Maximize Your Artifacts in New World S10 nighthaven

Diving into the shadowy depths of Nighthaven feels like stepping into a gothic nightmare where every corner hides a vampire's grin or a lycanthrope's howl. With Season 10 shaking up Aeternum's endgame, artifacts remain the crown jewels of any serious build—offering that edge in mutated expeditions, faction wars, or catacomb crawls. But the revamped gearing system can leave even veterans scratching their heads: how do you snag the right piece, pump it to 800 gear score, and tweak it for godlike synergy? We're breaking it all down here, step by step, so you can focus on slaying rather than struggling.

If gearing up for Nighthaven's brutal encounters has you hooked, consider bookmarking MMOJUGG as your go-to hub for these kinds of breakdowns—it keeps things simple and actionable. And for a smoother ride, pop over to our New World Aeternum shop to grab Gold Coins, Trophies, Matrices, and beyond; it's a quick way to fuel your farms without the grind.

Step 1: Picking and Hunting Your Artifacts

Artifacts aren't just shiny loot—they're build-defining powerhouses, from weapons that shred bosses to armor that laughs off bleeds. Season 10 introduces fresh drops like the Contagious Plague bow (spawning contagion vortices on kills) and the Incinerating Hatchet (building explosive stacks for AoE mayhem), alongside world-drop tweaks for classics like Crescent's Wave greatsword. But with dozens available, starting smart is key.

Narrow your choices by role and weapon. Playing a fire-slinging mage? Eye the Inferno staff for its blaze-through-adds prowess. Tank in heavy plate? The Void Darkplate chest turns you into an unkillable void sponge. Resources like the New World Database (nwdb.info) list every artifact by type—scroll to your weapon or armor slot, filter by light/medium/heavy, and note drop sources: expeditions for reliability, world bosses for thrill, PvP tracks for grinders.

Once locked in, chase them down. Expeditions like Dynasty Shipyard spit out swords like The Butcher; open-world elites in Elysian Wilds cough up bows like Aconite. Pro tip: Run groups for efficiency—artifacts scale with activity difficulty, and Nighthaven's new catacombs add shadowy hotspots for rare spawns. Stock up on a trio that complements your setup (one weapon, one armor, one jewelry) to hit that sweet spot without spreading thin.

Step 2: Unlocking Perk Slots Through Objectives

Fresh artifacts come locked tight, but unlocking their potential starts with a trio of objectives—think "slay 50 shadow-touched mobs in Nighthaven" or "close three corrupted breaches while corrupted." These pop up automatically on equip, with map markers guiding you like glowing breadcrumbs. Some are breezy (farm low-threat adds), others a slog (hunt specific rares), but they're one-and-done per artifact.

Stuck? Cross-reference the artifact's page on NWDB for exact tasks—Season 10 has fleshed out most, with Nighthaven-specific ones tying into the zone's lore, like purging vampire nests. Complete all three, and a new slot unlocks, teasing the customization ahead. It's this blend of old-school quests and new-system hooks that makes artifacts feel earned, not handed out.

Step 3: Initial Upgrade at the Gypsum Kiln

With objectives cleared, it's kiln time. Head to a Gypsum Kiln in any major settlement (Brimstone Sands or Everfall hubs work great for discounts). This crafts the first major leap, opening that crucial perk slot.

You'll need:

• A Matrix matching your artifact's type (weapon, armor, or jewelry)—snag these from the Trading Post, where prices hover around 5,000-10,000 Gold depending on demand.

• 500 Dark Matter: Salvage old gear or farm from high-level salvage runs; don't torch your stockpile pre-season like some did.

• 5 Gypsum Orbs: Easy farm from gypsum casts in zones or expedition rewards.

• 1 Chromatic Seal: Buy from faction vendors for 2,000 Gold and 20,000 tokens, or score them via season pass tiers and event caches.

Hit craft (budget 200-300 Gold for the fee—craft in discounted territories to shave costs), and boom: slot unlocked. Season 10 streamlines this—no more clunky 725 GS detours; it's direct fuel for the big push.

Step 4: Pushing to Max Gear Score with Umbral Crystals

Now the real power spike: cranking from 700 to 800 GS. Enter Umbral Crystals, the red-hot currency capping at 4,000 weekly (with a 1,000 inventory hold). Earn them via endgame hustles—elite chest pops in catacombs (200-500 each), M3 mutated expeditions (1,000+ per clear), PvP victories in Outpost Rush, or raid spoils. Prioritize: a full 700-to-800 jump guzzles about 900-1,000 Crystals, so target your core three artifacts first.

Equip the piece, right-click "Upgrade," slide the bar to 800, and confirm. It's instant, no kiln needed—Season 10's glow-up ditches the old recipes for this clean currency flow. Farm smart: Nighthaven's grave dungeons yield bonus Crystals on shadow-themed weeks, netting 2,000+ in a solid session. Weekly reset means pacing yourself; overcap and you're twiddling thumbs till Tuesday.

Step 5: Customizing Perks and Gems for Build Perfection

At 800 GS, your artifact shines with a fixed unique perk (unswappable, like Vampire's Vestments' blood leech aura) plus modifiable slots: offense, defense, skill, and maybe a gem. This is where builds bloom—swap infinitely, but consumables don't refund, so test wisely.

Gems First: If slotted, Runeglass Gems rule for their dual-boon setup (e.g., +15% fire damage and tankiness). Head to a Runeglass Station in settlements; browse cases (hover for effects—like Igniting for fire amps), then pair with base gems (diamond for balance). Craft if leveled (180 Weaponsmithing/Stonecutting): buy mats on TP, forge the case, slot the gem. No levels? TP hunt (pricey, 2,000-5,000 Gold) or guild-ask for favors—offer Gold or XP shares. Jewelry skips Runeglass for now, so standard cut gems it is. Slap in via the Attach menu for that instant "oh yeah" feel.

Perks Next: Slots break into buckets—offense for DPS spikes (e.g., Leeching Strike for lifesteal synergy), defense for survival (Wellness for health pools, Sacred Ground for healer bursts), skill for weapon buffs (e.g., Empowering Pillar for life staff mains). Season 10's Nighthaven patch added fresh ones like Shadow Ward (dodge bleed reflection) and Nightfall Empowerment (+10% damage post-kill). Browse lists on NWDB, farm drops from relevant content (PvP for offense, raids for defense), or TP buy (500-2,000 Gold each).

In the item's menu, hit "Attach Charms," pick slots, slot your picks, and attach. Empty ones? Fill 'em. Your leechy mage build now sips health from every scorch—pure synergy.

Wrapping Up the Grind

Nailing three maxed, perked-out artifacts turns good builds into unstoppable ones, whether you're vortexing foes with Contagious Plague or tanking raids in Unyielding helm. Season 10's tweaks make it smoother than ever—less crafting busywork, more strategic farming. Experiment freely; what clicks in PvE might flop in Wars, but that's Aeternum's charm.

FAQs on Artifact Upgrades in Season 10 Nighthaven

How many Umbral Crystals does a full 700-800 GS upgrade cost?

Roughly 900-1,000, scaling exponentially. Check your exact piece in-game, as weapons often run higher than jewelry.

Can I still use old resources like Chromatic Seals post-Season 10?

Yes, for initial kiln unlocks on new artifacts. They're legacy but vital—stockpile via faction shops or events.

What's the best Runeglass Gem for a DPS fire staff build?

Ignited Diamond: +15% fire damage from the case, plus absorption for sustain. Craft it for savings over TP prices.

Do artifacts from previous seasons upgrade the same way?

Absolutely—any 700+ GS piece hits 800 with Umbral Crystals. No rework needed, but verify perk viability in Nighthaven meta.

How do I farm Umbral Crystals fastest in early Season 10?

Queue M2/M3 expeditions (800-1,200 per run) or catacomb elites (300-600 bursts). Weekly cap hits 4,000—mix PvE/PvP for variety.

Thanks for Reading

Keep following MMOJUGG for the latest on Aeternum's twists—we've got your back as Nighthaven unfolds.