Okay, let’s talk about diving back into Risk of Rain Returns. I got hooked again recently, and decided, you know what, I’m gonna finally hunt down all those artifacts. It’s been quite the journey, let me tell you.
Getting Started: The Hunt Begins
So, first thing I did was just play the game normally for a bit, trying to remember the layouts and enemy patterns. Then, I started focusing on reaching Stage 5, the Temple of the Elders, because I vaguely recalled that’s where the magic happens for most artifacts. My initial runs were just about exploration, poking into corners I usually ignored.
I’ll be honest, after a few runs ending in fire and death without seeing anything special, I did peek at some guides online. No shame in that, right? Needed to know what I was looking for and where. Turns out, there are these hidden tablets, usually tucked away in obscure parts of the fifth stage maps (like Desolate Forest, Hive Cluster, Magma Barracks, etc., depending on which one loads).
The Process: Finding and Inputting
Alright, so the basic loop I figured out was this:
- Get to Stage 5. This was often the hardest part, especially on higher difficulties or if I got unlucky with items.
- Scour the map. Really had to keep my eyes peeled for these stone tablets. They kind of blend in sometimes.
- Find the tablet. Big relief when I spotted one.
- Input the code. This was the tricky bit. Each artifact has a unique sequence of shapes (squares, triangles, circles, diamonds). You have to activate these shapes on the tablet in the correct order. Found myself jotting down the codes on a piece of paper next to my keyboard. Felt old school.
- Survive! After inputting the code, you usually have to either beat the final boss or just complete the stage and loop back. The artifact itself doesn’t activate during that run, you unlock it for future runs.
Some Specific Adventures
Artifact of Command: This was one of the first I went for. Everyone loves Command, right? Picking your items is a game changer. Found the tablet in the Hive Cluster, I think. It was tucked away on some upper platform. Punching in the code (all squares, all triangles, all diamonds, if memory serves) while getting harassed by Lemurians was… an experience. But seeing that unlock pop up later? Sweet.
Artifact of Sacrifice: This one sounded interesting – monsters drop items, no chests. Found the tablet for it in Magma Barracks, down in some pit. The code involved a bunch of triangles. Inputting it was sweaty; those Elder Lemurians don’t mess around. The run after unlocking it felt weird, constantly hoping for drops instead of rushing chests.
Artifact of Glass: Oh boy. 500% damage, 10% health. Found this tablet, punched in the diamond-heavy code. Honestly, just surviving Stage 5 to find the tablet felt like an achievement, knowing one wrong move would end the run instantly. Unlocking it was cool, but actually playing with it active? Pure chaos. Fun, but chaotic.
Challenges and What I Learned
It wasn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes I’d die on Stage 5 before even finding the tablet. Other times, I’d find the tablet and then fat-finger the code entry under pressure. That was frustrating. Remembering which shapes were where on the tablet interface took a few tries.
What helped me?
- Mobility is key: Playing characters like Huntress or Loader made exploring Stage 5 much faster. Getting to those weird, out-of-the-way spots was easier.
- Patience: Sometimes you just get bad map layouts or terrible enemy spawns. Had to accept that some runs were just reconnaissance.
- Write it down: Seriously, having the codes on a sticky note saved me time and panic trying to remember them mid-fight.
- Focus after input: Once the code was in, my priority shifted entirely to survival. Didn’t need to full clear, just needed to get to the teleporter or finish the run.
Wrapping Up
So yeah, that was my process for grabbing the Risk of Rain Returns artifacts. It took a fair few hours, lots of failed runs, but felt pretty satisfying ticking them off the list. Each artifact really does change how you approach the game, adding tons of replayability. If you haven’t tried hunting them down yet, give it a shot. It’s a good challenge!
