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 through 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 are determined by the character's class and spec. A catch up mechanism was added to reduce 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.
List of artifacts
Class | Spec | Weapon(s) | Acquisition |
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Travel to the Legion world of Niskara to slay Gorelix and steal the axe from him. |
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Blades of the Fallen Prince (![]() ![]() |
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. | |
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Delve into the catacombs beneath Karazhan and retake the blade from the Dark Riders. | |
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Twinblades of the Deceiver (![]() ![]() |
Storm the Broken Shore to take out the traitor Varedis Felsoul |
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Aldrachi Warblades (![]() ![]() |
Return to the Broken Shore and take the warblades from Caria Felsoul | |
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Delve into the catacombs beneath Karazhan and retake the scythe from the Dark Riders. |
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Fangs of Ashamane (![]() ![]() |
Travel to Ashmane's fall, then chase after Verstok Darkbough in Falanaar. | |
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Claws of Ursoc (![]() ![]() |
Prove your worth to Ursol to obtain the claws in Grizzly Hills. | |
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Retrieve the branch from the dream and cleanse it at the Well of Eternity. | |
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Delve into an ancient Vrykul tomb and retrieve the ancient gun. |
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Travel with Vereesa Windrunner to the Legion world of Niskara to find Alleria Windrunner. | |
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Track down the beast that killed its last wielder and retrieve it from the beast's cave. | |
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Travel to the Nexus to retake the staff from the Ethereum. |
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Team up with Archmage Aethas Sunreaver to obtain the blade from Icecrown Citadel. | |
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Hunt down Balaadur and take the staff back from him. | |
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Make a drink for the Monkey King, then defend the Temple of the Jade Serpent from a Legion invasion to retrieve the staff. |
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Retrieve the Staff from the Terrace of Endless Spring, where it has been kept since the Last Emperor passed on. | |
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Fists of the Heavens (![]() ![]() |
Follow the old tale's path to Uldum, and make then retrieve the Fists from Skywall | |
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Retrieve the legendary hammer from Tyr's tomb in Tirisfal. |
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Enter the shrine of Tyr where the shield is held on an island in Stormheim. | |
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Search the Broken Shore, where the Ashbringer fell in battle and was lost | |
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Travel to the Nexus to retake the staff from the Ethereum. |
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Travel to the Legion world of Niskara to retrieve and purify T'uure. | |
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Hunt the Twilight's Hammer in Tirisfal Glades to stop them from releasing the Faceless general Zakajz hidden below. | |
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The Kingslayers (![]() ![]() |
Aid Garona in taking out cultists in Stormwind |
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The Dreadblades (![]() ![]() |
Hunt down the Dread Admiral Eliza and her undead crew and take them from her grasp. | |
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Fangs of the Devourer (![]() ![]() |
Invade the Shadowgore Citadel and take the fangs from Akaari Shadowgore. | |
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Partake in a tournament held by Xuen to earn the right to wield the fist. |
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Doomhammer fell into the Maelstrom. Travel to Deepholm to recover it. | |
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Travel to the Throne of Tides to retrieve the scepter from Azshara's servants. | |
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Delve into the catacombs beneath Karazhan and retake the staff from the Dark Riders. |
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Storm Felsoul Keep to steal the skull from Mephistroth. | |
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Steal the scepter from Gul'dan at the Tomb of Sargeras | |
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Travel to Tirisfal Glades and retrieve the sword from the hidden tomb where the faceless general Zakajz lays. |
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Warswords of the Valarjar (![]() ![]() |
Invade the shores of Helheim and steal back the warswords. | |
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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 | |
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Customization



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.[1] 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.[2]
Video
Notes
- The mage's
[Felo'melorn], shaman's
[Doomhammer], and hunter's
[Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners] and
[Talonclaw] are the only ones to be family heirlooms.
- The hunter class is the only class to have two such weapons for their artifact list.
- 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.[4][5]
List of pre-Legion artifact items
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[Martin Thunder], GM Weapon
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[Martin Fury], GM shirt
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[Alex's Ring of Audacity], GM artifact ring
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[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].
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[Warglaive of Azzinoth (Left)], GM Weapon
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[Warglaive of Azzinoth (Right)], GM Weapon
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[Tigole's Trashbringer], GM Weapon
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[Frostmourne]
See also
- Archive of the Tirisgarde (mage)
- Blood Ledger (rogue)
- The Chronicle of Ages (monk)
- Libram of the Dead (death knight}
- Saga of the Valarjar (warrior)
- Tales of the Hunt (hunter)
- Tome of Blighted Implements (warlock)
- Tome of Fel Secrets (demon hunter)
- Tome of the Ancients (druid)
- Word of the Conclave (priest)
- Words of Wind and Earth (shaman)
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."
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Patch 7.2.0 (2017-03-28): Empowered traits and Challenge appearances added.
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Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Artifact system added.
References
- ^ 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.