If you thought Genshin Impact’s gacha roulette was brutal, then you probably haven’t been to the endgame yet - artifact farming. For many endgame or late-game players, the gacha banners are the least of their RNG problems. The chance of getting the artifact that you want makes the lottery a preferable alternative. That’s just how unforgiving the artifact stat RNG is in the game.
In fact, some players have even spent several months trying to get their desired stats to no avail. But which among these artifact stats actually makes players pull their hair out?
Updated August 13, 2021, by Sid Natividad: Not much has changed in the artifact scene of Genshin Impact. The artifact pieces that give out the most Crit stats and damage are still revered in the community as the best. So far, the game hasn’t introduced any new artifact stats that would shake up the current Meta and they might not as the game’s combat system is already set in stone.
Still, when it comes to artifact stats, it’s not a one-size-fits-all affair. There are some characters who benefit from HP or DEF artifacts just as there are some who crave more ATK. That’s why we deemed it important to include who wants what when it comes to artifact stats. We included characters who will find specific artifact stats ideal for their gameplay.
10 DEF (Defense)
Ideal for:
Even if you don’t want this one, you’re probably still going to get it. That’s just the way things work in Genshin Impact. DEF or Defense is one of the most common stat rolls for artifacts, meaning you’ll see it every single day of your existence in Teyvat.
It’s also one of the least desirable, since Genshin Impact is a game where dealing the most damage is the most favored aspect of gameplay. The best defense is a good offense, after all. Only a few characters would benefit from this stat, such as Noelle or Albedo. Even then, the other DEF stat roll is better than this flat increase.
9 HP (Hit Points)
Much like flat DEF, flat HP is also one of the worst things you can get in your artifacts. That’s because it doesn’t really give much, mathematically speaking. While it does contribute to your character’s HP if you have an HP percent stat, that one is still better.
All characters get a flower-piece artifact anyway and that adds up to more than 4,000 HP. Adding more flat HP to that is just needless and also only benefits a few characters and mostly on a mediocre scale.
8 DEF% (Defense Percent)
Think of defence percent as a better version of the flat DEF increase from other artifacts. Not only does it appear on the substats but also in the main stat slot for certain artifact pieces. Most of the time, getting a defence percent on the main stat makes the artifact an automatic enhancement fodder.
However, exceptions apply such as when you have a C6 Noelle or another character that benefits immensely from having huge amounts of DEF. Otherwise, this stat is mostly useless and is only slightly better than the flat DEF counterpart.
7 ATK (Attack)
Ideal for characters with a high base ATK such as:
One would think that flat ATK substats on artifacts are good but it’s actually the worst out of all the offensive stats in the game. Flat ATK does increase a character’s ATK stat but not so much and you’re better off wishing for other offensive stats. At times, it’s considered a wasted substat slot.
That’s because one artifact piece, namely the feather, already gives a set amount of flat ATK. Most of the time, that’s all you’ll ever need plus the flat ATK granted by the weapon and the character’s base ATK stat. More flat ATK is unnecessary and only serves to waste some substat slot.
6 HP% (Hit Points Percent)
Before certain characters started taking advantage of absurd amounts of HP, the ATK stat was likely considered as more desirable than HP percentage. However, Zhongli and Hu Tao, as well as supports like Bennett or Xingqiu made the HP percentage look more appealing.
For Zhongli and Hu Tao, this artifact stat is gold. It not only increases their defensive capabilities but also their damage. Other characters can bolster their healing with their high HP. It’s still far from being a universally desirable stat though due to its certain niche.
5 Elemental Mastery
Like HP percentage, Elemental Mastery falls into a certain niche though a bigger one as elemental reactions play a significant role in increasing damage. That’s why Elemental Mastery is a good stat to have if your party relies on reactions.
For many players, that’s a good way of building their characters. Anyone with an electro, pyro, cryo, or hydro damage dealer will benefit well from this main or substat. Some players even put a dedicated Elemental Mastery artifact for their DPS carry.
4 Energy Recharge
Energy Recharge is an underrated stat but it can be even more valuable than Elemental Mastery. That’s because it allows for a better and higher sustained damage output by letting characters use their Elemental Bursts more often.
Hence, it’s a universally decent stat for an artifact. Energy Recharge might even be necessary for certain characters such as Venti, Bennett, or other supports. Some DPS characters could also benefit from small amounts of this stat.
3 ATK% (Attack Percent)
There’s that one stat in Genshin Impact where even if you don’t want it the most, you’ll still be happy to see it. That’s the ATK percent stat and it’s good for any character even if they’re just for support, especially if that support is Bennett.
More than anything, the ATK percent stat is a good way to boost your main DPS’ damage especially if they already have some good flat ATK additions. Too much of this stat is wasted though as ATK falls off in the most extreme content for Genshin Impact.
2 CRIT Rate% (Critical Rate Percent)
Ideal for any character but these can maximize it the best:
So what type of offensive boost doesn’t fall off during the late game? That would be critical attacks. They’re all the rage right now in Genshin Impact and anyone with a DPS main character would do well to focus on them.
Surely enough, the best way to see critical attacks often is by boosting your Crit Rate percent stat. All characters will benefit from an increase in their Crit Rate. As such, a dedicated circlet-piece with Crit Rate percent as its main stat is a true treasure.
1 CRIT DMG% (Critical Damage Percent)
Then again, Crit Rate is easy enough to artificially increase using food buffs which are common and easy to make. What can’t be augmented too easily by food buffs is Crit DMG. It’s how much your critical attacks will deal and is the reason why you’re going to be pumping up the Crit Rate stat higher than Celestia.
It’s by far the best stat an artifact can have assuming your Crit Rate is decent enough. It is powerful enough that many players dedicate the whole endgame trying to increase the Crit DMG stat past 200 percent; that seems to be the only challenge left to do after completing all 12 Floors of the Spiral Abyss.
NEXT: Genshin Impact: Ways You Might Be The Game’s Villain (And Ways You’re The Hero)
