What does the artifact xyz do?
Most of the artifacts in ZAngband have some random features, and some are even completely random, so you have to find out what an artifact does by yourself. Try reading a scroll of *Identify* (the stars are important), or use ‘Research item’ service offered by some buildings in the towns. Many spellcasting classes get the *Identify* spell at higher levels. You can also sell artifacts to a store and buy it back immediatly, but this will cost you a lot of money. The powers of items that have been *Identified* or bought from stores can be displayed at any time with the ‘I’ command.