Since Risk of Rain Returns is essentially a comprehensive remaster of the original title, this was Hopoo Game’s opportunity to take some cues from Risk of Rain 2 to spice things up, gameplay-wise. Returns‘ Artifacts serve this purpose, sometimes massively changing up its core gameplay loop.
As is the case with any other major Risk of Rain Returns unlockable, though, getting all the Artifacts will be no mean feat. If you thought you were done with the game after earning all of its 15 unique characters (and the secret Robomando!), think again. Thankfully, we do have some tips both general and specific you could leverage to make your Artifact hunt way easier and more time-efficient.
Finding Artifacts in Risk of Rain Returns
As illustrated by our previous Artifact of Honor and Artifact of Command guides, Hopoo Games wasn’t shy when it came to hiding these things. Some of them are, in fact, substantially harder to reach than it is to unlock many of the game’s characters! You should, therefore, be all prepped up for a bit of an adventure.
If you’d like to just get a sense of how to look for Returns‘ Artifacts and just can’t make heads or tails of how they spawn, we’ve got one big tip that took us an embarrassingly long time to figure out. Namely, you’ve surely come across mysterious big teleporter-looking objects while playing the game. These don’t serve any real purpose on their own, but they are a surefire indicator that there’s an Artifact puzzle somewhere in their immediate vicinity.
So, whenever you come across an oversized “teleporter,” you’ll know you’ve got an Artifact to collect somewhere nearby. Down below, we’ve got some more specific tips to share, if you don’t mind spoiling it all for yourself!
All Risk of Rain Returns Artifacts and how to find them
Artifact of Honor – Desolate Forest
All enemies always spawn as Elites.
Head to the left side of the map until you reach a waterfall. Climb the rope right in front of it until you see a passage to your left. Simply leap over to the passage and collect the Artifact, but note that you’ll need some type of upgraded jump ability to make the gap.
Artifact of Distortion – Damp Caverns
Lock a random skill every minute, but skills have decreased cooldowns.
Reach the topmost platform on the map, recognizable by one of those aforementioned “teleporter” objects being nearby. Head right, jumping from the platform you’re on to the next, but note that you’ll need an upgraded jump ability to do so. Once you’re on top of the vine-covered button, burn away the vines with a damage ability and then interact with it. After that, just jump down and respawn at the teleporter to collect your Artifact.
Artifact of Cognation – Desolate Forest
Artifact of Enigma – Sunken Tomb
Spawn with a randomized Equipment item. The item changes every time it’s activated.
Reach the bottom right side of the map, and look for a series of pits that seemingly lead to nowhere. Instead of trying each one out, go to the rightmost pit and jump down.
Artifact of Dissonance – Ancient Valley, Sunken Tombs, Magma Barracks, and Hive Cluster
Monsters are no longer biome-limited.
Look for four disparate Dissonance shards in each of the referenced levels.
- Ancient Valley: reach the top of the mountain and look for a rope
- Sunken Tombs: bottom left corner of the map, includes a small jumping puzzle
- Magma Barrack: reach the top of the level and look for a pathway
- Hive Cluster: top platform row, near the centre of the level – climb to the top of the rock where the shard is visible and then go rightwards until you can drop down
The Artifact of Dissonance can be completed over the course of multiple runs, mind.
Artifact of Command – Hive Cluster
Reach the top side of the map, then head right and try to find some invisible vines. Once you’ve come across these, keep using them to move diagonally upwards, to the right, until you reach the artifact.
Artifact of Glass – Frozen Tundra
Deal 500% damage, but your health is 10% of what it usually is.
Head to the leftmost side of the map and climb the mountain until you come across a passage. Inside you’ll find five interactive buttons and a small platforming puzzle. Hit all five buttons until you hear a sound cue, and you’re done.
Artifact of Kin – Dried Lake
Only one enemy type spawns per level.
Look for a breakable wall on the rightmost side of the map. It might take a while to tear it down, but once you do, activate the three newly discovered buttons in the room that opens up, and the Artifact is yours.
Artifact of Spite – Sky Meadow
Enemies explode on death.
Look for a hole in the ground and descend down until you come across a jumping puzzle. The Artifact is at the end of the gauntlet.
Artifact of Spirit – Temple Ruins
Characters move faster at lower health levels.
Fall down a ledge at the right side of the level, and look for a series of platforms indicating an environmental puzzle.
Artifact of Sacrifice – Magma Barracks
Chests no longer spawn. Monsters drop items on death.
Equip the Huntress, Loader, or Bandit survivors to activate three different interactive buttons strewn across the level. Buttons are hidden behind invincible walls, so you’ll need these characters’ piercing abilities to get to them. After all three buttons have been activated, you’ll find the Artifact of Sacrifice on an altar, towards the left side of the level.
Artifact of Prestige – Providence Trials
Shrine of the Mountain effects are permanent during an active run. At least one Shrine of the Mountains spawns every level.
Get the Gold rank on at least 15 different Providence Trials.
Artifact of Tempus – Temple of Elders
Each item is worth multiple stacks, but all items are temporary.
Reach the level in less than 15 minutes of total playtime. The Artifact will spawn in the centermost area of the level.
Artifact of Origin – UES Contact Light
Imps invade the level every 10 minutes.
Complete and unlock the Artifacts of Honor, Kin, Distortion, Spite, Glass, Enigma, Sacrifice, Command, and Spirit. These were all available in the original game, and completing them will give you access to the Origin Artifact.
