Warframe: 8 Best Secondary Weapons

Warframe is renowned for its vast arsenal of unique and powerful weapons, ranging from plasma shotguns to explosive assault rifles. However, secondary weapons often don’t get the recognition they deserve. These sidearms are more than just backups—they can rival or even surpass primary weapons when equipped with the right mods.

Secondary weapons stand out thanks to their access to stronger mods, unique mechanics, and versatile playstyles. Some offer creative effects, such as infinite ammo, damage buffs on kills, or special abilities that set them apart from other weapon categories. With the right build, these weapons can become devastating tools in any Tenno’s arsenal.

In this guide, we’ll explore the 8 strongest secondary weapons in Warframe, showcasing their capabilities and why they deserve a place in your loadout. Let’s dive into the best sidearms for taking on the Origin System’s toughest challenges!

#8: Lex Prime

The Lex is Warframe’s version of a heavy-hitting hand cannon, reminiscent of a futuristic Desert Eagle. One of the first secondary weapons available to new players, the Lex can be purchased from the in-game market for just 50,000 Credits, making it an excellent early-game option. With its high base damage and strong critical stats, the Lex quickly outperforms starter weapons like the Lato and MK1-Kunai, tearing through Star Chart enemies with ease once modded.

For those seeking an upgrade, the Lex Prime, obtainable through certain Void Relics, offers enhanced performance and a more polished design. However, the true potential of this weapon is unlocked with its Incarnon Adapter. In its Incarnon Form, the Lex Prime transforms into a devastating hand cannon that fires massive projectiles, obliterating enemies with overwhelming base damage and incredible critical stats.

Whether you’re facing Steel Path Eximus units, Acolytes, or regular foes, the Lex Prime in Incarnon Form delivers unmatched firepower, capable of vaporizing even the toughest enemies in just a few shots. It’s a weapon that evolves from a reliable sidearm to a pocket-sized BFG, earning its place as a must-have secondary weapon in Warframe.

#7: Kuva Nukor

Before the introduction of Incarnon weapons, the Kuva Nukor reigned as the undisputed king of secondary weapons in Warframe. Known for its unique mechanics and raw power, this weapon dominated the meta for years. Its standout feature is a chain beam effect that connects struck enemies to two nearby targets, effectively tripling its damage output against groups of enemies. Combined with its solid base damage, the Kuva Nukor can single-handedly handle most Steel Path content with ease.

While it shares similarities with the Tenet Cycron, the Kuva Nukor has a distinct advantage: a 5x critical damage multiplier. By enhancing your critical hit chance—using tools like Arcane Avenger or Harrow’s Covenant—this weapon transforms into a devastating force capable of wiping out even the toughest enemies. It’s a weapon that turns crowd control into an art form, decimating hordes of foes with unparalleled efficiency.

Although the Kuva Nukor has been somewhat overshadowed by newer Incarnon weapons and the Ocucor, it remains an S-tier option for high-level missions. Its versatility, ease of use, and unmatched ability to clear groups of enemies ensure its lasting appeal for Tenno looking to dominate the Origin System.

#6: Knell Prime

The Knell Prime is a sleek, high-precision sidearm that rewards accuracy with incredible power. Designed for skilled marksmen, this weapon boasts a unique mechanic: landing a headshot activates an auto-reload feature and grants infinite ammo for a short time, as well as a significant boost to critical chance and critical damage. This makes the Knell Prime a devastating tool in the hands of players who excel at pinpoint accuracy.

With its exceptional base critical stats, the Knell Prime delivers devastating headshots capable of obliterating even Steel Path enemies. Its ability to sustain fire without needing to reload allows for continuous damage output, making it ideal for both single-target eliminations and clearing groups of enemies with precision.

Although its playstyle requires consistent accuracy, the rewards are well worth the effort. Paired with mods like Primed Target Cracker and Primed Pistol Gambit, or buffs from Arcane Avenger, the Knell Prime becomes a powerhouse capable of handling the toughest missions. For Tenno who value precision and high damage potential, the Knell Prime is a must-have secondary weapon.

#5: Tenet Cycron

The Tenet Cycron is a high-tech beam pistol that stands out for its unique mechanics and devastating performance in the right hands. This secondary weapon features a continuous beam of elemental damage and automatically reloads when not in use, ensuring that downtime between shots is minimal. Its innate Radiation damage and high status chance make it an excellent choice for inflicting a variety of status effects, enabling it to melt through enemy armor and shields with ease.

What makes the Tenet Cycron particularly deadly is its synergy with multishot mods and status builds, allowing it to consistently apply multiple status effects across enemies. The weapon’s reload mechanic ensures that players can maintain sustained damage output without worrying about running out of ammo, making it perfect for longer missions or high-level content.

With its fast fire rate, reliable damage, and ease of use, the Tenet Cycron is an ideal weapon for both crowd control and single-target elimination. While not as flashy as some other secondaries, its efficiency and adaptability make it a must-have for Tenno looking for a dependable and versatile sidearm.

#4: Epitaph

The Epitaph is one of the most versatile secondary weapons in Warframe, known for its unique firing modes and devastating power. This weapon offers both quick-fire and charged shot options, catering to a variety of playstyles and combat scenarios. The quick-fire mode releases explosive projectiles with a high status chance, making it an excellent status primer, while the charged shots deliver devastating single-target damage with incredible critical stats.

As a signature weapon of Sevagoth, the Epitaph synergizes perfectly with builds that emphasize status and critical scaling. The quick-fire projectiles apply multiple status effects to enemies, setting up devastating follow-ups for melee weapons or other primary damage dealers. Meanwhile, the charged shots can obliterate tough targets, making the Epitaph a versatile tool for both crowd control and high-level enemy takedowns.

Whether you’re shredding through Steel Path missions or tackling Acolytes, the Epitaph excels in adaptability and sheer power. Pair it with mods like Galvanized Shot and Primed Target Cracker to unlock its full potential. With its unique mechanics and high damage output, the Epitaph remains a top-tier choice for Tenno who demand versatility in their secondary weapons.

#3: Dual Toxocyst

The Dual Toxocyst is a unique and highly rewarding secondary weapon in Warframe, offering a playstyle that emphasizes precision and adaptability. This semi-automatic sidearm boasts an exceptional critical chance and critical damage multiplier, making it a powerhouse in the right hands. Its defining feature, however, is its On Precision Headshot buff: landing a headshot triggers a temporary bonus that increases fire rate, reload speed, and critical stats, transforming the weapon into a rapid-fire machine of destruction.

While the Dual Toxocyst’s base stats are already impressive, its true strength lies in maintaining the headshot buff. This requires consistent aim, but the payoff is immense, allowing the weapon to deal devastating damage even in Steel Path missions. The buff also synergizes well with mods that enhance critical damage, such as Primed Target Cracker and Primed Pistol Gambit, amplifying its already impressive output.

In addition to its high damage potential, the Dual Toxocyst delivers innate Toxin damage, making it a natural counter to heavily armored enemies and a strong choice for status builds. Its versatility and power make it a standout weapon for skilled Tenno who enjoy rewarding, precision-based gameplay. If you’re looking for a weapon that balances finesse with sheer firepower, the Dual Toxocyst is a perfect choice.

#2: Ocucor

The Ocucor is a highly versatile and visually striking secondary weapon that delivers exceptional damage through its unique chaining mechanic. This energy-based sidearm locks onto a target and fires a continuous beam of energy. Once an enemy is killed, the beam chains to nearby enemies, spreading destruction across groups with ease. This makes the Ocucor particularly effective for crowd control, especially in high-density missions.

What sets the Ocucor apart is its ability to summon additional homing projectiles after a certain number of kills. These projectiles automatically target nearby enemies, amplifying its damage output and further enhancing its utility in large-scale battles. With its solid critical stats, high status chance, and innate Radiation damage, the Ocucor excels in tearing through both armored and shielded enemies, making it a strong choice for Steel Path and endgame content.

The weapon’s beam mechanic ensures accuracy, while its chaining and homing capabilities allow for efficient elimination of entire groups without needing precise aim. Pair it with mods like Galvanized Diffusion and Primed Pistol Gambit to maximize its damage and critical potential. The Ocucor’s mix of power, utility, and style cements its place as one of the best secondary weapons in Warframe, perfect for Tenno seeking a combination of precision and chaos.

#1: Laetum

The Laetum is the undisputed king of secondary weapons in Warframe, combining versatility, raw power, and the unique mechanics of Incarnon weapons. As part of the Zariman arsenal, this pistol starts as a reliable semi-automatic weapon with solid critical and status stats, but its true potential is unlocked through its Incarnon Form. By landing a few kills, the Laetum transforms into a rapid-fire cannon, unleashing devastating explosive rounds that obliterate anything in their path.

The Incarnon Evolutions available for the Laetum allow players to customize the weapon to their liking, enhancing features such as critical chance, fire rate, or AoE radius. Its adaptability makes it suitable for a wide range of playstyles, from crowd-clearing in Steel Path missions to melting high-priority targets like Acolytes and bosses. The sheer firepower of its Incarnon Form ensures no enemy—armored or shielded—stands a chance.

With the right build, including mods like Primed Target Cracker, Galvanized Diffusion, and Hornet Strike, the Laetum can easily deal millions of damage per second, making it the ultimate secondary weapon for any Tenno. Its seamless blend of style, power, and versatility places the Laetum at the top of the list for must-have sidearms in Warframe.

Conclusion

Secondary weapons in Warframe are far more than just backup options—they can be some of the most powerful and versatile tools in your arsenal. From the precision and devastating headshot potential of the Knell Prime to the explosive destruction of the Laetum, these sidearms offer unique mechanics and unmatched damage potential that can rival, and often surpass, primary weapons.

Choosing the right secondary weapon depends on your playstyle and the challenges you’re facing, whether it’s the chaining power of the Ocucor, the beam devastation of the Kuva Nukor, or the status-spreading capabilities of the Epitaph. With the right mods and builds, these weapons can dominate everything from Star Chart missions to Steel Path content.

Experiment with the weapons on this list, find the one that fits your style, and unleash their full potential. Armed with these incredible sidearms, no challenge in the Origin System will stand a chance against your might.