The Ultimate Heavy Sword Showdown: Finding the Best Heavy Blade in Warframe

In the sprawling universe of Warframe, the heavy blade category represents a brutal and satisfying weapon class. Wielding these behemoths allows you to cleave through hordes of enemies with bone-shattering force. But with so many options available, the question remains: What is the absolute best heavy sword in Warframe?

While personal preference and build optimization play a role, the Gram Prime consistently ranks as the top contender for the best heavy blade in Warframe, balancing raw damage, critical stats, and status potential. It’s a weapon that can obliterate enemies with ease in both standard missions and challenging Steel Path content when appropriately modded. However, alternatives such as Galatine Prime or Paracesis are extremely strong heavy blades. The War offers a unique option for those seeking the power to deliver high impact.

Diving Deeper: Why Gram Prime Reigns Supreme

The Gram Prime’s dominance stems from its exceptional combination of stats:

• High Base Damage: The foundation of any good weapon.
• Excellent Critical Chance & Multiplier: Allowing for devastating critical hits that melt enemy health bars.
• Good Status Chance: Offering the ability to inflict debilitating status effects like Slash, Heat, or Viral, further enhancing damage output and crowd control.

The Gram Prime’s riven disposition, a rating that determines the effectiveness of Riven mods (unique, procedurally generated mods), is also favorable, allowing you to push its stats even further. The Gram Prime also has a great aesthetic design that makes you feel like you are playing as a medieval space ninja.

Alternatives to Consider

While the Gram Prime stands at the peak, several other heavy blades deserve consideration, each offering unique strengths:

• Galatine Prime: A close second, the Galatine Prime boasts similar stats to the Gram Prime but is more focused on raw damage. It’s an excellent choice if you prefer a straightforward, no-frills approach to combat.
• Paracesis: Unique for its ability to level up past Rank 30 by installing Forma (up to Rank 40), the Paracesis is particularly effective against Sentients, making it invaluable for facing these challenging enemies. It also is a unique weapon, being able to equip any mod setup.
• War: The War offers a thematic and powerful choice, especially for those who appreciate its connection to the Stalker. It’s impact-focused, which can be useful, but generally less desirable than Slash-based damage.
• Scindo Prime: This is a powerhouse for raw damage, making it a viable choice for players who love dealing immense damage to enemies.
• Zenistar: The Zenistar is a heavy blade with a unique mechanic. When charged, it places a disk on the ground, doing constant damage to enemies in the area.
• Reaper Prime: If you are looking to kill enemies with slash procs, the Reaper Prime offers a great alternative. All scythe stances inflict slash procs with every heavy attack, making it easy to inflict lots of damage.

Modding for Maximum Mayhem

No matter which heavy blade you choose, proper modding is crucial to unlock its full potential. Key mods to consider include:

• Damage Mods: Serration (for primary weapons) and Pressure Point (for melee) are essential for increasing base damage.
• Critical Chance & Damage Mods: True Steel and Organ Shatter significantly boost critical hit potential.
• Status Chance Mods: Drifting Contact and Voltaic Strike (for electric damage) enhance the likelihood of inflicting status effects.
• Elemental Damage Mods: Combine elements like Heat, Viral, or Corrosive to exploit enemy weaknesses.

Stance Matters

The stance you equip on your heavy blade significantly impacts its attack patterns and overall effectiveness. Popular choices include:

• Cleaving Whirlwind: Offers a mix of wide swings and forward momentum, perfect for crowd control.
• Shattering Storm: Focuses on single-target damage and combo potential.

Ultimately, the “best” stance depends on your playstyle and the specific mission at hand.

FAQs: Heavy Blades in Warframe

1. What is the best heavy blade for beginners?

For new players, the Galatine is an excellent starting point. It’s relatively easy to acquire and provides a solid foundation for learning the mechanics of heavy blades. As you progress, you can then transition to the Galatine Prime or other advanced options.

2. Are Rivens worth it for heavy blades?

Absolutely! A well-rolled Riven mod can significantly enhance the performance of any heavy blade, particularly those with high riven dispositions like the Gram Prime. Look for Rivens that boost critical chance, critical damage, damage, and elemental damage.

3. How does the Paracesis’ unique leveling system work?

The Paracesis can be leveled up to Rank 40 by installing Forma. Each Forma installation increases the level cap by two, allowing you to equip more powerful mods and further customize the weapon. This makes the Paracesis especially potent against Sentients, who take bonus damage from it.

4. What is the best way to farm for Galatine Prime parts?

Galatine Prime parts are obtained through Void Relics. Check the Warframe Wiki for the specific Relics that contain Galatine Prime parts and farm those Relics in Void Fissure missions. Keep in mind that Galatine Prime is sometimes vaulted, meaning its Relics are temporarily unavailable.

5. Can heavy blades be used effectively on Steel Path?

Yes! With proper modding and a well-chosen heavy blade like the Gram Prime or Galatine Prime, you can absolutely dominate Steel Path content. Focus on maximizing damage output, critical stats, and status effects to overcome the increased enemy health and armor.

6. How do stances affect heavy blade gameplay?

Stances dictate the attack patterns, combos, and mobility options available with a heavy blade. Different stances offer different strengths, such as crowd control, single-target damage, or mobility. Experiment with different stances to find the one that best suits your playstyle.

7. What is the difference between Slash, Impact, and Puncture damage?

• Slash: Deals damage over time (Bleed) and bypasses armor.
• Impact: Staggers enemies and disrupts their attacks.
• Puncture: Reduces enemy armor.

Slash damage is generally considered the most effective for dealing with heavily armored enemies.

8. Is the War a good heavy blade despite its Impact focus?

The War can be effective, particularly with mods that convert Impact damage to other types of damage like slash or elemental. However, it’s generally outperformed by heavy blades with a greater emphasis on Slash damage and critical stats. However, it offers a great aesthetic and connection to The Stalker for those who like it.

9. What are some good Warframes to pair with heavy blades?

Warframes that enhance melee damage, such as Rhino (with his Roar ability) or Valkyr (with her Hysteria ability), are excellent choices for pairing with heavy blades. Warframes that provide crowd control, such as Vauban or Frost, can also create opportunities for heavy blade attacks.

10. How important is attack speed on heavy blades?

While attack speed is generally less important than damage and critical stats on heavy blades, it can still be beneficial for increasing overall damage output. Mods like Fury and Berserker can improve attack speed, but prioritize damage and critical stats first.

11. What are some alternatives to the Gram Prime?

Good alternatives to the Gram Prime include the Galatine Prime, Paracesis, War, and Scindo Prime. Each offers a different combination of stats and playstyles, so experiment to find the one that best suits you.

12. What is the mastery rank requirement for Gram Prime?

The Gram Prime requires a mastery rank of 14.

13. Can heavy blades benefit from combo counter mods?

Yes! Mods that increase the combo counter duration and effectiveness, such as Blood Rush and Weeping Wounds, can significantly boost the damage output of heavy blades.

14. Is it worth investing in a heavy blade Riven mod?

If you enjoy playing with heavy blades and plan on using them frequently, investing in a good Riven mod can be a worthwhile investment. Look for Rivens that boost critical chance, critical damage, damage, and elemental damage.

15. Where can I learn more about Warframe weapon builds and strategies?

Numerous resources are available online, including the Warframe Wiki, YouTube channels dedicated to Warframe gameplay, and community forums. You can also find valuable information and insights from other players in-game. The Games Learning Society has a wealth of information for those seeking to improve their video game skills. Visit them at GamesLearningSociety.org to explore their research and resources.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the “best” heavy blade in Warframe is subjective and depends on your playstyle, preferences, and available resources. However, the Gram Prime stands out as a top contender due to its exceptional combination of damage, critical stats, and status potential. Experiment with different heavy blades, mod configurations, and stances to find the perfect weapon for your Warframe adventures. Embrace the power of these mighty weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies!