V Rising 1.0: All Artifacts (Legendary Weapons) Analysis & Guide

V Rising has recently gotten out of early access with a huge plethora of new and revamped features, including various legendary weapons, also known as artifacts, that you can grind for and craft in the game. In this guide, we will be going through each of the new legendary weapons and seeing what they are and aren’t good for based on a quick glance of their abilities and stats!

All Artifacts (Legendary Weapons) Analysis & Guide

Artifacts are crafted through the use of Legendary Artifact Weapon Shards that can drop from high level rift incursions and certain bosses (currently unclear which ones exactly). There is also a chance that Epic Weapon Shards can turn into the highest tier upon purchasing them.

Legendary weapons have their own distinct shards, as they are named items rather than generic pieces of equipment. Once you have a shard, you will also need to make a handful of Onyx Tears and a high tier weapon of the same type as the legendary you got.

From what I’ve seen, and correct me if I’m wrong, each legendary weapon has a static set of attributes, which means that these will always be the same no matter what. They also have a gear score of 30.

This is a far cry from the random stats you would normally get on the more generic shard weapons. No need to repeatedly grind for a specific weapon shard to get a perfect roll! (Or so we think)

NOTE: My group and I mainly only play on PVE/no raid servers and only have a limited experience with PVP content. Keep that in mind when going through some of the tips provided below.

#1. The Gravecaller (Sword)

The Gravecaller is a legendary sword that has a unique version of the typical abilities of this weapon class, and this is a theme that will be apparent in every other entry as well. Its stats are the following:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to vegetation
• 15% bonus physical critical strike chance
• 5% weapon skill life leech
• 5% bonus movement speed

In addition to these base stats, it increases the duration of Whirlwind by a single second whenever it lands a killing blow on an enemy (up to a maximum of three procs). It also now inflicts Condemn.

Shockwave will also now deal 20% bonus for the aerial strikes that you can follow up with, and these reduce the cooldown of Whirlwind by half a second.

Overall, this legendary weapon is particularly good for crowd control in PVE. Its usefulness drops by a lot in single target scenarios, however, as the sword in general is mainly used for mob clearing and is valued for its area of effect capabilities.

SIDE NOTE: We have a Solarus the Immaculate Brutal Mode Guide, make sure to check it out!

#2. The Red Twins (Axe)

The Red Twins is the legendary axe that is a great all arounder option, which is an opinion I have of this entire weapon class in general. This weapon’s stats are the following:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to wood
• 5% weapon skill life leech
• +50 max health
• +3 bonus physical power

As for its abilities, the most notable change is that X-Strike will now inflict leech and also has two additional axes added on top of the original projectiles, further increasing its killing potential.

This is great if you are like me and love abusing the ranged attacks offered by melee weapons in the game. The increased Frenzy duration also allow you to exploit it even longer when swapping weapons.

#3. Hand of Winter (Mace)

The Hand of Winter is a mace that is, as the name suggests, primarily focused on the ice element. It has the following stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to minerals
• 10% bonus spell cooldown recovery rate
• +50 max health
• +3 bonus physical power

With this weapon, Crushing Blow will deal a ton of bonus damage to frozen targets, while Smack will inflict freeze on enemies. It is a relatively niche choice tailored towards a single magic school, which is Frost.

While I personally don’t vibe with maces in general, there’s no denying that the ability modifiers it has are absolutely cracked for Frost magic users.

SIDE NOTE: In case you’re interested, make sure to check out our Adam the Firstborn Brutal Mode Guide as well!

#4. The Thousand Storms (Spear)

The Thousand Storms is the legendary variant of the spear, and it has a fairly straightforward set of perks. The stats of this weapon are the following:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to creatures
• 15% bonus physical critical strike chance
• 10% bonus attack speed
• 10% bonus weapon skill cooldown recovery rate

It makes A Thousand Spears inflict static on each hit, and Harpoon will now pull you towards enemies instead. The latter will also now have a reduced cast time and make it inflict a quick stun.

These modifiers make it particularly good for rush down play styles and allows you to deal a lot of potential multi-target damage through the constant inflicting of static.

#5. Cloud Dancers (Slashers)

The Cloud Dancers are the legendary version of the slashers that, like the previous entry, is centered around static spamming. Here are its stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to vegetation
• 10% bonus attack speed
• 10% bonus spell skill cooldown recovery rate
• 5% bonus movement speed

It adds an additional dash to Elusive Strike, as well as making each hit inflict static. Camouflage will also now consume a static charge on a successful follow up primary attack, which will grant you a storm shield.

Again, a decent option for aggressive players, and the additional dash is nothing to scoff at as it provides an extra “dodge” in the form of another maneuver with i-frames.

#6. Wings of the Fallen (Slashers)

You read that right, there are two legendary slashers, and the Wings of the Fallen is a centered more towards leeching. It provides the following stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to vegetation
• 10% bonus weapon skill cooldown recovery rate
• 5% bonus movement speed
• +4 bonus spell power

Rather than providing an additional dash, this weapon causes Elusive Strike to inflict leech instead. In addition to that, Camouflage gains bonus movement speed and inflicts vampiric curse instead of a stun.

This is more tailored towards people who favor additional survivability through leeching HP. It isn’t particularly great on its own, but with the right weapons accompanying it, this can be pretty handy.

SIDE NOTE: If you’re interested, make sure to check our Talzur the Winged Horror Brutal Mode Guide too!

#7. Apocalypse (Greatsword)

The Apocalypse is a legendary greatsword that is attuned to chaos magic, and it is particularly useful for its AOE. Here are its stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to wood
• 15% bonus attack speed
• 10% bonus weapon skill cooldown recovery rate
• +5% damage reduction

It causes Great Cleaver to deal additional damage to enemies affected by Ignite. In addition to that, Death from Above will now spawn an aftershock afterwards that deals a significant amount of damage, as well as inflicting Ignite.

Another relatively niche pick, this one is a great choice specifically for players who love using chaos magic, as they will be able to take full advantage of the ability modifiers that it will provide them.

#8. Mortira’s Lament (Reaper)

The legendary reaper, Mortira’s Lament, is a fantastic weapon for those with summoner builds. Before we get to the specifics of why, here are its stats first:

• +33.7 physical power
• 25% bonus damage to undead
• 20% bonus spell critical strike power
• 15% bonus spell critical strike chance
• 10% bonus spell cooldown recovery rate

It causes Tendon Swing to consume up to three ally skeletons to heal yourself for a significant amount as well as buff your spell and physical power. Howling Reaper hits will now also inflict Condemn and have a small chance of summoning a skeleton warrior.

As you would imagine, this weapon will make it even easier for you to spawn a metric f-ton of undead minions. This is probably my personal favorite due to the amount of meat shields it can generate, and reapers are just great weapons overall.

#9. The Morning Star (Whip)

The Morning Star is a legendary variant of the new whip weapon type, and it primarily revolves around burning enemies. Here are its stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 20% bonus physical critical strike power
• 15% bonus physical critical strike chance
• 10% bonus attack speed

It causes Aerial Whip Twirl to inflict a burning effect that deals damage over time. Entangling Whip will also now stun instead of entangle the target, as well as cause an explosion that will also ignite the surrounding area for more burn potential.

Although not based on nor necessarily synergizing with any of the schools of magic that you can use, The Morning Star’s burn effects are deceptively strong and its stats make it a great primary attacking weapon.

#10. The Endbringers (Pistols)

Pistols are my favorite weapons in the game, and the legendary variant, The Endbringers, are insanely good, in my opinion. Before we get into more detail, here are its stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 10% bonus weapon skill cooldown recovery rate
• 5% bonus movement speed
• +50 max health

Its modified Fan the Hammer not only inflicts Ignite on hit, but it will also allow you to walk while channeling it, albeit at a slower speed than normal. Explosive Bullet will now also allow you to recast it for a second shot that will instantly trigger the explosion if it hits the same target.

Setting my bias aside, these modifiers are absolutely fantastic for chaos magic users and people who use the pistols as their primary weapon.

The Fan the Hammer modifier, in particular, is great for people like me who have gotten used to popping it at every opportunity. Now, you will have an easier time dodging attacks while channeling this weapon skill… mostly because it’s possible to do so now, lol.

SIDE NOTE: We also have a V Rising 1.0: Best In Slot Weapon, Armor & Jewel Guide, make sure to check it out as well!

#11. The Siren’s Wail (Crossbow)

The Siren’s Wail is the legendary crossbow and it is centered around the weaken status effect. Here are the weapon’s stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 15% bonus spell critical strike chance
• 10% spell skill cooldown recovery rate
• +4 bonus spell power

With this weapon, Rain of Bolts will now fire two additional bolts andinflict Weaken on hit. Snapshot will also now consume Weaken to deal additional damage and inflict Fear.

Although I am not particularly fond of Weaken and the magic school revolving around this effect, there’s no denying that these ability modifiers can lead to some significant burst damage. It also gains some decent bonus area of effect potential with the extra bolts and Snapshot procs.

#12. Oaksong (Longbow)

Finally, the Oaksong is a legendary longbow that is unlike most of the other entries here, as it is completely focused on the physical aspect. Here are its stats:

• +33.7 physical power
• 15% physical critical strike chance
• 10% weapon skill cooldown recovery rate
• 5% bonus movement speed

With this weapon, Multishot will now grant a stack of Focus on each hit, and Guided Arrow will now deal bonus damage and a split second stun on the initial shot.

As you can see, there is no forced synergy with any specific school of magic and it is basically just objectively the best longbow you can get in terms of raw physical power.

There really isn’t much else to say about it as everything about this legendary is very straightforward. If you prefer relying mainly on just your weapon in combat, this will be a great choice for you.

Conclusion

Since weapon choices in V Rising are largely a matter of personal preference, there isn’t necessarily a “best” choice among the current selection of artifacts. Just take advantage of whatever synergies are present with each, and you should do well with any of these weapons.

And that is everything you need to know about all of the current legendary weapons in the game, with more likely being added in future updates. While you are here, consider taking a peek at our best incursion build guide for V Rising in order to grind for these shards as fast as possible!