Genshin Impact Artifact Guide

What Are Artifacts and Why Do They Matter?

Artifacts are the cornerstone of character progression in Genshin Impact, often making the difference between clearing a Spiral Abyss floor comfortably and struggling against its timer. They are five equippable pieces—Flower, Plume, Sands, Goblet, and Circlet—that provide powerful set bonuses and massive stat boosts. Unlike weapons and talents, which have clear upgrade paths, artifact farming is a long-term investment of your Resin, demanding strategy and patience to build truly powerful characters.

Understanding the Basics: Artifact Slots and Main Stats

Each artifact slot has a guaranteed main stat type that scales with its level (max +20 for 5-star artifacts). Knowing which main stats can appear on which slot is the first step to efficient farming.

Fixed Main Stats

Two slots will always have the same main stat:

Flower of Life: Always flat HP. It's the foundation of any build's survivability.
Plume of Death: Always flat ATK. This is a significant source of base damage that scales with your character's talent multipliers.

Variable Main Stats

The other three slots have randomized main stats, making them the primary targets for farming:

Sands of Eon: HP%, DEF%, ATK%, Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge%
Goblet of Eonothem: HP%, DEF%, ATK%, Elemental Mastery, Elemental DMG Bonus% (e.g., Pyro DMG Bonus), Physical DMG Bonus%
Circlet of Logos: HP%, DEF%, ATK%, Elemental Mastery, CRIT Rate%, CRIT DMG%, Healing Bonus%

Pro Tip: For most damage-oriented characters, the ideal main stats are ATK% Sands, Elemental/Physical DMG Bonus% Goblet, and CRIT Rate/DMG Circlet. Always prioritize getting the correct main stat over set bonuses initially.

Navigating Artifact Sets and Domains

Every artifact belongs to a set, and equipping 2 or 4 pieces from the same set grants powerful bonuses. Targeting the right set is critical.

Emblem of Severed Fate (Domain: Momiji-Dyed Court, Inazuma)

This is arguably the most universally powerful and Resin-efficient set in the game.

2-Piece Bonus: Energy Recharge +20%
4-Piece Bonus: Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 25% of Energy Recharge. A maximum of 75% bonus DMG can be obtained this way. This set is perfect for characters who rely on their Burst and need Energy Recharge, such as Raiden Shogun, Xiangling, Beidou, Xingqiu, and Yelan. Farming here gives you two excellent sets (the other being Shimenawa's Reminiscence).

Viridescent Venerer (Domain: Valley of Remembrance, Mondstadt)

The undisputed best set for Anemo support characters.

2-Piece Bonus: Anemo DMG Bonus +15%
4-Piece Bonus: Increases Swirl DMG by 60%. Decreases opponent's Elemental RES to the element infused in the Swirl by 40% for 10s. This set provides a massive damage amplification for your entire team through its 4-piece effect. Essential for characters like Kazuha, Sucrose, Venti, and Jean.

Generalist vs. Specialist Sets

When starting out, strong 2-piece combinations can be very effective while you farm for a 4-piece set. For example:

2-Piece Gladiator's Finale/Shimenawa's Reminiscence (+18% ATK)
2-Piece Noblesse Oblige (+20% Elemental Burst DMG)
2-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate (+20% Energy Recharge)

The Substat Grind: How to Evaluate an Artifact

The main stat gets you started, but substats determine an artifact's true potential. Each 5-star artifact starts with 3-4 random substats and gains a new one or upgrades an existing one every 4 levels (at +4, +8, +12, +16, +20).

Valuable Offensive Substats

For damage dealers, the hierarchy is generally:

CRIT Rate% & CRIT DMG%: The most valuable stats for scaling damage. The community aim for a 1:2 ratio (e.g., 70% CRIT Rate to 140% CRIT DMG).
ATK%: A solid, universally useful stat.
Elemental Mastery: Crucial for characters triggering powerful reactions like Vaporize or Melt (e.g., Hu Tao, Xiangling). Increases reaction DMG significantly.
Energy Recharge%: Vital for ensuring characters can use their Elemental Burst on cooldown. The required amount varies (e.g., Xiangling wants 180-220%, while Raiden Shogun needs less).

Valuable Defensive & Utility Substats

For support and certain DPS characters:

HP% & DEF%: Used by characters who scale off these stats (e.g., Zhongli for shields, Hu Tao for HP-to-ATK conversion, Itto for DEF scaling).
Flat HP, ATK, DEF: These are generally considered "dead stats" and are much less valuable than their percentage-based counterparts. Avoid artifacts that roll heavily into these.

Actionable Tip: Use the "Artifact Strongbox" feature at the crafting table. You can trade in three unwanted 5-star artifacts of a specific set (e.g., Gladiator's Finale) to receive one new artifact from that same set. This is the best way to recycle trash artifacts and target older, non-domain sets like Noblesse Oblige.

Building Your Characters: Practical Artifact Strategies

Now, let's put theory into practice with character-building strategies.

Prioritize Your Main DPS First

Your primary damage dealer deserves your best artifacts. A well-built main DPS can carry the team. For example, a Raiden Shogun with a 4-piece Emblem set should aim for:

Main Stats: ATK% or ER% Sands, Electro DMG Bonus% Goblet, CRIT Rate/DMG Circlet.
Substat Goals: CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG > ATK% > Energy Recharge. Aim for 60-70% CRIT Rate and 120-140%+ CRIT DMG.
Energy Recharge Target: Around 200-230% for smooth Burst rotation.

Support Characters Have Different Needs

Supports often need specific stats to function, not necessarily max damage.

Anemo Support (Kazuha/Venti): Full 4-piece Viridescent Venerer. Main stats should be Elemental Mastery on Sands, Goblet, and Circlet. Stack EM substats. Their damage comes from Swirl, which scales purely with EM and character level.
Shielder (Zhongli): 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith. Stack HP% on everything. His shield strength scales with his Max HP. A shield with 40,000+ HP can trivialize most content.
Batteries/Sub-DPS (Xingqiu): Often use 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate. Needs high Energy Recharge (200%+) to use his Burst every rotation, with CRIT stats and ATK% for damage.

The "Good Enough" Threshold

Perfect artifacts are a myth. Know when to stop farming a piece. A general rule of thumb for a "good" artifact is:

Has a correct main stat.
Has at least 2-3 desirable substats (e.g., CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK%).
Has rolled into those desirable substats at least 2-3 times by +20.
Example: A Circlet with CRIT Rate main stat and substats of CRIT DMG 14%, ATK 5.8%, and Flat DEF 23 is excellent. Don't chase perfection on every piece.

Advanced Management and Final Tips

Efficient artifact management saves time and Morals.

The Strongbox and Artifact Routes

Artifact Strongbox: As mentioned, always use this for Gladiator's Finale, Wanderer's Troupe, Noblesse Oblige, and Bloodstained Chivalry. It’s Resin-efficient because you’re getting value from artifacts you farmed elsewhere.
Daily Artifact Investigation Routes: You can collect up to 100 "investigation points" daily that give 1-2 star artifacts. This is the best way to get fodder for upgrading without spending Resin. Look up routes in Liyue and Inazuma.

Key Takeaways

Start with the Correct Main Stats. An ATK% Goblet is never as good as an Electro DMG Bonus% Goblet for a damage dealer, regardless of substats.
Farm Efficient Domains. Emblem of Severed Fate / Shimenawa's Reminiscence and Viridescent Venerer domains offer the highest return on your Resin investment for most accounts.
Use the 1:2 CRIT Ratio as a guideline. Don't stack 200% CRIT DMG with only 30% CRIT Rate.
Build Supports Differently. Stack Elemental Mastery for Anemo units, HP% for shielders, and Energy Recharge for burst-dependent supports.
Recycle with the Strongbox. Never destroy 5-star artifacts—turn them into chances for the sets you need.
Patience is Key. Artifact progression is measured in weeks and months, not days. Celebrate small wins and focus on steady improvement.

By applying these strategies, you'll transform your characters from capable adventurers into formidable forces, ready to conquer the Spiral Abyss and any challenge Teyvat throws at you.