Genshin Artifact Main Stats Guide: Sands, Goblet & Circlet Priority by Role (6.7)
The full list: which pieces are fixed, which are random
The 5 artifact piece types split into 2 groups: 2 pieces with a FIXED main and 3 pieces with a RANDOM main (rolled from a pool the instant the piece drops, and it can't change through normal play):
- Flower of Life: 100% fixed main = flat HP, no other option.
- Plume of Death: 100% fixed main = flat ATK, no other option.
- Sands of Eon: random from 5 options: HP%, ATK%, DEF%, Elemental Mastery (EM), Energy Recharge (ER%).
- Goblet of Eonothem: random from a bigger pool: HP%, ATK%, DEF%, EM, Physical DMG%, OR exactly one of the 7 elemental DMG% types (Pyro/Hydro/Electro/Cryo/Anemo/Geo/Dendro) — a Goblet can NEVER roll both Physical and Elemental DMG%, and it can never roll two elements at once.
- Circlet of Logos: random from HP%, ATK%, DEF%, EM, CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, Healing Bonus.
Since the last 3 pieces are random, a 5★ that hits 'all 3 correct mains at once' is extremely rare — which is exactly why the community says correct main beats rarity or set bonus: a 4★ Goblet with the right element is usable right now, while a 5★ Goblet with the wrong element is basically dead weight for a main DPS.
Sands of Eon priority table by role
Sands is the most flexible piece — it locks in the overall build direction:
| Role | Priority main |
|---|---|
| Main DPS hitting directly (no reaction, or Amplifying reactions like Vaporize/Melt) | ATK% is almost always #1 — most Talents scale straight off ATK. |
| DPS/sub-DPS built around Transformative reactions (Swirl, Overload, Electro-Charged, Crystallize, Bloom...) | switch to EM — Transformative damage scales off Character Level + EM, with NO bonus from ATK/CRIT, so more EM means the number climbs directly. |
| Support/sub-DPS whose Burst rotation still feels unstable even after gearing up weapon/artifacts elsewhere | prioritize ER% over ATK% — reliably getting your Burst back on time matters more than a few % ATK, since a late Burst tanks the whole rotation's DPS. |
| Healers/Shielders whose formula scales off HP or DEF (character-specific) | HP% or DEF% — only when that character's kit explicitly scales off HP/DEF, not a default for every healer/tank. |
There's no common 'Sands DEF%' for a regular DPS — that option is basically reserved for characters whose damage/shield formula explicitly scales off DEF in their kit description.
Goblet: the Physical vs Elemental rule & when to pick EM
Goblet is the most argued-over piece because Elemental DMG% only counts for the ONE element printed on that specific piece:
| Case | Goblet choice |
|---|---|
| Match your main damage element exactly | a Pyro carry needs Pyro DMG% Goblet, not Cryo DMG% even at the same %; the wrong element gives 0% bonus, basically as bad as no useful main at all. |
| Physical DMG% | only makes sense when most of your damage is elementless Normal/Charged Attacks; if the character infuses their normal attacks with an element, Elemental DMG% matching that element is still usually the better pick. |
| EM Goblet | only fits pure Transformative-reaction builds where that character doesn't need Elemental DMG% or ATK% to deal damage (specialized EM builds like Gilded Dreams setups) — rarely a top pick for a regular main DPS. |
| HP%/ATK%/DEF% Goblet | is rarely optimal, except for characters whose kit formula scales directly off those stats (usually specific supports/tanks, not main DPS). |
Gilded DreamsDomain-picking tip: each Domain of Blessing only ever drops 2 fixed sets — check which of the two matches the Goblet/Sands you actually need before spending resin, so you don't grind the wrong domain for a week and never get the right element. See which set drops where on our artifact farming guide.
Circlet: the CRIT Rate:CRIT DMG ratio & when to switch to Healing Bonus/EM
Circlet is the only piece where CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG can be the main stat, which makes it the single most important main to optimize for a regular DPS:
| Case | Circlet main |
|---|---|
| Regular DPS | pick whichever crit stat is currently LOWER, so your overall stats move toward the golden CR:CD ≈ 1:2 ratio (e.g. if your CR is low from weapon/substats, a CRIT Rate Circlet is usually the better pick, keeping in mind a main only rolls one of the two, never both at once). |
| Healer | Healing Bonus — only useful if that character's healing formula actually scales off Healing Bonus %. |
| Pure Transformative-reaction builds (damage that can never crit) | EM instead of Crit — putting CR/CD on the Circlet here is a total waste since Transformative reactions can't crit at all. |
| Support buffing off their own stat (ATK%/HP%/DEF%) | rare, but it exists for a few specific buff formulas. |
Since a Circlet only rolls EXACTLY one of the two (CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG — never both on the same main), the rest of that 1:2 ratio has to come from substats, weapon, and set effects — which is why a CRIT Rate main Circlet with good CRIT DMG substats is always more sought-after than a CRIT DMG main Circlet with average rolls: crit substats are rare and each line is worth less than the equivalent main stat.
Targeting the right main: picking the Domain, Strongbox & the Artifact Transmuter
Since 3 of the 5 main stats are random, there are a few legitimate ways to raise your odds of hitting the right main instead of grinding blindly:
- Pick the right Domain of Blessing: each domain only ever drops 2 fixed sets — figure out which set + which main you need before spending resin, so you don't waste resin in a domain that never had your set to begin with.
- Strongbox: pick the recipe for the SET you want at the Alchemy Table, then sacrifice 3 ANY 5★ pieces (they don't need to be the same piece type or even the same set) to receive 1 brand-new 5★ piece of that chosen set — but the resulting piece TYPE (Flower/Feather/Sands/Goblet/Circlet), main stat, and substats are all completely random, with no guarantee you get the piece type or main you need; it's a fixed 3-for-1 material trade, not a probability boost, so repeated use can still keep handing you the wrong element.
- Artifact Transmuter (added in 5.0): uses materials to CRAFT a brand-new artifact piece and lets you pick its main stat right at creation (except Flower of Life/Plume of Death, which are always fixed) — it's the only way to choose a main on purpose, but it produces a whole new piece rather than editing one you already own.
- Reshaping / Dust of Enlightenment (added in 5.7): only reallocates the SUBSTAT rolls on an already max-level 5★ piece, letting you rescue an old piece with a great set but bad substats — it CANNOT change the main, so if the main itself is wrong, Reshaping won't fix it; you'd need the Strongbox, the Transmuter, or fresh farming instead.
- Off-piece 4+1: if you're only missing 1 slot (usually Goblet or Sands) for a perfect main, it's fine to use that slot from a DIFFERENT set (losing the 4pc bonus, keeping 2pc of the main set + 2pc of a secondary set) as long as the main is right — a correct main is usually worth more than a complete 4pc bonus with the wrong main.
To see the full 2pc/4pc effects of each set before deciding what to farm, check our artifact overview page; to further optimize substats once you've got the right main, see our substat priority guide.
Why the same character can need 2 different main-stat setups: Amplifying vs Transformative
Whether you main EM or ATK%/Crit depends entirely on WHICH kind of elemental reaction that character is using to deal damage:
- Amplifying reactions (Vaporize, Melt): multiply a coefficient directly onto ATK-based damage that already accounts for crit — so ATK% Sands + matching Elemental DMG% Goblet + Crit Circlet is still correct, EM is only a supporting stat (it boosts the multiplier %, not the base damage).
- Transformative reactions (Swirl, Overload, Electro-Charged, Crystallize, Bloom, Superconduct...): damage comes straight from its own formula scaling off Character Level + EM, with NO bonus from ATK% and NO possibility of critting — here, ATK%/CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG mains are basically useless, and you need to push EM instead (EM Sands, EM Goblet if the build allows it, EM Circlet instead of crit).
This is exactly why the same Anemo/Dendro character can need two completely different main-stat setups depending on the team: a solo build leaning on Swirl needs full EM, while a team build pushing Vaporize/Melt goes back to traditional ATK%/Crit. See how these two reaction families work on our elemental reactions page, and how to build teams around them on our team building guide.
FAQ
Should Sands be ATK% or Elemental Mastery (EM)?
Can a Goblet roll both Physical DMG% and Elemental DMG% at once?
Should Circlet prioritize CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG?
Can you change the main stat of an already-finished artifact?
What's the main stat on Flower of Life and Plume of Death — can you choose it?
How do I know which Domain to farm for the main stat I need?
Straight from the developers
Quoted verbatim from miHoYo’s own documentation — not a third-party retelling. Published here in full.
Artifacts are equipment items that increase the character stats and activate some special effects when certain conditions are reached.
Overview
"Five categories of artifacts exist. Each set includes an item of headwear, a flower, a goblet or similar, a timepiece, and a bird's feather." Artifacts have these elements: piece, rarity, level, stats (Main Affix and up to 4 Minor Affixes), set and name. Table with Main Affixes at their max level: |
Rarity | 5-star (level 20) | 4-star (level 16) | 3-star (level 12) | 2-star (level 4) | 1-star (level 4) |
HP (Flower) | 4780 | 3571 | 1893 | 551 | 324 |
ATK (Feather) | 311 | 232 | 123 | 36 | 21 |
ATK% (Sands, Goblet, Circlet) | 46.6% | 34.8% | 23.1% | 9% | 7.9% |
DEF% (Sands, Goblet, Circlet) | 58.3% | 43.5% | 28.8% | 11.2% | 9.9% |
HP% (Sands, Goblet, Circlet) | 46.6% | 34.8% | 23.1% | 9% | 7.9% |
Elemental Mastery (Sands, Goblet, Circlet) | 187 | 139 | 92 | 36 | 32 |
Energy Recharge% (Sands) | 51.8% | 38.7% | 25.6% | 9.9% | 8.8% |
Physical DMG Bonus (Goblet) | 58.3% | 43.5% | 28.8% | 11.2% | 9.9% |
Elemental DMG Bonus (Goblet) | 46.6% | 34.8% | 23.1% | 9% | 7.9% |
Healing Bonus% (Circlet) | 35.9% | 26.8% | 17.8% | 6.9% | 6.1% |
CRIT Rate% (Circlet) | 31.1% | 23.2% | 15.4% | 6% | 5.3% |
CRIT DMG% (Circlet) | 62.2% | 46.4% | 30.8% | 11.9% | 10.5% |
The 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 star artifacts can have up to 1 / 2 / 4 / 4 / 4 Minor Affixes respectively. Every 4 levels, if there are less than the maximum amount, a new Minor Affix will appear; otherwise, one of them will be enhanced. You are able to preview the fourth minor affix on 5-star Artifacts with three initial minor affixes. The corresponding preview function will also be available for the Lock Assistance and Sort features. Table with Minor Affixes at their max value (100%): |
Rarity | 5-star | 4-star | 3-star | 2-star | 1-star |
ATK | 19 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
ATK% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
DEF | 23 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
DEF% | 7.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 1.8% |
HP | 299 | 239 | 143 | 72% | 30 |
HP% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
Elemental Mastery | 23 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
Energy Recharge% | 6.5% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.6% |
CRIT Rate% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 1.0% |
CRIT DMG% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 4.7% | 3.1% | 1.9% |
All artifacts belong to a certain set that enables a special effect when equipped to one character at the same time called Set Bonus. Excepting,, and(with the 3-star/4-star Circlet), there is a 2-Piece set bonus and a 4-Piece set bonus for each set. Finally, the name of the artifact is predefined according to the piece and set to which it belongs. |
Obtaining
The player's Inventory supports up to 2,400 artifacts. | ||
Midsummer Courtyard | Valley of Remembrance | Domain of Guyun |
Hidden Palace of Zhou Formula | Clear Pool and Mountain Cavern | Peak of Vindagnyr |
Ridge Watch | Momiji-Dyed Court | Slumbering Court |
The Lost Valley | Spire of Solitary Enlightenment | City of Gold |
Molten Iron Fortress | Denouement of Sin | Waterfall Wen |
Faded Theater | Sanctum of Rainbow Spirits | Derelict Masonry Dock |
Frostladen Machinery | Moonchild's Treasures | Thorny Crown of the Mountain Wind |
There are two other special ways to obtain artifacts: by Mystic Offering with a Crafting Bench, and by Artifact Definition with the. "Consume Sanctifying Elixir to generate Artifacts of the designated Set and Piece, with the designated Main Affix and some of the Minor Affixes." Consume Sanctifying Elixir to create a specific 5-star Artifact. When Defining an Artifact, the player must choose its Set, Piece, Main Affix, and 2 Minor Affixes. After the Definition is complete, Sanctifying Elixir will be consumed to generate the Artifact Piece designated by the player. A single Artifact Set may undergo two designations per cycle, regardless of Piece. The different Pieces will have differing Sanctifying Elixir costs as follows: ·Flower of Life, Feather of Death: 1 ·Sands of Eon: 2 ·Circlet of Logos: 3 ·Goblet of Eonothem: 4 Artifacts defined through the consumption of Sanctifying Elixir are guaranteed to get at least 2 hits for their defined Minor Affixes when fully leveled up. | ||
Equipping
"Treasures endowed with great power. Equipping several connected artifacts simultaneously increases their power even further." Each character can be equipped with up to 5 different artifact pieces. The artifacts can't be equipped to two characters at the same time. In any case, if both characters are using artifacts, they can swap them. The Fast Equip option has two functions: Quick Configuration and Custom Configuration. When using a Custom Configuration, the player can edit the following: 1. Main Affix: Only artifacts that match the correct Main Affix will be selected. When the player edit a Custom Configuration, the player needs to at least select the Main Affix for the Sands of Eon, Goblet of Eonothem, and Circlet of Logos. 2. Set Type: Selecting 1 artifact set will generate a lineup that contains a 4-piece set of artifacts from that set. Selecting 2 artifact sets will generate a lineup that contains two 2-piece sets from those set types. If the player does not select an artifact set, the player will not be limited to any artifact set in lineup generation, but again, unexpected combinations may occur. 3. Minor Affixes: The player can select priority and secondary Minor Affixes, up to a maximum of 3. Minor Affixes at the same priority tier will be selected for in no particular order. 4. Recommend Stats: When usable data exists, the Recommend Stats function can be used. The Recommend Stats function will automatically sort and add main affixes, Artifact Set type, and minor affixes to the current lineup based on data gathered from recently active players. 5. Other: The player can also select whether or not to use artifacts that are not equipped on any other character. This decision will affect the generation process. At the generation process, if the player's Inventory does not contain artifacts that match the player's Main Affix filter, such that the player will not be able to generate 4-piece sets or 2-piece sets of their preference, there is a chance that the generation process will fail. At this time, the player may adjust the filters and try again. When previewing affixes for the player's plan, the various attributes of the character will only account for their own stats plus weapons and artifacts, and will not take the current party's Elemental Resonance, Ley Line Disorders, or other conditions into account. If the player's current filters have Minor Affix priority, then the candidate artifacts will be sorted with reference to said filters. The "Recommended Configurations" function includes a "Check Alternatives" feature, allowing you to swap Artifacts with other suggested options. There are two preset configurations in "Custom Configuration," and a "Recommended Order Scope of Effect" setting in the sorting function, which can be set to "Current Slot" or "All Slots." When viewing a 5-star Artifact in the Character Menu, a special mark will be displayed if certain conditions are met. The Artifact must have a highlighted Main Affix and at least five highlighted Minor Affixes, including any that have been enhanced. This feature can be toggled on and off in Settings > Other. |
Enhancing
"Artifacts derive power from their original bearers' ambitions and memories. It follows that they must consume other artifacts to increase their power." To level up an artifact, Artifact EXP and Mora are required. There is a chance to double (x2) or quintuple (x5) the EXP gained without additional cost, as an EXP multiplier. The EXP required to reach the max level is 270,475 for 5-star, 122,675 for 4-star, 52,275 for 3-star, 6,525 for 2-star, and 3,250 for 1-star. |
Reshaping
Consumeto reallocate the enhancements of Minor Affixes on a fully-leveled 5-star Artifact. |
Destruction
"A traveler's bag can only fit so much. If you have too many of any item, you can destroy items to make room. But once something is destroyed, you can't get it back…" Unleveled 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 star artifacts can be destroyed to receive 420 / 840 / 1260 / 2520 Mora. Up to 100 artifacts can be destroyed at the same time. There is a "Quick Unlock" option and another "Quick Lock" option to unlock or lock the artifacts of the selected sets. Furthermore, the artifacts can be manually marked by pressing the star sign. Marked Artifacts will be automatically locked. When a locked Artifact is unlocked, its mark will also be removed. On the "Artifacts" tab of the Inventory, there is an option to filter by "Mark" status, and sorting "Marked," "Locked Only," and "Not Locked" Artifacts. "Consume 5-star Artifacts of Lv. 4 and above to extract Sanctifying Elixir. The amount of Sanctifying Elixir that can be extracted in a single period is limited, and each Artifact Set can be defined once this way per period." Artifacts used in Extraction must be 5-star Artifacts of Lv. 4 or higher. Artifacts of different Levels will grant Extraction Progress points as follows: When the Artifact used in Extraction is Lv. X · Level 4 – 7: X Extraction Progress · Level 8 – 11: X + 2 Extraction Progress · Level 12 – 15: X + 6 Extraction Progress · Level 16 – 19: X + 14 Extraction Progress · Level 20: 50 Extraction Progress Artifact Enhancement Materials also provide Extraction Progress: Each Sanctifying Elixir requires 100 Extraction Progress points, and the leftovers are saved for the next Extraction. The player can salvage Artifacts for EXP, which can then be converted into Artifact EXP Materials. Whether using Artifacts for salvage or as EXP Materials, they will generate the following amount of EXP according to their quality: ·1-star: 420 ·2-star: 840 ·3-star: 1,260 ·4-star: 2,520 ·5-star: 3,780 |
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