Anime Zero Artifacts Guide

The Artifacts update's unit-progression layer: where to farm them, how equipping works, and the Potential Path rule most players miss.

Artifacts are the unit-progression system added in the Artifacts update wave (the official page labels it [UPD 6]; we track it as Update 7). They are equipment items that give your units extra effects and stats — a third progression axis on top of traits and the Potential system. Details below are cross-checked between two independent outlets (Roonby's Update 6 guide, November 3, and GamestratWiki's Zodiac Trials guide); artifact rarities are not yet documented and will be added when confirmed.

How to get Artifacts

• Artifacts drop from Story Trials and Zodiac Trials — both trial categories pay them, so farming either counts.
• The launch codes confirm the economy: ARTIFACTS pays 100 Relic Shards + 25 Tempering Dust — two item types that did not exist before this update. Tempering Dust implies the enhance/refine loop.
• Not earned any yet? Redeem ARTIFACTS first, then farm Zodiac Trials — it pays artifacts and has the best side-drops (Frost Heron, skins, a title).

How equipping works

• Each unit can equip up to 4 Artifacts at once.
• The Artifacts menu has an Auto Equip option that assigns your best available pieces — fine while learning the system, but check the results.
• Refine rerolls an artifact's stats in pursuit of better rolls — this is almost certainly what Tempering Dust is spent on (community inference, not yet confirmed by any outlet).
• Before locking a build, check each artifact's effect and requirements — see the Potential Path rule below.

⚠️ The Potential Path rule

The single most important interaction in the new system, confirmed by both outlets:

• Some Artifacts only activate their effects when the unit has a matching Potential Path. If your unit is on the wrong path, those bonuses silently do nothing.
• Artifact selection and Potential setup must be decided together — an artifact with great stats on paper can be a dead slot on the wrong path.
• The update also added per-unit Potential Path recommendations and a Top Players view showing what high-score players run on each unit — use both as a starting point, then adjust to your own artifact inventory.
• Not sure whether a combo actually helps? The upgraded Training Mode now has a DPS meter, a target spawner and artifact/Potential testing support — measure before you invest.

Other progression changes in this update

• Awakening older units got cheaper — and players who already paid the old price receive the difference back in currency. Check your balance after updating.
• The Evolve screen now lists exactly which materials you are missing, where to farm them, and flags locked ultimates that require evolution. Items like Gimps, Food and Fortune now include effect descriptions.
• Weekend events — Double Coins and Double Material Drops rotate on weekends; batch evolution-material farming then.
• A weekly rate-up banner doubles one featured unit's summon chance, with a calendar showing upcoming banners.