Minecraft Dungeons:Artifact

"ARTIFACTS – These rare objects are imbued with mysterious powers and are awarded to you each time you complete a level. Artifacts can also be found in black and silver loot chests. They are best used in moments of dire need – when you're swarmed or facing a malevolent boss mob."

- Guide to Minecraft Dungeons: A Handbook for Heroes

The term artifact refers to a category of items that can equipped by the hero to temporarily summon pets, enhance or heal themselves or other heroes, or attack and weaken mobs. The hero can have up to three artifacts equipped at any one time.

There are currently 46 known artifacts. This includes a single unique, the corrupted pumpkin. All are obtainable except for the totem of soul protection.

There are two types of artifacts: ones that require (and grant) souls, and ones that do not. Soul-based artifacts generally have shorter cooldown times, have better stats, and always come with +1 soul gathering.

Obtaining
Artifacts are obtainable from the mystery merchant, luxury merchant, and village merchant at the Camp; during Missions from obsidian chests and Piggy Banks, and when a mission is completed.

Cooldown
Artifacts have a cooldown period between uses, during which they cannot be used, unequipped, or switched with a different artifact from the inventory. Artifact cooldowns are independent from one another and not shared: equipping two Corrupted Beacons and using one initiate a cooldown only on the one that was used.

Cooldowns can be reduced by equipping armor with cooldown reduction properties, such as the evocation robe and its unique variants, or enchanting armor with. can also be used to trim down cooldown time on artifacts that are already on cooldown.

Damaging artifacts
Artifacts that output damage to mobs with no other notable affects.

Status-inflicting artifacts
Artifacts that apply an Status Effect or similar on mobs such as or Poisoned.

Quivers and arrow artifacts
Artifacts providing a set number of special ammo that can be consumed by using Ranged Weapons. Infinity-enchanted ranged weapons function on artifact provided ammo. Like normal arrows, they are affected by ranged weapon enchantments and can be boosted by armor that boosts ammo damage or artifact damage.

Summoning artifacts
Pet spawning artifacts that can damage and distract mobs. More summons can be spawned from the same artifact during a Daily Trial with an increased pet count.

Agility artifacts
These increase movement speed, attack speed or cause the player to roll when used.

Defensive, healing, and cooperative artifacts
These heal or apply beneficial affects upon the user or surrounding players and pets.

Trivia

 * Prior to 1.5.0.0, there were never any unique artifacts. This changed with the Spooky Fall seasonal event, with the addition of the corrupted pumpkin, which is the first (and to date, only) unique artifact $$.