Choosing Your Second Warframe: A Definitive Guide
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The best second Warframe to get depends heavily on your initial choice and play style preference. However, for most players, Rhino stands out as an excellent option. He’s relatively easy to acquire, incredibly durable, and provides significant offensive buffs, making him a powerhouse for tackling early to mid-game content. His abilities are straightforward, teaching important mechanics like armor, damage buffs, and crowd control, essential for progressing in Warframe.
Why Rhino is the Top Pick
Rhino’s Iron Skin ability provides a massive layer of temporary health, allowing newer players to survive otherwise fatal encounters. His Roar ability significantly increases the damage output of the entire squad, making him invaluable in group missions. He offers a strong balance of survivability and offensive capabilities, bridging the gap between starter Warframes and more specialized options. Rhino helps players overcome initial challenges and learn core gameplay aspects more efficiently.
Other Strong Contenders for Your Second Warframe
While Rhino is a top pick, other Warframes can serve you well depending on your preferences:
- Volt: If you chose Excalibur or Mag, Volt offers a different playstyle focused on speed and electric damage. His Speed ability significantly boosts movement and attack speed, while his Electric Shield provides mobile cover.
- Excalibur: For those who didn’t pick him as their starter, Excalibur is a solid choice with his powerful melee-focused abilities, particularly Exalted Blade, which can carry you through many missions.
- Mag: Mag is a strong, versatile choice, particularly in dealing with Corpus enemies due to her magnetic powers.
- Nova: She can be a bit hard for some players, but Nova offers good crowd control abilities and damage output.
How to Acquire Your Second Warframe
Farming for Blueprints
Warframe blueprints are typically acquired from boss drops, quests, or the Market. Rhino’s blueprints, for example, drop from the Jackal boss on Venus. To build a Warframe, you’ll need the main blueprint along with blueprints for the Neuroptics, Chassis, and Systems. These parts also drop from the same boss.
Resource Gathering
Once you have the blueprints, you’ll need to gather the necessary resources. These resources are found throughout various planets and missions. Check the Warframe Wiki for the specific locations of each resource. Resources might include Ferrite, Rubedo, Polymer Bundle, Circuits, and more.
Building Your Warframe
After acquiring the blueprints and resources, head to your ship’s Foundry. Select the Warframe blueprint and start the crafting process. Each part takes approximately 12 hours to build, and the Warframe itself takes 72 hours. Patience is key!
Understanding Warframe Roles
As you progress in Warframe, you’ll encounter more challenging content that requires specialized Warframes. Understanding different Warframe roles will help you choose your next frame strategically:
- Damage Dealers: These Warframes focus on dealing high damage to enemies, such as Saryn, Mesa, and Mirage.
- Tanks: These Warframes are durable and can withstand significant damage, like Rhino, Inaros, and Valkyr.
- Support: These Warframes provide buffs, healing, and crowd control to aid their team, such as Trinity, Oberon, and Wisp.
- Crowd Control: These Warframes specialize in controlling enemy movement and actions, like Nova, Vauban, and Nyx.
Tips for New Warframe Players
- Join a Clan: Clans offer access to blueprints, resources, and experienced players who can provide guidance.
- Complete the Star Chart: Progressing through the Star Chart unlocks new planets, resources, and missions.
- Mod Your Warframes and Weapons: Mods are essential for enhancing your Warframe and weapon stats. Experiment with different mod combinations to find what works best for your playstyle.
- Check Warframe Alerts: Alerts provide opportunities to earn rare resources, blueprints, and credits.
- Use the Warframe Wiki: The Warframe Wiki is an invaluable resource for information on Warframes, weapons, resources, and missions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the starter Warframes, and how do I choose one?
The starter Warframes are Excalibur, Mag, and Volt. Excalibur is melee-focused, Mag excels against Corpus enemies, and Volt is a versatile choice with speed and electric damage. Consider your preferred play style when making your selection.
2. How long does it take to get a second Warframe?
It depends on how quickly you can farm the necessary blueprints and resources. On average, it takes a few days to a week of consistent playing to acquire a second Warframe. Remember crafting times!
3. Can I have multiple of the same Warframe?
Yes, you can have multiple of the same Warframe. This can be useful for different builds or for collecting Prime versions.
4. What are Warframe slots, and how do I get more?
Warframe slots allow you to own multiple Warframes simultaneously. You start with a limited number of slots and can purchase more using Platinum, Warframe’s premium currency.
5. What is the hardest Warframe to acquire?
Warframes like Valkyr, Rhino, and Loki are generally considered among the hardest to acquire due to the difficulty or complexity of their acquisition methods. This can change with updates to the game.
6. What are Prime Warframes, and how do I get them?
Prime Warframes are enhanced versions of standard Warframes with improved stats and polarities. They are obtained by opening Relics and acquiring their blueprints and parts.
7. Should I spend Platinum on Warframes?
While you can buy Warframes with Platinum, it’s generally more efficient to farm for them. Platinum is better spent on slots, Orokin Reactors, and Orokin Catalysts.
8. What’s the best way to farm resources?
The best way to farm resources is to find missions with high drop rates for the specific resources you need. Use resource boosters to increase your drop rates further.
9. How do I join a clan?
You can join a clan by accepting an invitation from a clan leader or by requesting to join a clan through the in-game menu.
10. What is the Dojo, and why is it important?
The Dojo is the clan’s headquarters, offering access to research labs where you can acquire blueprints for Warframes, weapons, and other items.
11. What are mods, and how do they work?
Mods are items that enhance your Warframe and weapon stats. They are obtained from enemies, missions, and alerts. You can equip mods on your Warframes and weapons to improve their performance.
12. How do I level up my Warframes and weapons?
You level up Warframes and weapons by earning affinity (experience) from killing enemies and completing missions. The higher the level, the more mod capacity you have.
13. What is the Star Chart?
The Star Chart is the map of planets and missions in Warframe. Progressing through the Star Chart unlocks new planets, resources, and challenges.
14. What is the difference between damage types?
Different damage types are effective against different enemy types. For example, Toxin is strong against flesh, while Electricity is effective against robots. Understanding damage types is crucial for optimizing your builds.
15. Where can I find more information about Warframe?
The Warframe Wiki is an excellent resource for detailed information about Warframes, weapons, mods, and missions. Also, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for valuable insights into the educational aspects of gaming, including how games like Warframe can teach valuable skills.
Choosing your second Warframe is a significant step in your Warframe journey. By understanding your options and focusing on your preferred play style, you can make an informed decision that will help you progress and enjoy the game. Good luck, Tenno!