Improved Skyrim Artifacts (ISA) is a very basic and simple mod that attempts to make many of the artifacts more viable for higher level characters/later stages of gameplay by buffing them without making them too overpowered nor lore-unfriendly. While some mods may give artifacts strong enchantments, Improved Skyrim Artifacts aims to give artifacts vanilla-level enchantments that are unique so that they cannot be truly outclassed by player-enchanted items because they are distinctive. For example, health enchantments on a helmet or three to four types of enchantments on one item or artifact weapons having better stats (damage, attack speed, etc) than their non-artifact counterparts.

Admittedly, I'm not experienced at modding and this is my first mod. This was originally a personal edit, however I want to share it for those who do not know how to personally mod their game.

Requirements
Nothing except Skyrim version 1.9+ for the main file, however you will obviously need the official DLC for respective DLC files.

Installing
Install using mod manager of your choice (NMM, MO, etc) or unzip the contents of this mod into your Skyrim Data folder. Then activate the Improved Skyrim Artifacts esp/plugin files.

Updating
Deactivate older Improved Skyrim Artifacts esp/plugin file(s), then delete them. Then install new version of Improved Skyrim Artifact.

Uninstalling
Deactivate Improved Skyrim Artifacts esp/plugin file(s), then delete them. Simple as that.

Incompatibilities
There should not be any incompatibilities with most mods, however this mod will obviously conflict with any mod that also modifies the items that are modified by Improved Skyrim Artifacts.

Recommended Mods
I highly recommend using this mod (or any mod actually) with the Unofficial Skyrim Patch and its complementary DLC counterparts. I based much of my changes around the Unofficial Patches (such as the Unofficial Patch’s fix for allowing the improvement of the Masque of Clavicus Vile and Wuuthrad through smithing).

Loot and Degradation by isoku is another great mod that not only adds a degradation system to Skyrim and gives NPCs improved (via smithing) and sometimes magical/enchanted gear, it also allows you to pay blacksmiths to improve your armors and weapons (although only Eorlund Graymane can improve artifacts).

Some visual mods that I personally use and recommend are aMidianBorn's Book of Silence, Unique Uniques, and Unique Weapons Redone, these mods enhance the visuals of artifacts and have high quality textures (and models).

Future Plans
More or less done with Dawnguard and Dragonborn artifacts, might start changing a few "unqiue items" from vanilla Skyrim that I feel were severly under-powered such as the Ancient Shrouded Armor. Suggestions are welcomed, but keep in mind I’m not an advanced modder, and I wish to keep the effects of these artifacts within vanilla-level effects.

Changes/Modifications
Notes
*Items and changes in blue text are projected modifications that have not been implemented yet and are subject to change.
*Base prices that are stated here are not the exact prices, the prices of these items are also affected by their enchantments.

Dragon Priest Masks

General :
• Masks have a tier system based on the material that the mask is made from. Lowest tier heavy mask is Hevonraak (Iron) while highest tier heavy mask is Nahkrim (Ebony). Lowest tier light mask is Krosis (Bronze) and highest tier light mask is Otar (Glass). Overall, the masks now have slightly less defence than their vanilla defence rate of 23, but are still mostly superior to standard vanilla helmets.
• Prices adjusted based on tier and material. Lower tier/material masks will cost less; for example, Nahkrim (ebony mask) will cost more than Morokei (moonstone mask) and Otar (glass/marble mask) will cost more than Hevnoraak (iron mask).
• Most masks (aside from Konahrik) no longer use the Daedric Smithing perk for improvements, instead they are based on the mask’s material. For example, Vokun (steel mask) requires a steel ingot to improve and is affected by steel smithing perks.
• Heavy masks generally have more defence than light masks but are heavier. Dragonborn Acolyte Masks (unarmored) are even lighter than light masks.

Hevnoraak :
• Defence Rating decreased from 23 to 20.
• Also increases Health by 50 alongside its vanilla enchantment of 100% Disease and Poison Resist.
• Now has Iron material keyword thus benefits from Iron Smithing perk(s).

Konahrik :
• Defence Rating increased from 24 to 25.

Krosis :
• Defence Rating decreased from 21 to 15.
• Krosis now has Archery and Pickpocketing bonuses of 40% instead of the vanilla enchantment of Archery and Lockpicking bonuses of 20%, Krosis still provides 20% buff to created potions.
• Now has Iron material keyword thus benefits from Iron Smithing perk(s).

Morokei :
• Defence Rating increased from 5 to 16.
• Weight increased from 4 to 5.
• Fixed enchantment glitch, now properly gives 100% Magicka Regen and 20% shout cooldown reduction.
• Also increases Magicka by 50 alongside its vanilla enchantments.
• Now has Elven material keyword thus benefits from Elven Smithing perk(s).

Nahkrinn :
• Provides 15% Magic Resist instead of its vanilla bonus of 50 Magicka. Moreover, Nahkrinn's vanilla enchantment of making Destruction and Restoration spells cost 20% less has been increased to 25%.
• Now has Ebony material keyword thus benefits from Ebony Smithing perk(s).

Otar :
• Now light armor rather than heavy to balance light and heavy Dragon Priest Mask distribution.
• Defence Rating decreased from 23 to 18.
• Weight decreased from 9 to 5.
• Increased Fire, Ice, and Shock Resists from 30% to 40%.
• Now has Glass material keyword thus benefits from Glass Smithing perk(s).

Rahgot :
• Defence Rating decreased from 23 to 22.
• Rahgot now provides an increase of 100 Stamina, and 25% Health and Stamina Regen instead of its vanilla enchantment of providing 70 Stamina.
• Now has Orcish material keyword thus benefits from Orcish Smithing perk(s).

Vokun :
• Defence Rating decreased from 23 to 21.
• Vokun enchantment changed to increasing One-handed and Two-handed weapon damage by 40%, and 20% shout cooldown reduction.
• Now has Steel material keyword thus benefits from Steel Smithing perk(s).

Volsung :
• Defence Rating decreased from 21 to 17.
• Barter and Carry Weight enchantments removed, changed to Stamina bonus of a 50 and 20% Sneaking bonus. Volsung still has its vanilla Water Breathing enchantment. Changed Volsung to be better suited for combat since the Masque of Clavicus Vile already increases bartering.
• Now has Scaled material keyword thus benefits from Scaled Smithing perk(s).

Daedric Artifacts

Armors
Ebony Mail :
• Poison Cloak enchantment increased from 5 to 15 damage.

Masque of Clavicus Vile :
• Speechcraft bonus (Fortify Persuasion) increased from 10 to 30.
• Fortify barter decreased from 20% to 15%.
• Magic Regen rate increased from 5% to 50%.
• Now also increases Health Regen by 25%.
• Weight increased from 7 to 9.
• Now has Daedric material keyword thus benefits from Daedric Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 150 to 2200.

Ring of Namira :
• Provides passive 50 extra points of Health and 10% Magic Resist alongside its vanilla enchantment of granting 50 points of Stamina. This Health bonus increases to 100 after feasting.
• Base price increased from 500 to 2000.

Saviour's Hide :
• Stats have been increased to be slightly worst than Glass Armor.
• Defence Rating increased from 26 to 37.
• Magic Resist increased from 15% to 40%.
• Now has Scale material keyword thus benefits from Advanced Armors Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 2000 to 2100.

Spellbreaker :
• Defence Rating decreased from 38 to 35.
• Spellbreaker's ward magnitude increased from 50 to 100.
• Now also provides passive 15% Magic Resist aside from its vanilla warding ability.
• Now has Dwarven material keyword thus benefits from Dwarven Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 225 to 3200.

Weapons and Staves
Dawnbreaker :
• Stats have been increased to match a Daedric Sword.
• Damage Rating increased from 12 to 14.
• Stagger increased from 0.75 to 0.85.
• Weight increased from 10 to 13.
• Fire damage increased from 10 to 50.
• Increased enchantment charges from 5000 to 6000.
• Now has Daedric material keyword thus benefits from Daedric Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 10 to 2000.

Ebony Blade :
• Damage Rating increased from 22 to 23.
• Weight increased from 10 to 12 (Unofficial Patch fix).
• Base price increased from 2000 to 4000.

Mace of Molag Bal :
• Attack speed increased from 0.8 to 0.85.
• Enchantment changed to absorbing 20 points of Health and Stamina, while doing 20 Magicka damage instead of its vanilla enchantment of damaging Magicka and Stamina by 25. Still has 3 second soul trap enchantment.
• Increased enchantment charges from 3000 to 6000.
• Now has Daedric material keyword thus benefits from Daedric Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 210 to 2300.

Mehrunes' Razor :
• Damage Rating increased from 11 to 14. Note that this Damage Rating makes the Mehrunes' Razor the highest damage dagger-type weapon (same damage as a Daedric Sword) in the vanilla game to reflect its Daedric Artifact status.
• Critical damage increased from 6 to 7.
• Now has Daedric material keyword thus benefits from Daedric Smithing perk(s).
• Base prince increased from 500 to 3000.

Sanguine Rose :
• Increased enchantment charges from 3000 to 6000.
• Base price increased from 5 to 1700.

Skull of Corruption :
• Increased enchantment charges from 3000 to 6000.
• Base price increased from 1000 to 2200.

The Rueful Axe :
• Damage Rating increased from 22 to 32. Note that this Damage Rating makes the Rueful Axe the highest damage two-handed weapon in the vanilla game to balance out its slow attack speed (it is slower than Warhammers) and reflect on the comment that the axe “looks sharp enough to cut through a god.”
• Critical damage increased from 11 to 16.
• Weight increased from 10 to 32.
• Stamina damage enchantment increased from 20 to 100.
• Increased enchantment charges from 3000 to 6000.
• Now has Daedric material keyword thus benefits from Daedric Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 500 to 1500.

Volendrung :
• Critical damage no longer 0, increased to 12.
• Now absorbs 10 Health alongside its vanilla enchantment of absorbing 50 Stamina.
• Increased enchantment charges from 3000 to 6000.
• Now has Dwarven material keyword thus benefits from Dwarven Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 450 to 2075.

Wabbajack :
• Increased enchantment charges from 3000 to 6000.
• Base price increased from 5 to 1900.

Miscellaneous Artifacts

Armors
Ancient Shrouded Armor :
• Now has a Sneak bonus by 25% alongside its vanilla enchantment of 100% Poison Resist.

Ancient Shrouded Boots :
• Defense Rating decreased from 12 to 11.
• Now has a Sneak bonus by 25% alongside its vanilla enchantment of 0.5 Muffle.

Ancient Shrouded Cowl :
• Archery bonus of 35% increased to 45%.

Ancient Shrouded Gloves :
• Defense Rating decreased from 12 to 11.
• Now has One-Handed bonus of 35% alongside its vanilla enchantment of doubling sneak attack damage by one-handed weapons.

Helm of Yngol :
• Increases Health by 30 now alongside its Frost Resistance enchantment.
• Base price increased from 165 to 575.

Necromancer Amulet :
• Magicka bonus increased from 50 to 75.
• Fortify Conjuration increased from 25% to 30%.
• Also has Magicka Regen rate increase of 75% alongside its other effects.

Nightingale Armor :
• Buffed enchantments, the highest level version of the armor now has a Stamina bonus of 50 and 50% Frost Resist.
• Weight decreased from 12 to 9.

Nightingale Boots :
• Muffle effect decreased from 35 to 0.75 (Unofficial Patch fix).
• Added Stamina Regen effect, the highest level version of the boots gives 30% Stamina Regen.

Nightingale Gloves :
• Buffed enchantments, the highest level version of the gloves has Lockpicking and One-Handed bonus of 30%.

Nightingale Hood :
• Now decreases the cost of both Alteration and Illusion spells. The highest level version of the hood makes both Alteration and Illusion spells cost 15% less.

Shield of Ysgramor :
• Defence Rating increased from 30 to 31.
• Health bonus increased from 20 to 40.
• Now has Ebony material keyword thus benefits from Ebony Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 1000 to 1250.

The Gauldur Amulet :
• Health, Magicka, and Stamina bonus increased from 30 to 50. Each fragment of the amulet has also been changed to reflect this increase.

Robes
Archmage Robes :
• Increased all spell cost reduction from 15% to 20% and increased Magicka Regen rate from 100% to 125%.
• Hooded version of the Archmage Robes Magicka bonus increased from 50 to 60.

Weapons and Staves
Staff of Magnus :
• Increased absorb enchantment multitude from 20 to 50.
• Increased enchantment charges from 5000 to 9000.
• Base price increased from 5 to 3000.

Wuuthrad :
• Damage Rating increased from 25 to 27.
• Critical damage no longer 0, increased to 13.
• Now has Ebony material keyword thus benefits from Ebony Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 2000 to 3000.

Miscellaneous

Nightweaver's Band :
• Fortify Destruction and Sneak increased from 10% to 15%.

Savos Aren's Amulet :
• Increases Magicka Regen by 50% alongside its vanilla effect of increasing Magicka by 50.

Thalmor Mage Robes :
• Unhooded version Destruction bonus increased from 12% to 20%. Hooded version of the Thalmor Mage Robes also provides 100% extra Magicka Regen rate. Personally felt that Thalmor Mage Robes were a little too weak.

Dawnguard DLC Artifacts

Auriel's Bow :
• Damage Rating increased from 13 to 14.
• Critical damage decreased from 13 to 7 to put it more in line with vanilla critical damage amounts (usually half of the base damage).
• Base price increased from 1000 to 2500.

Auriel's Shield :
• Defence Rating increased from 32 to 36.
• Base price increased from 750 to 2500.

Harkon's Sword :
• Damage Rating increased from 8 to 12.
• Critical damage increased from 4 to 6.
• Now has Steel material keyword thus benefits from Steel Smithing perk(s).
• Base price increased from 75 to 750.

Locket of Saint Jiub :
• Increased Stamina enchantment from 50 to 100.

Dragonborn DLC Artifacts

Acolyte Dragon Priest Masks (Ahzidal, Dukaan, and Zahkriisos) :
• Changed to clothing to allow better synergy for clothing magic users using Mage Armor or other such perks.
• Weight decreased from 9 to 2.

Miraak :
• Provides an increase of 100 points to Health and Magicka instead of its vanilla enchantment of increasing Magicka by 70 points.
• All obtainable variants of this mask have the same enchantment of increasing Health and Magicka by 100 points. However, there is still a scaling of Damage Rating (higher level variant has higher defence).

Miraak’s Boots and Gloves :
• Changed to clothing to allow better synergy for clothing magic users using Mage Armor or other such perks. Found it really inconsistent that Miraak’s robes were clothing while his boots and gloves were light armor.
• Weight decreased to 1 for both items.