Artifact

artifact –
A card type representing a rare object with special powers. Artifacts must be seeded during the dilemma phase, under planet missions only, unless a card allows or requires seeding at a space mission, and you may seed only one artifact under each mission unless otherwise specified. See mis-seeds
A seeded artifact is earned when the mission is completed, not when the artifact is encountered. (The Borg must complete an objective that allowed scouting a location before the Survey Drone can acquire any artifacts seeded at that location.) “Earned” is synonymous with “acquired.” Cards seeded like artifacts are earned or acquired in the same way as artifacts. See scouting
Artifacts cannot be used until they have been earned, for example:
*by completing the mission (or, with the Survey Drone, a Borg objective which allowed scouting that location);
*with a card such as The Charybdis or HQ: Return Orb to Bajor; or
*with a card that allows an artifact to be earned without seeding, such as Reclamation or Starry Night.
An artifact may be downloaded only by a card that specifically downloads artifacts (e.g. Secret Compartment) or that has a special download icon for a named artifact (e.g., James Tiberius Kirk for Tantalus Field). For example, Bareil may not download a Varon-T Disruptor. When a card specifically downloads an artifact, that artifact is earned.
If an artifact leaves play, it cannot be brought back into play unless it is earned again (for example, by re-seeding under Q’s Planet and completing that mission, or with one of the cards listed above).
See Masaka Transformations
An artifact that is “used as equipment” joins your crew or Away Team when earned; some artifacts are placed in your hand to play later; and others are resolved immediately, according to their game text.
When you acquire multiple artifacts or cards seeded like artifacts at a single mission, you may generally resolve them in any order you choose. For example, if you acquire your opponent’s Magic Carpet Ride OCD and your own Varon-T Disruptor, you may choose to have the Varon-T Disruptor join your Away Team before your opponent may relocate your ship and Away Team. However, if two copies of a non-duplicatable card are earned, the first one encountered is acquired and the second copy is discarded. For example, if both you and your opponent seed a copy of Ressikan Flute under a mission, you acquire only the first copy encountered and discard the second. (This also applies if you acquire another instance of a persona which you already have in play, or a Borg counterpart when you already have a counterpart in your collective.)