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Let me be honest with you—when I first started playing this game, I had no idea artifacts would become my primary source of income. I remember stumbling upon my first artifact tucked away in an abandoned bunker, glowing faintly in the dark. The game’s tutorial suggests finding a quiet spot to test them out, and I did exactly that. But here’s the thing: after spending hours carefully examining each one, I realized they’re not as groundbreaking as the tooltips make them sound. Sure, they buff your resistances to things like radiation or bleeding, but let’s face it—those effects are pretty niche. In my experience, you’re rarely in situations where a slight resistance boost turns the tide. Instead, artifacts occupy this weird middle ground: they’re intriguing at first glance but functionally repetitive, just like in previous installments of the game.
Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show—the in-game economy. It’s brutal, to say the least. I’ve lost count of how many times my favorite assault rifle jammed at the worst possible moment because of wear and tear. And damaged armor? Don’t even get me started. A dented chest plate might as well be tissue paper against the Zone’s harsh elements. Repair costs are exorbitant—I’m talking 5,000 credits or more for a single high-tier weapon fix. Add to that the insane prices for ammunition and weapon upgrades, and you’ve got a recipe for financial despair. That’s where artifacts come in. With their high resale value—some fetching up to 8,000 credits apiece—they’ve become my go-to solution for staying afloat. I’ve sold at least two dozen artifacts so far, and honestly, it feels less like a choice and more like a necessity.
I’ve seen players debate whether to keep artifacts for their buffs or sell them for quick cash. Personally, I lean heavily toward selling. The benefits just don’t justify holding onto them. For example, one artifact I found recently offered a 15% radiation resistance boost. Sounds decent, right? But in practice, it barely made a difference during my excursions into highly contaminated areas. Meanwhile, selling it funded a much-needed armor repair and stocked my ammo reserves for the next three missions. The game’s economy practically forces your hand. If artifacts provided more substantial or unique bonuses—say, a permanent stat increase or a game-changing ability—I’d hesitate. But as it stands, the decision is a no-brainer. They’re luxury items in a world where survival comes first.
Another factor that seals the deal for me is the sheer unpredictability of the Zone. One minute you’re calmly looting an abandoned factory, the next you’re swarmed by mutants with barely enough time to reload. In those moments, a slightly higher bleed resistance isn’t going to save you—but a fully repaired, upgraded weapon might. I’ve crunched the numbers, and based on my playthrough, selling artifacts accounts for roughly 60% of my total income. That’s huge. It allows me to invest in better gear, which in turn makes artifact hunting easier and more profitable. It’s a cycle that rewards pragmatism over sentimentality.
Of course, I get why some players might feel attached to these glowing curiosities. They’re beautifully designed, and there’s a certain thrill to collecting them. Early on, I held onto a few for sentimental reasons, but that quickly changed after a particularly costly firefight left me bankrupt. Since then, I’ve adopted a strict "sell-first" policy. And you know what? I don’t regret it. My loadout is more reliable, my survival rate has improved, and I’ve even managed to save up for those pricey end-game upgrades. If the economy were more balanced—say, if repair costs were 30–40% lower—I might consider keeping a couple of artifacts for their niche benefits. But as things stand, their real value isn’t in what they do, but what they’re worth.
In the end, artifacts are a testament to the game’s clever design. They dangle the promise of power but ultimately serve a more practical purpose: keeping you funded in a merciless economy. For newcomers, my advice is simple. Test them out, appreciate their lore, but don’t think twice about cashing in. Your future self—equipped with a pristine rifle and enough ammo to take on anything—will thank you. After all, in the Zone, credits aren’t just currency; they’re your lifeline.