Best Hema Builds In Warframe

The Hema has earned a notorious reputation in Warframe—not because of how it performs, but because of how brutal it used to be to unlock. For large clans, the original research cost required a ridiculous number of Mutagen Samples, making it one of the most avoided weapons in the game simply due to the grind. As a result, many players never even got the chance to try it out.

Thankfully, the Techrot Encore update has changed that with the introduction of the Coda Hema, a much more accessible variant that ditches the grind and makes this blood-fueled burst rifle a viable option for everyone. In this guide, we’ll break down how to get both versions of the Hema, explain what makes it unique, and share some powerful builds to help you get the most out of it—from standard Star Chart missions to higher-end content.

How To Get The Hema In Warframe

To obtain the standard Hema, you’ll need to be part of a clan with access to the Infested Lab in the dojo. However, unlocking this weapon isn’t as simple as replicating the blueprint—it’s infamous for its insane research cost, requiring a staggering 10,000 Mutagen Samples just to make it available. For many clans, especially larger ones, this has made the Hema one of the most painful weapons to unlock in all of Warframe.

If your clan has already done the heavy lifting, you’re in luck. Just head to the Infested Lab, replicate the blueprint, and gather the crafting materials listed below to build it.

If your clan hasn’t researched it—or you’re just not up for the Mutagen grind—the Coda Hema is a much easier alternative. After completing the quest “The Hex”, defeat a Technocyte Coda and visit Eleanor’s Coda shop in Hollvania. There, you can buy the Coda Hema directly (when it appears in her rotation). Not only is it easier to obtain, but it also performs better in nearly every category compared to the original.

Hema Crafting Requirements:
• 5x Mutagen Mass
• 50,000x Salvage
• 5,000x Circuits
• 1x Forma
• 30,000 Credits
• Build Time: 24 Hours

Hema Stats And Features In Warframe Explained

The Hema is a unique burst-fire rifle that stands out not just for its Infested design, but for its bizarre ammo mechanic—it doesn’t use traditional ammunition. Instead, reloading the Hema consumes a small portion of your health, about 5% of your max HP per full reload. While that might sound like a drawback, the weapon balances it out with a built-in headshot lifesteal effect, restoring 5% of your HP every time you land a precision hit. This makes it surprisingly sustainable in longer fights if you’re accurate with your shots.

Stat-wise, the Hema fires in three-round bursts and deals innate Viral damage, making it excellent for status-based builds. It boasts high accuracy, a decent magazine size, and solid status chance—making it perfect for stripping health on tougher enemies. The Coda Hema takes everything good about the original and makes it better. It has higher base Viral damage, better crit chance and multiplier, and also benefits from a progenitor damage type, adding even more elemental flexibility. If you’re serious about optimizing for Steel Path or late-game content, the Coda variant is hands-down the superior version.

Hema vs. Coda Hema – Core Stats:
• Base Damage (Viral): 47 (Hema), 52 (Coda Hema)
• Multishot: 1
• Fire Rate: 5
• Critical Chance: 11% (Hema), 20% (Coda Hema)
• Critical Multiplier: 2x (Hema), 2.3x (Coda Hema)
• Status Chance per Shot: 25% (Hema), 30% (Coda Hema)
• Magazine Size: 60 (Hema), 72 (Coda Hema)
• Reload Time: 2 seconds
• Trigger Type: 3-Round Burst
• Accuracy: Very High
• Mastery Rank Requirement: MR 7 (both)

With its unique mechanics and excellent synergy in status builds, the Hema is a strong and flavorful weapon. But if you want to push its performance to the next level, the Coda version is the clear choice.

Best Hema Builds

If you’re looking to make the most out of the Hema in high-level Warframe content, building it properly is key—but luckily, it’s a pretty straightforward process once you understand how damage scaling works. Below, you’ll find two builds: one that’s beginner-friendly with minimal investment, and another that’s more geared toward endgame play. The first setup is great for players who just want to experiment with the weapon, while the second takes full advantage of the Hema’s strengths with a few Forma and more advanced mods. Whether you’re running basic Star Chart missions or diving into Steel Path, there’s a setup here to suit your loadout.

Best Starter Build

This beginner-friendly build is perfect for clearing the Star Chart and dipping into early endgame missions without needing any Forma. We start with Serration to boost base damage and Galvanized Chamber for scaling multishot—if you don’t have Galvanized mods yet, Split Chamber works just fine as a placeholder. Since the Hema has a relatively slow burst fire rate, Vile Acceleration helps smooth out its pacing and improves overall DPS without affecting accuracy.

From there, you’ll want to focus on elemental damage. The Hema already deals Viral by default, so you’ve got some flexibility when it comes to combining elements. For this setup, we recommend going with Corrosive by pairing Stormbringer (Electricity) and Malignant Force (Toxin). This helps strip armor and synergizes well with Viral procs. Finish the build off with Thermite Rounds to add Heat, which helps soften enemies with status-based armor reduction and crowd control. This setup gives you a solid mix of raw damage and status application with no major investment required.

Best Endgame Build

The Coda Hema comes with significantly better critical stats than the original, so this build is centered around maximizing crit potential for high-level missions and Steel Path content. Start with Point Strike and Galvanized Scope to push your critical chance into reliable territory, especially on headshots. Follow that up with Vital Sense to amplify your critical damage, turning burst-fire shots into serious burst damage.

For elemental damage, you’ve got more flexibility here thanks to the Coda variant’s progenitor bonus. We’re running Stormbringer and Malignant Force for Corrosive—great for stripping armor—and adding Primed Cryo Rounds for a heavy boost to Cold damage. Depending on your progenitor type, you can leave this as raw Cold or mix in Heat to form Blast, giving you crowd control through knockdowns.

To round out the build, we use Primary Deadhead for bonus headshot damage and scaling on kills, which pairs perfectly with the lifesteal on headshots. In the Exilus slot, Terminal Velocity greatly improves projectile speed, making it easier to land shots at longer ranges and keeping the weapon snappy and responsive. With this setup, the Coda Hema becomes a versatile and deadly primary that can keep up with some of Warframe’s top-tier rifles.

Conclusion

The Hema is one of Warframe’s most unique primary weapons, offering a mix of lifesteal mechanics, burst fire, and innate Viral damage that make it both flavorful and functional. While the original version is infamous for its brutal research cost, the Coda Hema gives players a much more accessible and powerful alternative. With the right build—whether you’re just starting out or gearing up for Steel Path—the Hema can be a reliable tool for both damage and sustain. If you’re accurate with your shots and build around its strengths, this blood-fueled rifle can easily earn its place in your loadout.