How to Unlock Artifacts in Risk of Rain 2
Artifacts are powerful game modifiers in Risk of Rain 2 that can fundamentally change your playstyle, from choosing your own items to enabling friendly fire. To unlock them, you must locate hidden codes scattered throughout the environment and input them into the Compound Generator, typically found in the Sky Meadow stage.
To activate the generator, cycle the 3x3 grid icons through the four available shapes: Square (■), Circle (●), Triangle (▲), and Diamond (♦). Once you enter the correct pattern for a specific artifact, interact with the laptop nearby to open a portal to the hidden realm, Bulwark's Ambry.
Inside the Ambry, you must survive a trial while the artifact you are unlocking is active. You will need to collect "Artifact Keys" that drop from defeated enemies and deposit them into the central Reliquary to progress the fight. Upon clearing the room, you will be able to claim the artifact.
Complete Artifact Code List
Each artifact requires a unique sequence of shapes. You can find these patterns engraved on stone tablets throughout the game’s various stages.
| Artifact |
Code Pattern |
Effect |
| Chaos |
●▲● ●▲● ●▲● |
Friendly fire is enabled for everyone. |
| Command |
■■■ ■■■ ▲▲▲ |
Choose your own items. |
| Death |
●●● ■▲■ ●●● |
If one player dies, everyone dies. |
| Delusion |
■●■ ●●● ■▲■ |
Risk items after the teleporter event for more loot. |
| Devotion |
▲♦▲ ■♦■ ♦▲♦ |
Replace drones with Lemurian eggs. |
| Dissonance |
●■■ ■■■ ■■● |
Monsters spawn outside their native environments. |
| Enigma |
♦■■ ▲■▲ ●♦♦ |
Spawn with a random, cycle-able equipment. |
| Evolution |
♦♦♦ ■■■ ●●● |
Monsters gain items between stages. |
| Frailty |
●●● ▲●▲ ▲▲▲ |
Fall damage is doubled and fatal. |
| Glass |
♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ |
500% damage output, but 10% health. |
| Honor |
■■■ ■▲■ ■■■ |
Enemies only spawn as elites. |
| Kin |
●▲▲ ♦●▲ ♦♦● |
Only one type of monster spawns per stage. |
| Metamorphosis |
♦■● ♦■● ♦■● |
Players respawn as a random survivor. |
| Prestige |
▲●● ■●▲ ●●■ |
Permanent Shrine of the Mountain effects. |
| Rebirth |
N/A |
Descend with gifts from a previous life. |
| Sacrifice |
▲▲▲ ▲▲▲ ▲♦▲ |
Monsters drop items; chests stop spawning. |
| Soul |
●■● ●♦● ■♦■ |
Wisps emerge from defeated monsters. |
| Spite |
▲●▲ ●●● ▲●▲ |
Enemies drop exploding bombs on death. |
| Swarms |
●●▲ ▲♦▲ ▲●● |
Monster spawns doubled, but health halved. |
| Vengeance |
♦■■ ♦●■ ♦■■ |
Doppelganger invades every 10 minutes. |
Tips for Trials in Bulwark's Ambry
The trials in Bulwark's Ambry can be challenging because the artifact you are trying to unlock will often be active during the boss rush.
- Mind the Effects: For example, when unlocking the Artifact of Glass, you will have significantly reduced health. Ensure your survival by stacking items like Topaz Brooch for extra barrier protection.
- Artifact Key Management: Keys do not stack for extra damage on the Reliquary; they are used one by one to trigger boss waves. Use them strategically to manage the flow of enemies.
- Community Tip: Many players suggest unlocking the Artifact of Command first. Being able to choose your items makes subsequent trials significantly easier by allowing you to curate a build specifically suited to the challenge.
- Difficulty: If you find the trial too difficult, remember that in multiplayer, the artifacts unlocked by any party member are pooled for the whole team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Sacrifice artifact not enable?
According to community reports, there is a known bug where Sacrifice may fail to activate even when selected. Closing and restarting Risk of Rain 2 generally resolves this issue.
Can I unlock multiple artifacts in one run?
Yes. After completing a trial and destroying the Reliquary, a portal will spawn that returns you to the first stage. You can then progress back to Sky Meadow (Stage 5) to input another code without ending your run.
Where can I find the codes?
Code patterns are hidden throughout the game's biomes. For instance, the tablet for one code can be found in the Abandoned Aqueduct's boss room, while another is hidden in the Void Fields. Keep an eye out for rectangular stone tablets while exploring.
