Players always spawn as a random survivor. Every new stage brings a different survivor. All items and equipment carry over - your build accumulates normally. Skill-unlocking challenges reset on each survivor change. The artifact is excluded from Prismatic Trials. The trial itself permanently transforms you into a random survivor for the rest of the run, not just during the trial.
Challenges
Reset each stage
Alternates
Not on alt Titanic Plains
Code and Location
Code Pattern
♦■●
♦■●
♦■●
All three rows identical: Diamond - Square - Circle
Code Location: Titanic Plains
On one of the stone arches visible in the distance. Only present on the primary version of Titanic Plains - the alternate version does not have the tablet.
How It Works
New survivor each stage. At the start of every stage a random survivor is assigned. The change happens between stages, never mid-stage.
All items and equipment carry over. Your full inventory transfers to every new survivor. A build accumulated over 4 stages belongs to whoever you roll next.
Skill-unlocking challenges reset. Any in-progress survivor challenge (e.g. killing X enemies as Huntress) resets when you change to a new survivor. Completed challenges are not affected.
Excluded from Prismatic Trials. Metamorphosis cannot be active during a Prismatic Trial. Patched out by devs since changing survivors in a scored time-trial was too disruptive.
Heretic interaction. Holding all 4 Heresy items with Metamorphosis causes you to spawn as a random survivor with all four Heresy skills. You transform into the Heretic mid-stage on any item pickup or loss. Cleansing Pool removes a Heresy item and reverts you to the base survivor.
Trial is permanent. Entering the Metamorphosis trial in Bulwark's Ambry changes your survivor for the rest of the run - not just inside the trial. Plan accordingly.
Build Universal, Not Survivor-Specific
Survivor-specific item synergies (REX plant items, Artificer Gestures etc.) are wasted the moment you change survivors. Stack proc items, movement speed, crit, and attack speed - these work on every survivor in the game.
Best Items for Metamorphosis Runs
Ukulele
Universal proc item - works identically on every survivor. No build waste when your character changes each stage.
Tougher Times
15% block chance is survivor-agnostic. Equally valuable on Commando or Mercenary. Stack aggressively with Metamorphosis.
Hopoo Feather
Extra air jump works on every survivor. Removes the mobility gap between high and low mobility characters you might roll.
Dio's Best Friend
With Metamorphosis active, dying with Dio's revives you as a new random survivor. Functions as an extra life plus a reroll.
ATG Missile Mk. 1
Proc-based damage boost that scales regardless of which survivor you roll. Every 10th hit triggers the missile.
Soldier's Syringe
Attack speed boosts every survivor's DPS. Particularly valuable when you roll a slow-hitting survivor like REX.
Best Combos
Metamorphosis + Command
Choose every item to build universally - proc items, crit, attack speed. Items that work on all survivors prevent build waste when you change characters each stage.
Metamorphosis + Sacrifice
Items from kills accumulate regardless of which survivor you are. Your build grows each stage even as your playstyle changes completely.
Metamorphosis + Enigma
Random survivor AND random equipment every stage. Double RNG - your entire play style shifts every stage. Only for players who know every survivor and equipment in the game.
Metamorphosis + Glass
5x damage on a random survivor each stage. Some survivors thrive with Glass (Mercenary, Artificer), others are dangerous to play at 10% HP. High variance.
Metamorphosis alone
Fun variety modifier. Items carry between stages so your build still grows. Universal items (proc items, movement) work across all survivors. Good for learning the roster.
Metamorphosis + Evolution
Monsters gain items each stage while you change survivors. Your build grows but so does enemy difficulty. Adapting to a new survivor while enemies grow stronger is very hard.
Tips
Know every survivor. Metamorphosis is best enjoyed when you're comfortable with all characters. Getting REX with no plant-specific items or Heretic at a bad time requires knowing how to adapt on the fly.
Proc chains work on everyone. Ukulele, AtG Missile, Gasoline, Will-o'-the-Wisp, Ceremonial Dagger - all of these proc off any hit regardless of survivor. Stack them early for a build that never goes to waste.
Alternate Titanic Plains has no tablet. If you reach the alternate version and can't find the code, it's not there. Wait for the primary version.
Dio's is a reroll as well as an extra life. With Metamorphosis active, dying with Dio's revives you as a new random survivor. Use it deliberately to fish for a better roll if your current survivor is weak with your build.
Avoid skill-specific unlocks during Metamorphosis runs. Skill challenges reset every stage change. Don't start a multi-kill challenge unless you can complete it on the current stage before moving on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Artifact of Metamorphosis do in Risk of Rain 2?
The Artifact of Metamorphosis makes players spawn as a random survivor at the start of each new stage. All items and equipment are kept when changing survivors. Skill-unlocking challenges reset when a new survivor is chosen. The artifact has no effect in Prismatic Trials and is excluded from that mode entirely.
What is the Artifact of Metamorphosis code?
The Artifact of Metamorphosis code is ♦■● ♦■● ♦■● - all three rows are Diamond-Square-Circle, making a vertical stripe pattern. The code tablet is on Titanic Plains, on one of the stone arches in the distance. Note it only appears on the primary Titanic Plains, not the alternate version.
Do you keep your items with Artifact of Metamorphosis?
Yes. All items and equipment carry over when your survivor changes between stages. Your build accumulates normally throughout the run. The only thing that changes is which survivor body and abilities you use. This makes universal items (proc items, movement speed, crit) much more valuable than survivor-specific builds.
How does the Heretic work with Artifact of Metamorphosis?
Holding all four Heresy items with Metamorphosis active causes you to spawn as a random survivor at each new stage, but with all four Heresy abilities. The player then transforms into the Heretic mid-stage after obtaining or losing any item. Using a Cleansing Pool to remove a Heresy item reverts you to the regular survivor you spawned as.
Is Artifact of Metamorphosis in Prismatic Trials?
No. Metamorphosis was explicitly removed from Prismatic Trials. It cannot be one of the random artifacts active during a Prismatic Trial run. The developers patched this out because a changing survivor in a scored time-trial mode was too disruptive.
What happens when you enter the Trial of Metamorphosis?
Entering Bulwark's Ambry for the Metamorphosis trial transforms each player into a random survivor immediately. That survivor stays for the rest of the run after the trial, not just during it. This is different from most trials where the artifact effect only applies inside the Ambry.
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