Quick question about difference between focus items

Does a basic Storm Artifact improve air magic at all?

If you're an elementalist, is there any reason to prefer a Storm Artifact over a Frost Artifact or even an Inscribed Chakram? (assuming they all only have +3 energy).

Nope, there it no difference. The only time that certain ones will become better is when you pick up ones that require certain attributes or that have certain modifiers.

k. Thanks for your quick reply!

At a certain part it will start to matter, but as long as you're using equipment with no requirements needed, you can go with whatever. Sooner or later you'll find the better equipment will require, say 9 air magic for a certain focus. If you don't meet the requirement, you only get half as much energy as the focus would ordinarily give. To that end, generally you'll want to use a focus (or staff) for which you meet the requirement. Good hunting.