War and Order Artifact Tier List 2026: What to Equip, What to Salvage

Welcome back, Lords and Ladies! If you are reading this, you are likely staring at your Altar, wondering which shiny piece of ancient gear is actually worth the grind. With 2026 in full swing, the meta has settled, and the battlefield is as brutal as ever.

In this guide, we are cutting through the noise. I have analyzed the raw stats, tested the synergies, and scoured the war councils to bring you the definitive War and Order Artifact Tier List.

Whether you are a F2P grinder or a heavy spender, we are ranking the artifacts from "Must-Have (S-Tier)" to "Salvage Fodder (D-Tier)."

Understanding Artifacts in 2026

Before we dive into the rankings, let’s ensure we are on the same page. Artifacts are not just passive stat sticks; they are the backbone of your military might.

- How to Get Them: You need 20 fragments to forge an artifact. You primarily get these via Mystic Conjuring at the Altar, events like Monster Swarm, and the occasional value pack .

- How to Upgrade: Once forged, you Fortify (using Artifact XP) to increase base stats and Refine (using extra fragments) to increase Star Levels, unlocking percentage-based bonuses .

- The Array: You can equip five artifacts at once. The secret to winning isn't just having one S-tier item; it’s about stacking five that synergize with your troop composition.

 

The 2026 Artifact Tier List

Here is the ranking. I have separated the Legendary (Orange) from the Epic (Purple) , but the tiers reflect overall value in the late game.

S-Tier

These artifacts define the meta. If you see them, grab them.

1. Brionac

- Tier: S

- Best For: Mages

- Why: This is the absolute best artifact for Mage mains. The stat boosts are massive, but the Artifact Skill is the real killer: "When attacking Lords, use Magic Piercing Gunslinger to attack 6 enemy targets." This is a devastating heavy strike that decimates backline troops. If you run Mages, this is non-negotiable.

2. Apollo’s Bow

- Tier: S

- Best For: Archers / Kev

- Why: With the meta shifting toward Cavalry front lines, the "increased damage vs. Cavalry" on this bow is invaluable. It provides massive Archer attack stats and the skill synergizes perfectly with high-damage archer burst builds.

3. Heavenly Spear

- Tier: S

- Best For: Archers

- Why: A must-have for Archer mains. It is purely focused on boosting Archer stats (unlike mixed artifacts). If you are an Archer player, prioritize this and Apollo's Bow to fill your array.

4. Artasis

- Tier: S

- Best For: Infantry/Mage Hybrid

- Why: In the current 2026 meta, countering the Archer/Cavalry meta is key. Artasis provides incredible Infantry Defense and HP, specifically designed to outlast the burst damage of Archers (Kev builds). The synergy star boost here is top-tier.

5. Quanjang Moye

- Tier: S (for Infantry)

- Best For: Infantry, specifically starters and mid-game.

- Why: While it is a starter artifact, it remains S-tier for Infantry players until they hit very late game. It is easy to obtain via events and provides a strong Infantry-specific boost. It is the most reliable way to buff your front line before you replace it with niche relics .

A-Tier

Strong picks that fit into most builds. You will not regret leveling these.

1. Golden Armor

- Tier: A

- Best For: Cavalry (Endgame)

- Why: It is borderline S-Tier. The artifact skill reduces damage to your castle by 5%, which is great for defense, but the offensive stats keep it in A. A solid endgame Cavalry item.

2. Curtana

- Tier: A

- Best For: Archers

- Why: This is the versatile archer artifact. Unlike others that lock you into one troop type, this provides non-specific Attack and HP boosts, with a minor Cavalry attack bonus. It fits into almost any offensive setup.

3. Mia

- Tier: A

- Best For: Mages (Mid-game)

- Why: Works great until the mid-game. Since most players use Infantry frontlines, Mia’s mage bonuses shred through them efficiently. It is not as flashy as Brionac, but it is highly usable.

4. Li

- Tier: A

- Best For: Whales/Spenders

- Why: The stat boosts are incredible, but the downside is availability. You generally have to spend to get this. If you have it, use it. If not, don't stress.

5. Book of Trolls (Epic)

- Tier: A (Utility)

- Best For: Everyone (Early to Late game)

- Why: This is the best Epic artifact bar none. It focuses on Research and Building speed. It won't help you win a fight directly, but it saves you thousands of speed-ups over the course of the game. Keep this equipped in your 5th slot when not fighting.

B-Tier

Good for filling slots or specific niches, but outclassed by higher tiers.

1. Excalibur

- Tier: B

- Best For: General boost

- Why: It has Cavalry attack and Army Size, which is great, but it gets dragged down by mixed Infantry attack stats. It is an "okay" filler artifact.

2. Boots of Speed

- Tier: B

- Best For: Beginners

- Why: The recruitment speed bonus is vital for keeping your troops trained while you sleep. However, in a direct fight, it offers very little. Swap this out for real combat gear later .

3. Muramasa / Shu

- Tier: B

- Best For: Beginners (Archers)

- Why: Solid starter archer artifacts. They get you through the early levels (1-25), but you will want to replace them with Cortana or Apollo's Bow as soon as possible.

D-Tier

Avoid investing resources here. Use the fragments as XP or just hold them for collection purposes.

1. Eye of Horus

- Tier: D

- Why: The stats are "mixed" in the worst way possible. It tries to do everything and fails at all of it. In a game of min-maxing, this is a liability .

2. Cup of Yum / Nikro Nomicon

- Tier: D

- Why: These are Golem-specific. Unless the meta drastically shifts to Golems (which it hasn't for years), these are useless. Avoid at all costs.

3. Holy Robe / Magic Lamp

- Tier: D

- Why: These are Angel-specific. They are far too niche. Other artifacts provide better global buffs. Unless you are running a full Angel meme build, don't touch these.

 

How to Build Your Array (Synergy Guide)

You cannot just equip the top 5 artifacts on this list. You need synergy.

1. The "Meta" Build (Archer/Cavalry):

- Core: Apollo’s Bow + Heavenly Spear.

- Fill: Kitat (Cortana) + Golden Armor.

- Flex: Book of Trolls (for growth) or Excalibur (for army size).

2. The "Anti-Meta" Build (Infantry/Mage):

- Core: Artasis + Brionac.

- Fill: Gyang Moy + Mia.

- Flex: Book of Trolls.

3. The F2P Friendly Build:

- Focus on Gyang Moy and Book of Trolls first. These are easy to obtain via Monster Swarm and events .

- Use Aspis (Infantry) or Dural (Archers) to fill the gaps until you get Legendaries.

 

FAQ

Q: Should I refine (star up) a B-tier artifact just for the stats?

A: No. Save your fragments. Refining requires specific fragments of that artifact. Once you stop using that artifact, those fragments are wasted. Focus on S/A tier items.

Q: I have a Legendary and an Epic. Always use the Legendary?

A: Not always. A maxed-out (5-star) Epic like the Book of Trolls is often better than a 1-star Legendary like the Holy Robe. Level up what you can max out.

Q: What is the best way to get fragments?

A: Mystic Conjure with Gold Coins. Also, make sure you are doing your 50 Monster Swarm kills every week in Rallies. You cannot solo them; you need at least 2 participants, but 5 is the max .

 

Final Verdict

The 2026 meta is all about specialization. The days of "jack-of-all-trades" builds are dead.

- Archers = Apollo + Heavenly Spear.

- Mages = Brionac + Artasis.

- Infantry = Gyang Moy (into Artasis).

- F2P = Book of Trolls (Utility) + Gyang Moy (Combat).

Focus your resources on the S-Tier artifacts. Do not waste Gold Coins on Conjuring for D-Tier items like the Eye of Horus. Be smart, grind those Monster Swarm rallies, and I will see you on the battlefield.

What do you think? Did I rate the Angel Sword too low? Let me know in the comments below!

Don't forget to check the link in the description to download War and Order if you haven't already, and subscribe for more 2026 guides.