Last updated Dec 27, 2023 at 7:12PM | Published on Jan 24, 2022 | , Black Desert Online, | 14
BDO Artifacts and Lightstones are used together to make powerful combinations that buff character abilities and stats.
Top Artifact Benefits:
- Faster character leveling, giving up to +400% Combat Exp
- Increased combat stats that buff offense and defense
- Faster Life Skill leveling, giving up to +41% Life Exp
- Buffs that increase item drops and money
Artifact Info:
- Artifacts of the same type can have different effects
- Each Artifact has 2 Lightstone sockets
- Each character can equip up to 2 Artifacts and 4 Light Stones.
- Artifacts can NOT be bought on the marketplace, but Lightstones can.
- Artifact Storage is shared with family.
- Artifacts + Lightstones can be copied after Tag Character for no additional cost.
- Obtain Artifacts from quests, grinding spots, Dark Rifts, World Bosses, Boss Summon Scrolls, Guild Raids, and many Life Skill activities.
View Equipped Artifact Combo:
Inventory (I) → “Artifact Effects”
Artifacts UI
RMB on an Artifact in your Inventory (I) to equip it.
Open the Artifact UI:
Press I key → “Artifact Inventory” button.
Here is where the Artifact magic happens!
- View Artifact Inventory (Artifact tab).
- View Lightstone Inventory (Lightstone tab).
- Add, edit, and equip artifact presets.
- Infusion button to infuse Lightstones into Artifacts and create combination effects.
3 Separate Artifact Buffs
Artifacts create up to 3 different buffs, which are NOT added together for you in the UI.
3 Different Buffs:
- Each Artifact has a separate Item Effect.
- Each Lightstone has a separate Item Effect.
- Combination Effects occur when equipping a specific set of Lightstones.
Notice how the two Artifact buffs are hidden. Also, Lightstone effects are separated from the Combo Effect and not totaled for you.
The “Dedication” Combination Effect gives +400% Combat Exp.
(4x +25% Lightstone Effect + 300% Combo Effect)
Artifact Inventory & Storage
All Artifacts and Lightstones can be stored inside the Artifact Inventory, which is separate from your regular inventory.
- The Artifact Inventory is shared with your entire family.
- Click the ‘Artifacts’ button on the bottom of your Inventory (I).
- The same Artifacts stack taking up 1 slot, allowing you to check quantities.
- Small icons for lightstones help you get an idea of the current artifacts you have.
- Filter different Lightstone types inside the Lightstone tab. Filter fire, earth, wind, and special lightstones held in the inventory.
- Click “Infusion” button to infuse 2 Lightstones into an Artifact.
Artifact Inventory Expansion
By default, your Artifact Inventory has 30 slots to store Artifacts.
The same Artifacts will stack inside this inventory. So if you have 30 Monster AP Artifacts, they will only take up one slot, unless they have different Lightstones inside them.
Artifact Inventory can be expanded up to 60 slots with a Pearl Shop purchase.
Artifact Inventory +5 Expansion Coupon costs 250 Pearls
6 Coupons for 30 slots = 1600 Pearls
How to Create an Artifact Preset
Create or edit artifact presets by clicking the “Artifact Inventory” button in your Inventory (I) window.
- Click “Edit Presets” button
- LBM on the preset slot you want to save to.
- RMB on an artifact above the button to add it to the preset.
- Click on the preset name to change it.
- Click “Save Presets”
- Click “Equip” button next to the preset to unequip your current preset and equip the one you selected. (The old set will automatically be moved to your Artifact Inventory.)
- Click “View Effects” button to see lightstone combination effects.
- You must have at least 2 slots available in your Inventory to equip artifact presets.
- The icon of artifacts that are not currently in your Artifact Inventory will be marked red.
- You can equip and manage up to 10 artifact presets.
2. LMB Preset Slot
3. RMB Adds Artifact
4. Change Name
5. Save Preset
Artifact Preset How To Animation
Official Artifact Preset Animation:
Thanks BDO team!
Artifact Types
There are 4 types of yellow grade Artifacts and 1 rare red grade Artifact.
Yellow Grade Artifacts:
- Marsh’s Artifact: increase AP or Accuracy
- Lesha’s Artifact: increase DR or Evasion
- Kehelle’s Artifact: increase HP, Black Spirit’s Rage, or Stamina
- Sethra’s Artifact: increase Life Skill Exp, Mastery, and Life Skill Effectiveness.
Artifact Type Examples
Marsh’s Artifact
+6 Monster AP
Sethra’s Artifact
+5% Gathering EXP
Lesha’s Artifact
+12 Melee Evasion
Kehelle’s Artifact
+75 Max HP
Kabua’s Artifact:
Kabua’s Artifact is the first red grade artifact to arrive in BDO.
- Extra AP Against Monsters +7
- Monster Damage Reduction +20
- Max HP +100
- Max Stamina +75
Obtaining Kabua’s Artifact:
- Kabua’s Artifact is a rare drop from mobs in Darkseeker’s Retreat in Ulukita.
- Processing (L) Manufacture → Kabua’s Fragment x100 + Magical Lightstone Crystal x1,000
- Kabua’s Fragment and Artifact can be purchased on the marketplace.
Darkseeker’s Retreat Grinding Spot
Darkseeker’s Retreat is an end game grinding spot with challenging mechanics.
- Recommended AP: 310
- Recommended DP: 420
Artifacts List with Buffs
How to Obtain Artifacts
Yellow grade artifacts can’t be purchased on the marketplace, but are obtained through quests, combat, and life skill activites. (Only the red-grade BIS Kabua’s Artifact can be purchased on the maketplace.)
Artifact Drop Locations
Artifacts giving combat buffs drop at many different locations starting with Valencia, when you reach 100 AP. (Excludes Life Skill Artifacts.)
View my Grinding Spot Tool for an interactive view of which monster zones drop which Artifacts.
The Artifact and Lightstone locations listed have a higher drop chance for those monster zones. (Other types may drop, but at a lower chance.)
Artifacts | Monster Zone or Boss |
---|---|
Melee Artifacts:
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Ranged Artifacts:
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Magic Artifacts:
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Class-Specific Accuracy Artifacts:
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Monster AP & DR Artifacts:
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All DR & Evasion Artifacts
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Kehelle’s Artifact – Max HP (Max HP +75) |
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Kehelle’s Artifact – Max Stamina (Max Stamina +50) |
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Kehelle’s Artifact – Increase Max Black Spirit’s Rage (Black Spirit’s Rage+10%) |
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Artifact Drop Rate
Artifacts drop at a very low rate in monster zones. If you are lucky, you can obtain 1 every 1 to 2 hours. For many players, RNG has been even more difficult.
Because Artifacts are a rare drop, you can increase your chances to obtain them by increasing your “Item Drop Rate”. There are several items and mechanics to accomplish this. You can go as high as 300% outside Arsha server.
View this item drop rate guide for items to increase your chances to obtain Artifacts.
AP & Accuracy Artifacts
Marsh’s Artifacts increase offensive power by offering AP or Accuracy. Unfortunately, most require a specific attack type.
The Monster AP +6 Artifact is preferable because it can be used by all classes and is not dependent upon class damage type.
List of Offensive Effects:
- +4 Melee AP (Specific Classes Only)
- +4 Ranged AP (Specific Classes Only)
- +4 Magic AP (Specific Classes Only)
- +8 Melee Accuracy (Specific Classes Only)
- +8 Ranged Accuracy (Specific Classes Only)
- +8 Magic Accuracy (Specific Classes Only)
- +6 Monster AP (ALL CLASSES!!!)
Which Attack Type Do I Have?
Please view our Attack Type by Class Guide
Artifact Effects are separate from Lightstone and Combo Effects.
View all Combo Effects for Offense.
Offensive Artifact Drop Locations
Offense Artifact | Obtained by Grinding Spot or Boss |
---|---|
Melee AP +4 | Kzarka (World Boss) Bashim Base Gahaz Bandits Polly’s Forest Blood Wolf Settlement Basilisks Den Gorgo’s Nightmare (Basilisk Weekly Scroll) Sulfur Mines Schultz Guard |
Ranged AP +4 | Karanda (World Boss) Desert Nagas Crescent Shrine Kuit Islands (Pirate Island) Protty Cave Pila ku Jail Upper Sycraia |
Magic AP +4 | Nouver (World Boss) Titium Valley Tshira Ruins Fadus Habitat Waragon Nest Navarn Steppe Sherekhan’s Necropolis Manshaum Forest |
Melee Accuracy +8 Ranged Accuracy +8 Magic Accuracy +8 | Dastard Bheg (Field / Boss Scroll) Mirumok Ruins Forest Ronaros Thornwood Forest Stars End Tunkuta Abandoned Monastery (Restricted Area) |
Monster AP +6 | Kutum (World Boss) Dark Rifts Guild Bosses All Boss Scrolls Offin (World Boss) Muraka (Field Boss) Mudster (Field Boss) Katzvariak (Field Boss) Murrowak’s Labyrinth Jade Starlight Forest Erebjork Erethea’s Limbo |
Defense (DP) Artifacts
Lesha’s Artifacts increase defensive power by increasing 5 different types of Damage Reduction or 4 different types of Evasion.
All DP Effects:
- +3 All Damage Reduction
- +6 All Evasion
- +9 Monster Damage Reduction
DP By Damage Type:
- +6 Melee Damage Reduction
- +12 Melee Evasion
- +6 Ranged Damage Reduction
- +12 Ranged Evasion
- +6 Magic Damage Reduction
- +12 Magic Evasion
Artifacts that specialize in protecting against one type of attack have higher DP than those that protect against all forms of attacks.
These Artifact Effects are separate from Lightstone and Combo Effects.
View all Combo Effects for Defense.
DP Artifact Drop Locations
DP Artifact | Obtained by Grinding Spot or Boss |
---|---|
Melee Damage Reduction +6 Melee Evasion +12 | Kzarka (World Boss) Bashim Base Gahaz Bandits Polly’s Forest Blood Wolf Settlement Basilisks Den Gorgo’s Nightmare (Basilisk Weekly Scroll) Sulfur Mines Schultz Guard |
Ranged Damage Reduction +6 Ranged Evasion +12 | Karanda (World Boss) Desert Nagas Crescent Shrine Kuit Islands (Pirate Island) Protty Cave Pila ku Jail Upper Sycraia |
Magic Damage Reduction +6 Magic Evasion +12 | Nouver (World Boss) Titium Valley Tshira Ruins Fadus Habitat Waragon Nest Navarn Steppe Sherekhan’s Necropolis Manshaum Forest |
Monster Damage Reduction +9 | Kutum (World Boss) Dark Rifts Guild Bosses All Boss Scrolls Mirumok Destroyer Offin (World Boss) Muraka (Field Boss) Mudster (Field Boss) Katzvariak (Field Boss) Murrowak’s Labyrinth Jade Starlight Forest Erebjork Erethea’s Limbo |
All Damage Reduction +3 All Evasion +6 | Griffon (Boss Scroll) Urugon (Boss Scroll) Muskan (Boss Scroll) Leebur (Boss Scroll) Cadry Ruins Centaurs (Taphtar Plain) Padix Island |
Obtain Artifacts for Stats
Kehelle’s Artifacts increase character stats of HP, Stamina, or Maximum Black Spirit’s Rage.
Stat Artifact Effects:
- +75 HP
- +50 Stamina
- +10% Maximum Black Spirit’s Rage
These Artifact Effects are separate from Lightstone and Combo Effects.
View all Combo Effects for Utility.
Grinding Spots that Drop Stat Artifacts
Artifact Buff | Obtained by Grinding Spot or Boss |
---|---|
Max Health +75 | Quint (World Boss) Black Shadow (World Boss) Garmoth (World Boss) Red Nose (Field / Boss Scroll) Dim Tree Spirit (Field / Boss Scroll) Giath (Boss Scroll) Olun’s Valley Crypt of Resting Thoughts |
Max Stamina +50 | Black Shadow (World Boss) Traitor’s Graveyard (Marie’s Cave) Sycraia Underwater Ruins (Upper Zone) Winter Tree Fossil Ash Forest Erebjork Erethea’s Limbo |
Max Black Spirit’s Rage +10% | Gyfin Rhasia Temple (Upper) Gyfin Rhasia Temple (Lower) Aakman Temple Hystria Ruins Kratuga Ancient Ruins |
Obtain Artifacts for Life Skills
You can obtain Life Skill Artifacts (Sethra’s Artifacts) by doing certain Life Skill activites. Sethra’s Artifacts give Life Skill buffs for EXP, Mastery, and other useful boosts.
Notable Artifact Effects:
- Specific Life Skill Exp: up to 5%
- Specific Life Mastery up to +10
- Gathering item drop rate +2%
- Processing Success Rate +5%
- Mount Exp +3%
You can’t obtain Artifacts by processing, barehanded gathering, water scooping, or shoveling.
Life Skill Activities to Obtain Artifacts
Life Skill Artifact | Obtained By |
---|---|
Life Exp +3% | Life Skill Activities Below |
Life Mastery +7 | Life Skill Activities Below |
Fishing Exp +5% | Imperial Fishing Delivery |
Fishing Mastery +10 | Imperial Fishing Delivery |
Trading Exp +5% | Selling to Trade Manager |
Hunting Exp +5% | Hunting (butchering corpse) |
Hunting Mastery +10 | Hunting (butchering corpse) |
Alchemy Exp +5% | Imperial Alchemy |
Alchemy Mastery +10 | Imperial Alchemy |
Cooking Exp +5% | Imperial Cooking |
Cooking Mastery +10 | Imperial Cooking |
Processing Exp +5% | Imperial Cooking/Alchemy |
Processing Mastery +10 | Imperial Cooking/Alchemy |
Processing Rate +5% | Imperial Cooking/Alchemy |
Farming Exp +5% | Farming |
Mount Exp +3% | Imperial horse delivery |
Training Exp +5% | Imperial horse delivery |
Training Mastery +10 | Imperial horse delivery |
Gathering Drop Rate +2% | Gathering |
Gathering EXP +5% | Gathering |
Gathering Mastery +10 | Gathering |
Sailing Exp +5% | Sea monsters, Special barter |
Barter Exp +5% | Sea monsters, Special barter |
Sailing Mastery +10 | Sea monsters, Special barter |
Obtain Life Skill Artifacts from Quests
There is a small chance you will instantly obtain an artifact or lightstone quest during the following Life Skill activities:
- Imperial Fishing Delivery
- Imperial Horse Delivery
- Imperial Crafting Delivery (Cooking/Alchemy)
Quest Name: “[Bonus] Dalishain’s New Route for Business”
Quest Objective: Talk to Dalishain and receive a gift
The bonus quests reward a random Sethra’s Artifact or Imperfect Lightstone of Flora.
Exclusions:
- Farming, Barter, Sailing, Processing, and Hunting activities do NOT reward a bonus Lightstone quest.
- Gathering, Hunting, Sailing, Barter, & Farming do NOT reward a bonus Artifact quest.
Quest Reward: RNG chance to obtain 1 of:
Sethra’s Artifact |
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Life Exp +3% |
Life Mastery +7 |
Fishing Exp +5% |
Fishing Mastery +10 |
Trading Exp +5% |
Alchemy Exp +5% |
Alchemy Mastery +10 |
Cooking Exp +5% |
Cooking Mastery +10 |
Processing Exp +5% |
Processing Mastery +10 |
Processing Rate +5% |
Mount Exp +3% |
Training Exp +5% |
Training Mastery +10 |
NOTE: Make sure your quest log isn’t full. (under 30.) You can get more than one quest from hitting the sell all button in Imperial Delivery.
Obtain Artifacts via Main Quest
The main Mediah quest line will reward 2 Artifacts.
Artifacts Rewarded:
- Lesha’s Artifact: Monster DR +9
- Marsh’s Artifact: +6 Monster AP
Artifact Quest Conditions:
- Level 51+
- Only one time per account or family
- Mediah quest line requires all of Balenos, Serendia, and Calpheon main quest lines
- After completing Mediah, obtain Artifacts from quest series: “A Gift for Leaping Forward” from Black Spirit.
Bonus Lightstones
You will also obtain the following Lightstones to place inside the Artifacts.
- Lightstone of Wind: Alert (Combat) → Combat Exp +25%
- Lightstone of Wind: Alert (Skill) → Skill EXP +5%
If you complete Valencia main quest line also:
- x2 Lightstone of Fire: Predation → Monster AP +3
AP Artifact Reward Details
Requires Mediah Main Quest Line.
Complete one of the following quests:
- ‘A Curious Find’
- ‘The Silence of Adults’
- ‘[Media Tour] Tarif Leader, Ahon Cyrus’
- ‘[Special Growth] Fughar’s Memorandum Chapter 6’
These quests are near the beginning of the main Mediah quest line.
View Progress: Quest (O) → Main
Requires Quest: A Gift for Leaping Forward I from the Black Spirit → Main Quests
Marsh’s Artifact
Monster AP +6
DR Artifact Reward Details
Requires Mediah Main Quest Line:
One of the following:
- ‘[Boss] Awakened Black Spirit’,
- ‘[Co-op] Awakened Black Spirit’
- ‘[Media Tour] Illezra’s Past’
- ‘[Special Growth] Fughar’s Memorandum Chapter 8’
These quests are located near the middle to end part of the main Mediah quest line.
View Progress: Quest (O) → Main
Requires Quest: A Gift for Leaping Forward V from the Black Spirit → Main Quests
Lesha’s Artifact
Monster Damage Reduction +9
Understanding the Artifact Quest Requirements
The Artifact quest requirements may be a bit confusing to new players due to past quest changes.
Quest Name | Character Requirements |
---|---|
| Characters who performed Mediah main quests before the reorganization |
| Characters who performed Mediah main quests after reorganization |
[Media Tour] quest | A character who started their adventure in Winter Mountain |
‘[Special Growth] Fughar’s Memorandum | A character who chose the Simplified Main Quest during Season |
Obtain Artifacts from Everfrost Questline
After completing the main Everfrost (Winter Mountain) quest line, you can start a series of quests that rewards an AP or DR Artifact and 11 Lightstones. (There is also a separate Everfrost quest-line that gives Artifacts and Lightstones for Life Skills.)
Artifact Quest Requirements:
- level 56+
- Quest “[Everfrost] Beyond the Doors of Alyaelli.” This is toward the end of the Winter Mountain quest line, requiring over 100 quests.
- limited to one time per family
START NPC:
Ulan <Dragon Museum Overseer>
Location: Eilton, central east side
* You can obtain the title, [Official D.A.S. Member], upon completing all of the consecutive quests above.
Obtain Life Artifacts from Everfrost Questline
If you complete the main Everfrost questline, you can also start a series of quests that will reward 2 Artifacts, 24 Lightstones, and 24 Imperfect Lightstones for Life Skills.
Artifact Quest Requirements:
- level 56+
- Quest “[Everfrost] Beyond the Doors of Alyaelli.” This is toward the end of the Winter Mountain quest line, requiring over 100 quests.
- limited to one time per family
START NPC:
Puteaux <Ouk Pill Crafting Artisan>
Location: Eilton, central west side
Convert Artifacts to Lightstones
Artifacts can’t be sold on the marketplace, but if you get an Artifact you don’t like, you can convert it into 1 or more Purified Lightstones.
Processing (L) → Simple Alchemy on the Artifact.
RMB on a Purified Lightstone to get 1 random Lightstone of any of the 4 types.
Purified Lightstone Recipe
Simple Alchemy | Reward |
---|---|
Artifact x1 | 1~2 Purified Lightstone |
Artifact Item Copy Rules
In the tag system, you can use the item copy function on artifacts and lightstones.
- When copying an artifact, any infused lightstones will be copied.
- The rules for copying defense gear are applied to artifacts.
- Copying artifacts and lightstones is free.
- If you remove or replace the lightstones in an artifact after copying it, it does not affect the copy held by the other character.
- If the character you copied an artifact over to dies with negative karma, the copied artifact can get destroyed.
2 Lightstones Per Artifact
Each Artifact has 2 empty sockets to insert 2 Lightstones.
Lightstones have 4 different categories, similar to Artifacts.
Fire (Offensive Buffs)
- Ignore Resistances
- AP/Accuracy/Damage
- Movement/Attack Speed
- Critical Hit
Earth (Defensive Buffs)
- Resistances
- Damage Reduction
- Evasion
Wind (Utility Buffs)
- Max Stamina
- Max Mana
- Luck
- Weight
- Combat Exp
- Skill Exp
Flora (Life Skills)
- Life Skill Exp
- Life Mastery
- Energy Recovery
Example Lightstones
Fire (Offensive Buffs)
Fire: Claws → Critical Hit +1
Flora (Life Skill Buffs)
Flora: Uncharted → Sailing Exp +3%
Earth (Defensive Buffs)
Earth: Fitted → Monster DR +5
Wind (Utility Buffs)
Wind: Alert → Combat Exp +25%
Artifact Combinations
The real power comes through Artifact Combinations.
Insert 3 to 4 specific Lightstones into 2 Artifacts to create an additional buff, “Combination Effect.”
Create an Artifact Combination by clicking the “Infusion” button in the Artifact UI.
- Lightstones can be placed inside Artifacts to create a unique set of buffs.
- With 3 or 4 specific Lightstones in two Artifacts, it creates a combo effect.
- The combo effect changes depending on how you combine Lightstones.
Some awesome effects come at a great cost.
View Combo Effect Charts:
- Offensive/Defensive/Utility Lightstone Combo Effects
- Life Skill Combo Effects
A couple example combinations are shown below.
4x Lightstone of Wind: Alert = 300% Combat Exp Combo Effect
TOTAL with Lightstone Buffs: +400% Combat EXP
Deathblow Artifact Combination
Deathblow Artifact Combination is considered best in slot for PVE because of its high Monster AP and Crit Rate. It’s a highly sought after combo by many players. Ultimate Power does come at a steep silver cost though!
Because of the marketplace cost, this Lighstone Combination will take some time to obtain via monster zones, bosses, or alchemy.
[Deathblow]
Monster AP +16
Critical Hit Chance +14%
Infuse Deathblow on 2x Monster AP Artifacts.
[Deathblow + AP Artifacts]
Monster AP +28
Critical Hit Chance +14%
Death Blow Combination:
Lighstone of Fire: Predation x2
Lighstone of Fire: Blade x2
Cheaper Pve Artifact Combos for AP
[The Wild] artifact combination is a much cheaper Monster AP Lightstone Combo.
The combos below are also options that give extra damage instead of Monster AP.
1 Extra Damage = 85% of 1 AP.
Artifact Combination | Lightstones + Combo Effect | AP | Dmg |
---|---|---|---|
Fire: Predation Fire: Predation Fire: Predation Iridescent Lightstone | [The Wild] Monster AP +18 | 18 | |
Fire: Blight Fire: Blight Fire: Blight Iridescent Lightstone | [The Wild: Humans] Additional Human Damage +24 | 24 | |
Fire: Roar Fire: Roar Fire: Roar Iridescent Lightstone | [The Wild: Demihumans] Additional Demihuman Damage +30 | 30 | |
Fire: Fallen Fire: Fallen Fire: Fallen Iridescent Lightstone | [The Wild: Kamasylvia] Additional Kamasylvian Damage +30 | 30 |
Artifact Combo for Rares
Choice & Focus Combo Effect:
All AP -150
Item Drop Rate +30%
Moving Speed +2%
Lightstone Effects:
- Luck +1
- Luck +1
- Movement Speed +1
- Weight +20LT
Required Lightstones:
Lightstone of Fire: Rush
Lightstone of Wind: Feather
Lightstone of Wind: Fortune
Lightstone of Wind: Fortune
Choice & Focus is a good Artifact Combination for rare drops, but it does give an AP penalty. It’s useful for lower AP grinding spots.
Recommended Artifact Effects:
- +12 Monster AP or class specific AP.
PVP Specific
Artifact Effects:
- Max HP +75
- Max HP +75
Lightstones:
- Earth: Roots
- Earth: Boulder
- Earth: Swamp
- Wind: Mind
Combo + Lighstones Effects:
Combo Name: [Protection]
All DR -50
Siege Weapon Damage Resistance +30%
Knockback/Float Resist +2%
Knockdown/Bound Resist +2%
Stun/Stiff/Freeze Resist +2%
Max MP +50
The item effect of these two Artifacts stack, giving a total of 75 x 2 = 150 HP
Player Poll About Artifacts
Sources & Additional Info
- Thank you 청묘 유튜브 I_Am_Bloo for his video! (Korean language with English CC)
- Thank you to bdfoundry.com for Glab patch note translations and Artifact guide
- Official NA patch notes and wiki page
- Official Korean patch notes and wiki page (Korean language)
- Official Global Lab patch notes (Korean language)
- GrumpyG’s Guides