Artifact

Artifact
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Type	Artifact
Statistics
Hit points	1
Melee armor	100
Pierce armor	100
Speed	1
Line of Sight	2
Notes
In Standard victory conditions, the player wins the game if their team takes and maintains control of all the Artifacts beyond the countdown.

“	Ancient objects crafted by now-lost cultures. Artifacts can be a victory condition or increase your score.	”
—In-game description in the Definitive Edition

The Artifact is a special unit in Age of Empires. It can be acquired when it appears within the sight of a unit.

Overview

Once an Artifact is captured, the color coating changes corresponding to the color of the player that owns the unit. Once all Artifacts are captured by a team or player, a countdown begins, starting with 2,000 years (five minutes in real time in the original game; 16 minutes 40 seconds in Return of Rome). If none of the Artifacts are captured by any opposing team or player within the time frame, the team or player controlling all Artifacts on the map wins the game.

To capture an already captured Artifact, a unit must stand directly next to it, it is not sufficient to just see it. That is different from capturing an unclaimed Artifact and can make a big difference since it is much easier to keep a unit from actually approaching an Artifact than from just getting into its Line of Sight.

A standard game may or may not contain Artifacts. If it does, it will always have five Artifacts scattered around the map. In the Scenario Editor, maps with more or less Artifacts may be created. Controlling Artifacts contributes to the player's score.

If an Artifact happens to be inside a sinking transport ship, it will re-appear at the nearest shoreline.

History

“	Artifacts are objects akin to the Ark of the Covenant that were crafted by now-lost cultures and bring prestige to the civilization that possesses them.	”
—Age of Empires manual

Trivia

• Its appearance looks like of the Ark of the Covenant.
• An alternative version of the Artifact called the War Chest exists in the Scenario Editor. It serves as a Scenario Editor-only object that doesn't trigger the Artifact victory.
• Although in-game stats reveal the hit points to be 1, it is actually indestructible.
• Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition shows as an Easter-egg an Artifact being buried below the foundation of a Monastery while the building is being built.
• In Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - The African Royals, the Home City of the Ethiopians features an Artifact as one of the options for decorating the Monastery.

Gallery

Artifacts in the Definitive Edition.

A group of Artifacts in the original game.

An Artifact being buried under a Monastery's foundation in Age of Empires II: Definitive Editon.

Icon of the decor option for the Ethiopian Home City in Age of Empires III

See also

• Relic - counterpart in other games of the series