Greetings, Adventurers!
Eight brand-new Artifacts have been added to the game to redefine your playstyle in the Season of Opportunity. We caught up with System Designer Isaiah Cartwright for the design philosophy behind each one. As always, every Artifact includes its own quest line for upgrades. Check out an overview of the 3 weapons and 5 armor pieces below, and then let us know what type of Artifacts you’re looking forward to in future updates.
Cowl of Power (Light Headwear)
You look extra powerful with this on. Everyone probably fears you. Probably.
Desperate Energy: If you hit an enemy while your mana is below 50%, gain 25% increased damage for 4s (10s cooldown)
How to get:
Level 20 on Free Season Pass
Developer insight:
The idea here is to deal some additional damage when a user has exhausted their mana pool. This helps keep the light helm a little more magic focused and gives you an extra push of power when you need it most.
Survivor’s Coat (Heavy Chestwear)
Bulky plate that protects you from all who would do you harm.
Survive: If you get hit while below 50% health, you gain 50% stamina, lose all debuffs, and gain a potion surge that instantly refreshes your next used healing potion. (120s cooldown)
How to get:
Bought from the Well of Fortune in Cutlass Keys using Mystic Doubloons
Developer insight:
The goal here is to make a more active defensive chest piece rather than just giving you flat armor or health for survival. The Survivor's Coat helps get you back into the action. The challenge with defensive gear is making sure it doesn’t slow down combat too much, so this is one we’ll continue to keep a close eye on.
Ghostly Touch (Medium Gloves)
Your Empower? My Empower.
Ghostly Embrace: When you hit an Empowered enemy, dispel two of their Empowers and you gain 10% Empower for 10s (4s cooldown)
How to get:
Bought from the Well of Fortune in Cutlass Keys using Mystic Doubloons
Developer insight:
We see a lot of Empower stacking in the meta. The objective here is to provide a counter that allows players to take advantage of others’ Empowers.
Azoth Conductors (Medium Legwear)
Raw energy flows through these leggings, each step you take causes Azoth to surge within your being.
Magician’s Boons: While in Medium armor, deal 15% more elemental damage
How to get:
Chance to drop from Echidna in the Hive of Gorgons raid
Developer insight:
We want magic users to dabble in more medium weight sets, so this Artifact was designed to grant a strong damage bonus for that behavior.
Elemental Band (Ring)
An intricate carving on top a band, with symbols matching all of the natural elements.
Elemental Affinity: When you hit a target with an elemental attack (not Attunement or Damage over Time) gain 4% Empower for 6s (10s cooldown per elemental damage type, max 1 stack per elemental damage type)
How to get:
Chance to Drop from the Broodmother in the Gorgon’s Hive raid
Developer insight:
The idea behind this Artifact is to encourage using different elements together, rather then just stacking only one type. That way, people may try using two magic weapons or come up with some fun multi-elemental builds with gems.
Trsna (Warhammer)
A demon appears trapped within the hammer, doing all that it can to escape.
Consume: 25% Lifesteal versus knocked down enemies
How to get:
Chance to drop from Typhon in the Gorgon’s Hive Raid
Developer insight:
The goal was to grant a bonus for “wombo comboing” someone but we want to make it more sustainable than simply granting bonus damage, which is something we’ve already done in the past.
Grace (Greatsword)
A well-balanced blade, as light as a rapier. Holding the blade feels effortless.
Offensive Speed: When you enter offensive stance, gain +20% movement speed for 6s
Keen Speed: On critical hit, gain 20% Haste for 7s (7s cooldown)
How to get:
Level 80 on Free Season Pass
Developer insight:
For Grace, we want players to be able to more easily close gaps between foes while on the offensive. When combined with some Keen speed perk, you can really zoom around.
Power Stone (Flail)
The flail leeches the power from your foes, making you stronger in the process.
Heavy Burden: While above 90% health, attacks inflict 20% weaken for 5s (5s cooldown per target)
How to get:
Chance to drop from Daily Soul Trials
Developer insight:
A high health buff was a natural fit for the Flail, especially in those larger battles.
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you in Aeternum!