Warframe now has 66 frames, and some of them are carrying a lot harder than others. A few can wipe an entire room with one button press, while others need heavy upgrades and a perfect build just to survive Steel Path, the game’s hard mode. This Warframe tier list ranks every single frame for Update 44: Iceblade of Narin, including the brand new Narin and the freshly reworked Banshee.
Warframe Tier List for All Frames (Update 44)
Here you can find the rankings for all frames in one go. Prime versions sit in the same tier as their base frame because they use the exact same abilities.
| Tier | Warframes | What It Means |
| S | Wisp, Saryn, Dante, Mesa, Octavia, Revenant, Nokko, Protea, Uriel | The best Warframes right now. Strong in almost every mission and worth building first. |
| A | Wukong, Kullervo, Gauss, Volt, Mirage, Xaku, Khora, Nekros, Nova, Harrow, Citrine, Jade, Trinity, Rhino, Nezha, Hildryn, Nidus, Titania, Cyte-09, Gara, Garuda, Sevagoth, Styanax, Voruna, Lavos, Oraxia, Banshee, Narin | Very strong picks. Often the single best choice for a specific job. |
| B | Ash, Atlas, Baruuk, Chroma, Dagath, Ember, Equinox, Excalibur, Follie, Frost, Grendel, Gyre, Hydroid, Inaros, Ivara, Limbo, Mag, Oberon, Qorvex, Sirius & Orion, Temple, Valkyr, Zephyr | Good and fun, but they need more gear, skill or setup to match the tiers above. |
| C | Caliban, Koumei, Loki, Nyx, Vauban, Yareli | Niche picks. Playable, but outclassed in most content until they get buffs. |
What Changed in Warframe Update 44: Iceblade of Narin?
Update 44 went live on September 23, 2026 across every platform, and it shook up the Warframe meta at both ends. Here is what matters for your frame choices:
- Narin, the 66th Warframe: A cold themed rapier dancer who builds up Ice with her abilities to unlock her ultimate. Her parts drop in Zariman missions, or you can trade Entropic Kuva from the new Entropic Eximus enemies to Cephalon Melica at the Yuvan Peak hub. You need to finish Angels of the Zariman and Whispers in the Walls to reach Yuvan Peak.
- Narin’s first buff: Hotfix 44.0.3 on September 30 raised her Nurinarim duration from 15 to 20 seconds and let her attack enemies that are not marked.
- Banshee rework: Her abilities no longer root her in place, Sonic Boom now strips enemy armor as part of her base kit, and Sound Quake became a lasting zone instead of a channel. Everyone who logs in between September 23 and October 7, 2026 gets Banshee and a Forma for free.
- Citrine Prime Access: Citrine Prime arrived with more energy, more armor and an extra polarity slot. Xaku Prime moved into the Prime Vault at the same time.
- New augment mods: Oraxia, Uriel, Frost and Grendel each received a new augment.
- Hydroid stat fix: His health and shield values were swapped so he gets more out of the armor he steals with Plunder.
- What comes next: The Icebind, a new six player mode, is set for October 7, followed by Epoch Operation: Taubound on October 15. Warframe: Tau arrives in winter 2026 and brings Brysko, the next confirmed frame.
How This Warframe Tier List Was Built?
No ranking is perfect, but this one follows clear rules. Every frame was judged on four things:
- Steel Path performance: Can it handle the game’s tougher enemies without falling apart?
- Ease of use: How much effort and skill does it take to get good results?
- Squad value: Does it make the whole team stronger, or only itself?
- Investment: How much Forma (an item that reshapes mod slots) and how many Helminth swaps (replacing one ability with another frame’s ability) does it need to shine?
Placements were cross checked against community voting boards, endgame usage and the latest patch notes, then checked again after Hotfix 44.0.3. One honest reminder: a well built B tier frame you love playing will always beat an S tier frame you hate.
S Tier Warframes
Check out all the frames in this tier:
Wisp
Role: Support | Prime version: Yes
Wisp is the support frame every squad hopes to see in the lobby. Her Reservoirs drop floating motes that give your team bonus speed and fire rate, extra health, or a stun on nearby enemies. Breach Surge blinds crowds and makes them burst into damaging sparks when hit, while Sol Gate fires a burning beam when you want to do the killing yourself. She also turns invisible while airborne, so jumping around keeps her alive even on Steel Path.
Saryn
Role: Room clearing | Prime version: Yes
Saryn has been a top pick for years and still clears packed rooms better than almost anyone. Spores infect enemies with toxic pods that spread to everyone nearby when they pop, so the damage snowballs through a crowd. Toxic Lash coats your weapons in Toxin damage, Miasma bursts out a poison cloud that hits everything around her, and Molt leaves a decoy to soak up fire. She is the go to frame for Sanctuary Onslaught and enemy packed Survival missions.
Dante
Role: Support and damage | Prime version: No
Dante is the reason Overguard, a bonus health layer that blocks damage and crowd control, shows up in nearly every endgame squad. Light Verse and Dark Verse each write a verse into his book, then Final Verse unleashes an effect based on the verses you stacked, ranging from squad wide Overguard to heavy area damage. Noctua turns his living book into a weapon of its own. Bring him to Netracells, Archon Hunts or any mission where your team keeps dying.
Mesa
Role: Damage | Prime version: Yes
Mesa is the easiest strong frame in Warframe. Activate Peacemaker and her twin pistols lock onto every enemy in front of her and fire on their own, which turns Defense and Index missions into a breeze. Shatter Shield massively cuts incoming bullet damage, so she is tougher than she looks, and Shooting Gallery boosts allies’ weapon damage while jamming nearby enemy guns. Ballistic Battery stores damage for one heavy shot. Low effort, huge reward.
Octavia
Role: Endurance and support | Prime version: Yes
Octavia turns music into a weapon and is one of the best frames for long endurance runs. Mallet is a speaker that draws enemy fire and hits back harder the more damage it soaks up. Resonator rolls around charming enemies into dancing after it, Metronome rewards you with buffs like invisibility when you act on the beat, and Amp boosts your squad’s damage and energy. With the right build she can stay invisible for an entire mission while her Mallet melts everything nearby.
Revenant
Role: Tank | Prime version: Yes
Revenant is what you play when you simply refuse to die. Mesmer Skin gives him charges that completely block incoming hits and stun the attacker, and Reave lets him dash through enemies to steal their health and shields. Danse Macabre spins him into a storm of laser beams that shreds crowds, while Enthrall turns enemies into thralls that fight for him. He is a top pick for Arbitrations, Archon Hunts and long Steel Path runs.
Nokko
Role: Damage and support | Prime version: No
Nokko is the mushroom kid who quietly grew into one of the strongest frames in the game. Stinkbrain throws a mushroom that puffs Viral spores and puts enemies to sleep, Brightbonnet pulses energy and an Ability Strength boost to the squad, and Reroot shrinks him into a tiny Sprodling that enemies cannot target while he heals. Sporespring is his nuke, a seeking mushroom bomb that bounces explosively off everything and makes his other mushrooms pulse twice as fast. His passive even revives him if he reaches one of his mushrooms in time. You can farm him from Nightcap’s bounties in the caves under the Orb Vallis.
Protea
Role: Room clearing and support | Prime version: Yes
Protea is a gadget frame that does a bit of everything and does it well. Hold Grenade Fan to wrap your squad in Shield Satellites that restore shields, or tap it for a slicing shrapnel vortex. Blaze Artillery drops a turret that hits harder with every enemy it strikes, and Dispensary spits out health, energy and ammo. Temporal Anchor rewinds time, refunds everything you lost, detonates a big blast and even saves her from death. Her passive also powers up every fourth ability she casts.
Uriel
Role: Damage and summoner | Prime version: No
Uriel is a devil frame who fights alongside three demons that chain enemies together, chew on targets and drop runes that boost your fire rate. Infernalis sets him ablaze and turns his dodge roll into a flying drill, Remedium heals him, removes status effects and revives his demons, and Demonium hurls demon souls that make enemies take extra damage. Using his demons charges Brimstone, a growing ring of hellfire that can burn down the toughest Steel Path enemies. His main blueprint comes from The Old Peace quest and his parts from The Descendia.
A Tier Warframes
Check out all the frames in this tier:
Wukong
Role: All rounder | Prime version: Yes
Wukong is one of the most played frames in Warframe because he is easy, tough and flexible. Celestial Twin summons a clone that fights beside you with your own weapons, Cloud Walker turns him into an untouchable cloud for quick escapes, and Defy soaks up damage before hitting back and granting bonus armor. Primal Fury pulls out his giant staff for melee clears. You can research him in any Clan Dojo, which makes him a great early pick.
Kullervo
Role: Melee damage | Prime version: No
Kullervo is a melee bruiser built around huge critical hits. Wrathful Advance teleports him straight to an enemy for a critical strike, Recompense carves nearby enemies with heavy slashes, and Collective Curse links enemies so damage dealt to one hits them all. Storm of Ukko rains cursed daggers around him. Give him a strong melee weapon and he tears through both crowds and tanky single targets.
Gauss
Role: Speed and damage | Prime version: Yes
Gauss is the fastest frame in the game and plays like a living battery. Mach Rush sends him sprinting across the map and smashing into enemies, Kinetic Plating blocks damage and knockdowns, and Thermal Sunder blasts groups with heat or cold. Redline overcharges his battery for faster firing, reloading and casting. Keeping that battery meter in the sweet spot is the skill that makes Gauss shine.
Volt
Role: Support and damage | Prime version: Yes
Volt is a starter frame who never really falls off. Speed boosts your squad’s movement and melee speed, Electric Shield blocks enemy fire and adds Electricity and critical damage to bullets that pass through it, and Discharge chains shocks across an entire room. Shock is a quick zap for single targets. He is still a staple in Eidolon hunts and Sanctuary Onslaught.
Mirage
Role: Damage | Prime version: Yes
Mirage is a damage multiplier wearing a carnival costume. Hall of Mirrors creates clones that copy every shot you fire, and Eclipse gives her either a huge damage boost or strong damage reduction. Sleight of Hand booby traps nearby objects, and Prism fires a crystal that blinds enemies and hits them with lasers. She makes a good weapon look great, but she is squishy if you play carelessly.
Xaku
Role: Damage and support | Prime version: Yes
Xaku is a broken frame stitched together with Void energy, and that brokenness is the whole point. Grasp of Lohk rips weapons out of enemy hands and turns them on their owners. The Lost packs three tools into one ability, with Accuse turning enemies into allies, Gaze stripping their defenses and Deny pinning them down. Xata’s Whisper adds Void damage to your weapons, and The Vast Untime shatters nearby enemies so they take extra damage. Xaku Prime was vaulted in Update 44, so trading is now your best route to his Prime parts.
Khora
Role: Loot farming and crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Khora is the queen of loot runs. Strangledome traps enemies in a dome of chains, and with the Pilfering Strangledome augment every trapped enemy has a chance to drop extra loot when killed. Whipclaw cracks her whip across groups, Ensnare ties enemies together, and Venari calls her kavat pet to attack, heal or speed you up. Her whip lost a chunk of damage in an earlier rework, but as a farming and crowd control frame she is still elite.
Nekros
Role: Loot farming | Prime version: Yes
Nekros is the classic farming frame. Desecrate gives nearby corpses a chance to drop extra loot, which makes him a must have for resource runs. Shadows of the Dead raises fallen enemies to fight for you, Terrify sends enemies fleeing in fear and strips their armor, and Soul Punch launches a target across the room. He is simple to play and pairs perfectly with other loot boosting frames.
Nova
Role: Crowd control and support | Prime version: Yes
Nova controls speed itself. Molecular Prime slows every enemy in a huge radius and makes them take double damage, which is perfect for Defense missions and quick clears. Built with low Ability Strength, it speeds enemies up instead, a popular trick for faster farming runs. Antimatter Drop stores damage for a big explosion, Worm Hole creates portals for your squad, and Null Star surrounds her with protective particles.
Harrow
Role: Support | Prime version: Yes
Harrow is a priest frame who rewards good timing. Covenant absorbs incoming damage for a few seconds, then converts it into a big critical chance boost for your whole squad. Thurible generates energy for allies as you land kills, Penance trades shields for life steal and faster reloads, and Condemn chains enemies in place. He is outstanding in organized squads but takes practice to play well.
Citrine
Role: Support | Prime version: Yes
Citrine is a crystal frame who makes status effects hit harder for the whole team. Prismatic Gem places a gem that fires beams loaded with Heat, Cold, Toxin and Electricity status while boosting nearby allies’ status chance. Preserving Shell wraps your squad in a crystal shell that reduces damage and gets stronger with kills, Crystallize locks enemies in crystal growths that take extra critical damage, and Fractured Blast staggers enemies and makes them drop more health and energy orbs. Citrine Prime launched with Update 44, so now is a great time to pick her up.
Jade
Role: Support | Prime version: No
Jade is an angelic support frame with a flying finale. Light’s Judgment creates wells of light that heal allies and burn enemies, Symphony of Mercy cycles between hymns that boost Ability Strength, weapon damage or shields, and Ophanim Eyes slows nearby enemies while melting their armor and shields. Glory on High lifts her into the sky to blast enemies from above. She also equips two aura mods instead of one, which gives your squad even more value.
Trinity
Role: Support and healing | Prime version: Yes
Trinity is the original healer and still does the job. Energy Vampire drains a target to keep your squad’s energy topped up, and Blessing instantly heals allies and gives them damage reduction. Well of Life turns an enemy into a health fountain, and Link redirects damage you take to nearby enemies. She remains a key pick for Eidolon squads and anyone who hates running out of energy.
Rhino
Role: Tank and squad buffer | Prime version: Yes
Rhino is the best tank for new players and stays useful later. Iron Skin wraps him in a thick layer that soaks damage, and Roar boosts the whole squad’s damage, which is why it is one of the most popular Helminth picks for other frames. Rhino Charge smashes through enemies and Rhino Stomp freezes everyone nearby in time. You can farm him early from the Jackal boss on Venus.
Nezha
Role: Tank and room clearing | Prime version: Yes
Nezha looks delicate but plays like a wrecking ball. Warding Halo surrounds him with a ring that absorbs damage, Fire Walker leaves a burning trail behind him, and Blazing Chakram throws a flaming ring that makes enemies more vulnerable. Divine Spears impales everyone nearby and leaves them hanging helplessly in the air. Many players add a Helminth nuke like Thermal Sunder for fast Steel Path clears. Research him in your Clan Dojo.
Hildryn
Role: Tank | Prime version: Yes
Hildryn uses her massive shields instead of energy to cast abilities. Pillage rips shields and armor off enemies while refilling her own, Balefire turns her arm into a heavy charge cannon, and Haven wraps allies in protective shields. Aegis Storm lifts her into the air to pummel enemies below. Her shield based kit makes her excellent at long, punishing missions where other frames run dry.
Nidus
Role: Tank and crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Nidus got a big retouch in Update 43, and it pushed him firmly into A tier. He collects Mutation stacks that power up his abilities and let him survive fatal hits. Virulence now leaves lingering damage and no longer costs stacks, Larva pulls enemies into a tight pile, Parasitic Link boosts an ally’s Ability Strength and weapon damage, and Ravenous spawns maggots that burst for even more stacks. With higher base health and a bigger stack cap, he is close to unkillable once he gets rolling.
Titania
Role: Damage and mobility | Prime version: Yes
Titania shrinks into a tiny fairy with Razorwing, flying around the map with her own pistols and blades. Spellbind lifts enemies helplessly into the air, Tribute steals buffs from enemies for her squad, and Lantern turns a target into a floating lure that pulls other enemies in. She is fast, great fun and surprisingly strong on Steel Path once you get used to flying.
Cyte-09
Role: Damage and stealth | Prime version: No
Cyte-09 is a sniper frame who lives for weak point hits. Seek plants an antenna that reveals enemies through walls and boosts weak point damage, and Resupply throws elemental ammo packs that refill your magazine and add an extra element. Evade makes him jump back and turn invisible, with weak point kills keeping him hidden and healed. Neutralize summons his signature sniper rifle, whose bullets bounce between enemies’ weak points. Every weak point kill also raises his critical chance for the rest of the mission.
Gara
Role: Defense and crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Gara is a glass warrior built for protecting objectives. Mass Vitrify raises a huge glass wall that blocks enemies and can be shattered for damage, while Splinter Storm spins sharp glass around her and her allies to cut the damage they take. Spectrorage traps enemies in a mirror box that confuses them, and Shattered Lash slices or stabs with her glass blade. She is one of the strongest Defense mission frames in the game.
Garuda
Role: Damage | Prime version: Yes
Garuda turns blood into firepower. Dread Mirror rips the life out of an enemy to form a shield that charges a powerful blast, Blood Altar impales a foe to heal your squad, and Bloodletting trades her own health for energy. Seeking Talons fires a fan of homing claws. She rewards aggressive players who do not mind spending health to win.
Sevagoth
Role: Damage | Prime version: Yes
Sevagoth fights with a shadow that does the dirty work. Reap sends out a shockwave that knocks enemies down and fills his Death Well, Sow plants seeds that drain enemies over time, and Gloom slows nearby enemies while healing him through the damage he deals. Exalted Shadow swaps him into his Shadow form for a brutal melee rampage. Gloom is also one of the most popular Helminth abilities because it keeps squishy frames alive.
Styanax
Role: Damage and support | Prime version: Yes
Styanax is a Spartan style warrior with a spear and shield. Axios Javelin throws a spear that pins enemies to walls, Tharros Strike strips armor and shields while handing out overshields, and Rally Point keeps your squad’s energy and shields flowing. Final Stand hurls a barrage of javelins from the air. He is easy to pick up and gets even better with the Intrepid Stand augment.
Voruna
Role: Stealth and melee | Prime version: Yes
Voruna is a wolf themed hunter who fights with a pack of four spirit wolves. Shroud of Dynar turns her invisible and faster, Fangs of Raksh stacks several status effects on an enemy that spread when it dies, and Lycath’s Hunt makes melee kills drop health and energy orbs. Ulfrun’s Descent drops her on all fours for five brutal lunging attacks. Holding each ability swaps in a wolf’s passive, including one where Ulfrun dies in her place to save her from a fatal hit.
Lavos
Role: Damage and survival | Prime version: Yes
Lavos runs on cooldowns instead of energy, which makes him unusual and very self sufficient. Ophidian Bite drains health from enemies, Vial Rush dashes forward and leaves an elemental trail, and Transmutation Probe transforms pickups while shortening his cooldowns. Catalyze blasts a cone of elements that can mix into combined status effects. He also clears status effects off himself when casting, which makes him strong against status heavy enemies.
Oraxia
Role: Damage and stealth | Prime version: No
Oraxia is the spider frame players asked for over many years, and she delivers. Mercy’s Kiss leaps onto an enemy and stabs it with her spider legs for Toxin damage, Webbed Embrace wraps enemies in cocoons that take extra damage, and Widow’s Brood fires poison darts that hatch helper spiders called Scuttlers when enemies die. Silken Stride unfolds her spider legs, making her immune to status effects and adding Toxin to her guns. Latching onto walls also turns her invisible, and Update 44 added an augment that lets her send every Scuttler at a single target.
Banshee
Role: Damage support | Prime version: Yes
Banshee is the biggest climber on this Warframe tier list after Update 44. Her rework removed the old habit of rooting her in place, so the whole kit finally feels smooth. Sonic Boom pushes and stuns enemies while stripping a big chunk of their armor, Sonar marks extra weak spots that now count as real weak points for mods and arcanes, and Silence stuns nearby enemies and can be recast to refresh it. Sound Quake now leaves a lasting shockwave zone with guaranteed Blast status, and her new passive hits nearby enemies with Puncture status every time she casts. With Sonar active, almost any good weapon turns into a monster.
Narin
Role: Damage and survival | Prime version: No
Narin is the newest frame in Warframe, a cold themed rapier dancer who fills an Ice meter with every ability hit. Neote lunges forward with her ice rapier, Naraemagi pulls Cold status off nearby enemies to restore her shields and grants Overguard once her shields are full, and Hakchum leaps into the air and slams down to make enemies weak to Cold. With a full Ice meter, Nurinarim calls an ancestral spirit that sends her sword dancing through enemies, firing icy slashes that strip armor and shields and shatter frozen foes. She already got buffed in Hotfix 44.0.3, so treat her spot on this Warframe tier list as early but promising.
B Tier Warframes
Check out all the frames in this tier:
Ash
Role: Stealth and damage | Prime version: Yes
Ash is a ninja frame who got a welcome retouch in Techrot Encore. Smoke Screen turns him invisible, Shuriken throws blades that strip armor, and Teleport zips him straight to a target for a finisher. Blade Storm marks enemies and sends shadow clones to cut them down. He feels better than ever, but newer stealth frames do the job with fewer quirks.
Atlas
Role: Tank and melee | Prime version: Yes
Atlas is a rock solid brawler who cannot be knocked down while his feet are on the ground. Landslide is a stone punch that chains into combos, Tectonics raises a rock wall that can be launched as a boulder, and Petrify turns enemies to stone so they take extra damage. Rumblers summons two stone golems to fight beside him. He is sturdy and simple, but his damage drops off in harder content.
Baruuk
Role: Melee tank | Prime version: Yes
Baruuk is a monk who gets stronger the more he holds back. Elude makes enemy shots miss him, Lull puts enemies to sleep, and Desolate Hands surrounds him with daggers that destroy incoming bullets. Using these wears down his Restraint, which powers up Serene Storm, a flurry of punches and wind blasts. He is a sturdy melee pick, but he takes longer to get going than the top tanks.
Chroma
Role: Damage buffer | Prime version: Yes
Chroma is a dragon frame with one standout trick. Vex Armor turns damage he takes into a huge weapon damage boost and extra armor, which makes him a favorite for Profit Taker and Eidolon speedruns. Elemental Ward gives squad bonuses based on his chosen element, Spectral Scream breathes elemental damage, and Effigy turns his pelt into a sentry. Outside of boss runs, the rest of his kit feels dated.
Dagath
Role: Damage | Prime version: No
Dagath is a ghostly rider who stacks Viral damage and critical hits. Wyrd Scythes sends spinning scythes that slow enemies and spread her curse, Doom curses enemies so part of the damage she deals hits them again, and Grave Spirit adds a big critical damage boost while saving her from fatal blows. Rakhali’s Cavalry sends phantom horses charging through enemies, stripping the defenses of cursed targets. She hits hard but needs more setup than the top nukers.
Ember
Role: Damage | Prime version: Yes
Ember is the original fire frame, refreshed by a rework in Jade Shadows. Fireball launches flaming projectiles, Immolation builds a heat meter that protects her as it fills, and Fire Blast sends out a ring of fire that strips armor. Inferno rains comets on everyone nearby and spreads flames between enemies. She is solid and satisfying, but other frames now clear rooms faster.
Equinox
Role: Damage and support | Prime version: Yes
Equinox switches between a calm Day form and an aggressive Night form with Metamorphosis. Rest & Rage puts enemies to sleep or makes them take more damage, and Pacify & Provoke weakens enemies or powers up allies. Mend & Maim is her headliner, letting Maim store damage from nearby kills and release it in one huge blast. That Maim trick is still great for clearing Defense waves, but the rest of her kit has aged.
Excalibur
Role: All rounder | Prime version: Yes, but it was a Founders exclusive and can no longer be obtained
Excalibur is the face of Warframe and the safest starter frame. Slash Dash cuts through enemies in a line, Radial Blind blinds everyone nearby so they are open to finishers, and Radial Javelin pins enemies with energy blades. Exalted Blade summons a glowing sword that fires energy waves with every swing. He is perfect for learning the game, though most players move past him later. Finishing The Sacrifice quest also gives you Excalibur Umbra, a special version that can fight on his own while you play as your Operator.
Follie
Role: Crowd control and support | Prime version: No
Follie is an ink painter frame with one of the strangest kits in the game. Her abilities splash ink that slows enemies and makes them drop health and energy orbs. Forced Perspective dives through an ink frame to a new spot, Shadowgraph pulls tools out of her sketchbook like explosive barrels, arc traps and ammo crates, and Self Portrait draws an ink effigy that soaks up damage. Plein Air ties enemies to balloons that float them up before they crash back down. She is creative and helpful, but her damage needs a careful build.
Frost
Role: Defense and crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Frost is the classic ice frame and a longtime Defense mission favorite. Snow Globe creates a dome that blocks enemy fire and slows anyone who walks in, Freeze fires an ice bolt, and Ice Wave sends a line of ice spikes along the ground. Avalanche freezes and shatters enemies around him while stripping their armor. Update 44’s new Cold Front augment attaches Snow Globe to Frost himself, giving him a mobile bubble that grows tougher with every frozen kill.
Grendel
Role: Tank | Prime version: Yes
Grendel is a hungry tank who literally eats his enemies. Feast swallows enemies whole, Regurgitate spits them back out as toxic projectiles, and Nourish turns digested enemies into squad buffs like energy and Viral damage. Pulverize turns him into a rolling ball that crushes everything in his path. Update 44 added the Gastroparesis augment, which gives his guns bonus Gas damage for every enemy he swallows.
Gyre
Role: Damage | Prime version: Yes
Gyre is an electricity frame built for chaining shocks. Arcsphere launches a ball of lightning that zaps enemies, Coil Horizon pulls enemies into a crackling coil, and Cathode Grace boosts her critical chance. Rotorswell charges her up so her attacks arc lightning across the room. She has strong numbers on paper but needs a tuned build to compete with the tiers above.
Hydroid
Role: Loot farming | Prime version: Yes
Hydroid is a pirate frame and one of the three best farming frames in the game. Tentacle Swarm grabs enemies with tentacles, and with the Pilfering Swarm augment, enemies killed by them have a chance to drop extra loot. Tempest Barrage rains water bombs on enemies, Tidal Impunity helps him slip out of danger, and Plunder strips enemy armor to boost his own. He is a strong solo farmer, but his overall combat power trails the frames above him.
Inaros
Role: Tank | Prime version: Yes
Inaros is a sand frame with an enormous health pool. Devour wraps an enemy in sand and drains it to heal him, Desiccation blinds enemies with a blast of sand, and Sandstorm turns him into a whirling tornado. Scarab Swarm covers him in protective scarab armor. He is very hard to kill, but his damage and squad value are low compared to modern tanks.
Ivara
Role: Stealth and spy missions | Prime version: Yes
Ivara is the stealth archer and the best Spy mission frame in Warframe. Prowl turns her invisible and lets her pickpocket enemies for extra loot, Navigator lets her steer bullets and arrows mid flight, and Quiver fires special arrows like sleep and noise arrows. Artemis Bow summons a powerful multi shot bow. She is brilliant for stealth and farming specific drops, less so for raw Steel Path clearing.
Limbo
Role: Defense and crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Limbo plays with the Rift, a separate plane of reality. Banish sends enemies or allies into the Rift, Stasis freezes everything inside it, and Rift Surge spreads Rift effects to more enemies. Cataclysm creates a large Rift bubble that keeps enemies away from objectives. He is excellent at protecting things in modes like Void Cascade, but he can frustrate teammates in other missions.
Mag
Role: Crowd control and damage | Prime version: Yes
Mag is one of the three starter frames, a magnet themed fighter. Pull yanks enemies toward her, Magnetize creates a bubble that traps bullets and enemies before exploding, and Polarize strips shields and armor around her. Crush squeezes every nearby enemy in a magnetic grip. Her damage ceiling is high, but she is fragile and takes practice to use well.
Oberon
Role: Support and healing | Prime version: Yes
Oberon is a paladin frame who received buffs to every ability and a brand new passive in Update 40. Smite blasts an enemy with Radiation, Hallowed Ground creates a protective patch of consecrated ground, and Renewal heals your squad over time. Reckoning lifts and slams enemies while stripping their armor. He is a handy all rounder, though other supports bring more to the table.
Qorvex
Role: Tank and crowd control | Prime version: No
Qorvex is a walking nuclear reactor. Containment Wall slams two radiation walls together to crush enemies between them, Chyrinka Pillar places a pillar that pulls enemies in and irradiates them, and Disinfect protects him and his squad from status effects. Crucible Blast fires a channeled Radiation beam. He is tough and useful against certain enemy types, but he needs investment to keep up.
Sirius & Orion
Role: Damage and support | Prime version: No
Sirius & Orion are two full Warframes sharing one slot, and you swap between the brothers mid fight. Sirius handles support with Coronal Ejection, a heat scythe throw that grabs pickups, Jade Stars, motes that fire at the enemies you attack, and Light’s Sanctuary, a growing well that heals, revives allies and cuts damage taken. Orion is the aggressive brother with Gravitic Slash, Astral Shell and Event Horizon, a moving black hole that drags enemies in. Both share Celestial Clash, where the brothers take to the air and collide. Swapping also gives your next two casts 45% Ability Efficiency. The concept is brilliant, but the payoff does not quite match the effort yet.
Temple
Role: Damage | Prime version: No
Temple is a rock star frame armed with Lizzie, a living Techrot guitar. Their passive rewards you for casting on the beat of an on screen metronome, making abilities stronger and cheaper. Pyrotechnics blasts targets with pillars of fire, Ripper’s Wail makes them briefly invulnerable while healing them, and timing Overdrive and their other abilities on the beat fuels Lizzie. Exalted Solo turns Lizzie into a flamethrower that also fires elemental sound waves. Fun and flashy, but the rhythm system is not for everyone.
Valkyr
Role: Melee tank | Prime version: Yes
Valkyr is a feral melee frame known for her claws. Hysteria unleashes glowing energy claws for fast, brutal melee, Warcry boosts squad attack speed and armor while slowing enemies, and Paralysis stuns everyone nearby. Rip Line hooks enemies or pulls her across the map. She is easy and durable, but her damage falls behind newer melee frames.
Zephyr
Role: Air control | Prime version: Yes
Zephyr is the bird frame who rules the skies. Turbulence surrounds her with wind that deflects incoming projectiles, Tail Wind launches her through the air, and Airburst blasts enemies with a burst of wind. Tornado spawns twisters that suck up enemies and spread damage. She is great fun in the air and very safe from gunfire, but her damage needs work.
C Tier Warframes
Check out all the frames in this tier:
Caliban
Role: Tank and summoner | Prime version: Yes
Caliban is a Sentient hybrid whose passive lets his armor adapt to the damage hitting him. Razorwing Blitz gives him a speed boosting dash attack, Sentient Wrath lifts enemies and weakens them, and Lethal Progeny summons Sentient allies to fight for him. Fusion Strike fires converging beams that explode on impact. He has decent tools, but none of them stand out in the current meta.
Koumei
Role: Status effects and survival | Prime version: No
Koumei is the dice maiden, and luck decides how strong her abilities are each time you cast. Kumihimo weaves threads that hit enemies with random elemental status effects, Omikuji gives you a small challenge that rewards a powerful buff called a Decree, and Omamori surrounds her with charms that can turn incoming damage into healing. Bunraku traps enemies in strings while stacking status effects on them. Rolling triple sixes upgrades every ability, which is exciting but too random for consistent endgame play.
Loki
Role: Stealth | Prime version: Yes
Loki is the original trickster. Invisibility hides him from enemies, Decoy drops a fake Loki to draw fire, and Switch Teleport swaps places with an enemy or object. Radial Disarm strips weapons from nearby enemies. He is still handy for stealth runs, but Ash and Ivara now cover his niche better.
Nyx
Role: Crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Nyx messes with enemy minds. Mind Control turns an enemy into a temporary ally, Chaos makes groups of enemies attack each other, and Psychic Bolts strips enemy defenses. Absorb traps her in a protective sphere that soaks up damage and releases it as a blast. The tools are fun, but they struggle against Steel Path enemies.
Vauban
Role: Crowd control | Prime version: Yes
Vauban is an engineer who plays with gadgets. Tesla Nervos sends out rolling drones that shock enemies, Minelayer places different types of mines, and Photon Strike calls down an orbital laser. Bastille traps enemies in a field that strips their armor, and recasting it turns it into a vortex that pulls them together. He is solid for crowd control, but slow compared to modern frames.
Yareli
Role: Mobility and damage | Prime version: Yes
Yareli is a water frame who rides her own hoverboard. Merulina summons the board so she can surf around the map with extra protection, Sea Snares traps enemies in water bubbles, and Aquablades spins water blades around her. Riptide pulls enemies into a whirlpool and crushes them. She is stylish and fun, but her board limits your weapon options and her damage is low.
Best Warframes by Role in Warframe
This Warframe tier list ranks overall power, but the right pick also depends on what you are doing. Use this table to find the best Warframe for each job.
| Role | Best Picks | Why They Stand Out |
| Room clearing (DPS) | Saryn, Mesa, Nokko, Uriel, Protea | Kill large groups fast with very little setup |
| Squad support | Wisp, Dante, Octavia, Harrow, Citrine | Buffs, healing and Overguard that lift the whole team |
| Tank and survival | Revenant, Nidus, Hildryn, Rhino, Wukong | Very hard to kill, even on Steel Path |
| Loot farming | Khora, Nekros, Hydroid | Boost the chance of extra drops from enemies |
| Bosses and single targets | Cyte-09, Kullervo, Chroma, Mirage | Huge damage on one tough enemy |
| Objective defense | Frost, Gara, Limbo | Keep enemies away from things you need to protect |
| Stealth and spy | Ivara, Ash, Loki, Oraxia | Invisibility for Spy missions and stealth kills |
| Solo Steel Path | Revenant, Octavia, Nokko, Wukong | Survive and kill without a squad covering them |
Most Warframe missions are hosted by one player in the squad, so a shaky connection can ruin even the best team comp. If rubber banding keeps wrecking your runs, our breakdown of whether ExitLag really reduces lag is worth a quick read.
Best Warframes for Beginners in Warframe
Not every frame near the top of the Warframe tier list is beginner friendly. Here is how to build a strong roster without getting overwhelmed.
Which Starter Warframe Should You Pick?
| Starter Frame | Why Pick It | Watch Out For |
| Excalibur | Balanced kit, simple to learn and a strong Exalted Blade | Falls off in the late game |
| Volt | Speed and Electric Shield stay useful forever | Low durability early on |
| Mag | High damage potential with Magnetize | Fragile and takes practice |
Excalibur is the easiest choice for most new players. Volt is the better long term pick because he never stops being useful.
Easy Warframes to Farm Early
- Rhino: Drops from the Jackal boss on Venus. Iron Skin carries new players through most of the star chart.
- Frost: Drops from Lech Kril on Mars. Snow Globe makes Defense missions far easier.
- Wukong and Nezha: Both are researched in a Clan Dojo, so join an established clan to get them quickly.
- Excalibur Umbra: Free from The Sacrifice quest once you reach it.
- Banshee: Free to every player who logs in before October 7, 2026, along with a Forma.
Once you settle in, work toward Wisp, Saryn, Mesa or Nokko. Any of them will carry you deep into the endgame.
Warframes Beginners Can Skip for Now
Some frames are strong but confusing early on. Sirius & Orion, Koumei, Temple and Harrow all ask you to juggle an extra system like swapping, dice rolls, rhythm timing or damage windows. Come back to them once you understand modding and status effects.
Are Prime Warframes Better Than Regular Warframes?
Prime Warframes are better on paper, but not in a way that changes their tier. A Prime uses the exact same abilities as its base version, so it shares the same spot on any Warframe tier list. What you get is better base stats like more armor, shields or energy, plus extra polarity slots that make modding easier.
You earn Primes by cracking Void Relics or by buying Prime Access packs. Citrine Prime is the newest addition, while Xaku Prime moved into the Prime Vault with Update 44, so his relics no longer drop until a future Prime Resurgence. Protea Prime and Ivara Prime returned through Prime Resurgence on October 1, 2026, which makes this a good time to grab two strong Primes.
How to Get Warframes Faster in Warframe?
Once you have picked your next main from this Warframe tier list, you can farm it for free, which is one of the best things about the game. If you would rather skip a long grind, Platinum lets you buy frames, extra slots and Prime parts traded by other players.
On consoles, mobile and the Steam version of Warframe, Platinum purchases go through your platform’s wallet, so topping up with gift card credit is the easiest route:
- PC players on Steam: Load your wallet with Steam gift cards.
- PlayStation players: Use PSN gift cards.
- Xbox players: Grab Xbox gift cards.
- Android players: Pay with Google Play gift cards.
Driffle delivers these codes digitally, usually within minutes of checkout. Make sure the card’s region matches your account region before you buy. If you are new to digital marketplaces, our honest look at whether Driffle is legit answers the safety question, and Driffle Plus members get extra savings on every order.
More Tier Lists on Driffle
If you enjoyed this Warframe tier list, here are more rankings from the Driffle blog for action games with deep rosters:
- Snowbreak: Containment Zone tier list
- Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium tier list
- Punishing: Gray Raven tier list
- Zenless Zone Zero tier list
- Wuthering Waves tier list
- Tower of Fantasy tier list
Hunting for your next loot heavy obsession? Our list of the best ARPG games is a great place to start.
FAQs About the Warframe Tier List
Q1. What is the best Warframe right now?
Ans: There is no single best frame, but Wisp, Saryn, Dante, Mesa, Octavia, Revenant, Nokko, Protea and Uriel make up the S tier of our Warframe tier list for Update 44. Wisp and Dante are the safest picks for any squad, while Saryn, Mesa and Nokko are the strongest room clearers.
Q2. What is the best Warframe for beginners?
Ans: Excalibur is the easiest starter frame, and Rhino is the best first frame to farm. Rhino drops from the Jackal boss on Venus, and his Iron Skin keeps new players alive through most of the star chart.
Q3. Is Narin good in Warframe?
Ans: Yes. Narin lands in A tier thanks to her Overguard survivability and the high damage ceiling of Nurinarim. She is still very new, and Hotfix 44.0.3 already buffed her ultimate, so her ranking could rise as players refine their builds.
Q4. Is Banshee good after the Update 44 rework?
Ans: Yes. The rework moved Banshee from the bottom of most rankings into A tier. She no longer roots in place, Sonic Boom strips armor in her base kit, and Sonar’s weak spots now work with weak point mods and arcanes.
Q5. What is the best Warframe for Steel Path?
Ans: Revenant, Octavia, Nokko and Wukong are the best solo Steel Path frames because they survive almost anything. In a squad, Wisp or Dante paired with Saryn or Uriel handles most Steel Path content.
Q6. Which Warframe is best for farming?
Ans: Khora, Nekros and Hydroid are the best farming frames. Khora with Pilfering Strangledome and Hydroid with Pilfering Swarm boost drops from trapped enemies, while Nekros uses Desecrate to give nearby corpses a chance to drop extra loot.
Q7. Are Prime Warframes worth getting?
Ans: Yes, if you plan to main that frame. Primes have better base stats and extra polarity slots, which makes building easier, but their abilities are identical to the base version, so they share the same tier.
Q8. How many Warframes are there?
Ans: There are 66 unique Warframes as of Update 44, with Narin being the 66th. Brysko is the next confirmed frame and is expected alongside Warframe: Tau in winter 2026.
Q9. Is Warframe free to play?
Ans: Yes. Warframe is free to play on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, iOS and Android. Every Warframe can be farmed without spending money, while Platinum simply speeds things up.
Q10. How often does the Warframe tier list change?
Ans: The Warframe meta shifts with every major update, rework and balance pass. Expect the biggest changes after large updates like Warframe: Tau, so check back after each major patch.
