New World Season 8 Artifact Guide – How to Get the Best Artifacts Fast

Artifacts have become the centerpiece of gear optimization in New World Season 8, especially with the expanded selection and balance tweaks this season. Whether you’re focused on PVP or PvE, having the right artifact can make or break your build. But let’s be honest—farming them can be hit or miss if you don’t know where to look or what’s worth your time. Let’s fix that.

What Are Artifacts in New World Season 8?

Artifacts are high-end gear pieces with unique perks that can't be found on standard gear. Unlike crafted or named gear, artifacts often have game-altering effects that enhance specific playstyles. In Season 8, we’ve seen a few newcomers join the roster—many of which are already shaking up both the PVP and PvE metas.

If you're gunning for the best-in-slot gear, artifacts should be your first stop. But not all of them are worth the grind—so let’s get into the good stuff.

Best-In-Slot Artifacts for Season 8

Here are some standout artifacts in New World artifacts Season 8, ranked for both effectiveness and how well they synergize with meta builds.

1. Featherweight (Light Armor Chest)

• Why it’s strong: Grants +20% dodge distance and reduces stamina costs, perfect for bow, musket, or light melee builds.

• Build synergy: Bow/Rapier, Musket/Spear, or any light dodge-spam builds.

• How to get: Drops from Serpent’s Pass Expedition final boss, or rare world drop in Elysian Wilds.
  
  

2. Void Gauntlet of the Depths

• Why it’s strong: Increased lifesteal and empowered Oblivion zone make this a staple for Void Gauntlet mains.

• Build synergy: VG/Ice Gauntlet, VG/Blunderbuss for ranged hybrid support.

• Drop source: Depths Mutator final boss; best farmed during Void-focused mutation weeks.
  
  

3. Aegis of the Ancients (Shield)

• Why it’s strong: Increases Fortify effects and grants additional elemental resistance, making tanks far tankier.

• Build synergy: Sword/Shield + Greatsword tanks in War and OPR.

• Drop source: Brimstone Sands Elite Chest runs, particularly in Castrum Principium.

4. Heartpiercer Ring

• Why it’s strong: Boosts critical damage and armor pen—an absolute must-have for burst DPS.

• Build synergy: Spear/Bow, Hatchet/Greatsword, or any high-crit setup.

• Drop source: PvP reward track (prestige tier) or high chance from 3v3 Arena reward crates.

5. Sacred Flame Amulet

• Why it’s strong: Boosts healing done and incoming healing—key for any healer main.

• Build synergy: Life Staff/Blunderbuss or Life Staff/Void Gauntlet support builds.

• Drop source: Empyrean Forge Expedition, or War Crates with high healing score contribution.

Fastest Ways to Farm Artifacts

Getting your hands on artifacts quickly in Season 8 boils down to targeted farming. Here are the most efficient methods:

1. Expedition Boss Farming

Focus on expeditions with known artifact drops. Run them back-to-back using orbless entry and group finder to speed up queues. Bring a solid group to minimize wipe time.

2. Elite Chest Runs

Chests in elite zones like Brimstone Sands, Elysian Wilds, and Shattered Mountain have decent drop chances for artifacts. Pair this with a luck build and high-level trophies for best results.

3. PVP Reward Track

Artifacts show up regularly on the PVP reward track (especially at prestige ranks). Grinding Outpost Rush, War, and 3v3 Arena gives steady progression. It's the best way to guarantee artifact rewards over time.

4. War and OPR Caches

If you’re a regular in War or Outpost Rush, you’ve probably already noticed the artifact drops in endgame caches. Stack MVP or high-score performances to increase reward tier and chance of pulling high-rarity drops.

Farming Tips for Artifact Efficiency

• Use full luck gear while chest or boss farming.

• Rotate expeditions based on weekly mutation bonuses.

• Run with friends or a company for consistent group farming.

• Prioritize build-specific artifacts first—don’t spread your focus unless you’re a collector.

Build Synergy: Pairing Artifacts With Meta Loadouts

Now that artifacts are becoming defining gear pieces, you’ll want to build around them:

• Featherweight + Dodge Build: Great for high-mobility ranged or light melee. Add Graceful Ring for extra stamina regen.

• Heartpiercer + Bleed Builds: Pair with Spear/Bow bleed setups for brutal crit uptime.

• Aegis + Fortify Stacking: Combine with armor perks and Sword/Shield taunts for true unkillable tanking.

If you’re still testing things out, consider starting with a generalist artifact like Sacred Flame or Heartpiercer—they're strong across multiple builds and roles.

Final Thoughts – Artifacts Are the New Gear Grind

With so many build-defining pieces available, farming artifacts has become a core part of New World Season 8 progression. Whether you’re hunting PVP best-in-slots or min-maxing for PvE, knowing where to farm and what to target will save you hours of grind.

Of course, if you’re just looking to fast-track a build for Wars or Arenas and don’t have time to farm, SSEGold is a reliable source for cheap New World items and coins. Still, there’s nothing quite like the grind and reward of looting your own artifact—just make sure you're chasing the right ones.

TL;DR
Want the best artifacts fast in New World? Focus your grind on targeted expeditions, PVP tracks, and elite chests. Know what drops where, and build around best-in-slot choices like Featherweight, Heartpiercer, and Aegis of the Ancients.