Artifacts can make or break heroes in Watcher of Realms and it can sometimes be hard to pick the right ones, espcially as some read stronger in their description than they really are and others seem weaker. I have below a full ranking by each class to show you overall what artifacts work well with the class and which ones do fall short.
Please also check out my tier list of the best heroes in Watcher or Realms here that gets frequently updated along this list below.
Strongest Artifacts (By Class) in Watcher of Realms
Below you find the tier list with a section for each class in Watcher of Realms that also contains non-class-specific artifacts that work well for that class with a short description why the artifact works well or not.
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Defender
Olagues WallS
Stacks blocks with great damage reduction and is easily one of the best defender class artifacts in Watcher of RealmsClass: DefenderBest HeroesRegal MajestyS
Every defender needs a healer in the back and buffing up the healing recieved by 20% is really powerful.Class: DefenderBest HeroesLionheart ScepterS
The mac HP increase during ultimate is not a defender class artifact in Watcher of Realms but helps a lot with the way many defender class heroes scale by max HP and also affects surrounding allies.Class: UniversalBest HeroesBetrayal ForgeS
Increased block, chance to stun and self-healing is a very universal artifact that does a lotClass: UniversalBest HeroesBloodthirstA
Basically will give 15% attack buff realitically and works great with all defenders that can also deal some sort of noticable damage in Watcher of Realms.Class: DefenderBest HeroesHoly RadianceA
Gives you an AoE damage every 10 attacks that dies damage to up to 5 targets and heals you for 10% of the damage dealt. With an attacker with decent base ATK a great sustain and alsod amage dealing artifact to run in Watcher of RealmsClass: DefenderBest HeroesGoddess GraceB
Up to 19% additional DEF. Not the craziest defender artifact but works if you can't run one of the ones listed above.Class: DefenderBest HeroesDeath KnellB
Best yellow defender artifact in Watcher of Realms with great instant self-healing whenever you drop below 40% HP, so can help to self-sustainClass: DefenderBest HeroesRexs VowB
Good with shielding defenders or with support heroes that provides shield so you get flat 10% dmage taken reduction, but only when the shield is active. Can work well in those setups but not universally strong artifact.Class: DefenderBest HeroesThe Watchguards UnityC
Flat 10% more max HP for defender with a large HP pool or defenders that either use abilities based on max HP or with support that heals based on target max HP. Not overly great.Class: DefenderBest HeroesHeart of ThornD
Nice if the chance procs and can deal alright damage then, but the proc chance is overall to low to make it a good defender artifact.Class: DefenderBest HeroesNightmare SerpentD
Sounds better than it is as the self-healing is not enough to really make a meaningful impact at the end of the day.Class: DefenderBest HeroesThe Norths WillD
Okay with setups that use a lot of shielding for the extra self-healing, but very specific and normally the other artifacts overall perform better.Class: DefenderBest HeroesSolar RuneD
More DEF when taking damage, but at the end of the day not enough to be very useful.Class: DefenderBest HeroesFighter
Scarlet HuntS
Amazing with a hero that applies bleeding (Salazar!!!) as you will gain flat 20% more damage which makes a huge difference. If not, it's not that great. But he is run that frequently and so strong that I rank it here.Class: FighterBest HeroesSoul DrainerS
Up to 2.1% self-healing of max HP whenever your hero deals damage to a target (with up to 3 targets) can cause massive sustain for area-damage dealing heroes in Watcher of Realms.Class: FighterBest HeroesMagmus Molten HeartS
With Lava Flow active, deals up to 5% more damage based on max HP so an amazing scalerClass: UniversalBest HeroesRagnarokA
Great crit damage scaler for figher class heroes in Watcher of Realms that have nice crits in their kitClass: FighterBest HeroesEye of SinA
Good AoE damage increase for fighter class heroes that does AoE damage with a great bonus as well.Class: FighterBest HeroesFlawless BladeA
Depends a little on the setup but if you run a fighter that is normally not taking damage too frequently this can give a nice damage boost.Class: FighterBest HeroesVoid GazerA
Works well with the mechancis of many fighter class heroes for increased damage.Class: FighterBest HeroesBones of SavageryA
Good with fighters that deal multiple stages of damage with their ultimate and makes a good impact there.Class: UniversalBest HeroesCrystal of VilenessB+
Can situationally work well unless you have bad luck with RNG activating it or you run against heavy AoE setups that clear the shadows easily.Class: FighterBest HeroesSkull of IreB+
Nice initial rage boost if you work on a a team that you want a fighter to get ultimate quickly into battle.Class: UniversalBest HeroesThe Watchguards AmbitionB
Extra basic attack is nice but also not overly strong with a low proc chance. Still one of the best yellow artifacts for fighter class heroes in Watcher of Realms.Class: FighterBest HeroesSlayers PresenceB
Nice damage increase that works with many fighter class hero kits, but overall not the most powerful artifact. Still not a bad one, either.Class: FighterBest HeroesNightmare ShadowC
Chain of RageC
Very weird mechancis that can work in certain teams alright, but not a universally artifact.Class: FighterBest HeroesThe Norths HornD
Healer
Prayer ScrollS
Lunar VeilS
If you can make it long enough into battle with this artifact as a healer, this is a huge thing with the permanent invisibility + the speed increase.Class: UniversalBest HeroesGift of HopeA
Gives more healing when you need it an overall a reliable a good artifact for healers.Class: HealerBest HeroesJungle RelicA
Nynivs MercyB+
Works nice against burst setups, but the effect is only short at the start of the battle. Useful when you need it, though.Class: HealerBest HeroesThe Norths GloryC
Nice shield but normally when it procs you don#t need it, yet, but when you need it you can't proc the shield anymore as you can't heal your target to full HP anymore.Class: HealerBest HeroesChild of the TreesD
Normally gets scaled down so much that it is only a 5% increase at the end of the day.Class: HealerBest HeroesThe Watchguards FortuneD
Mage
Skull of DesecrationS
Scales area damage very high and as you run those heroes with support the increased damage taken is a effect you can easily trade in for that.Class: MageBest HeroesBook of DistortionS
Great way to deal with attack slowing effects by gaining attack speed and rage accumulationClass: MageBest HeroesCrown of the DepthsS
25% for an extra energy ball by basic attacks is a plug-and-play effective artifact in Watcher of RealmClass: UniversalBest HeroesAjaxs RageA
Good if you have a hero that chains crits with high crit rate to ramp up more crit damage.Class: MageBest HeroesBlue Sea Ice RingA
Eye of the Whie TowerB+
Can be RNG but also make a great impact. Situationally a good artifact and probably the best yellow artifact for mages.Class: MageBest HeroesZelus ManuscriptB
Spellcasters EchoC
Sounds stronger than it is. Not bad, not good, there's simply a lot better options available.Class: MageBest HeroesSoul-Eating CrystalD
Marksman
Nether MessengerS
Great permanent effect and the way these heroes deal damage you will have it permanently enabled for a great attack buff.Class: MarksmanBest HeroesBloodbond SignetS
As you run support with those heroes all the time, the reduced max HP is alright for getting the higher critical damage from this artifact.Class: MarksmanBest HeroesSoulreaper InsigniaS
Scarlet DaggerS
Additional area damage and penetration during skill works really well and makes it a good artifact for area damage heroes here in Watcher of Realms.Class: UniversalBest HeroesDestruction CogS
The Sharpshooters CrestA
Blood DrinkerB
You won't run marksmen without healing and I normally would rather let them deal more damage than getting some self-healing.Class: MarksmanBest HeroesBroken NightmareB
Taunting GazeC
Nice mechanics but the buff is not strong enough to really make it worth it.Class: MarksmanBest Heroes
Conclusion
I hope this general guide helps you prioritize and choose artifacts in Watcher of Realms. I might extend this guide in the future to make it specific for each hero, but with 150+ heroes this takes a lot of time. If you have any questions or notes, please post a comment below and I will be happy to reply.