use of this artifact if you aren’t playing with a competitive survivor like Captain, Loader, Huntress, etc.

Artifact of Soul

Lesser Wisps will originate from dead enemies.

This artifact adds additional thorns in your venture as you have to deal with additional enemies, Lesser Wisps, given that you have already taken care of their predecessors. The number of Lesser Wisps might increase as time progresses.

Artifact of Swarms

The number of Enemy Spawns is doubled with 50% Health.

Each enemy will spawn with its Identical Twin or Clone but the health of both twins will be 50%. Each enemy and its Clone will drop an item if this artifact is paired with Artifact of Sacrifice. So using this artifact can be a decent approach if you want to loot a number of items of the same variety. Do keep in mind that each enemy and its clone will not drop different items as they are identical copies of each other.

Artifact of Spite

Bombs will spawn when enemies are killed.

This artifact seems dangerous but its harmful effects can be avoided easily. Enemies will now release several bouncy and exploding bombs that can deal damage. You can avoid them by staying away from their small explosion radius.

Tier-B

This category involves Artifact of Kin, Metamorphosis, Enigma, and Dissonance. These are unpredictable artifacts that can either make the game easier or tougher due to their random characteristics.

Artifact of Kin

All Monsters will be of the same variety.

If you are using this artifact, you will encounter only one type of monster in that particular stage. It doesn’t matter if you are going up against a boss or a regular enemy, the effect of this artifact remains the same in both cases. For example, Lesser Wisps will appear as regular monsters as well as bosses.

Keep in mind, this artifact doesn’t work in the realm related to the Trial of artifact, Bulwark’s Ambry. It can make your gameplay easier or harder depending upon the type of monster that will spawn.

Artifact of Metamorphosis

You will spawn as a random Survivor.

By using this artifact, you can enter the game as a random Survivor. This arbitrary artifact can be a good opportunity for you to tinker with different Characters. Likewise, it will be challenging for you to face bosses. Use this artifact if you want to become the Jack of all Trades by playing with every character.

Artifact of Enigma

It gives you a piece of random equipment when you spawn.

This dynamic artifact can be a blessing or misery depending upon the piece of equipment that you’ll get. It includes Lunar types of equipment as well. Your equipment will change into another piece of equipment once it’s activated.

Artifact of Dissonance

Every variety of Monster can spawn at any stage.

This artifact breaks the barricades and you’ll have to get ready for facing enemies outside their usual habitat. You should avoid this artifact if you aren’t using a potent character because you can encounter a tougher enemy in the early stages. 

Tier–A

This tier includes two artifacts, Artifact of Chaos and Sacrifice. These artifacts make the game relatively easier.

Artifact of Chaos

Enables Fire Damage to Survivors as well as Monsters.

As evident from the name, it brings chaos in the form of Fire Damage. You can get additional damage while using explosives, for instance, items like Gasoline, Whil-o’-the-Whisp, and Brilliant Behemoth should be avoided at any cost. You can read our guide of Items Tier List for a thorough understanding of these items.

Artifact of Sacrifice

Enemies will drop items on death, Chests will not appear.

This artifact allows you to enjoy extra loot after killing enemies because enemies will now drop items after getting killed but at the same time deprives you of regular loot as Chests will no longer appear. Nevertheless, you can still get Gold shrines and Blood shrines, etc.

Tier–S

Artifact of Command and Glass are the most favorite and frequently used artifacts by the Risk of Rain 2 players.

Artifact of Command

It provides an effective way through which you can choose your items.

This artifact is arguably the most favorite out of all the Risk of Rain 2 artifacts and makes the game hilariously easier. The items will drop in the form of small boxes called “Command Essence”. A separate interface will appear if you interact with this box which allows you to choose anything of the same rarity and category as the original item. Take Boss Items as an example, you can only choose from Regular Boss Items.

Artifact of Glass

You will deal 500% more Damage with 10% Base Health.

Yet another artifact that makes the game way easier by allowing you to deal a ridiculously huge amount of damage but its special Perk comes with a special Cost. You will have only 10% Base Health. Additionally, One-Shot Protection is disabled.

A Key Fact to consider here is that this Enhanced Damage applies to the base amount. Additional Perks will further bump up the digits. For example, if you’ll use a single Shaped Glass, you will deal 10 times more damage. Likewise, using two Shaped Glass will further increase your damage by 20X.

Please do consider the fact that this list has been made by careful analysis of different Artifacts, however, the rankings can vary extensively from person to person

Location of Codes Related to Artifacts

Risk Of Rain 2 Artifacts can be acquired through specific Codes scattered all over the Exoplanet, Petrichor V. Codes are in the form of a 3×3 Grid of different shapes that include: Diamond, Square, Triangle, and Circle. They are usually inscribed on a Stone resembling Tombstones.

Each Artifact has a distinct Code located at different Locations, Stages, and in Game Menu as well. You should have a basic notion about the locations of certain points like Siren’s Call, Distant Roost, Titanic Planes, etc. However, if you don’t know about these locations, our Guide of Altar Locations can save your day as you will get the exact locations of all these spots with their pictures. Hopoo Games did an incredible job with the details related to these codes and their locations.

Finding the perplexing codes of 16 different Artifacts can be a jaw clenching journey as most of the Codes are hidden and some are difficult to decipher due to their vague appearance. Nonetheless, this section provides easy directions that will lead you to these codes. 

Code of Frailty

This code is divided into two parts, One Part is located in the Void Fields, near the bones of dead organisms, and the other part is located in Siren’s Call. 

Here is another picture from the Siren’s Call perspective.

Code Array:

Code of Honor:

It’s inscribed on the Tombstone located near the Portal Generator, in Sky Meadows.

Code Array:

Code of Kin:

It can be found on the cliff of Distant Roost. You will get there by climbing the cliff.

Code Array:

Code of Sacrifice:

It’s located underwater in Hidden Realm: Gilded Coast. You have to use Gold Portal to reach there.

Code Array:

Code of Metamorphosis:

It’s rather hard to distinguish due to its murky appearance, however, it can be seen as a vague grid of different shapes on the Right Horn of Giant Sculpture which is present in Titanic Planes. 

Code Array:

Code of Spite:

It can be found in Game Menu. Open Settings, Go to Lod Bios panel, change it to Custom or Low, Code will appear on the stone near the Wrecked ship.

Code Array:

Code of Swarms:

It is located on an Island which is present in Rallypoint Delta. You have to reach the island by crossing the river so it’s better to have a Character with decent Mobility Stats. However, if you don’t know how to unlock certain characters with decent agility our Character Unlock Guide will be of great help.

Code Array:

Code of Vengeance:

Open Environment section of Logbook. Open Hidden Realm: A Moment, Fractured. Zoom and flip the map, an obscure code will appear.

Code Array:

Code of Evolution:

It’s found in Moment, Whole on Twisted Scavenger’s body in the form of Tatto. Use Celestial Portal to reach there.

Code Array:

Code of Enigma:

It’s located in Bulwark’s Ambry. You can reach there by using the Artifact Portal. However, just like Artifact of Swarm, you should have a Survivor with decent mobility stats.

Code Array:

Code of Dissonance:

It’s located on a fallen stone in Abyssal Depths. The dimensions of this code are varied due to the fall so flip it on the right side from the bottom. For your convenience, I have also attached the picture of the actual code below.

Code Array:

Code of Death:

It can be found in N’Kuhana’s Altar in Wetland’s Aspect.

Code Array:

Code of Chaos:

This is again divided into two halves, both halves are located in Abandoned Aqueduct. The Flipped Piece or Top piece is located on a stone near the Entrance of Boss’ Lair.

The bottom piece can be found if Runald and Kjaro Gate is opened. You have to fight the boss to get this piece.

Code Array:

Code of Command:

It can be seen as a fuzzy reflection in the fluid behind the sculpture of the shopkeeper in Bazaar Between Time. You can reach there through Blue Portal. You can have an idea about Blue Portals by going through our guide of Long Road Challenge.

Code Array:

Code of Soul:

It’s located in the form of a Pattern formed by certain stones, the missing part is near the tree. This pattern is seen in Scorched Acres.

Code Array:

Code of Glass:

It is located in A Moment, Fractured. You can reach there by using the Celestial Portal. Make your way to the Obelisk by hopping through the floating rocks.

Code Array:

Conversely, The following image is the summary of the above section consisting of all artifact names with their code array and code locations.

In a nutshell, Artifacts are game alterants that can change the gameplay notably. Artifacts can be attained by winning a one-stage trial in a separate realm, Bulwark’s Ambry. The portal to this Dimension can be opened by decoding the code of artifacts in a Compound Generator. These codes are hidden in different areas of Petrichor V or in Game Menu.

That’s all you need to know about Risk of Rain 2 artifacts. So, are you satisfied with our Tier List and brief guide? Don’t forget to share your valuable opinions in the comments section.