At the beginning of your journey in Monster Train 2, you’re guaranteed to receive one artifact automatically, with additional opportunities to discover and acquire more as you progress. Choosing the right artifacts during your runs is crucial, especially as you familiarize yourself with game mechanics.
Drawing from my extensive experience with a variety of artifacts in Monster Train 2, I’ve compiled a list of the top ten artifacts that are particularly advantageous in the early stages of gameplay. Let’s explore these valuable items and how they can enhance your strategy.
If you’re familiar with Slay The Spire, you understand the significance of relics, which function similarly to artifacts in Monster Train 2. The aim is to collect as many as possible to enhance your decks and gameplay.
10 Large Mystery Box
Full Of Surprises
The Large Mystery Box can be obtained exclusively through a random event at a Celestial Alcove. Here, akin to a Dungeons and Dragons encounter, you’ll face choices that can yield perks, albeit with potential curses or drawbacks.
This event allows you to opt for a Small Gift Box, a Jack In The Box, or the Large Mystery Box itself. With no hidden penalties attached, it’s wise to choose the Large Mystery Box. This artifact grants you a new card to your hand every turn, which could even be a card you don’t already possess, offering diverse options throughout the run—though its utility hinges on the randomness of card generation.
9 Crown Of The Eternal
We Are The Champions
The Crown Of The Eternal is a powerful artifact that fully heals your Champion at the conclusion of each combat turn. While it won’t revive a defeated Champion, it significantly reduces the risk of losing them in battle.
Champions represent some of the most formidable units during early gameplay. For instance, Fel from the Banished clan can dominate the battlefield. This artifact ensures she remains resilient and capable of performing consistently throughout your combat encounters. While Champions rarely fall in the early game, the security this artifact provides is invaluable, especially considering that many cards and abilities ratchet up in power based on remaining unit health.
8 Pyrestone Housing
Ultimate Units
Encountering a Merchant of Steel on your travels allows you to upgrade your unit cards significantly, except for the Champion. With the addition of Pyrestone Housing, you can secure a third upgrade for every unit, potentially creating exceedingly overpowered characters.
For example, enhancing a Steadfast Crusader with multiple upgrades and duplicating that unit can yield astonishing results—bolstering your combat strategy for success.
7 Fhyra’s Inferno
Dragon’s Dogma
The benefits of Fhyra’s Inferno emerge when you integrate numerous dragon units from the Pyreborne clan into your deck. This artifact inflicts a formidable +5 Pyregel on enemies with every attack from dragon units, leading to significant room-to-room damage accumulation.
This mechanic operates like Poison or Burn effects in other deckbuilders, emphasizing the power of strategies centered around Pyregel enhancements. Imagine deploying three dragons on the first floor; you could feasibly deal +15 Pyregel damage in a single turn—a game-changing scenario.
6 Martyr’s Signet
Frontline Workers
If overextending in battles is causing your units to fall too often, Martyr’s Signet is essential. This artifact provides a permanent boost of 6 HP to any front-line combat unit after every fight.
I prefer positioning my Champions and other robust units upfront, making this additional health incredibly beneficial for their survivability. Moreover, elevating unit health fortifies various skills and abilities, enhancing overall effectiveness in battles.
5 Sparkflint Catalyst
Burn, Baby, Burn
Synergy in Monster Train 2 is vital, extending between units, spells, and even artifacts.Sparkflint Catalyst exemplifies this principle, adding +6 Pyregel to any enemy hit by Pyregel for the first time.
When paired with artifacts like Fhyra’s Inferno, you can maximize the potential damage output, especially when constructing decks centered on Pyregel mechanics, ensuring your triumph over foes.
4 Artificial Pyrestone
Boosters Deployed
Understanding your train’s floor capacity is crucial early on. Each floor starts with five capacity slots, which can expand to nine after defeating bosses if you invest in this upgrade.
A higher capacity allows for more units during battle, especially when paired with Artificial Pyrestone, which grants three additional ember during the deployment phase. This strategic combination can lead to overwhelming superiority on the battlefield.
3 Shaleshell
You Get An Armor Boost, And YOU Get An Armor Boost
Among the clever tactics in Monster Train 2, frequently utilizing unit abilities can prove immensely advantageous. This is where Shaleshell shines, granting every unit in your lineup +3 Armor each time a cooldown ability is activated.
This results in a heavily armored team, equipped to withstand even the most challenging enemies. Given the tower defense elements of the game, boosting your units’ survivability through Armor is a well-rounded strategy to adopt.
2 Captain’s Halo
The Value Of Valor
Valor stands out as one of the most vital buffs in Monster Train 2. It enhances a unit’s damage by 1 with every application while also providing Armor equivalent to the accumulated Valor points at the end of each turn. The Captain’s Halo artifact introduces +2 Valor to frontline units at the end of each round, amplifying their offensive and defensive capabilities.
With a power unit like Fel as your Champion, placing her upfront ensures she’s fortified effectively before enemies reach the final floor, greatly increasing your chances for victory.
1 Split Anvil
Deal Me In
While the artifacts discussed thus far each provide solid advantages, none can compare to the early-game prowess of the Split Anvil. If you have the opportunity to acquire it, don’t hesitate—it’s a game-changer for your runs.
Each spell card has an ember cost illustrated in the upper-left corner. Starting with 3 ember, managing this resource between deploying units and casting spells is essential. The Split Anvil allows all spell cards in your hand to cost zero ember after playing another card with a higher ember cost in that turn.
For instance, if you play a Cleave card costing two ember and have several Firestarter cards (at one ember each) in hand, the Split Anvil turns these Firestarters into free spells. This can lead to explosive turns, potentially overwhelming your adversaries, making for a thrilling experience where your opponents might not know what hit them.
Best of luck to you in your train journey—I almost feel sorry for your enemies!
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