Unlocking Artifacts via the Compound Generator
In Risk of Rain 2, Artifacts are powerful game modifiers that drastically change your gameplay experience. To unlock them, you must locate the Compound Generator, a 3x3 grid found primarily in the Sky Meadow (Stage 5) map.
Once you reach this area, look underneath the main map to find the platform containing the generator. You will need to cycle through four shapes—square, circle, triangle, and diamond—to match the specific code for the Artifact you wish to unlock. After entering the correct pattern, interact with the nearby laptop to spawn a portal to Bulwark’s Ambry, where your trial begins.
Surviving Bulwark’s Ambry
Upon entering the trial in Bulwark’s Ambry, the specific Artifact you are attempting to unlock will be active, adding a layer of challenge to the fight. Your goal is to destroy the Artifact Reliquary in the center of the arena.
- Artifact Keys: When the trial starts, you will find an Artifact Key on a platform. Pick it up and interact with the Reliquary to begin the event.
- Boss Rush: Monsters will spawn in waves. Kill them to collect more keys; you need a total of six keys to fully deplete the Reliquary's shield.
- Strategic Tip: According to community reports, stacking multiple keys does not increase damage to the Reliquary, so use them one at a time to stay efficient and avoid running out of resources during the wave.
- Warning: Be prepared for a heavy boss rush. If you are playing with the Artifact of Glass enabled, prioritize defensive items like Topaz Brooch or Repulsion Plates to prevent being one-shot by the mobs.
Artifact Codes Reference
To unlock your desired modifier, input the following codes into the 3x3 grid at the Compound Generator:
| Artifact |
Code Pattern |
| Chaos |
●▲● ●▲● ●▲● |
| Command |
■■■ ■■■ ▲▲▲ |
| Death |
●●● ■▲■ ●●● |
| Delusion |
■●■ ●●● ■▲■ |
| Devotion |
▲♦▲ ■♦■ ♦▲♦ |
| Dissonance |
●■■ ■■■ ■■● |
| Enigma |
♦■■ ▲■▲ ●♦♦ |
| Evolution |
♦♦♦ ■■■ ●●● |
| Frailty |
●●● ▲●▲ ▲▲▲ |
| Glass |
♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ |
| Honor |
■■■ ■▲■ ■■■ |
| Kin |
●▲▲ ♦●▲ ♦♦● |
| Metamorphosis |
♦■● ♦■● ♦■● |
| Sacrifice |
▲▲▲ ▲▲▲ ▲♦▲ |
| Soul |
●■● ●♦● ■♦■ |
| Spite |
▲●▲ ●●● ▲●▲ |
| Swarms |
●●▲ ▲♦▲ ▲●● |
| Vengeance |
♦■■ ♦●■ ♦■■ |
Tips for Success
Unlocking these challenges is a significant milestone in your Risk of Rain 2 progression. Here are a few player-tested strategies to make the process smoother:
- Prioritize Command: Many players recommend unlocking the Artifact of Command first. It allows you to select your own items, which significantly reduces the RNG factor for subsequent runs and makes unlocking more difficult Artifacts much easier.
- Efficient Farming: If you have the Artifact of Sacrifice active, chests will no longer spawn, and items will only drop from defeated enemies. This can be a great way to farm items quickly, but be aware that drop rates are influenced by the monster's difficulty and state.
- Multiplayer Coordination: In cooperative play, remember that all Artifacts unlocked by anyone in your lobby are pooled. You do not need to repeat the trials for each individual player; focus on one per run to maximize your time.
Disclaimer: Content regarding specific DLC-exclusive Artifacts like "Prestige" or "Rebirth" may only be available if the corresponding expansion (e.g., Seekers of the Storm) is enabled in your run.
