Artifact (fantasy)
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In [[role-playing game]]s and [[fantasy fiction|fantasy]] literature, an '''artifact''' is a [[magic (paranormal)|magic]]al object with great power. Often, this power is so great that it cannot be duplicated by any known art allowed by the premises of the fantasy world, and often cannot be destroyed by ordinary means. Artifacts often serve as [[MacGuffin]]s, the central focus of [[quest]]s to locate, capture, or destroy them. The [[One Ring]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' is a typical artifact: it was alarmingly powerful, of ancient and obscure origin, and nearly indestructible.
==In fiction==
This interpretation may have arisen as an extension of the [[artifact (archaeology)|archaeological meaning]] of the word; fantasy artifacts are often the remains of earlier civilisations established by beings of great magical power (cf. many artifacts in [[H. P. Lovecraft|Lovecraft]]'s [[Cthulhu Mythos]], as well as the "[[Forgotten Realms]]" [[Dungeons & Dragons]] setting).{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Other examples include the [[Horcrux]]es in the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books by [[J. K. Rowling]]. These are Dark magical objects containing fragments of soul of certain Dark wizards in order to achieve immortality. The retrieval and destruction of Horcruxes of the series main antagonist, [[Lord Voldemort]], is a central plot in the last two books.
===In Dungeons & Dragons===
In [[Dungeons & Dragons]], artifacts are [[magic item]]s that either cannot be created by [[players]] or the secrets to their creation is not given. In any event, artifacts have no [[market price]] and have no [[hit points]] (that is, they are indestructible by normal spells). Artifacts typically have no inherent limit to how many times their power can be used, and if any limitations are placed on their powers, it is a number of uses per day or some cost involved with each use. Under strict rules, any artifact can theoretically be destroyed by the [[Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)|sorcerer]]/[[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|wizard]] [[Magic (gaming)|spell]] [[Mordenkainen's Disjunction]], but for the purposes of a campaign centered on destroying an artifact, a plot-related means of destruction is generally substituted. Artifacts in D&D are split into two categories. Minor artifacts are common, but they can no longer be created, whereas major artifacts are unique – only one of each item exists.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Cook
| first = Monte
| authorlink =
| title = Dungeon Master's Guide
| edition = v.3.5
| year = 2003
| month = July
| publisher = Wizards of the Coast
| location = Renton, WA
| language =
| pages = 277-280
}}</ref>
===In Magic: The Gathering===
In [[Magic: The Gathering]], artifacts are human-made objects of different degrees of power. While usually inanimate objects of some sort, they can sometimes be living creatures. There are very few artifacts that require a specific color of mana to use. One particular storyline of the game, [[Mirrodin]], is focused heavily on artifacts.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Fictional artifacts| ]]
[[Category:Fantasy tropes]]
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