CONTROL Resonant Best Artifacts Guide

Buildcrafting Updated Oct 31, 2026

Quick answer

CONTROL Resonant Artifacts are powerful equippable gear pieces that grant game-changing passive modifiers, conditional stat multipliers, and utility perks. Artifacts are crafted at The Gap hub using Untapped material drops found across Manhattan. You can equip up to 3 artifacts simultaneously (4 in New Game Plus). However, artifacts belonging to the same item family cannot be equipped together. Choosing the best artifacts depends on whether you prioritize defensive sustain while learning mechanics or raw Combat Ability burst damage once your Perfect Dodge timing is dialed in.

For complete character build synergy, pair your artifact loadouts with our best builds guide.

Top-tier best artifacts in CONTROL Resonant

Brass Dusters: Increases raw Combat Ability damage by +50%, but removes all Filter/Falter stagger generation from ability hits. Ideal for burst builds that already rely on heavy Aberrant strikes for staggering. Crafting recipe requires Untapped drops from New Growth.
Pickpocket’s Tool: Executing a Perfect Dodge makes your next Combat Ability cost zero Power. Outstanding default choice for aggressive playstyles (obtained as a pre-order Untapped common or early drop).
Heart Monitor: Prevents lethal damage once per combat encounter, destroying itself to instantly restore ~20% Max HP. The ultimate safety net artifact for tackling difficult bosses or high-level Resonant fights.
Trusted Spanner: Grants flat raw melee and physical damage increases across all Aberrant forms. Awarded upon completing the Every Dog quest line.
Untapped Coffee Cup: Significantly speeds up Power meter regeneration while stationary or during cover. Rewarded upon completing all 7 taxi locations in The Last Taxi quest.
Worn Eraser: Provides high status effect resistance against Burn, Mold, and Hiss corruption zones. Vital when fighting bosses like The Collective.
1996 Commemorative Coin: Health Elements dropped by enemies restore 35% more HP upon pickup. Essential for long horde survival encounters.
Untapped Fork: Boosts telekinetic throw velocity and damage. Awarded after turning in all 7 zone Map Kits (Map Kits Guide).

Recommended artifact loadout combinations

1. Survivor / Beginner Loadout (Maximum Sustain)

Combines Heart Monitor + Worn Eraser + 1996 Commemorative Coin. Perfect for new players progressing through early campaign acts. Prevents accidental deaths, reduces status dot damage, and maximizes health recovery drops during boss fights.

2. Ability Burst / Perfect Dodge Loadout (High Damage)

Combines Brass Dusters + Pickpocket’s Tool + Trusted Spanner. Designed for experienced players. Perfect Dodges refund ability costs, allowing you to instantly trigger +50% boosted Barrage or Ignite attacks without spending Power.

3. Mold / Zone Hazard Loadout (Utility)

Combines Worn Eraser + Untapped Coffee Cup + Untapped Fork. Ideal for clearing high-corruption sectors like The Park or Underpass Mold zones without suffering environmental debuffs.

Artifact slot mechanics & upgrade materials

When crafting artifacts at The Gap hub, understanding material costs and slot restrictions helps you optimize your build efficiently across your campaign playthrough:

Slot System Limits: You begin the game with 1 active artifact slot unlocked. Reaching major story milestones during Contain the Crisis unlocks the 2nd and 3rd slots. The 4th slot is reserved strictly for New Game Plus mode.
Family Exclusivity Rules: Artifacts belong to specific item families (such as Combat Ability Boosters, Survival Badges, or Movement Rings). Equipping two artifacts from the same family is prohibited to prevent game-breaking stat stacking.
Material Costs: Base level artifacts require standard Untapped drops and Source currency. Upgrading artifacts to Tier 2 and Tier 3 requires rare Ordered Image and Patterned Thought materials, which spawn predominantly inside high-level threshold zones and during Unknown exploration (Patterned Thought Farming Guide).

You unlock artifact recipes by collecting their corresponding Untapped base drops in the open world, from quest turn-ins, or from Resonant boss victories:

Quest & Story Rewards: Coffee Cup (Taxi quest), Trusted Spanner (Dog quest), Untapped Fork (Map Kits completion).
Resonant Boss Drops: High-tier recipes like Golden Earrings drop directly after defeating Resonants like The Physicist.
Crafting Materials: Late-game artifact upgrades require **Ordered Image** and **Patterned Thought** materials farmed in the Unknown zone (Patterned Thought Farming Guide).

Frequently asked questions

Where do I craft and upgrade my artifacts?
You craft and equip artifacts at the upgrade workbench inside The Gap hub.

Can I equip two artifacts from the same family?
No. Duplicate family pieces (such as two variations of the Pickpocket’s Tool) cannot be equipped simultaneously in your 3 active slots.

Are crafted artifacts permanent?
Yes. Once crafted, artifacts remain in your inventory permanently and can be swapped freely at any Gap workbench or Control Point without losing materials.

How do I unlock the 4th artifact slot?
The 4th artifact slot automatically unlocks upon completing the main story and starting New Game Plus.

Sources & further reading

Developer: Remedy Entertainment · Official hub: control-resonant.com · Series context: Control (video game) · Walkthrough / trophy cross-checks: PowerPyx.