TFT Set 17 Artifacts Guide: Carry Items, Best Users & When to Pick Them

TL;DR — A guide to carry artifacts in TFT Patch 17.2 — which ones are overpowered, who their best users are, and when to pick them. It ranks the S-tier stat-stick artifacts, breaks down the AP and tank options, maps the best users by comp, and explains why artifacts and reroll comps go hand in hand.

Artifacts in 17.2 are mostly overstated stat sticks — an artifact is only as good as its holder. This guide is about knowing the best users, so a prismatic artifact augment becomes a free top 4 instead of a wasted pick.

Introduction

This guide covers carry artifacts in Patch 17.2 — their interactions, best users, and how to decide which to pick. Whether you’re choosing from a Portable Forge or hitting a random artifact later, understanding these items is crucial for climbing.

Part 1 — Artifact Augments: What You Need to Know

Augment Sources

Artifacts appear through several augment tiers:

Augment type	Access
Gold / Silver augments	Limited options, but they exist.
Prismatic augments	The primary source of artifacts.
Expected Unexpected	Low chance (~3% variance), but still relevant.

Key insight — Most prismatic augments that grant artifacts are very powerful — especially when you know their best users. Knowledge is the difference between a wasted augment and a free top 4.

Part 2 — S-Tier Carry Artifacts

Titanic Hydra

Best users: Xayah, Briar, Graves.

Why it’s S-tier	How to abuse it
Provides massive stats	Extra attack speed triggers the effect more often.
The effect is very powerful on melee units	Xayah with Titanic is surprisingly strong.
Scales with attack speed	Briar’s attack speed makes the item pop off.

Pro tip — Don’t sleep on Titanic Hydra for Xayah. It sounds counterintuitive, but the damage output is genuinely surprising.

Fishbones

Best users: Any AD carry.

Why it’s S-tier	The math
Overstated stats	50 AD + 50 Attack Speed.
Roughly 1.5x the value of a normal item	Sometimes even more.
The bonus effect is irrelevant	The stats alone make it worth it.

Where to use it

• Every AD carry benefits.
• Surprisingly good on some melee units (purely for the stats).
• Don’t play around the bonus effect — it’s just a bonus.

Pro tip — Fishbones is a stat stick — ignore the effect, embrace the raw numbers.

Gold Collector

Best users: AD carries (especially with Akali Nova).

Why it’s S-tier	Synergy
40% AD + 20% Crit	Akali + Nova = free Precision.
No need for IE anymore	Precision makes crits free.
Great on ranged users	Also solid on melee carries.

The combo

• Play Akali + 1 Nova unit.
• Now you have Precision for the whole team.
• Gold Collector’s crit becomes even more valuable.

Strategic insight — You don’t need Infinity Edge with Akali Nova active. That frees an item slot AND makes Gold Collector even stronger than it already is.

Part 3 — AP Artifacts: Solid Options with Reroll Synergy

Ahri & Aurelion Sol’s Artifacts

Why they’re good	Current state
Overstated base stats	Comparable to Blue Buff stats.
Bonus damage on top	A huge damage amp.
Good on every AP carry	The 17.2 nerfs are minor.

Best use — These are stat-check items — they just make your AP carries hit harder. There’s no complex synergy to play around.

Echo Patient

Best users: 3-star units.

Why it’s good	When to pick
Scales with star level	When you’re playing a reroll comp.
Powerful on 3-star carries	Especially with AP reroll setups.

Pro tip — Echo Patient is significantly better in reroll comps where you’re guaranteed to hit 3-star units.

Part 4 — A-Tier Artifacts: Good, But Not Game-Breaking

General A-Tier Options

Artifact	Why it’s A-tier	Best use
Most AD artifacts	Solid stats, flexible	Primordian Reroll
Most AP artifacts	Good for reroll	Viktor Reroll, Zoe Reroll
Static Shiv	Tempo + mana regen	Nami (with Space Groove AS buff)

The reality — Most artifacts in this tier have 2-6 good users and are mediocre on everyone else. That’s why knowledge matters — you need to know who can actually use the item.

Pro tip — Static Shiv is a tempo pick — great for early win-streaking, but it falls off late unless you’re rerolling.

Part 5 — Tank Artifacts: When (and When Not) to Pick Them

The Problem with Tank Artifacts

Stage	Impact
Stage 2-3	Very impactful — can secure an early win streak.
Stage 4+	Significantly less impactful.
Late game	Only useful in specific reroll comps.

The exception — Locket of the Iron Solari — it’s always good, regardless of your board.

Good Users (Primarily Reroll)

Unit	Comp
Leona	Teemo Reroll, Zoe Reroll
Jax	Stargazer Reroll
Cho’Gath	Brawler Reroll
1-cost tanks	Various reroll setups

Leona priority

• If you’re playing Teemo Reroll, always pick the defensive arbiter over the offensive one.
• Permanent HP, HP per 4 seconds, or Armor/MR on mana spend — all are great.

Key insight — If you’re not playing a reroll comp, tank artifacts are generally avoidable. Their value drops dramatically after Stage 4.

Part 6 — Best Users by Comp

Primordian Reroll — The Artifact-Focused Comp

Why this comp loves artifacts

• Two excellent artifact users: Bel’Veth and Briar.
• Briar has surprisingly good stats and can out-DPS Bel’Veth at 3-star.
• You’re rolling for multiple 3-star units → more units to itemize.

Best artifacts for Primordian Reroll

Artifact	User
Titanic Hydra	Briar
Fishbones	Bel’Veth or Briar
Gold Collector	Briar
Most AD artifacts	Both

Pro tip — Primordian’s summoner damage scales with your Primordian units’ damage. More damage = stronger summons = more wins.

Stargazer Reroll

Best users

• Jax → your primary artifact user.
• Caitlyn → attack-speed artifacts (Evelynn & Camille’s Blade).
• An AP caster → AP artifacts.

Pro tip — Jax’s value comes from his Stargazer and Bastion traits. As a durable Bastion frontliner he holds up better than most 2-costs, and artifacts give him even more value.

Teemo & Zoe Reroll

Leona priority

• Leona is your best tank-artifact user.
• Always take defensive arbiters over offensive ones.
• Permanent HP and HP per 4 seconds are S-tier.

Viktor Reroll (Patch 17.2)

• Still viable in 17.2.
• Likely less contested → easier to hit.
• A great user of any AP artifact.
• As a hyper-carry, he wants the extra stats.

Pro tip — AP artifacts give Viktor the extra value he needs to carry.

Part 7 — Legendary Package: Graves & Corki

Graves — Melee Artifact Abuser

Why Graves is special

• He’s played as melee Graves in the current meta.
• Extremely abusable with melee artifacts.
• Titanic Hydra procs an extra 5 times on his autos.

Best melee artifacts

Artifact	Why
Titanic Hydra	Procs an extra 5 times on autos.
Silvermere Dawn	Tank stats (never on carries).
Other melee artifacts	All good on Graves.

Build options

Style	Artifacts
Rapid Fire damage	AD-focused artifacts.
Tank Graves	Armor/MR + HP + HP-regen artifacts.

Pro tip — Silvermere Dawn is a tank artifact — the 140 AD is bait. Ignore the AD; focus on the 80 Armor, 80 MR, and the stun. Put it on a tank, not a carry.

Corki — Flexible User

• Current meta: not a focus comp in 17.1.
• 17.2 may change this.
• A solid user of attack-speed or AD artifacts.
• Worth considering if you find the right items.

Part 8 — Artifact Tier List

S-Tier (overpowered)

Artifact	Best users
Titanic Hydra	Xayah, Briar, Graves
Fishbones	Any AD carry
Gold Collector	AD carries (especially with Akali)

A-Tier (good)

Artifact	Best users
Ahri artifact	Any AP carry
Aurelion Sol artifact	Any AP carry
Echo Patient	3-star units
Static Shiv	Nami (tempo), AS carries
Evelynn & Camille’s Blade	Caitlyn (N.O.V.A./Fateweaver)

Situational (reroll only)

Artifact	Best users
Most tank artifacts	Leona, Jax, 1-cost tanks
Locket of the Iron Solari	Literally anyone — always good

Avoid on carries

Artifact	Why
Silvermere Dawn	Tank item — 140 AD is bait.
Most melee tank artifacts	Only good on Graves (special case).

Part 9 — The Big Picture: Artifacts in Set 17.2

The “Stat Check” Meta

Most artifacts are simply overstated stat sticks:

• Fishbones: 50 AD + 50 AS (1.5x item value).
• Ahri artifact: Blue Buff stats + bonus damage.
• Gold Collector: 40% AD + 20% Crit.

The strategy

1. Pick an artifact that fits your comp.
2. Put it on your best user.
3. Let the stats carry you.

When to Pick Artifact Augments

Situation	Verdict
You know the best users	Good pick.
You’re playing reroll	Good pick.
You’re playing Fast 9 / flex	Risky — artifacts are less impactful.
Random artifact late game	Risky — tank artifacts are bad late.

The Reroll Connection

• Artifacts and reroll comps are synergistic.
• You’re itemizing multiple 3-star units anyway.
• Extra artifact power helps distribute items.
• Tank artifacts only shine in reroll comps (1-cost + 2-cost tanks).

Part 10 — Tier List: Best Users at a Glance

Artifact	Best users (current meta)
Titanic Hydra	Xayah, Briar, Graves
Fishbones	Any AD carry
Gold Collector	AD carries (especially with Akali Nova)
Ahri artifact	Any AP carry
Aurelion Sol artifact	Any AP carry
Echo Patient	3-star AP units
Static Shiv	Nami (Space Groove tempo)
Evelynn & Camille’s Blade	Caitlyn (N.O.V.A./Fateweaver)
Locket of the Iron Solari	Everyone
Silvermere Dawn	Tanks only (never on carries)

Final Thoughts

The TL;DR of artifacts in 17.2

1. S-tier artifacts are stat sticks — Fishbones, Titanic Hydra, Gold Collector.
2. Tank artifacts are early-game only — they lose value after Stage 4.
3. Reroll comps abuse artifacts best — you’re itemizing multiple units anyway.
4. Know your best users — an artifact is only as good as its holder.
5. Akali Nova makes Gold Collector S-tier — free Precision means no IE needed.

My personal take

• Artifacts aren’t as exciting as in previous sets.
• You’re basically fishing for the best option.
• Missing the right type puts you in the danger zone.
• But knowledge makes them decent picks.

Strategic advice — If you’re willing to study artifacts, understand their power level, and know their best users, some of them become surprisingly OP on specific units.

Good luck on the Convergence — and may your artifact rolls be blessed.