Artifact
Artifacts are a special type of weapon introduced in World of Warcraft: Legion, and the only weapons players would wield over the course of the expansion.
Players can acquire these new weapons early in the expansion's run, and the weapons grow in power alongside them. Artifact Power can be earned by engaging in most types of play, and can be spent to unlock a unique tree of traits, enhancing abilities. Players can also obtain relics and use these to upgrade the artifact itself. Artifacts also come with an extensive range of visual customization options.
There is an artifact for each class specialization, 36 in total, plus an additional one for 
Fishing. Obtaining each artifact involves a unique questline to seek out these powerful weapons.
Contents
Storyline
Following the Broken Shore experience, players set about acquiring the artifact for their character's current specialization. The artifacts represented a greater power than the heroes of Azeroth had ever wielded before, a power which was needed in order to defeat the Burning Legion.
The process of acquiring an artifact is determined by the character's class and spec. A catch-up mechanism was added to reduce the time taken to earn artifact power for secondary specializations and alts.
Patch 7.3.5 added the send off for artifact weapons and as such ended the Legion storyline, with the weapons having to be used in order to neutralize the sword Sargeras used to impale the world in Silithus. Some visual effects represented the instability that resulted from the send off, with for example Artifact Power varying wildly.[1]
With the release of patch 8.0.1, the artifact weapons can continue to be used as normal weapons, but all traits added to the weapon will "burn away", and be disabled. The main artifact ability will also no longer be usable. Any relics added to the weapon will continue to increase the weapon's item level, but will no longer offer any traits. Netherlight Crucible augments will also cease to benefit the weapon. All artifact traits will be disabled as the final result of the artifact instability.[2]
List of artifacts
| Class | Spec | Weapon(s) | Book | Acquisition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Death Knight |
 Blood |
 [Maw of the Damned] |
Libram of the Dead | Travel to the Legion world of Niskara to slay Gorelix and steal the axe from him. |
 Frost |
Blades of the Fallen Prince [Frostreaper] and [Icebringer] |
Seek out the shards of Frostmourne in Icecrown Citadel where they lay after the defeat of the Lich King, and reforge them into a pair of runeblades. | ||
 Unholy |
 [Apocalypse] |
Delve into the catacombs beneath Karazhan and retake the blade from the Dark Riders. | ||
 Demon hunter |
 Havoc |
Twinblades of the Deceiver [Verus] and [Muramas] |
Tome of Fel Secrets | Storm the Broken Shore to take out the traitor Varedis Felsoul |
 Vengeance |
Aldrachi Warblades [Aldrachi Warblades] and [Aldrachi Warblades] |
Return to the Broken Shore and take the warblades from Caria Felsoul | ||
 Druid |
 Balance |
 [Scythe of Elune] |
Tome of the Ancients | Delve into the catacombs beneath Karazhan and retake the scythe from the Dark Riders. |
 Feral |
Fangs of Ashamane [Fangs of Ashamane] and [Fangs of Ashamane] |
Travel to Ashmane's fall, then chase after Verstok Darkbough in Falanaar. | ||
 Guardian |
Claws of Ursoc [Claws of Ursoc] and [Claws of Ursoc] |
Prove your worth to Ursol to obtain the claws in Grizzly Hills. | ||
 Restoration |
 [G'Hanir, the Mother Tree] |
Retrieve the branch from the dream and cleanse it at the Well of Eternity. | ||
 Hunter |
 Beast Mastery |
 [Titanstrike] |
Tales of the Hunt | Delve into an ancient Vrykul tomb and retrieve the ancient gun. |
 Marksmanship |
 [Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners] |
Travel with Vereesa Windrunner to the Legion world of Niskara to find Alleria Windrunner. | ||
 Survival |
 [Talonclaw] |
Track down the beast that killed its last wielder and retrieve it from the beast's cave. | ||
 Mage |
 Arcane |
 [Aluneth] |
Archive of the Tirisgarde | Travel to the Nexus to retake the staff from the Ethereum. |
 Fire |
 [Felo'melorn] and  [Heart of the Phoenix] |
Team up with Archmage Aethas Sunreaver to obtain the blade from Icecrown Citadel. | ||
 Frost |
 [Ebonchill] |
Hunt down Balaadur and take the staff back from him. | ||
 Monk |
 Brewmaster |
 [Fu Zan, the Wanderer's Companion] |
The Chronicle of Ages | Make a drink for the Monkey King, then defend the Temple of the Jade Serpent from a Legion invasion to retrieve the staff. |
 Mistweaver |
 [Sheilun, Staff of the Mists] |
Retrieve the Staff from the Terrace of Endless Spring, where it has been kept since the Last Emperor passed on. | ||
 Windwalker |
Fists of the Heavens [Al'burq] and [Alra'ed] |
Follow the old tale's path to Uldum, and make then retrieve the Fists from Skywall | ||
 Paladin |
 Holy |
 [The Silver Hand] |
Libram of Ancient Kings | Retrieve the legendary hammer from Tyr's tomb in Tirisfal. |
 Protection |
 [Truthguard] and  [Oathseeker] |
Enter the shrine of Tyr where the shield is held on an island in Stormheim. | ||
 Retribution |
 [Ashbringer] |
Search the Broken Shore, where the Ashbringer fell in battle and was lost | ||
 Priest |
 Discipline |
 [Light's Wrath] |
Word of the Conclave | Travel to the Nexus to retake the staff from the Ethereum. |
 Holy |
 [T'uure, Beacon of the Naaru] |
Travel to the Legion world of Niskara to retrieve and purify T'uure. | ||
 Shadow |
 [Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire] and  [Secrets of the Void] |
Hunt the Twilight's Hammer in Tirisfal Glades to stop them from releasing the Faceless general Zakajz hidden below. | ||
 Rogue |
 Assassination |
The Kingslayers [Anguish] and [Sorrow] |
Blood Ledger | Aid Garona in taking out cultists in Stormwind |
 Outlaw |
The Dreadblades [Fate] and [Fortune] |
Hunt down the Dread Admiral Eliza and her undead crew and take them from her grasp. | ||
 Subtlety |
Fangs of the Devourer [Gorefang] and [Akaari's Will] |
Invade the Shadowgore Citadel and take the fangs from Akaari Shadowgore. | ||
 Shaman |
 Elemental |
 [The Fist of Ra-den] and  [The Highkeeper's Ward] |
Words of Wind and Earth | Partake in a tournament held by Xuen to earn the right to wield the fist. |
 Enhancement |
 [Doomhammer] and  [Fury of the Stonemother] |
Doomhammer fell into the Maelstrom. Travel to Deepholm to recover it. | ||
 Restoration |
 [Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides] and  [Shield of the Sea Queen] |
Travel to the Throne of Tides to retrieve the scepter from Azshara's servants. | ||
 Warlock |
 Affliction |
 [Ulthalesh, the Deadwind Harvester] |
Tome of Blighted Implements | Delve into the catacombs beneath Karazhan and retake the staff from the Dark Riders. |
 Demonology |
 [Skull of the Man'ari] and  [Spine of Thal'kiel] |
Storm Felsoul Keep to steal the skull from Mephistroth. | ||
 Destruction |
 [Scepter of Sargeras] |
Steal the scepter from Gul'dan at the Tomb of Sargeras | ||
 Warrior |
 Arms |
 [Strom'kar, the Warbreaker] |
Saga of the Valarjar | Travel to Tirisfal Glades and retrieve the sword from the hidden tomb where the faceless general Zakajz lays. |
 Fury |
Warswords of the Valarjar [Odyn's Fury] and [Helya's Wrath] |
Invade the shores of Helheim and steal back the warswords. | ||
 Protection |
 [Scale of the Earth-Warder] and  [Scaleshard] |
Delve into the sealed and curse-laden tomb of an ancient vrykul king who was buried with a sword and shield made from the scales of Neltharion | ||
| Profession | Fishing |
 [Underlight Angler] |
Customization
[Ashbringer].Artifacts can be customized and powered up at order halls with artifact power, earned from adventuring, completing quests, beating dungeon bosses, winning PvP objectives, and so forth. Artifact power is used to unlock traits which increase the power of the weapon and the character.
Each artifact has a unique "trait tree", a grid overlaid upon the outline of the weapon itself, resembling the old talent trees. Players can spend artifact power to activate additional traits, moving along the tree; once a trait is activated, all connecting traits become unlocked. Many traits have multiple ranks. Majorly impactful traits are called golden traits.
Artifacts also have Relic slots. Relics are artifact-only objects with a major impact on the overall power of the artifact, such as its basic damage and item level. The relic system acts as a substitute for the upgrading of weapons seen in previous expansions; rather than switching to a new and more powerful weapon, the player slots a new and more powerful relic into their artifact.
Visual
Several different looks are available for each artifact. These can be unlocked through various activities. One look for each artifact will only be available through PvP.[3] Each look appears to come with unique flavor text, and background lore. Players are also able to unlock three additional colors of the various looks. In the case of Feral and Guardian Druids, changing the look of the weapon also changes the look of the form to match. In addition, there is a hard to obtain item for every specialization that unlocks an additional appearance (with 3 recolors unlockable).
Artifacts can be transmogrified into other weapons, but other weapons cannot be transmogrified into artifacts.[4]
Hidden appearance items
[110] 
[110] 
[98 - 110] 
Video
Gallery
- Official art
-
[The Silver Hand]
- Justice's Flame skin -
[Apocalypse]
- Faminebearer skin -
Blades of the Fallen Prince
- Base skin -
[G'Hanir, the Mother Tree]
- Base skin -
Twinblades of the Deceiver
- Base skin -
Aldrachi Warblades
- Base skin -
The Dreadblades
- Base skin -
[Light's Wrath]
- Ascended Watch skin
Notes
- [Felo'melorn], [Doomhammer], [Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners] and [Talonclaw] are family heirlooms.
- Felo'melorn and the Doomhammer do not have any rightful hereditary claimants, as the royal Sunstrider dynasty of Quel'Thalas and the Doomhammer line of the Blackrock clan are extinct.
- Talonclaw of the Highmountain Tribe was accepted by the tribe and the spirit of its last owner as rightfully belonging to the hunter player, as they successfully retrieved it.
- Ownership of Thas'dorah is up in the air, as the Windrunner family and its former owner, Alleria Windrunner, are still alive. Vereesa Windrunner gave her blessing for the hunter player to use it until it can be returned to Alleria. Sylvanas Windrunner proclaims to the Horde player in Undercity that such a skilled marksman is worthy of the bow. After meeting up with her and the Army of the Light, Alleria herself states she may reclaim it once more pressing matters have been settled.
- Prior to Legion, artifact was the item quality above legendary. Though none of these items were obtainable, a handful did exist in the game files (primarily as GM gear). They used the color gold to denote their quality; this color was later reused when heirlooms were introduced. This caused a few interesting issues where some references to artifacts had not been removed. For instance, trying to mail an heirloom to a character on another account would return the error message, "Artifacts can only be mailed to your own characters."
- Prior to World of Warcraft's initial release, artifacts were planned to use the color red.[6][7]
List of pre-Legion artifact items
[Martin Thunder], GM Weapon
[Martin Fury], GM shirt
[Alex's Ring of Audacity], GM artifact ring
[The Twin Blades of Azzinoth], GM artifact single item version of set. Not to be confused with the player obtainable [The Twin Blades of Azzinoth].
[Warglaive of Azzinoth (Left)], GM Weapon- [Warglaive of Azzinoth (Right)], GM Weapon
[Tigole's Trashbringer], GM Weapon
[Frostmourne]
Patches and hotfixes
- Hotfix (2017-08-30): "Artifact weapons with a challenge artifact appearance selected should no longer revert to their base appearance if the player is logged out while in a different specialization."
Patch 7.2.0 (2017-03-28): Empowered traits and Challenge appearances added.- Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Artifact system added.
References
- ^
[110] The Power in Our Hands - ^ The Artifact Retirement Quest is Now Available - Max Concordance and Artifact Level
- ^ Blizzard Gamescom announcement, starting around 30:00
- ^ WoW: Legion details at gamescom: Interview with Tom Chilton & Ion Hazzikostas
- ^ Hidden Artifact Appearances Update
- ^ Eyonix 2007-10-15. Artifact?. Archived from the original on 2007-10-15. Retrieved on 2009-06-14.
- ^ WoW website web archive Jul 15, 2005 through Jun 15, 2007.
