Artifacts are technology improvements that cannot be researched. They are found randomly on planets via the "Explore Planet" planetary improvement.
- Unlike discovered planetary resources such as "Skilled Miners" which only affect objects within the current gravity well, the player that owns the planet that an artifact resides on receives the benefit automatically for every vessel or unit in their entire empire. If another player conquers that planet, the original player who found the artifact loses the benefit; however, the conquering player only gains the benefit when they invest in Explore Planet themselves, despite "knowing" the artifact is present.
- When an artifact is discovered, every player in the game gets an alert (same as when a super-weapon is built/fired) and the planet is specially marked on the Galaxy Map. All players can see which explored planets have discovered artifacts on them, but the exact type of artifact is unknown to all but the player who currently controls it.
- The Advent can explore planets more efficiently with Divination in the Harmony Tree.
| Kinetic Intensifier | Relativistic Factories | Resilient Metalloids | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Effect |
Damage increased 12% |
Ship Build Rate increased 25% | Hull Repair Rate increased 15% |
| Affected | All ships/structures with weapons | Frigate Factory; Capital Ship Factory (Hangar Defenses/strike craft carriers? - needs testing/confirmation) | All ships/structures |
| Manifest Domination | Jump Drive Relic | Power Core Relic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |
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| Effect | Culture Spread Rate increased 25%/Culture Resistance increased 10% | Phase Jump Speed between stars only increased 50% | Antimatter Regeneration Rate increased 10% |
| Affected | Broadcast Stations: culture spread; capital ships/planets: culture resistance | All ships | All ships/structures with antimatter pools |
| Phase Accelerator | Data Archive | Jump Field Generator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |
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| Effect | Phase Jump Speed in-system (along phase lanes) increased 50% |
Research cost decreased 25% (Credits and resources) |
Phase Jump Antimatter cost decreased 30%, Provides ability to use Wormholes without research. |
| Affected | All ships | N/A | All ships |
| Ion Field Generator | Matter Compressor | Planetary Organic AI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |
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| Effect | Planet Bombing Damage reduced 20% | Trade Goods Value increased 15% | Tax Income Rate increased 10%+Population Growth Rate increased 20% |
| Affected | All colonized planets | All trade ships (NOT Refinery Ships) |
All colonized planets |
Diplomacy Improved all artifacts to the following stats
Planetary Organic AI: 25% tax rate increase, 40% growth rate increase
Matter Compressor: 25% trade goods value increase
Ion Field Generator: -40% bombing damage taken, 25% survival rate increase
Phase Accelerator: 50% faster in-system phase jump speed, 25% faster charge-up rate
Data Archive: -25% research cost, 15% faster research
Jump Field Generator: -50% antimatter lost in transit
Power Core Relic: 15% faster antimatter regeneration, 10% max antimatter increase
Jump Drive Relic: 50% faster jump speed between stars, 10% mass decrease
Manifest Dominion: 30% faster culture spread, 20% more resistant culture, 4.00 relationship bonus, Relationship standing rewarded 10%, Relationship standing lost 5%
Resilient Metaloids: 50% faster hull repair, 3.0 armor increase, 10% less bombing damage taken.
Kinetic Intensifier: 15% damage increase, 10% range increase
Relativistic Factories: 30% faster ship and structure build rates