Artifact Weapon Traits & Leveling: The Ultimate Guide for Players

The World of Warcraft (WoW), few systems have had as much impact on gameplay progression as Artifact Weapons. Introduced during the Legion expansion, these legendary weapons were not just powerful tools of destruction — they were deeply tied to a player’s journey, class, and specialization.

Understanding Artifact Weapon Traits & Leveling is crucial for players who want to unlock the full potential of their weapons and dominate in both PvE and PvP encounters. This guide breaks down everything — from earning artifact power to unlocking traits and leveling your weapon efficiently.

Table of Contents

What Are Artifact Weapons?

Artifact Weapons are legendary weapons unique to each class and specialization in World of Warcraft: Legion. For example, a Retribution Paladin wields Ashbringer, while a Frost Mage channels power through Ebonchill.

These weapons start with basic power but can be upgraded and customized using Artifact Power (AP), which allows players to unlock new traits that boost abilities, stats, and combat efficiency.

Understanding Artifact Weapon Traits

Artifact Weapon Traits are essentially talents or skill nodes within your weapon’s artifact tree. They provide various bonuses that enhance class-specific abilities, damage output, and survivability.

Types of Traits

Passive Traits:
Provide continuous stat boosts, such as increased critical strike chance, damage percentage, or reduced cooldowns.
Active Traits:
Unlock new abilities or enhance existing spells, adding new layers of strategy to your class.
Golden Traits:
The most powerful traits, usually located at key points in the artifact tree. These provide significant gameplay-altering effects.

Each trait requires Artifact Power to unlock, and the cost increases as you progress further through the tree.

How to Earn Artifact Power (AP)

Artifact Power fuels your weapon’s growth. You can earn it from various sources in World of Warcraft: Legion:

World Quests: Completing Legion world quests grants AP tokens.
Dungeons & Raids: Bosses often drop Artifact Power items.
PvP Activities: Battlegrounds and arenas offer AP rewards.
Mission Table & Order Hall: Followers can bring back AP tokens from missions.
Treasure Chests & Emissary Caches: These often contain high-value AP boosts.

As you gather AP, you use it to unlock and level up your Artifact Weapon Traits.

Artifact Knowledge System

To balance progression, Blizzard introduced Artifact Knowledge (AK) — a system that increases the amount of AP you gain over time.

The higher your Artifact Knowledge level, the more AP you earn from each source. This ensures that even latecomers to the expansion can catch up quickly with seasoned players.

Example:

At Artifact Knowledge Level 10, an item that normally grants 100 AP might instead give 1,000 AP or more, drastically speeding up progression.

Leveling Your Artifact Weapon

Leveling an Artifact Weapon means investing AP into it to unlock traits and increase overall weapon level. Here’s how to optimize the process:

1. Prioritize Core Traits First

Focus on unlocking key traits that directly enhance your main damage or healing abilities. These typically lie near the center of the artifact tree.

2. Unlock Golden Traits Early

Golden traits significantly boost your power. Plan your AP spending route strategically to reach them as early as possible.

3. Use Artifact Relics

Relics can be slotted into your weapon to boost item level and empower specific traits. Always equip the highest-level relics available to maximize your weapon’s strength.

4. Complete Class Hall Campaigns

Your Order Hall campaign not only provides story progression but also unlocks additional relic slots and boosts your artifact’s potential.

5. Participate in Raids & Mythic+

High-end dungeons and raids grant powerful relics and AP tokens, helping you advance faster.

Artifact Relics Explained

Artifact Relics are special items that modify your weapon’s attributes. Each relic belongs to a specific element (e.g., Fire, Frost, Shadow) and enhances certain traits.

By equipping relics, you can:

Increase your weapon’s item level
Empower specific traits
Customize your playstyle further

Relics are a vital part of fine-tuning your artifact build to suit your preferred gameplay — whether it’s DPS, tanking, or healing.

Efficient Leveling Tips

Here are some pro-level tips to help you level your artifact weapon quickly and efficiently:

Focus on High-Reward World Quests: Always check which quests grant the most AP.
Join Artifact Power Events: Timewalking and bonus events often offer massive AP rewards.
Use Catch-Up Mechanics: If you’re behind, boost your Artifact Knowledge first to multiply your AP gains.
Don’t Spread AP Too Thin: Stick to one main specialization early on; switching specs divides your progress.
Run Mythic Dungeons Weekly: These provide some of the best AP-to-time ratios in the game.

Post-Legion Legacy

Although the Artifact Weapon system was retired after the Legion expansion, its influence still lingers. The concept of trait trees, relics, and item-based progression evolved into later systems like Azerite Armor, Essences, and Covenant Soulbinds in Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands.

For returning players, revisiting the Legion era offers a nostalgic yet rewarding experience — especially if you’re interested in WoW’s deep RPG mechanics and lore.

Conclusion

Mastering Artifact Weapon Traits & Leveling is key to maximizing your character’s potential in World of Warcraft: Legion. From collecting artifact power to unlocking golden traits and fine-tuning relics, every step adds depth and satisfaction to your journey.