OGame Artefacts: Collecting, Using and Maximising

What are artefacts in OGame?

Artefacts are a special resource introduced with the Lifeforms update. They serve exclusively as currency for lifeforms research — without artefacts, the lifeforms system can hardly be developed. Unlike metal, crystal and deuterium, artefacts can neither be traded nor produced by buildings. The only way to obtain artefacts is through expeditions.

This makes artefacts one of the most exclusive resources in OGame. Players who regularly conduct expeditions have a clear structural advantage over purely stationary opponents — the lifeforms system directly rewards active players.

The three artefact sizes

The further you progress in the lifeforms system, the more large artefacts you need. This is the natural bottleneck of lifeforms development: initially small artefacts are easily sufficient, later the demand for large artefacts becomes a challenge.

Collecting artefacts through expeditions

Expeditions are the only way to obtain artefacts. However, not every expedition yields artefacts. They are one possible result alongside resources, ships, dark matter and negative events like pirate attacks or black holes.

Factors that influence your artefact yield

• Expedition fleet strength: Larger fleets increase the chance of bigger finds
• Discoverer class: Provides direct bonus to all expedition results including artefacts
• Kaelesh lifeforms: Additionally increases artefact find chance and quantity
• Pathfinder: The Discoverer-exclusive ship improves expedition results
• Number of expeditions: More simultaneous expeditions = more artefact chances

The optimal expedition fleet for artefacts

For artefact-focused expeditions, a mixed fleet of fast ships and sufficient cargo capacity is recommended. The goal is maximum expedition frequency with sufficient fleet power for good finds.

Proven expedition fleet composition

• Pathfinder (if Discoverer class): essential for expedition bonus
• Large Cargo Ships: for resource finds — also improve artefact capacity
• Light Fighters: as filler mass for expedition value
• Espionage Probes: for quick expeditions to nearby systems

The expedition value is calculated from the total strength of the sent fleet. Higher values increase the chance of medium and large artefacts.

Using artefacts efficiently

The most common mistake in handling artefacts is unstructured spending. Players who immediately put every available artefact into the next technology without a plan lose strategic overview. A prioritised spending plan is better:

1. First develop lifeforms population buildings sufficiently
2. Then research technologies with the highest bonus-per-artefact value first
3. Save large artefacts until the corresponding technology levels are reachable
4. Never spend all artefacts — always keep a buffer for events and expedition events

Artefacts during events

During expedition events (regular OGame events with improved expedition results), artefact yield increases significantly. Events are the best time to accumulate large quantities of artefacts — especially large artefacts that are otherwise rare. Plan your lifeforms upgrades consciously around events: save artefacts before the event, run maximum expeditions during the event, then invest the accumulated resources into research afterwards.