Warframe: 10 Beginner Tips And Tricks

Warframe is an action-packed online RPG that offers fast-paced combat, deep customization, and a massive universe to explore. As a new player, the sheer amount of content—ranging from different Warframes and weapons to missions and mods—can feel overwhelming. Without the right approach, beginners often struggle with resource management, mission progression, and modding their gear effectively.

This guide covers 10 essential beginner tips to help you progress faster, optimize your loadout, farm resources efficiently, and understand the game’s mechanics. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your gameplay, these tips will make your journey through the Origin System smoother and more enjoyable. Let’s dive in!

#10: Start with the Tutorial

One of the biggest mistakes new players make in Warframe is skipping or rushing through the tutorial, which results in confusion later on. The tutorial introduces essential mechanics like movement, combat, modding, and mission structure, all of which are crucial for success in the game. Unlike many other RPGs, Warframe has a unique parkour system that includes bullet jumping, wall running, and sliding, making mobility just as important as combat skills.

Completing the tutorial also helps you choose your first Warframe, usually between Excalibur (balanced melee fighter), Mag (crowd control), and Volt (electric-based abilities and speed buffs). Each has unique strengths, so pick one that fits your playstyle. Additionally, the tutorial provides your first weapons and mods, teaching you how to enhance your gear for better damage and survivability.

If you skipped some of the tutorial details or need a refresher, you can always visit the Codex in your Orbiter for in-game guides or check the Warframe community for tips. Taking the time to learn the basics early will make your progression much smoother and help you avoid common beginner mistakes as you explore the Origin System.

#9: Choose Your Starter Warframe Wisely

At the beginning of Warframe, you’ll be given a choice between three starter Warframes: Excalibur, Mag, and Volt. Each one has unique abilities and playstyles, so picking the right one based on your preferences will make your early game experience much smoother.

Excalibur is the best choice for beginners who enjoy melee combat. His abilities revolve around sword-based attacks, making him a strong and well-rounded Warframe with high mobility and crowd control. His Exalted Blade ability allows him to unleash powerful energy slashes, making him a great pick for both new and veteran players.

Mag is ideal for players who prefer crowd control and enemy manipulation. She excels at pulling enemies together, stripping their shields, and dealing high damage using her magnet-based abilities. However, Mag requires good energy management and positioning to be effective, which may make her a bit harder for complete beginners.

Volt is a strong choice for those who enjoy speed and electric-based attacks. He can boost movement speed for himself and teammates, making him useful for farming missions and mobility-focused gameplay. His electric attacks can stun and damage multiple enemies, making him a solid choice for players who want a mix of support and offense.

If you’re unsure which Warframe to choose, Excalibur is often recommended as the best all-around starter, especially for beginners who are still learning movement and combat mechanics. However, all three can be acquired later in the game, so your choice won’t lock you out of using the others permanently. Picking the right starter Warframe will help you progress faster and enjoy the early game without unnecessary struggles.

#8: Understand Modding

Mods are one of the most important mechanics in Warframe, as they significantly enhance your Warframe, weapons, and companions by improving stats like damage, survivability, energy efficiency, and more. Many beginners make the mistake of ignoring mods or using them incorrectly, which can make missions much harder than they need to be.

Every piece of equipment in Warframe has mod slots that allow you to customize its performance. Mods have a drain cost, which means they take up capacity based on their strength. Your mod capacity increases as you level up your Warframe and weapons and can be doubled by using a Forma or an Orokin Reactor/Catalyst. Some of the most essential mods for beginners include Serration (for primary weapons), Pressure Point (for melee), and Vitality (for Warframe health).

One of the best ways to optimize mods is by matching them with your Warframe’s polarity slots—these reduce the mod drain when the symbols align. As you progress, you’ll unlock Aura Mods for Warframes and Stance Mods for melee weapons, both of which provide additional capacity, allowing you to equip even stronger mods.

Upgrading mods with Endo increases their effectiveness, but it’s best to upgrade only the most useful ones early on to avoid wasting resources. You can acquire new mods from enemy drops, mission rewards, and trading with other players. Understanding modding is essential for maximizing your damage and survivability, so take time to experiment and find the best combinations for your playstyle. Properly modded gear will make every mission in Warframe much easier and more enjoyable.

#7: Master the Movement System

One of Warframe’s biggest advantages over other action RPGs is its fluid and fast-paced movement system, which allows you to navigate maps quickly and dodge enemy attacks effectively. Many beginners rely only on basic running and jumping, which slows them down and makes them easy targets. Learning advanced movement techniques like bullet jumping, wall running, and aim gliding will make missions smoother and help you survive longer in combat.

Bullet jumping is the fastest way to move around. To do it, crouch (Ctrl on PC) and then jump, launching your Warframe forward at high speed. This technique is crucial for traversing large areas, avoiding enemy fire, and reaching objectives quickly. Aim gliding (holding the aim button while in mid-air) slows your descent, allowing for more precise landings or mid-air attacks. Wall running and wall latching let you climb vertical surfaces and take strategic positions when engaging enemies.

Mastering movement is especially useful in missions like Spy, Rescue, and Survival, where speed and agility can mean the difference between success and failure. Enemies in Warframe are aggressive and often overwhelm players who stay in one spot, so staying mobile makes you harder to hit and allows you to control engagements better.

To improve your movement skills, practice in the Captura mode or open-world areas like the Plains of Eidolon and Orb Vallis. Mastering these mechanics will help you navigate missions faster, avoid unnecessary damage, and perform advanced parkour maneuvers, making you a more effective Warframe player.

#6: Focus on Junctions

Junctions are key progression points in Warframe that unlock new planets, giving you access to more missions, resources, and blueprints. Many beginners get stuck because they don’t focus on completing Junction requirements, which slows down their ability to farm better weapons, Warframes, and mods. Prioritizing Junctions will allow you to expand your mission options and progress faster through the star chart.

Each Junction has a set of challenges that you must complete before unlocking it, such as defeating a certain number of enemies, crafting weapons, or completing specific mission types. Once the requirements are met, you’ll face an AI-controlled Warframe boss, which you must defeat to gain access to the next planet. These Junction bosses are relatively easy, especially with a well-modded Warframe and weapon.

Completing a Junction provides important rewards, including new mods, blueprints, and access to story quests. Some key Junctions to prioritize early on include Mars (which unlocks the quest “Once Awake”), Saturn (leading to the powerful Grineer Galleon missions), and Sedna (which unlocks high-level content like the Steel Path).

By focusing on Junctions, you’ll open up more farming locations, unlock better gear, and progress through the game efficiently. Always check your star chart to see which Junction requirements you still need to complete, and work toward them to keep advancing in Warframe.

#5: Join a Clan

Joining a Clan in Warframe is one of the best ways to speed up your progress, gain access to exclusive weapons, and connect with experienced players who can help you learn the game. Many beginners play solo for too long, missing out on the benefits of a supportive community, useful research blueprints, and helpful guidance.

Clans have a Dojo, which is a custom-built base that contains special research labs where you can unlock exclusive weapons, Warframes, and gear that aren’t available anywhere else. Some of the most powerful early-game weapons, like the Ignis (flamethrower), Hek (shotgun), and Amphis (staff), can be researched and crafted through Clan blueprints. Additionally, Clans participate in events and missions that offer unique rewards and resources.

A good Clan also provides experienced players who can answer questions, run missions with you, and help you farm for Warframes, mods, and resources. Many veteran players enjoy mentoring newcomers, making it easier to learn the game’s mechanics without constantly searching for answers.

To join a Clan, you can check recruitment channels in the in-game chat, Warframe forums, or Discord communities. Some Clans are open to all players, while others may require activity or contribution to Dojo research. If you prefer a more casual experience, you can even start your own Clan, though building up a Dojo requires a lot of resources.

Being in a Clan gives you access to better gear, faster progression, and a network of players to help you succeed, making it one of the smartest moves for any Warframe beginner.

#4: Manage Your Resources Wisely

Resources are essential for crafting weapons, Warframes, and gear in Warframe, and managing them efficiently will prevent you from running into shortages later on. Many beginners make the mistake of spending resources too quickly on unnecessary items, leading to struggles when trying to craft powerful weapons or upgrade mods. Knowing which resources to farm, when to spend them, and how to store them properly will help you progress faster.

Different planets provide specific resources, so knowing where to farm what you need is crucial. Ferrite, Neurodes, and Polymer Bundles are common early-game materials found on Earth, while Plastids, Oxium, and Nano Spores become important for crafting high-level gear and can be farmed on planets like Saturn and Neptune. Some rare resources, like Argon Crystals, decay over time, meaning they should only be farmed when you need them.

Avoid wasting rare materials on weapons and gear you won’t use. Instead of crafting every weapon you find, focus on building Warframes, weapons, and equipment that fit your playstyle. Also, don’t sell resources for credits unless absolutely necessary—Warframe’s economy is resource-heavy, and you’ll need large amounts of materials later in the game.

Using resource boosters and farming methods like Survival and Defense missions can help you stock up on important materials faster. Additionally, joining a Clan allows access to resource-efficient research blueprints. Managing your resources wisely will ensure that you always have what you need to craft powerful gear, upgrade mods, and progress efficiently in Warframe.

#3: Complete Quests to Unlock Content and Progress Faster

Quests in Warframe are more than just story-driven missions—they unlock essential Warframes, powerful weapons, and new gameplay mechanics. Many beginners focus only on standard missions and miss out on the major rewards that come from completing quests. By prioritizing quests, you’ll gain access to better gear, expand the game’s lore, and unlock key systems like Focus and Archwing.

Some of the most important beginner quests include “Vor’s Prize” (the tutorial quest that introduces basic mechanics), “Once Awake” (unlocks toxin damage mods and teaches about the Infested faction), and “The Archwing” (gives you an Archwing, allowing you to participate in space battles). As you progress, completing “The Second Dream” and “The War Within” will unlock the powerful Operator abilities, which completely change how you play.

Quests often provide blueprints for unique Warframes like Excalibur Umbra, Inaros, and Revenant, saving you time and resources compared to farming them from boss fights. Additionally, story quests introduce important NPCs and factions that provide rewards and future mission opportunities.

Always check your Codex (found in your Orbiter) to see which quests are available and work towards unlocking them as you progress. Completing quests not only advances the storyline but also provides key tools that will help you survive and dominate in Warframe.

#2: Don’t Rush to Buy Platinum

Platinum is Warframe’s premium currency, and while it can be tempting to spend real money early on, many beginners waste Platinum on unnecessary items instead of saving it for things that truly enhance gameplay. Instead of rushing to buy Platinum, focus on earning it through trading and spending it wisely on items that provide long-term benefits.

One of the biggest mistakes new players make is spending Platinum on weapons and Warframes, which can be acquired for free by farming resources and blueprints. Instead, save Platinum for slots—Warframe slots, weapon slots, and companion slots are limited, and unlocking more space allows you to collect and experiment with more gear without having to sell anything. Buying Orokin Reactors and Catalysts, which double the mod capacity of Warframes and weapons, is also a smart investment.

If you want to earn Platinum without spending real money, you can trade Prime parts, rare mods, or Arcane Enhancements with other players through the in-game market. Running Void Relic missions and selling Prime blueprints is one of the best ways to farm Platinum over time.

By avoiding unnecessary Platinum purchases and focusing on smart investments, you’ll progress more efficiently, save money, and maximize your experience in Warframe without relying on microtransactions.

#1: Use the Codex to Learn and Progress Faster

The Codex in Warframe is one of the most valuable tools for beginners, yet many new players overlook it. Found in your Orbiter, the Codex provides detailed information on enemies, Warframes, weapons, mods, quests, and mission types, making it an essential resource for learning the game. Instead of constantly searching for answers online, you can use the Codex to understand mechanics, plan upgrades, and track progress more efficiently.

The Quest section helps you keep track of your current and unlocked story missions, while the Universe tab provides details on enemy weaknesses, drop rates, and where to farm specific materials. The Training section contains useful tutorials on advanced mechanics like movement, modding, and crafting. If you’re unsure where to find a resource or how to defeat a certain boss, the Codex can provide the answers.

Scanning enemies with the Codex Scanner or Helios Sentinel unlocks even more detailed information, including potential loot drops and faction weaknesses. This is especially useful for farming mods, resources, and rare components without wasting time searching for them randomly.

By regularly checking the Codex, you’ll become more self-sufficient, learn game mechanics faster, and make smarter progression decisions, allowing you to maximize efficiency and avoid common beginner mistakes in Warframe.

Conclusion

Starting out in Warframe can feel overwhelming, but by following these 10 essential beginner tips, you’ll progress faster, make smarter choices, and enjoy the game without unnecessary struggles. Mastering movement, understanding modding, managing resources, and completing quests will help you unlock powerful Warframes and weapons while ensuring you don’t waste valuable materials. Focusing on Junctions, joining a Clan, and using the Codex will provide access to new content, exclusive gear, and useful in-game knowledge. Most importantly, avoiding Platinum waste and learning how to trade for it will allow you to expand your inventory and optimize your builds without spending real money. With patience, practice, and these strategies in mind, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled Tenno, ready to take on the challenges of the Origin System in Warframe.