Artificer is a strong but extremely difficult Survivor in Risk of Rain Returns. Using her elemental powers, the Artificer can freeze, electrocute, and burn her way through Petrichor V, controlling enemies and dealing tons of damage.
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However, her clunky kit can present a very steep learning curve, and you may struggle to survive for a long time as Artificer, especially compared to other Survivors in the game. Still, if you’re willing to put in the effort, the Artificer can be a fun character to succeed with. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about the Artificer.
Artificer Skills
The Artificer has the following skills unlocked by default.
|
Skill |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Flame Chakrams |
Toss out a chakram for 45% damage. Hits up to 5 times at its peak and ignites for a stacking 10% damage over time, before returning. |
|
Charged Nanobomb |
Charge up and launch an electric bomb for 180%-600% damage, stunning enemies in range. |
|
Frost Barrier |
Create a wall of ice that blocks most enemies and distracts them. When broken, explodes and freezes enemies for 100% damage. |
|
Flamethrower |
Burn enemies in front of you for 10×80% damage and ignites them for 20% damage over time. |
Unlockable Skills
The following skills can be unlocked for Artificer after completing specific challenges. These will replace her Charged Nanobomb, Frost Barrier, and Flamethrower.
|
Skill |
Description |
How To Unlock |
|---|---|---|
|
Pulse Spear (replaces Charged Nanobomb) |
Toss an electric spear for 300% damage. Cast again mid-flight to pulse the spear, allowing it to briefly pierce through enemies. Successful pierces refresh your ability to pulse. |
Complete the Providence Trial “Lightning Strikes Twice”. Complete 25 stages as Artificer. |
|
Tectonic Surge (replaces Frost Barrier) |
Shatter the earth below you, launching into the air. Cast mid-air to create a temporary platform to stand on. Gravity is reduced briefly afterward. |
Complete the Providence Trial “In the Clouds”. Collect 300 items as Artificer. |
|
Localized Sun (replaces Flamethrower) |
Summon a miniature, movement tracking star, dealing 120% damage over time. Explodes for 1000% damage after 5 seconds. |
Complete the Providence Trial “Danger Orbits”. Defeat 3000 enemies as Artificer. |
Best Items For Artificer
|
Item |
Description |
Why It’s Good |
|---|---|---|
|
Lens Maker’s Glasses |
Your attacks have a 10% chance to Critically Strike, dealing double damage. |
Increases overall damage and chance to activate Harvester’s Scythe. |
|
Meat Nugget |
8% chance on hit to drop 2 meat nuggets that heal for 2×8 health. |
Increases overall survivability. |
|
Spikestrip |
When hit, drop spikestrips that snare enemies for 1 second. |
Increases survivability while immobilizing enemies, making it easier to hit them with Flame Chakrams. |
|
Sticky Bomb |
9% chance on hit to attach a bomb to an enemy, detonating for 140% damage. |
Increases overall damage. |
|
Leeching Seed |
Attacking enemies heals you for 2 health. |
Increases health sustain, especially with Flamethrower. |
|
Harvester’s Scythe |
Gain 5% Critical Chance. Critical Strikes heal you for 8 health. |
Increases overall damage and health sustain, especially with high stacks of Lens Maker’s Glasses. |
|
AtG Missile Mk.1 |
10% chance on hit to fire a missile that deals 300% damage. |
Increases overall damage. |
|
Alien Head |
Decrease your skill cooldowns by 30%. |
Increases the number of times you can use Frost Barrier and Flamethrower. |
|
Hardlight Afterburner |
Add +2 charges of your Utility skill. Reduces Utility skill cooldown by 33%. |
Increases the number of times you can use Frost Barrier. |
Artificer is hard to play as, and relies heavily on getting good items. For the most part, any item with an on-hit effect will be good, as Flame Chakram can hit an enemy up to five times, giving it more chances to activate on-hit effects.
Additionally, times that can reduce your skill cooldowns are extremely valuable, as these will let you use Frost Barrier, your most important skill, more frequently. The Gigantic Amethyst Equipment is pretty good for Artificer, as it essentially makes all of your skills have a cooldown of eight seconds.
How to Play As Artificer
Artificer can be tricky to get the hang of due to her reliance on Frost Barrier for protection and Flamethrower for damage, both of which have long cooldowns. However, with the right items and strategy, you can overcome these weaknesses and survive.
Frost Barrier is probably Artificer’s most important skill. Frost Barrier is used to group up enemies and force them to remain in place, making it easier to use all your other skills to kill them. When Frost Barrier is on cooldown, you may find it more difficult to successfully kite and kill enemies.
Flame Chakrams have the potential to deal very high damage, but again, rely heavily on enemies not moving. If you can get them in place with Frost Barrier or a similar effect like Spikestrip, you can unload your Chakrams for tons of damage.
When using Flamethrower, you’ll ascend into the air slightly, and you can move slowly to the left or right while using the skill. Take advantage of this small mobility to escape danger.
Artificer’s unlockable skills are very hard to use effectively, even when compared to her normal skills. Because of this, you’re probably better off practicing her default skills instead. Pulse Spear’s pierce mechanic has good potential, but is difficult to use in practice, and doesn’t deal as much damage as Charged Nanobomb anyway.
Similarly, Tectonic Surge is clunky to use, and has the added downside of having to replace Frost Barrier.
Between Flamethrower and Localized Sun, you’ll have more success with the former. Localized Sun has high damage potential, but is hard to use, as the sun will follow your movement inputs while active. This means you sometimes have to decide between moving to avoid enemy attacks or moving your Sun toward them to kill them.
Overall, Artificer is a very challenging but rewarding survivor to play. If you can learn to manage your cooldowns, utilizing Frost Barrier to kill enemies, you’ll have a great time with Artificer.
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