Hey everyone! Welcome to this comprehensive guide on upgrading artifacts in New World: Aeternum. With the new gearing system introduced in the Night Haven expansion, many players find the artifact upgrade process confusing since it blends both old and new mechanics. If you're looking to speed up your progression, you can buy New World Coins to help acquire some of the materials needed for crafting and upgrades. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from choosing the right artifact to fully upgrading it to max gear score and customizing it with the perfect perks and gems. By the end, you'll have three top-tier artifacts in your build ready to dominate Aeternum!

Choosing Your Artifact

Before diving into upgrades, you need to decide which artifacts you want to pursue. Artifacts come in three categories:

· Weapons (Sword, Fire Staff, Bow, etc.)

· Armor (Light, Medium, Heavy pieces)

· Jewelry (Amulets, Rings, Earrings)

How to Choose:

Visit MMOEXP and navigate to the Artifact List page. Here you can:

· Browse all artifacts currently in the game

· Filter by weapon type (e.g., Fire Staff, Great Axe, Life Staff)

· Filter by armor weight class (Light, Medium, Heavy)

· Filter by gear slot (Head, Chest, Gloves, Legs, Feet, Jewelry)

· Example: If you're a Fire Staff user, scroll to the Fire Staff section, compare available artifacts, and choose the one that fits your playstyle.

Acquiring Artifacts

Once you've selected your desired artifacts:

1. Go to the individual artifact page on New World Guides

2. Watch the acquisition video or read the guide

3. Complete the required activity:

· Expeditions (dungeons)

· PvP tracks and rewards

· World bosses

· Open world farming

· Seasonal events

· Pro Tip: Bookmark the pages for artifacts you're targeting so you can quickly reference drop locations.

Completing Artifact Objectives

After equipping your artifact for the first time, you'll receive three artifact objectives that must be completed to unlock perk slots before upgrading.

What to Expect:

· Objectives vary by artifact

· Some are simple: "Kill 50 mobs in [specific zone]"

· Others are challenging: "Complete [specific expedition] on Mutated difficulty"

· Quest markers appear on your map to guide you

Example: Vampire's Vestments

1. Objective 1: Kill 50 corrupted in Shattered Mountain

2. Objective 2: Complete Lazarus Instrumentality expedition

3. Objective 3: Gather 10,000 Azoth while wearing the vestments

4. Need Help? Check the artifact's page on New World Guides for objective details (database currently being updated).

Upgrading at Gypsum Kiln

Once objectives are complete, head to any Gypsum Kiln (major settlements). You'll need:

Required Materials:

Important Notes:

· Match the matrix type to your artifact (weapon matrix for weapons, etc.)

· Check your storage for materials from season pass or events

· Save coins by crafting in territories with high standing discounts

· Don't salvage dark matter! It's essential for upgrades

Upgrade Process:

1. Interact with Gypsum Kiln

2. Select your artifact

3. Confirm materials

4. Pay crafting fee

5. Receive upgraded artifact with new perk slot unlocked

Max Gear Score with Umbral Crystals

Now it's time to push your artifact to 700-800 gear score using Umbral Crystals.

About Umbral Crystals:

1. Red currency shown at bottom of inventory

2. Weekly capped resource

3. Earned from endgame activities:

· Elite chest runs

· High-level expeditions (especially Mutated)

· PvP activities

· Outpost Rush

· OPR and Arena rewards

Upgrade Costs:

· 700 → 800 Gear Score: ~926 Umbral Crystals (varies slightly by item)

· Each subsequent upgrade costs incrementally more

Upgrade Process:

1. Click on the artifact in your inventory

2. Select "Upgrade"

3. Drag the slider to desired gear score

4. Click "Confirm"

5. Watch your artifact's power increase!

6. Coming Soon: Dedicated Umbral Crystal farming guide

Perks and Gems: The Final Step

With max gear score achieved, it's time to customize! Artifacts come with:

· Unique Artifact Perk (cannot be changed)

· Standard Perks (can be changed if they have circle slot indicators)

· Empty Slots (need to be filled)

How to Modify:

1. Click on the artifact in your inventory

2. Select "Attach Charms"

3. View all modifiable slots:

· Gem Slots (for gems/runeglass)

· Defense Slots (defensive perks)

· Offense Slots (offensive perks)

· Skill Slots (weapon ability perks)

4. With desired gem/charm in inventory, click the slot

5. Choose the new perk/gem

6. Click "Attach"

7. Enjoy your customized artifact!

8. Important: You cannot recover old gems or charms after replacing them. Choose carefully!

Choosing the Right Gems

Runeglass Gems (Recommended)

For most builds, Runeglass gems offer the best value with dual benefits.

How to Choose:

1. Visit any Runeglass Station in major settlements

2. Browse empty Runeglass cases

3. Hover over each to see descriptions

4. Select a case that complements your build:

· Igniting (bonus fire damage)

· Leaching (life steal)

· Empowering (damage boosts)

· Enchanted (various effects)

5. Choose a gem to combine with your case:

· Diamond (damage reduction)

· Opal (conditional damage)

· Ruby (fire damage)

· Sapphire (mana recovery)

· Emerald (damage at full health)

· Amber (nature damage/scaling)

· Malachite (damage to slowed/stunned)

· Onyx (physical damage reduction)

6. Example: For a Fire Staff user wanting damage reduction:

· Choose: Runeglass Case of Igniting

· Gem: Diamond

· Result: Runeglass of Ignited Diamond (bonus fire damage + physical damage reduction)

Creating Runeglass Gems

Option 1: Craft Yourself (Cheapest)

· Requires: 180 Weapon Smithing + 180 Stonecutting

· Buy materials from Trading Post

· Craft case first, then slot gem

Option 2: Buy from Trading Post (Expensive)

· Search through many options

· Premium price for convenience

Option 3: Hire a Crafter (Recommended)

· Ask company members or trusted players

· Provide materials + tip (optional)

· Crafter gets crafting XP

Jewelry Note:

Runeglass gems currently cannot be slotted into jewelry. Use standard gems for now.

Defensive, Offensive, and Skill Perks

Defensive Perks (Defense Charm Slots)

Choose based on build needs:

· Dying too fast? → Wellness or Aversion perks

· Healer? → Sacred

· Lifesteal build? → Anointed Lifedrinker

Offensive Perks (Offense Charm Slots)

Example: For lifesteal build → Leeching

Skill Perks (Skill Charm Slots)

Choose a perk that enhances one of your favorite weapon abilities:

Fire Staff Options:

· Fireball: +X% damage, +Y% burn duration

· Pillar of Fire: Reduced cooldown on kills

· Burn Out: Increase distance, add damage

Great Axe Options:

· Reap: Pull enemies further, add debuff

· Charge: Increased distance, grit

· Maelstrom: Larger area, more damage

Life Staff Options:

· Sacred Ground: Larger radius, more healing

· Beacon: Increased duration, chain heal

· Orb of Protection: Additional buffs

· Pro Tip: Pause the video when ability lists appear to read all options for your weapons!

Acquiring Perks:

1. Farm them from specific drops (check New World Database)

2. Buy them from Trading Post

3. Craft them if you have the skill

Complete Upgrade Checklist

· Choose desired artifacts

· Acquire artifacts from specific activities

· Complete all 3 artifact objectives

· Gather upgrade materials (Matrix, Dark Matter, Gypsum Orbs, Chromatic Seal). If you're short on gold to purchase these materials, you can find New World Gold for sale at MMOEXP to speed up your progression.

· Upgrade at Gypsum Kiln

· Farm Umbral Crystals

· Upgrade to 800 Gear Score

· Research ideal gem and perk combinations

· Acquire/craft/farm gems and charms

· Attach gems and perks at "Attach Charms" menu

· Enjoy your maxed artifact!