Artifacts in Genshin Impact: Complete System Overview

Artifacts are the core of character progression in Genshin Impact, shaping damage output, survivability and overall build efficiency. The artifact system is built around five main equipment slots, each with specific stat rules, and a large variety of sets that provide powerful bonuses. Mastering how stats, sub-stats, and set effects interact is essential for optimizing any character in the game.

Main Stats: The Foundation of Every Build

Each artifact slot offers fixed or variable main stats. The Flower always provides HP, and the Feather always grants ATK, making them the simplest pieces to build. The remaining three—Sands, Goblet and Circlet—provide flexible main stats and determine a character’s final performance.

Sands can roll Energy Recharge, ATK, HP or Elemental Mastery, depending on the role of the character. Goblet is the only slot capable of gaining Elemental Damage bonuses, making it critical for elemental DPS units. Circlet provides Crit Rate, Crit Damage, Healing Bonus or EM, and plays a big role in fine-tuning builds.

Sub-Stats: The Real Power Scaling

Sub-stats determine much of a character’s efficiency. The most valuable sub-stats include Crit Rate, Crit Damage, ATK%, EM and Energy Recharge, depending on the character’s specialization. Strong sub-stat rolls can dramatically increase performance, sometimes even more than the main stat if multiple rolls land correctly.

Each artifact has four sub-stats at maximum, and leveling the artifact increases one random stat. This system makes sub-stats central to min-maxing and long-term farming.

Artifact Sets: Bonuses That Shape Playstyles

Artifact sets provide 2-piece and 4-piece bonuses that define team roles. Sets like Emblem of Severed Fate enhance Burst damage and Energy Recharge, making them ideal for high-cost Burst units. Blizzard Strayer gives Cryo teams unparalleled Crit synergy in Freeze compositions.

Gladiator’s Finale improves Normal Attack builds and benefits physical or hybrid DPS units. Wanderer’s Troupe enhances charged attack playstyles and EM scaling, making it strong for Catalyst and Bow characters. Tenacity, Crimson Witch, Pale Flame, Lavawalker and Deepwood further expand strategic variety across all elements and roles.

Artifact Domains and Farming System

Artifact domains are special dungeons designed for farming powerful sets. Each run consumes Original Resin, making efficient farming critical. Domains often include environmental hazards, enemy modifiers or combat rotations that encourage using specific elemental teams.

Higher world levels yield artifacts of greater rarity, while endgame players farm exclusively at level 90 domains for consistent 5-star drops. Weekly bosses and world bosses also drop unique sets, but domains remain the main source of optimized gear.

Choosing the Right Stats for Each Role

DPS units generally prioritize Crit Rate, Crit Damage and ATK% or Elemental DMG depending on their skill multipliers. Reaction-heavy characters rely on Elemental Mastery, especially in Dendro-based teams. Burst-oriented units prefer Energy Recharge and specific set bonuses like Emblem. Healers and shielders focus on HP%, Healing Bonus or DEF depending on their scaling.

The key is aligning artifact stats with the character’s kit. Understanding scaling formulas ensures that every stat roll contributes to maximum efficiency.

Sub-Stat Priorities and Min-Maxing

Priorities shift depending on the character’s specialization. Crit Rate and Crit Damage are essential for any unit dealing direct damage. Energy Recharge becomes vital for characters with expensive Bursts or support roles. Elemental Mastery dominates for reaction-based units like Vaporize, Spread or Bloom triggers.

Sub-stat min-maxing is a long-term process that often requires dozens or even hundreds of domain runs. However, a single artifact with perfect rolls can provide massive power spikes.

Flex Sets and Hybrid Builds

Many characters benefit from mixing two-piece sets instead of relying on one four-piece bonus. For example, pairing 2-piece ATK% and 2-piece Elemental Damage increases consistency across multiple team types. Defensive characters may mix HP and DEF bonuses, while supports may combine Energy Recharge with elemental sets.

Hybrid builds offer flexibility, especially when a character’s best-in-slot four-piece set is hard to obtain with strong sub-stats.

Understanding Artifact Progression

The progression curve from low-star to 5-star artifacts is steep. Players typically upgrade low-star pieces early in the game but shift toward exclusive 5-star farming once they reach higher Adventure Ranks. Because upgrading artifacts is costly, it is critical to invest only in pieces with strong potential based on main stats and sub-stat distribution.

Conclusion

Artifacts are the heart of character optimization in Genshin Impact. Main stats define a build’s foundation, while sub-stats and set bonuses unlock peak performance. Whether focusing on Burst damage, elemental reactions, survivability or support utility, mastering artifacts is essential for maximizing a character’s power. With dozens of sets, farming strategies and stat combinations available, the artifact system provides endless depth for players seeking to perfect their builds.