Previously, KookminTree delved into the lore behind some of the artifacts in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad. Tales of the fallen Night's Watch or the storied blade of House Targaryen were certainly enough to pique the interest of die-hard fans. However, if you are not quite as familiar with the source material, the narrative weight of these trinkets might feel a bit thin.

So, let's pivot. This time, we are focusing on pure, cold performance. We are looking at the artifacts that have already proven their worth among North American server players. As we count down the days to the May 21st grand launch, let’s see which ones should be at the top of your priority list.

The 'Twin Axes' used by the King-Beyond-the-Wall

Roughly 3,000 years ago, these were the weapons of choice for the twin brothers Gendel and Gorne, who ruled as Kings-Beyond-the-Wall. Rather than wasting time trying to scale or smash the Wall, they tunneled beneath it to ambush the Night's Watch. It remains one of the most impactful breaches since the Wall was erected.

Gorne met his end during the clash with the Night's Watch, but history tells two different tales depending on who you ask. The northern records claim the Night's Watch hunted down and slaughtered the wildling invaders. The wildlings, however, insist that Gendel and his men retreated into the caves, only to lose their way and eventually succumb to the darkness as twisted killers.

On the North American server, the Twin Axes are widely considered the most efficient artifact. They are built for raw aggression, and using the 'Flurry Attack' skill only makes them deadlier. As a bonus, they provide a stun effect on surrounding enemies.

The true potential of the Twin Axes shines when you upgrade them to 1-star. From this point, the 'Flurry Attack' skill reduces the active skill cooldowns for you and your party, while granting 115 Fury. It’s a total game-changer that can spike your group's damage output in an instant. Push them to 5-stars, and you get lifesteal for that much-needed stability.

The 'Broken Sword' of the legendary hero Azor Ahai

Millennia ago, Azor Ahai saved humanity from the 'Long Night.' This blade is one of the failures he created while forging his legendary 'Lightbringer.' He first tried quenching it in water, then in the heart of a lion—both attempts shattered the steel. The game features the artifact version of that shattered remnants.

This artifact was once the undisputed king back when you could easily hit a 100% critical hit rate. It reduced active skill cooldowns and fury consumption, allowing players to spam high-damage skills relentlessly. However, the shine has dulled somewhat following changes to the critical hit calculation formula.

Of course, the effects haven't been nerfed, so it remains a popular choice on the North American server. However, its status in the Asian server might be a different story. In North America, players only had three active skills, making cooldown reduction incredibly valuable. With the weapon swap system in the Asian version allowing up to six active skills, the relative efficiency of this artifact could drop. Still, the boost to skill damage and the reduction in fury cost are nothing to sneeze at, so don't expect it to fall out of favor entirely.

As for the lore, Azor Ahai famously forged Lightbringer by plunging his glowing blade into the heart of his wife, Nissa Nissa. A pendant commemorating that sacrifice, 'Nissa Nissa's Tear,' is also in the game. It’s somewhat underrated, but undeniably versatile.

'Torrhen's Crown' providing immunity to knockback

When Aegon the Conqueror set about unifying the Seven Kingdoms with his dragons, only one leader chose to surrender without a fight: Torrhen Stark, the owner of this artifact.

At the time, Stark's lords were baying for war, and his bastard brother Brandon Snow even offered to assassinate the dragons. But after seeing the carnage at Harrenhal and the Field of Fire, Torrhen chose submission. Many, including his own sons, were furious and branded him a coward.

History, however, has been kinder to him. The forces at Harrenhal and the Field of Fire were incinerated by dragonfire. Even Dorne, while securing its independence, paid a bloody price. In contrast, the North emerged with its people and lands intact. Viewed through a modern lens, it was a remarkably wise decision.

In the game, the artifact is well-balanced, but the 'King's Protection' skill is the real draw. If you’re struggling against a boss with a strict time limit, Torrhen's Crown is your best friend. Activating it grants a 20-second boost to attack and defense, plus immunity to knockback. You can keep swinging without being interrupted by boss attacks. You'll often find players recommending this artifact as the key to clearing difficult bosses.

Mercenary-specialized 'Andal Tunic'

Much like the 'Valyrian Steel Shard' mentioned previously, there are artifacts tailored for specific classes. The 'Andal Tunic' is designed specifically for the Mercenary. It boosts damage, crit rate, and crit damage against targets in a 'Broken' state, making it effective right out of the box. Upgrading it further allows for a chance to convert an enemy's 'Shock' effect into a 'Broken' effect, while also reducing active skill cooldowns.

Sadly, the lore behind this item is rather sparse. It’s just noted as an artifact from the Andal Invasion, with no famous figures attached to it. For a class-specific item, it feels a bit neglected, especially when other class artifacts are steeped in such rich history.

Assassin-specialized 'Rhaegar's Ruby' and 'Faceless Man's Coin'

Like Knights, Assassins can apply two types of status effects. You can induce 'Rupture' via combos or 'Poison' via active skills. Naturally, the artifacts are designed to capitalize on these two states.

First up is Rhaegar's Ruby, which buffs damage and crit damage against 'Ruptured' targets. The Faceless Man's Coin offers the same benefits against 'Poisoned' enemies. However, since you must use the 'Poison' active skill to apply the status, it can be a bit more fiddly to use.

Rhaegar's Ruby was once set into the armor of the late Rhaegar Targaryen. During the Battle of the Trident, Rhaegar faced off against Robert Baratheon in single combat. The duel ended when Robert's warhammer shattered Rhaegar's chest plate. The ruby fell into the river, and legend says the fighting paused momentarily as soldiers scrambled for the jewel. Robert's victory that day effectively sealed the fate of the rebellion.

The Faceless Man's Coin is used by the order of assassins known as the Faceless Men. They reportedly charge a king's ransom for their services, but the results are guaranteed. One side of the coin bears the words 'Valar Morghulis,' and the other, 'Valar Dohaeris'—High Valyrian for 'All men must die' and 'All men must serve.' It is whispered that if you present this coin in Braavos, you will be guided to their headquarters, the House of Black and White.

Given that the Assassin class is heavily inspired by Arya Stark—who trains under the Faceless Men—this artifact is a fan favorite on the North American server for how perfectly it captures the spirit of the original world.