Are Artifacts Worth Keeping in God of War? The Definitive Answer
Absolutely not! In the vast majority of cases, artifacts in both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok are specifically designed to be sold for Hacksilver. They serve no other gameplay purpose and cluttering your inventory with them is a fool’s errand. Let’s delve into the world of artifacts, exploring their purpose, value, and the compelling reasons why selling them is almost always the best course of action.
Understanding Artifacts in God of War
Artifacts in God of War are collectable items scattered throughout the game’s various realms. They’re often hidden in out-of-the-way locations, rewarding players for exploring every nook and cranny of the meticulously crafted world. These artifacts typically belong to artifact sets, groups of related items like lost toys or discarded masks, each telling a subtle story about the game’s world and its inhabitants.
The Primary Purpose: Hacksilver
The overriding purpose of collecting artifacts is to obtain Hacksilver, the primary currency in God of War. Hacksilver is crucial for upgrading your gear, purchasing new armor, runic attacks, and other essential items. It is very important to be able to afford upgrades as they become available! Artifacts represent a significant source of income, particularly in the early to mid-game, when you are most in need of funds to enhance Kratos’s abilities and equipment.
The Illusion of Sentimentality
Some players might feel a pang of sentimentality toward these found objects, especially given the game’s rich narrative context. However, the developers at Santa Monica Studio made it clear that artifacts have no intrinsic value beyond their monetary worth. There are no secret quests, hidden powers, or special interactions triggered by hoarding these items. In essence, keeping them is purely for aesthetic purposes, at the cost of significant resources.
The Curator Trophy and Completionism
There is one notable exception to the “sell on sight” rule. In God of War Ragnarok, collecting all artifacts in a particular set is required to unlock the “The Curator” trophy. This is a specific incentive for completionists, urging them to scour the realms for every last artifact. However, even for trophy hunters, the ultimate goal is to sell the artifacts after collecting them to upgrade your gear.
The Economics of Artifacts: Why Selling is Strategic
Let’s break down why selling artifacts is a strategically sound decision:
- Inventory Management: Your inventory space in God of War is limited. Cluttering it with useless artifacts reduces your capacity to carry resources, crafting materials, and other essential items.
- Consistent Income Stream: Unlike some rare resources that are only available from specific enemies or challenges, artifacts are relatively common. This provides a steady and predictable income stream, allowing you to plan your upgrades and purchases accordingly.
- No Downside to Selling: There are no negative consequences associated with selling artifacts. You do not lose access to any content, miss out on any opportunities, or weaken Kratos in any way.
- Limited Re-Purchase (In Some Cases): Certain shops (like Brok and Sindri’s workshop) will keep a visual record of the artifacts you’ve found and sold. In the 2018 game, they don’t buy them back; they merely display them. Anything you sell can be bought back at anytime except resources and artifacts.
Situational Exceptions: When to Pause Before Selling
While selling artifacts is generally advisable, there are a few specific scenarios where you might want to hold off:
- Early Game Scarcity: In the very early stages of the game, before you have access to reliable sources of Hacksilver, selling artifacts can provide a crucial financial boost. Use your best judgement and assess your immediate needs.
- The Curator Trophy Push: If you’re actively hunting for the “The Curator” trophy in God of War Ragnarok, postpone selling artifacts until you’ve found all of them in a given set.
- Purely Aesthetic Reasons: If you truly enjoy having the visual record (in the shop) of the artifacts you’ve found, you might choose to delay selling them. However, be aware that this comes at the cost of potentially useful Hacksilver.
FAQs: Artifacts in God of War
1. Do artifacts do anything in God of War besides provide Hacksilver?
No, artifacts in both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok serve no gameplay function beyond being sold for Hacksilver. They do not boost stats, unlock special abilities, or trigger any hidden events.
2. Are any artifacts missable in God of War Ragnarok?
According to most expert players, nothing in God of War Ragnarok is permanently missable. However, some areas, like the Temple of Light, can be tricky to revisit, so it’s advisable to collect everything there during your initial visit.
3. Can I go back and collect artifacts I missed?
Yes, you can return to almost all locations in both games to collect any artifacts you may have missed during your initial playthrough.
4. Is there a trophy related to collecting artifacts?
Yes, in God of War Ragnarok, the “The Curator” trophy is awarded for collecting all artifacts.
5. Should I sell all resources in God of War Ragnarok?
Not all resources should be sold. Shattered Runes, for example, have no crafting use and should be sold. However, resources like Forged Iron and Rawhide are essential for upgrading gear and should be kept.
6. Are collectibles carried over in New Game Plus?
No, collectibles like artifacts, Odin’s Ravens, treasure maps, and Jotnar Shrines do not carry over into New Game Plus.
7. How many artifact sets are there in God of War?
Throughout God of War you’ll stumble upon various collectibles named Artefacts, which are rendered in the world similar to Uncharted’s hidden items. These are separated into 7 sets and added to your codex each time you find one.
8. What is okay to sell in God of War?
All collectibles are safe to sell. They get counted as soon as you pick them up so after that you can do what you like with them. Might as well sell them and get a little extra money out of it.
9. Can I miss things in God of War?
As the title says, the game keeps track of most things but there are still secrets you can miss out on even with 100% completion.
10. What does the mythical heirloom do in God of War?
Putting these together, one can use the Mystical Heirloom to reawaken these slumbering Trolls and engage them as mini-boss fights! They can be challenging, and reminiscent of the many Troll fights in the previous God of War Game.
11. How important is armor in God of War?
In Sony’s fantastic God of War, players must obtain and upgrade different armor sets in order to strengthen and expand Kratos’ already considerable powers. Not all armor is created equal, however, with some sets only being useful in certain situations and others having very little use at all.
12. Should I sell shattered runes God of War?
While it is listed as a resource among several types of crafting materials, you’ll find that it actually is not used to upgrade any type of armor, weapon attachment, or shield. Instead, the only use you can make from Shattered Runes is to sell them in bulk for a hefty sum on Hacksilver.
13. Are Odin’s Ravens missable?
No, none of Odin’s Ravens are missable.
14. What do gilded coins do in God of War?
Gilded Coins are a new item exclusive to God of War Ragnarok’s New Game Plus Mode (or NG+). They are used for purchasing the New Game Plus Enchantments.
15. Is luck or runic better God of War?
Luck is by far the most important stat to have improved early in God of War because it maximizes the rewards players receive for exploring and fighting. With more XP, players can upgrade more skills for both Kratos and Atreus, as well as the runic attacks themselves.
Conclusion: Selling Artifacts is a Smart Move
In conclusion, the overwhelming consensus is that artifacts in God of War and God of War Ragnarok are best sold for Hacksilver. The economic benefits, combined with the lack of any gameplay penalty, make this a strategically sound decision for most players. Unless you have specific completionist goals (such as unlocking the “The Curator” trophy) or find sentimental value in hoarding digital items, sell those artifacts and put the Hacksilver to good use!
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