New Tenno Arsenal Guide

Discussion in 'Warframe' started by MagnusEffect, Oct 16, 2017.

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  1. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS - WARFRAMES

    *CLICK NAMES OF EACH FOR DETAILED INFO*
    ---
    *CLICK THE IMAGES OF EACH TO WATCH INTRO VIDEO*


    Banshee
    [​IMG]

    "This is Banshee, stealthy and ranged.
    No one puts Banshee in a corner, Tenno. The element of surprise is in her favor."

    ---
    You can acquire her parts in the Tenno Lab at the Clan Dojo.


    Excalibur

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    "This is Excalibur, a master of gun and blade.
    No matter your style, Tenno, the Excalibur Warframe is a formidable choice."

    ---
    You can start with Excalibur or acquire his parts from the boss on Pluto (10th location).


    Frost

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    "This is Frost, colder and deadlier than space itself.
    Frost can protect or punish, the decision is yours."
    ---

    You can acquire his parts from the boss on Mars (4th location).


    Mag

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    "This is Mag, a force to be reckoned with.
    Mag is a team player, Tenno, and a worthy addition to any squad."
    ---

    You can start with Mag or acquire her parts from the boss on Phobos (5th location).


    Rhino

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    "This is Rhino, an immovable force and highly resilient.
    Rhino can survive alone or become the cornerstone of any squad, Tenno. The choice is yours."

    ---
    You can acquire his parts from the boss on Venus (2nd location).


    Volt

    [​IMG]

    "This is Volt, a versatile warrior.
    Volt's arsenal is powerful and electrifying. Handle with care, Tenno."

    ---
    You can start with Volt or acquire his parts in the Tenno Lab at the Clan Dojo.​
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2017
  2. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    MASTERY RANK EXPLAINED

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    Mastery Rank is a simple gauge of how much equipment a player has "mastered". You can view your current Mastery Rank from your profile in the game menu. You can increase your Mastery Rank by gaining levels in your equipment.

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    General things to keep in mind regarding Mastery Rank:
    • Leveling Mastery Rank gets progressively slower the higher you climb.
    • Most equipment requires a minimum mastery rank to equip.
    • Each additional Mastery Rank offers additional perks:
      • You can make additional trades per day.
      • You can deploy more material extractors at a time.
      • Increases your maximum limit of daily standing gains for various factions.
      • The majority of equipment can be unlocked by Rank 8.
      • Other than for unlocking some equipment, higher Mastery Ranks do not offer any combat advantages.
      • Although Mastery Rank levels go well past 20, there are not many benefits past rank 14 (mostly just for bragging rights).
    • Max rank for each weapon, warframe, and companion is ALWAYS 30.
      • One level in any weapon gains you 100 pts towards next Mastery Rank (total of 3,000 pts at rank 30).
      • One level in any warframe or companion gains you 200 pts towards next Mastery Rank (total of 6,000 pts at rank 30).
    • Any new equipment should always be ranked to lvl 30 before being sold.
      • Do your research before selling equipment; some are hard to obtain a second time.
      • "Primed" versions of equipment are generally better than their normal counterparts.
      • You can buy more equipment slots with platinum or sell the ones you don't like after getting them to rank 30.
      • You never lose MR points for selling equipment.
    • Mastery Rank is not a clear indicator of being "better" for either weapons or players.
      • A MR 10 player in a single loadout can be equally strong as a MR 20 player in the same loadout.
      • The difference is that the MR 20 player will have more choices available to them.
    Details on Mastery Rank weapon unlocks, quest unlocks, and rewards can be found here: http://warframe.wikia.com/wiki/Mastery_Rank
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2017
  3. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS - PRIMARY WEAPONS
    NOTE: Most weapons have a Mastery Rank requirement. However, all of the following weapons (or their blueprints) are immediately available to new players and most can be bought directly from the market for in-game credits. Those that must be purchased from the clan dojo research stations will be marked accordingly.

    *Click the names of the weapons for more details.*
    [​IMG]
    Attica (Rifle) *MUST PURCHASE BLUEPRINT IN THE TENNO LAB AT THE CLAN DOJO*

    For a beginner weapon, the Attica is exceptionally powerful. Unlike many here, this "auto-crossbow" can punch well above its weight class and will serve you well through almost all of the game's content. However, it has two minor drawbacks. First, it requires more uncommon materials to build than some of the other weapons on this list (ask for help to acquire these). Secondly, it is a bolt thrower, which means it's rounds have some travel time and fast moving targets will be harder to hit... but this is a small price to pay for what you get in return.

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    Burston (Rifle)
    Generally speaking, the Tenno's Burston is a decent upgrade over the standard Braton. Like the Braton, it fires rounds with no travel time (aka hit-scanned ammo). However, while the Braton fires in full-auto, the Burston fires in 3-round bursts. Because of this, although it carries the same sized magazine as a Braton, it tends to burn through ammo faster. For this reason, some may prefer their old Braton or one of the Grineer weapons listed below (Grakata and Karak). Despite this, the Burston is a great introductory weapon for the much more powerful Tiberon you get at Mastery Rank 4.

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    Daikyu (Bow) *MUST PURCHASE BLUEPRINT IN THE TENNO LAB AT THE CLAN DOJO*
    Generally speaking, bows are not recommended as general purpose weapons for new players as they simply cannot offer enough bullet saturation that is required to fight off the countless hordes you will face. That being said, bows are extremely powerful tools for killing bosses and Eximus troops (uncommon elite units). Used strategically from a safe distance, they can also cause massive AOE damage when paired with Thunderbolt. Finally, bows are an excellent beginning choice for solo missions that require stealth. The Daikyu shares the same drawbacks as the Attica, but the Daikyu trades rapid firing action for a single powerful shot.

    [​IMG]
    Grakata (Rifle)

    The first Grineer weapon on this list, the Grakata performs very similarly and is a general improvement over the standard Braton. Like the Braton, it also rapid fires rounds with no travel time (hit-scan). The Grakata is a great jack-of-all-trades primary weapon. If you like your more standard sub-machine guns, this is a solid choice until you can get the Soma at Mastery Rank 6.

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    Karak (Rifle)
    Whereas the Grakata functions more like a sub-machine gun, the Karak feels a bit more like an fullsized AK-47. The difference between the two is small, but generally speaking you are trading the Grakata's magazine size for the Karak's higher base damage per shot. This tends to make the Karak a little less ammo hungry (which can help when you are new to the game), but ultimately it comes down to personal preference. Just like the Grakata, you will want to upgrade from this to a Soma at Mastery Rank 6.

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    Latron (Rifle)

    If you are looking for a semi-auto marksman rifle, look no further. The Latron is a powerful rifle that will serve you well in almost all situations. Functionally, it sits somewhere between the Karak and the Attica. It enjoys the same hit-scan accuracy of the Karak, but more similar stopping power to the Attica. However, it does not scale quite as well as the Attica at higher difficulties and so after mastering it to level 30, you will want to use it to build the superior burst-firing Tiberon at Mastery Rank 4.


    *Listed below is a summary of shotguns & sniper rifles since neither have any strong candidates at Mastery Rank 0.*


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    Regarding Primary - Shotguns

    Shotguns are very powerful options for short range combat, but suffer from bullet spread and damage falloff at longer ranges. Because of this, they are particularly effective against Infested who tend to charge at you in droves rather than attack from a distance. This can be exploited further if you also equip Seeking Fury or Seeking Force. However, keep in mind that not all Shotguns are created equal. If you want a decent beginner shotgun, pick up the standard Strun or Boar at Mastery Rank 1 & 2 respectively. The Strun has less spread and so is somewhat better at mid-range. While the Boar has more spread, it deals far better damage at shorter ranges. Neither will scale well into late-game, but they are very serviceable until you can get access to the more powerful Hek at Mastery Rank 4. Also worthy of note is the Tigris which is the Warframe version of a sawed-off 12 gauge; it is a poor choice against hordes of weaker enemies, but it's great for blowing the hell out of a few powerful targets at a time.

    [​IMG]
    Regarding Primary - Sniper Rifles
    Snipers rifles in many ways can be treated similarly to bows; they are excellent for taking down single high-value targets, but struggle to deal with hordes of weaker enemies. Unlike bows, however, they offer superior precision at long range thanks to their (mostly) larger magazines and faster firing (or hit-scan) rounds. While they still are at a significant disadvantage on most standard missions that feature tight corridors, they excel on the Plains of Eidolon where their optical zoom and long range accuracy is best put to use. The Grineer offer a weaker semi-auto rifle (the Vulkar) at Mastery Rank 0, but if you can wait a few ranks, the Tenno offer a much better bolt-action rifle (the Vectis) at Mastery Rank 3.
     
  4. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS - SECONDARY WEAPONS

    NOTE: Generally speaking, early secondary weapons do somewhat less damage than your primary weapon options. Use these only as needed or if you are running low on ammo for your primary weapon. During missions, you can continue to collect ammo drops for your primary even with your secondary equipped.

    *Click the names of the weapons for more details.*
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    Lato and AkLato (at Mastery Rank 1)
    The Lato is your standard Tenno pistol, but thanks to its ease of use and supreme accuracy, it will serve you well until you can find something better. It is worth noting that the single pistol is used to build a Bolto.


    [​IMG][​IMG]
    Bolto and Akbolto
    Enjoys much higher damage than the Lato at the cost of being less accurate due to shooting "bolts" rather than high-speed (hit-scanned) bullets.

    [​IMG][​IMG]
    Magnus and AkMagnus
    Generally speaking, the Magnus is superior to the Lato in every way that matters, but is more expensive to build. Very powerful and deadly accurate for its Mastery Rank, the Magnus will serve you long and well into the late-game.


    [​IMG][​IMG]
    Vasto and AkVasto
    Similar in performance to the Magnus, but in the form of a revolver. It requires more constant reloading, but deals a bit more damage per bullet.

    [​IMG]
    Twin Grakatas
    Some people like the Grakata sub-machine gun so much they want to use two of them. More accurate than you might expect for the amount of bullets they pump out. Not the best ammo efficiency, but better than any other full-auto options. Clem approves.
     
  5. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS - MELEE WEAPONS

    NOTE: You cannot use a melee weapon's full set of moves without applying the appropriate Stance mod to them. These can be somewhat difficult to obtain without assistance. Keep this in mind when choosing your melee weapon of choice.

    *Click the names of the weapons for more details.*
    [​IMG]
    Amphis (Staff)
    This Grineer weapon boasts extremely high raw damage for a beginner weapon. Not the prettiest weapon to look at, but it will definitely get the job done. If you like staff weapons, consider upgrading to slightly better Tipedo when you hit Mastery Rank 3.

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    Ankyros (Fist)
    Fast hitting oversize "brass knuckles" for the pugilists out there. If you like these, upgrade to the Tekko at Mastery Rank 2.

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    Bo (Staff)
    A more "elegant" Tenno alternative to the Amphis. After getting this to max rank, you can use it to construct the more powerful Tipedo at Mastery Rank 3.

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    Cronus (Sword)
    A traditional Tenno blade for the traditionalists out there. This is the only weapon on this list that cannot be purchase directly, but rather obtained from the first boss on Mercury. It is, however, an easy weapon to obtain and so is included for people that were looking for a better sword. If you enjoy more traditional samurai swords, upgrade to the superior Nikana at Mastery Rank 4.

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    Heat Sword (Sword)
    This Grineer sword is a more powerful alternative to the Cronus and is (technically) easier to get. Although normally it can only be attained from random alert missions, you can obtain the sword and a free weapon slot from the in-game market. Simple open the market, click the button at the bottom that says "Redeem Code" and then type "FREESWORD" (must be caps) in the space provided. If the code works, you will get a notification. Even if you don't care for the weapon, the free weapon slot makes it worth 1 minute of your time. If you like big swords that hit hard, consider upgrading to the Galatine greatsword when you hit Mastery Rank 3.

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    Kestrel (Glaive)
    This Tenno boomerang can kill or knock down enemies at range. If they get too close, it can also be used like a combat knife. While offering only average damage for its tier, it makes up for this by offering excellent utility. There are, of course, other glaives available, but this is the only one guaranteed to ragdoll enemies.


    [​IMG]
    Nami Skyla (Dual Weapons)
    This Tenno cutlass and dagger is one of the stronger sword options available for beginning players. If you like dual weapons, consider upgrading to the slightly more powerful Dual Zoren at Mastery Rank 2.

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    Nikondi (Nunchaku)
    The first "nunchucks" you get are also the best of their class in the game currently. Deals only electrical damage unless modified with other elemental damage mods. Above average damage for its tier and fun as hell to use. Embrace your inner Bruce Lee.

    [​IMG]
    Silva & Aegis (Sword and Shield)
    A traditional sword and shield set. Deals only heat damage unless modified with other elemental damage mods. Although the damage is nothing amazing, it is one of the few weapon sets that offers above average protection when blocking most enemy attacks. There are not many weapon & shield options available, but the next most reasonable upgrade would be the Grineer-made Ack & Brunt at Mastery Rank 3.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2017
  6. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    "Essential Mods" for Weapons
    Note: this list is intended as a general guideline. Future updates may partially invalidate some of this list.​

    Essential Mods For Rifles:
    • +Damage Mods - Serration
    • Multishot Mods - Split Chamber
    • Elemental Damage Mods - (heat, cold, electricity, toxin); depending on enemy, you probably only need to equip two of these
    • Critical Chance (only if base is >15%) - Point Strike, Vital Sense
    Essential Mods For Shotguns:
    • +Damage Mods - Point Blank, Blaze
    • Multishot Mods - Hell's Chamber
    • Elemental Damage Mods - (heat, cold, electricity, toxin); depending on enemy, you probably only need to equip two of these
    • Critical Chance (only if base is >15%) - Blunderbuss, Ravage
    Essential Mods For Pistols:
    • +Damage Mods - Hornet Strike
    • Multishot Mods - Barrel Diffusion, Lethal Torrent
    • Elemental Damage Mods - (heat, cold, electricity, toxin); depending on enemy, you probably only need to equip two of these
    • Critical Chance (only if base is >15%) - Pistol Gambit, Target Cracker
    Essential Mods For Melee:
    • Stance Mods - weapon specific
    • +Damage Mods - Pressure Point, Spoiled Strike
    • Channeling Mods - Killing Blow, Corrupt Charge
    • Elemental Damage Mods - (heat, cold, electricity, toxin); depending on enemy, you probably only need to equip two of these
    • Critical Chance (only if base is >15%) - True Steel, Organ Shatter
     
  7. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    KNOW YOUR ENEMY'S WEAKNESS
    http://warframe.wikia.com/wiki/Damage
    While you can't change the physical damage of a weapon, you can usually add any elemental damage you want. It is wise to boost elemental damage to better exploit a faction's weakness. There are MANY exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, here is the easiest way to remember the "holy trinity":


    Grineer
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    Use Puncture & "Radiation" (Electricity + Heat)


    Corpus

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    Use Impact & "Magnetic" (Electricity + Cold)


    Infested
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    Use Slash & "Corrosive" (Electricity + Toxin)


    And there is one more to consider once you reach the Void...


    Corrupted

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    The Corrupted is another faction you will face later in the game. Their weaknesses are a bit more complicated as they "borrow" from all factions, but if you want to be most effective against their most dangerous units (corrupted Ancients & Heavy Gunners) this is what you want...
    Use Puncture & "Corrosive" (Electricity + Toxin)


    SOME FINAL IMPORTANT NOTES:
    • You can have up to THREE different presets for each weapon. This allows you to quickly swap out setups depending on which faction you are facing. Use them!
    • When combining elemental damage types, position matters; these bind in pairs left to right and top to bottom on the mod slots.
    • You can also add other "unused" elements after the above to inflict additional effects.
      An example vs. Infested or Corrupted = "Corrosive" (Electricity + Toxin) and "Blast" (Heat + Cold) can all be applied to the same weapon.
     
  8. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    UPGRADING YOUR WARFRAMES AND WEAPONS

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    Orokin Reactors
    Orokin Reactors essentially double the number of mod points you can use on a warframe. This makes them a great first-option for "supercharging" a warframe beyond its normal capabilities. However, only one reactor can be applied to each warframe (the reactor fuses with it) and they are uncommon to acquire for new players. You will always want to save all your reactors for only warframes you plan on keeping for awhile (or indefinitely). Consider the advice listed above and choose accordingly.

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    Orokin Catalysts
    Orokin Catalysts work exactly like Orokin Reactors except these are applied to weapons instead. As with reactors, carefully consider which weapons you want to apply catalysts to before using them.

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    Forma
    Formas are more common than Reactors and Catalysts and can be applied to both warframes and weapons. However, they are generally considered the second step in upgrading equipment because they require a bit more effort to see big returns on the investment. Unlike Catalysts and Reactors which are a "one and done" process, Formas require leveling a warframe or weapon to level 30 for each one applied. When applied, a Forma resets the item to Rank 0, but allows you to apply "polarity" (or change existing polarities) to a single mod slot on the item. Match a mod to the polarity slot and it effectively halves a matching mod's point cost when equipped (rounding up). However, pay close attention when applying these as placing a mod with the mismatched polarity to a slot will actually increase the cost of the mod. Typically, it is overkill to have more than 5-6 polarized slots on an item (you will need a few blank ones to swap out mods if you want some flexibility in outfitting). However, when properly done, you can effectively chop your mod costs in half. Make no mistake, a heavily Forma'd warframe or weapon with high cost mods is a force to be reckoned with.​
     
  9. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    COMPANIONS

    reserved​
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2017
  10. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    SPECTERS

    Need some extra help on a tough mission? Did a player drop out and you need some last minute reinforcements?
    Specters are one-use items you can call in to give you extra firepower or protection when you need it most.
    http://warframe.wikia.com/wiki/Specter



     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2017
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