Risk of Rain 2, a popular roguelike shooter, features various artifacts that can significantly alter gameplay. One of the most talked-about artifacts is the Artifact of Sacrifice. This guide delves into the Artifact of Sacrifice, drawing insights and tips from the Reddit community to help you master its use. If you're aiming to spice up your runs and embrace a high-risk, high-reward playstyle, understanding this artifact is crucial.

What is the Artifact of Sacrifice?

The Artifact of Sacrifice is a game-changing item in Risk of Rain 2 that fundamentally alters how item acquisition works. When enabled, enemies have a 5% chance to drop an item upon death. Sounds great, right? Well, there's a catch. Enabling this artifact removes all item chests and interactables from the map. This means you can no longer rely on opening chests scattered around the environment to gear up. Instead, your primary source of items becomes the enemies themselves.

This artifact caters to players who enjoy a more aggressive and chaotic playstyle. It forces you to constantly engage with enemies to accumulate items, turning each stage into a frantic battle for survival and loot. Understanding the nuances of this artifact and how it interacts with other game mechanics is essential for maximizing its benefits.

Many players on Reddit have shared their experiences and strategies for using the Artifact of Sacrifice effectively. Common themes include the importance of early-game survivability, prioritizing damage output, and adapting to the unpredictable nature of item drops. By exploring these community insights, you can gain a deeper understanding of how to thrive with this artifact enabled.

How to Unlock the Artifact of Sacrifice

Before you can enjoy the chaotic benefits of the Artifact of Sacrifice, you need to unlock it first. The process involves finding a specific artifact code and inputting it at a designated location on the map. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Locate the Hidden Realm: Head to the Abandoned Aqueduct stage. This stage is known for its hidden areas and secrets, including the entrance to the artifact trial.
2. Find the Stone Tablets: Within the Abandoned Aqueduct, search for two stone tablets. These tablets are usually located in elevated areas or hidden corners of the map. Activating both tablets will drain the water in the central area, revealing a hidden cave.
3. Enter the Cave: Once the water is drained, jump down into the newly accessible cave. Inside, you’ll find a terminal where you can input the artifact code.
4. Input the Artifact Code: The code for the Artifact of Sacrifice is: Circle, Circle, Diamond, Triangle, Diamond, Circle, Circle, Circle, Square, Circle. Interact with the terminal and input this sequence correctly to unlock the artifact.

After successfully inputting the code, you can enable the Artifact of Sacrifice from the main menu before starting a new run. Keep in mind that you can only have one artifact active at a time, so choose wisely based on your desired playstyle.

Strategies and Tips from Reddit

Reddit is a treasure trove of information and strategies for Risk of Rain 2. Here are some of the most valuable tips and tricks shared by the community for using the Artifact of Sacrifice:

• Early Game Survivability: The early game can be challenging with the Artifact of Sacrifice enabled. Since you won't find any chests, your initial item drops are crucial. Prioritize items that boost your survivability, such as healing items (e.g., Medkit, Paul's Goat Hoof) and defensive items (e.g., Tougher Times, Personal Shield Generator). Players often recommend focusing on characters with good mobility and sustain to make it through the initial stages.
• Damage Output: While survivability is important, you also need to be able to kill enemies quickly to trigger item drops. Items that increase your damage output, such as Soldier's Syringe, Lensmaker's Glasses, and Ukulele, can significantly improve your clear speed. Experiment with different item combinations to find what works best for your chosen character.
• Adapt to RNG: The Artifact of Sacrifice introduces a significant element of randomness to item acquisition. You might get lucky and find powerful items early on, or you might struggle to find anything useful for several stages. Adaptability is key. Don't rely on specific item builds. Instead, learn to make the most of whatever items you find.
• Character Choice: Some characters are better suited for the Artifact of Sacrifice than others. Characters with good mobility, built-in sustain, or high damage output tend to perform well. Popular choices include the Mercenary, Huntress, and Loader. Experiment with different characters to find one that complements your playstyle.
• Combining with Other Artifacts: The Artifact of Sacrifice can be combined with other artifacts to create unique and challenging gameplay experiences. For example, combining it with the Artifact of Command (which allows you to choose your items) can mitigate the randomness of item drops and allow for more controlled builds. However, be mindful of the increased difficulty that comes with enabling multiple artifacts.

Best Characters to Use with the Artifact of Sacrifice

Choosing the right character can make a significant difference when playing with the Artifact of Sacrifice. Some characters are inherently better equipped to handle the challenges posed by this artifact. Here are a few top recommendations:

• Mercenary: The Mercenary's mobility and invincibility frames make him an excellent choice for dodging attacks and surviving the early game. His high damage output also allows him to quickly eliminate enemies and trigger item drops. Players on Reddit often praise the Mercenary's ability to scale well with items, making him a reliable pick for Artifact of Sacrifice runs.
• Huntress: The Huntress is another popular choice due to her excellent mobility and ranged attacks. Her ability to kite enemies and deal damage from a safe distance makes her well-suited for the chaotic nature of Artifact of Sacrifice gameplay. Additionally, her Glaive item can bounce between enemies, increasing her overall damage output.
• Loader: The Loader's high damage output and crowd control abilities make her a formidable choice for Artifact of Sacrifice runs. Her Knuckleboom ability can one-shot many early-game enemies, allowing her to quickly accumulate items. However, the Loader requires precise aiming and positioning, so she may not be suitable for all players.
• Artificer: While the Artificer can be a bit more challenging to play, her burst damage and crowd control abilities can be very effective with the Artifact of Sacrifice. Her charged Nano-Bomb attack can quickly eliminate groups of enemies, while her Ice Wall provides valuable defensive utility. However, the Artificer's low mobility can make her vulnerable in the early game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the right strategies and character choice, it's easy to make mistakes when playing with the Artifact of Sacrifice. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

• Ignoring Survivability: It's tempting to focus solely on damage output, but neglecting your survivability can lead to early deaths. Prioritize healing items and defensive items to ensure you can withstand enemy attacks and stay alive long enough to accumulate items.
• Rushing Through Stages: While it's important to kill enemies quickly, rushing through stages without clearing them thoroughly can leave you undergeared. Take your time to explore each stage and eliminate as many enemies as possible to maximize your item drops.
• Underestimating Elite Enemies: Elite enemies pose a significant threat with the Artifact of Sacrifice enabled. Their increased health and damage can quickly overwhelm you if you're not careful. Prioritize taking down elite enemies and be prepared to use your abilities and items to survive their attacks.
• Ignoring Environment: While chests and interactables are removed with the Artifact of Sacrifice, the environment still plays a crucial role. Use terrain to your advantage, such as creating chokepoints or utilizing elevated positions for ranged attacks. Be aware of environmental hazards and avoid getting trapped in dangerous situations.

Item Priority with Artifact of Sacrifice

When playing with the Artifact of Sacrifice, item priority shifts significantly compared to a standard run. Here’s a breakdown of which items to prioritize:

• Healing Items:
  • Medkit: Essential for recovering health after taking damage. The increased healing speed can make a significant difference in survivability.
  • Paul's Goat Hoof: Provides increased movement speed, allowing you to dodge attacks and reposition more effectively.
  • Leeching Seed: Grants health regeneration based on damage dealt. Synergizes well with high-damage characters.
• Damage Items:
  • Soldier's Syringe: Increases attack speed, allowing you to deal more damage in a shorter amount of time.
  • Lensmaker's Glasses: Grants a chance to deal critical damage, significantly increasing your overall damage output.
  • Ukulele: Chains lightning between enemies, dealing additional damage and clearing out groups of foes.
• Defensive Items:
  • Tougher Times: Grants a chance to block incoming attacks, reducing the amount of damage you take.
  • Personal Shield Generator: Provides a temporary shield that absorbs incoming damage. Useful for mitigating burst damage.
  • Armor Plate: Reduces incoming damage from all sources, increasing your overall survivability.

Reddit Community Insights

The Reddit community has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to Risk of Rain 2 and the Artifact of Sacrifice. Here are some valuable insights from Reddit users:

• /u/RiskOfRainFanatic: "I always prioritize mobility and healing when playing with the Artifact of Sacrifice. Being able to dodge attacks and recover health quickly is crucial for surviving the early game."
• /u/RoR2Master: "Don't underestimate the power of crowd control items like the Chronobauble. Slowing down enemies can make them much easier to deal with, especially in the later stages."
• /u/ArtifactAddict: "Combining the Artifact of Sacrifice with the Artifact of Command is my favorite way to play. It allows me to create specific builds and experiment with different item combinations."

By exploring Reddit threads and engaging with the community, you can gain valuable insights and learn new strategies for mastering the Artifact of Sacrifice. Don't be afraid to ask questions and share your own experiences to contribute to the collective knowledge.

Conclusion

The Artifact of Sacrifice offers a unique and challenging way to play Risk of Rain 2. While it removes the predictability of item chests, it introduces a dynamic and rewarding system of item acquisition through enemy drops. By understanding the mechanics of this artifact, choosing the right character, prioritizing essential items, and learning from the Reddit community, you can thrive in this high-risk, high-reward environment. So, gear up, embrace the chaos, and embark on an unforgettable Risk of Rain 2 adventure with the Artifact of Sacrifice! Guys, good luck and have fun!