Artifact type

An artifact type is any subtype used for the further classification of artifact cards.

Other then creature types artifact types don't have to appear on all artifacts. Instead they are only introduced for mechanical purposes.

Rules
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Clue
Clue is a subtype unique to tokens created by Investigate.

Contraption
Contraption was only mentioned on Steamflogger Boss until Unstable featured cards with this subtype. They are played from a separate Contraption deck.

Equipment
Equipment cards enter the battlefield just like any other artifact, but may be attached to creatures using their Equip ability. Unlike Auras, however, if an Equipment is attached to a creature and the creature leaves the battlefield, the Equipment remains on the battlefield.

Food
Food can be sacrificed for life.

Fortification
Fortifications act just like Equipment above, except that fortifications attach to lands using Fortify.

Gold
Gold artifacts (Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color) were introduced in Theros Beyond Death.

Key
Key appears on Corrupted Key, a test card in the Mystery Booster set. It has no rules meaning or function by itself, but other cards and abilities may refer to it.

Treasure
Treasure is a subtype unique to tokens created by some cards from Ixalan block and later sets. Similar to Gold, except that they have to be tapped.

Vehicle
Vehicle is an artifact which can temporary become an artifact creature by assigning a crew.