What’s the Best First Warframe? A Veteran’s Guide
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Alright, Tenno, let’s cut to the chase. You’re fresh out of cryosleep, wide-eyed, and staring at three Warframes: Excalibur, Mag, and Volt. The question buzzing in your neural link is simple: “Which one is the best?”
The answer? Volt.
Volt, the electrifying powerhouse, stands head and shoulders above the other two for new players. While Excalibur offers accessible melee damage and Mag has some niche uses, Volt’s versatility and utility make him the superior choice for conquering the early Star Chart and beyond. He provides speed, survivability, and offensive capabilities, making him a well-rounded choice for almost any mission type. You’ll be zipping through levels, shocking enemies, and providing cover for your squad – all while looking undeniably cool. Volt allows you to clear missions efficiently, learn the game mechanics effectively, and contribute significantly to your team, all traits that make him an excellent starter Warframe. Choosing Volt will allow you to unlock the Star Chart more quickly.
Why Volt Reigns Supreme: A Detailed Breakdown
Why is Volt so great? Let’s break down his kit and see how each ability contributes to his dominance:
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Shock: A simple yet effective ability that fires a bolt of electricity, stunning a single target. While seemingly basic, Shock is invaluable for disrupting enemies and creating breathing room in tight situations. It’s cheap to cast, allowing you to spam it liberally in the early game.
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Speed: This is where Volt truly shines. Speed grants a massive movement and attack speed buff to Volt and nearby allies. It allows you to sprint through levels at breakneck speed, quickly reach objectives, and generally outpace the enemy. Speed is also incredible for melee combat, allowing you to unleash a flurry of attacks.
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Electric Shield: Volt deploys an energy shield that blocks incoming projectiles. Crucially, it also adds an electricity damage bonus to any projectiles that pass through it, boosting your firepower. Electric Shield provides excellent mobile cover and amplifies your damage output. It also serves as a fantastic defensive tool against ranged enemies, allowing you to reposition and strategize without taking heavy fire.
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Discharge: Volt unleashes a wave of electricity that stuns and damages enemies in a wide area. Discharge is a powerful crowd control ability that can instantly incapacitate groups of foes, providing a much-needed reprieve in overwhelming situations.
Volt’s kit synergizes remarkably well. You can use Shock to stun an enemy, Speed to close the distance, and then unleash a barrage of melee attacks. Electric Shield provides cover while you reposition, and Discharge can clear out any remaining threats. He’s adaptable, effective, and, frankly, just plain fun to play.
Beyond the Basics: Volt’s Scalability
What makes Volt truly special is that he remains relevant long after the tutorial missions. His Speed ability is always valuable for speeding up missions and farming resources. His Electric Shield finds uses in high-level defense missions. And, with the right build, his Discharge can become a potent source of damage. As you progress through Warframe, you’ll find new and creative ways to utilize Volt’s kit, making him a Warframe that scales incredibly well into the endgame.
A Word on Excalibur and Mag
While Volt takes the top spot, it’s worth acknowledging the other starter frames. Excalibur’s Exalted Blade ability can deal significant damage, but it requires energy management and isn’t as immediately impactful as Volt’s Speed. Mag, on the other hand, struggles in the early game due to her limited damage output and reliance on specific enemy types. Her abilities can be effective against Corpus enemies, but she lacks the general versatility of Volt.
Why the Right Start Matters
Choosing the right Warframe at the start significantly impacts your early game experience. A strong start leads to faster progress, increased enjoyment, and a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics. Volt provides all of these benefits, making him the ideal choice for new players. It’s also important to remember that this is not a permanent decision. You can obtain all Warframes later in the game. Volt simply gives you the most advantageous start. The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org often discusses how initial choices can affect a player’s trajectory in complex games like Warframe, and Volt is a prime example.
FAQs: Your Warframe Questions Answered
Here are some common questions from new players regarding starting Warframes and the early game:
1. Can I get the other starting Warframes later?
Yes! You can acquire Excalibur, Mag, and Volt later in the game. Excalibur can be obtained by defeating Ambulas on Hades, Pluto. Mag’s parts are acquired from defeating The Sergeant on Iliad, Phobos. Volt’s blueprint and components are acquired from Tenno Lab in the clan dojo.
2. Is it possible to reset my Warframe account?
No, Warframe does not offer an account reset option. If you are certain about wiping all your progress permanently, contact support for account deletion under GDPR guidelines.
3. Is Warframe pay-to-win?
No, Warframe is not pay-to-win. All Warframes, weapons, and other non-cosmetic equipment can be acquired through normal gameplay. Premium currency can speed up the process, but isn’t required to progress.
4. What should I do after choosing my starting Warframe?
Focus on completing missions on Earth and unlocking junctions. Completing junctions unlocks access to new planets, resources, and challenges.
5. How do I level up my Warframe and weapons?
Equip the Warframe and weapons you want to level and earn affinity (experience points) by defeating enemies and completing missions.
6. What are mods, and why are they important?
Mods are upgrade cards that enhance your Warframe’s abilities and stats, as well as your weapon’s capabilities. Mods are crucial for increasing your effectiveness in combat.
7. Where can I get mods?
Mods can be obtained as rewards for completing missions, defeating enemies, and opening containers. Trade with other players is also a viable option.
8. When should I start trading with other players?
You can start trading after reaching Mastery Rank 2 and having access to a Dojo.
9. What is the Star Chart?
The Star Chart is the navigation system used to select missions and travel between planets.
10. How do I join a clan?
You can join a clan by accepting an invitation from a clan member. Clans provide access to exclusive research and resources.
11. Is Warframe a difficult game to learn?
Warframe has a steep learning curve due to its complexity, but the community is generally helpful and there are many online resources available.
12. Can I play Warframe solo?
Yes, all content in Warframe can be completed solo. However, some missions are more efficient with a group.
13. What’s the best weapon to start with?
The MK1-Paris is an excellent starter weapon due to its high damage output.
14. What are Prime Warframes?
Prime Warframes are upgraded versions of standard Warframes with enhanced stats and a different aesthetic. They’re usually acquired through the Void Relic system.
15. Is Warframe still popular in 2024?
Yes, Warframe continues to be a popular game, with a dedicated player base and ongoing content updates.