Artifacts are items that bring unique changes to your run in Risk of Rain Returns. As you can expect from the enhanced rerelease, you will be able to discover some new and even more special Artifacts, such as the Artifact of Sacrifice that makes enemies drop items. Or the Artifact of Cognation that will spawn enemy clones upon death. In total, there are 14 Artifacts that you can collect to enhance or put a handicap on your playthrough.
Risk of Rain Returns: What are The Effects of All Artifacts in The Game?
Risk of Rain Returns brought back all of the 10 Artifacts from the original game along with four new ones. They always have a fixed spawn location, so while getting there could be tricky, you can always head to the same spot. If you want to know how these new run enhancers work or where to find them, continue reading below.
| Artifact Name | Effect | General Location |
|---|---|---|
| Artifact of Cognation | Enemies will create a clone when killed. The clone will disappear after a while. | Desolate Forest. Defeat a boss in a hidden room that can be accessed from a vine peeking from the ground. |
| Artifact of Command | Items aren’t random, you’ll be able to pick specific drops from boxes. | Hive Cluster. Across the ropes on a gap on the right side of the map. You should find the Risk of Rain Returns Artifact. |
| Artifact of Dissonance | Monsters will appear outside their habitats. | Obtain four Artifact Shards in the new map variants (variants 4, 5, and 6). Can be collected in different runs. |
| Artifact of Distortion | Skills have decreased cooldown, but they are randomized every minute. | Damp Caverns. On platforms on the upper-right side of the map. |
| Artifact of Enigma | Spawn with random equipment. Changes every time you use an item. | Sunken Tomb. In a pit in the southeastern area of the map. |
| Artifact of Glass | Damage increases to +500%, but HP is lowered to only 10% | Frozen Tundra. In a cave through an alcove on either side of the map. |
| Artifact of Kin | Only one enemy type will appear on each map. | Dried Lake. Search for a broken wall and destroy it for the Risk of Rain Returns Artifacts. |
| Artifact of Honor | Enemies will always appear as Elites. | Desolate Forest. Through a tunnel in the western part of the map. Will need a character with high jumping abilities and supporting items like Jetpack. |
| Artifact of Origin | Purple Imps and Imp Vanguard will spawn every 10 minutes through a portal. | Complete a Risk of Rain Returns playthrough alone or in multiplayer. Defeat the final boss then go down a level. |
| Artifact of Prestige | At least one Shrine of the Mountain will appear on every map. Shrine of the Mountain effects become permanent. | Get 15 Gold Crowns in the Providence Trials to acquire the Risk of Rain Returns Artifact. |
| Artifact of Sacrifice | Chests will not spawn and items only drop from monsters. | Magma Barracks. Activate three hidden buttons behind thin walls. Use a character with piercing abilities |
| Artifact of Spirit | The lower your health, the faster your character runs. | Temple Ruins. In a hidden platform on the right side of the map. |
| Artifact of Spite | Enemies will explode upon death. | Sky Meadow. Inside a hole to the bottom part of the map. |
| Artifact of Tempus | All items are temporary but work as if they have multiple stacks. | Temple of the Elders. Reach the Temple in less than 13 minutes to unlock the Risk of Rain Returns Artifacts. |
Risk of Rain Returns is now available for PC and Nintendo Switch.
