All Apex Legends Artifacts ranked: Best Artifact branch to upgrade

Apex Artifacts are a new melee cosmetic introduced in Season 21 of Apex Legends, and there are a few different branches and variants to choose from. But which one is the best to upgrade? Here are the answers.

Apex Artifacts, similar to Heirlooms, are a melee cosmetic released in Season 21 of Apex Legends. Unlike Heirlooms, though, they are highly customizable and can be equipped to any Legend. 

You can earn them with Exotic Shards, either unlocked in the Battle Pass or bought in the shop. So, since they literally take time and money, it’s important to know the best branches to invest in. Here are all the Apex Legends Artifacts ranked. 

Best Apex Legends Artifacts to upgrade

Here are all six Apex Legends Artifact branches ranked from best to worst: 

1. Nitride
2. Cobalt
3. Molten
4. Rhodium
5. Gladius
6. Electrum

6. Electrum

Electrum is the second branch you can unlock, but it’s the last on this list of the Artifact rankings. 

Compared to the other options, the Electrum branch feels a little uninspired, a bit of a worse version of the Cobalt and Molten branches. The overarching theme seems to be ‘cyber,’ so it’s definitely still a good pick if you want to get your hands on it. For me, though, it’ll probably be the last branch I upgrade. 

5. Gladius 

Gladius is the third branch in the Artifact shop, and its only downfall is the design of the Deathbox. 

It’s important to note that these are customizable, so you don’t have to use each variant from each branch. However, this list specifically looks at the overall offering of the branches. 

Gladius’ color scheme and theme is great. It’s very sleek, and the hints of gold you unlock as you go up make the Artifacts look stately. But it’s because of that very reason that I feel the chunky design of the Deathbox doesn’t seem to fit, plus, it doesn’t help that I’m not a huge fan of bulky designs. So, it ends fifth on the list. 

4. Rhodium

Rhodium is the fifth branch you can unlock, just before Nitride, and this is where we start getting into the good options for Apex Artifacts. 

Rhodium is an interesting branch because it’s quite different from the others. It’s got the same sleek design that Gladius goes for, but it’s not as showy as the other upgrade branches. The gold, white, and red coloring could make you feel like royalty, though, and it sits above Gladius on the rankings because I can’t tear my eyes away from how beautiful that Deathbox is. 

3. Molten

Molten is the fourth upgrade branch option, and for me, it’s simply a cut above the rest. The theme is this robust, threatening look that I can immediately picture on Gibraltar or Caustic, and the fiery elements make it an excellent choice for a unique style while you’re playing. 

The Deathbox could be a little more imposing, which is why I’ve got it at third, but overall Molten is a fantastic choice for anyone who savors a hot drop. 

2. Cobalt

Cobalt is the very first upgrade branch, and despite not being the first choice, it’s an incredibly strong contender. 

The lightning-themed hard metal and slightly bashed-up Deathbox is so intertwined with Apex’s overall design, it almost makes me nostalgic for when it first released. When I see Cobalt, I just think of Apex, and that is the main pushing point when it comes to special cosmetics designed for a game. 

1. Nitride

Despite Cobalt’s strong Apex Legends theme, Nitride takes the crown as the best branch to upgrade for Apex Artifacts. 

The purple-lightning color and theme is still a strong Apex-coded design, and overall, it’s incredibly imposing. You can announce your arrival when you use the Nitride Artifacts, and for me, that’s worth the effort you need to go through to get it.

What do Apex Artifacts do in Apex Legends?

Apex Artifacts are purely cosmetic items in Apex Legends that you use to change your melee weapon and how your Deathbox appears when you are taken down.

As a result, Apex Artifacts don’t have any in-game benefits, and they serve the same basic purpose as Legend-specific Heirlooms.

Overall, though, remember that this is just opinion, and you should invest in the upgrade branch you love the most. If you want to know more about Apex Legends, be sure to check out our other guides below.

How to get Legend Tokens in Apex Legends | Best Legends in Apex Legends | All Apex Legends voice actors | Apex Legends current pick rates | Best audio settings for Apex Legends | Best guns in Apex Legends | How to check your Apex Legends stats | Best PC settings for Apex Legends