World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth has a new artifact item called Heart of Azeroth. This is a medallion that goes into the necklace slot. Its function is similar to that of the artifact weapon in Legion, however, the mechanics are different. Players will use the artifact medallion throughout Battle for Azeroth. They will go back to the old weapon system.
Heart of Azeroth is available to all players who have the new expansion. They must also finish the Battle for Lordaeron quest. The new artifact has a leveling system based on the new resource called Azerite. The difference is that players won’t store Azerite in their bags like they did with artifact power. Whenever Azerite is available, the medallion will absorb it. When it levels up, it gains better stats. Azerite can be obtained in many ways. It is similar to the now retired artifact power. The artifact is used to boost the helmet, shoulder armor, and chest armor. The boosted items will have traits. A piece of equipment upgraded with Azerite will have three or four rings with traits. Players will be able to choose the desired traits by rotating the rings.
This is a new way to improve and to customize characters. The first ring has specialization traits. The second ring has traits that improve a character’s role. The third ring contains defensive abilities. The fourth ring increases the item level. Not all armors have a fourth ring. To get armors with four rings, players will need to defeat raid bosses. The Azerite upgraded helmet, shoulders, and chest armors have only primary stats. They also support enchants while the artifact doesn’t. These pieces of armor will have certain powers. There will be different item level versions. This allows players to upgrade their gear by obtaining the higher item level version of an item who has beneficial powers. Players can get these items from PvE and PvP activities. They will drop from raids, mythic+ chest, world bosses, and quests.