Warframe Beginner's Guide

New to Warframe in 2026? What the game is, which starter Warframe to pick, how the Star Chart, Foundry, mods and Mastery Rank work, and the tips that save new Tenno the most time.

Updated 1 November 2026Checked for patch Update 44.1.36 sources
Image: PlayWarframe / YouTube

Warframe is Digital Extremes' free-to-play sci-fi action game, out since 2013. You play a Tenno – a space ninja waking from cryosleep – who wears biomechanical suits called Warframes, each with four unique abilities. Fast movement, huge numbers of weapons and a surprisingly deep story have kept it going for more than a decade.

The basics

Free-to-playThe whole game and every major update is free. Platinum, the premium currency, can also be earned by trading with other players.
EverywherePC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2), iOS and Android – with cross-play and cross-save.
Co-op shooterPlay missions solo or in a squad of up to four. Most of the game is PvE.

Your first Warframe

You choose one of three starter frames in the opening quest. There's no wrong pick – you can build the others later.

ExcaliburSword-and-gun all-rounder. The safest first pick for most players.
MagMagnetic crowd control and support – pulls enemies in and strips shields.
VoltElectric damage plus speed boosts and a protective shield.

Getting started, step by step

1. Finish Vor's PrizeThe opening quest gets your Orbiter running and introduces the basics.
2. Follow the Star ChartClear missions and Junctions to unlock new planets – and new quests along the way.
3. Farm RhinoThe Jackal boss on Venus drops Rhino's parts – a sturdy second Warframe most guides recommend.
4. Build in the FoundryBlueprints plus resources become gear. Builds take real time, so start them before you log off.
5. Raise your Mastery RankLevelling new gear to rank 30 raises your account-wide Mastery Rank, which unlocks better gear.
6. Crack Void RelicsOpen Relics in Void Fissure missions to earn Prime parts – the game's best gear and best trade goods.

Tips that help everyone

Mods are everythingMods slotted in the Arsenal decide your power. Rank them up with Endo and Credits.
Reactors and CatalystsAn Orokin Reactor doubles a Warframe's mod capacity; a Catalyst does the same for a weapon.
Spend Platinum on slotsUse your starting Platinum on Warframe and weapon slots – not on rushing Foundry builds.
Join a clanA clan's Dojo researches gear you can't get anywhere else, and clanmates help with tough missions.
Check NightwaveThe free Nightwave challenge track gives rewards for weekly and daily tasks.

What's next

Warframe: Tau arrives in December 2026 and adds a whole new star system. Catch up on the latest changes with our Update 44.1.0 notes, see every Warframe or play the story quests in order.

Our Warframe articles on this

Reference page written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games change with every patch – the patch this page was last checked for is shown at the top.