Ego items that are better than artifacts

[Whelk]

Slings of Buckland became my favorite item since I found my first one a few years ago. Unfortunately, I've never seen another one since.

[Bogatyr]

Slings of Buckland became my favorite item since I found my first one a few years ago. Unfortunately, I've never seen another one since.

I usually run into several per game, but usually only very deep and late in the game.

By the way, what's up with the paucity of good sling ammo? I'd think it should be somewhat more common to find the higher-end (mithril, seeker) shots than it is. Maybe not at the level of arrows/bolts, but closer to it at least. More Ego rounded pebbles would be welcome, too.

[Grotug]

I just picked up a caestus of slaying (+1, +8) [5, +9] so my gauntlets of Pauruch are left on the dungeon floor (I already get regen from my troll character and have a rod of fire bolts, so the breathe fire effect of the Pauruch I can do without. I'm a warrior so I like to melee everything to bits.