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Civilization VII

Civ 7 How to Get Artifacts

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Civ7 - Artifacts
Artifacts are a vital resource for the Culture Victory gained after excavating Dig Spots in Civilization VII (Civ 7). Learn the different ways on how to get Artifacts, what Artifacts are and the difference between Relics and Artifacts here!

List of Contents

How to Get Artifacts

Use Explorers, Museums, and Universities

Steps to Acquire Artifacts with Explorers
Check Icon Study the Natural History Civic
Check Icon Construct a University or Museum
Check Icon Send an Explorer to a Dig Site
Check Icon Study Hegemony to Increase Artifact Count

Study the Natural History Civic

Civ 7 - Natural History Civic

To access the special NPC needed for collecting Artifacts, players will need to have studied the Natural History civic. Doing so will allow you to recruit an Explorer to extract Artifacts from the Exploration Age.

Best Culture Civs

Construct a University or Museum

Research and Artifact Icons

Players will need to have constructed a Museum or a University and an Explorer to reveal dig sites where you will acquire artifacts. Once both are available, send the explorer to the aforementioned buildings marked on the map with the icons in the image above, then use their ability to reveal dig sites across the region.

Note that you will need to do this for each region to reveal local dig sites, but you can use your opponents' Museums and Universities in case you were not able to establish a settlement in distant lands.

Buildings and Improvements

Send an Explorer to a Dig Site

Civ 7 - Dig Site
Send them out to the Dig Sites to excavate and collect Artifacts for you. Have them travel towards Dig Sites, markerd with a Shovel icon on the map, and excavate the area. Excavating Ruins usually takes a few turns but after a while, you will be able to gain access to these items.

It's also possible that other Civilizations are gunning for these Artifacts, so make sure to have a lot of explorers spread out across the map to get the Artifacts first before anyone else.

Study Hegemony to Increase Artifact Count

Civ 7 - Hegemony Civic

The Hegemony Civic allows these Explorers to excavate Artifacts dating back to the Antiquity Age, increasing the number of collectable Artifacts.

List of Civics

Narrative Events

Civ 7 - Artifact Narrative Event

Artifacts are also obtained through Narrative Events. However, players will receive a decrease on Culture when obtaining Artifacts from them so be wary of adding to your collection this way.

Example of Alternate Narrative Event

Civ 7 - Artifact Narrative Event 2

Some Narrative Events can present the player with an Artifact without the decrease. Players can choose collecting an Artifact or another increase in another stat when presented with this opportunity.

City-State Suzerain Bonus

Civ 7 - Artifact Suzerain Bonus

When becoming a Suzerain to another City-State, players make select Antiquarianism as their Suzerain Bonus and collect an Artifact from said City-State, adding to their collection.

What Are Artifacts?

Historic Artifacts for Culture Victory

Civ 7 - Culture Victory

Artifacts are historic items that are collectable after having an Explorer studying Ruins. Players will have to display 15 Artifacts to achieve a Culture Victory.

Culture Victory Guide

Display Artifact in a University or Museum for Bonus Culture Yields

Civ 7 - Artifacts Display

Aside from being required to progress in the Culture Legacy Path, displaying the Artifact will provide a bonus yield of +4 Culture for your civilization.

Buildings and Improvements

What is the Difference Between Relics and Artifacts?

Exploration and Modern Age Culture Victory

Civ 7 - Relic Display
Relics are found during the Exploration Age and involves spreading your religion to foreign states to collect them while Artifacts involve sending out an NPC to dig up and study Artifacts in different places during the Modern Age.

Both action summons an NPC specific to the job, a Missionary and an Explorer and involves displaying them in specific buildings but involve different Ages and items to collect.

How to Get Relics

Civilization VII (Civ 7) Related Guides

Civ 7 Tips and Tricks

Beginner Tips and Tricks

All Recommended Guides

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How to Play Civ 7 Early Game Strategy Guide
The New Ages Diplomacy Guide
Best Science Mementos Best Military Mementos
Best Culture Mementos Ground Combat Guide
Naval Exploration and Combat Guide What Does Happiness Do
How to Win Wars -
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Where to Spend Influence? When to Incorporate City-States?
Can Scouts Auto Explore? Best Pantheon
Should You Rush Age Change? How to Incite Raid
How to Get Relics How to Get Artifacts
Fresh Water Tiles Why Can't You Build a Factory?
Distant Lands Revolutions
How to Get More Resource Slots Attribute Trees Guide
How to Get Tile Max Yield How to Found Religion and List of Beliefs
What is X Per Age? How to Defend and Conquer Cities
What is War Weariness and War Support? Zone of Control
How to Change the Capital Resource Map
Should You Melt or Construct Relic? Game Speed
Floods Natural Disasters
Best Map Seeds How to Force End Turn
Papyrus Problems Best Tech Research Order

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