Artifact relic

Artifact relics are a type of item that can be slotted into artifact weapons. Artifact relics are obtained by completing quest lines, dungeons and raids in the Broken Isles, Argus, or other -related content. They have a major impact on the overall power of an artifact, increasing its item level and, by extension, its damage and stats. The artifact relic system acts as a substitute for the upgrading of weapons seen in other expansions; rather than switching to a new and more powerful weapon, the player slots a new and more powerful relic into their artifact.

Each artifact has three relic slots, and each slot is a specific type. A relic can only be inserted into a slot that matches its type. As a result, different specializations are able to use different types of relics.

During Legion, a relic would also increase the rank of a minor artifact trait when slotted. This gave artifacts a small amount of customizability, and made different relics desirable for different playstyles or goals. Since artifact traits no longer function, there are now no differences among relics aside from their type and how much they increase the artifact's item level.

There are ten relic types:

• UI-EmptySocket-Arcane.png Arcane
• UI-EmptySocket-Blood.png Blood
• UI-EmptySocket-Fel.png Fel
• UI-EmptySocket-Fire.png Fire
• UI-EmptySocket-Frost.png Frost
• UI-EmptySocket-Holy.png Holy
• UI-EmptySocket-Iron.png Iron
• UI-EmptySocket-Life.png Life
• UI-EmptySocket-Shadow.png Shadow
• UI-EmptySocket-Wind.png Storm

• During development, storm relics were originally called wind relics.
• An eleventh type also existed: Water relics. They could be used by Restoration druids, Frost mages, Mistweaver monks, and Restoration shaman. Water relics were removed before launch, and any water relic slots on artifacts were changed to different types.