Getting Started
Choosing your starter Warframe and first steps.
Your first major decision in Warframe comes before you've fired a single shot. Three Warframes await you on the selection screen — choose wisely, because you can't change your mind without crafting the others later.
Choosing Your Starter Warframe
Your three starter options represent three different playstyles. All three are solid choices and can be obtained again later by farming boss blueprints, so this decision is less permanent than it feels.
The iconic Warframe. Balanced stats, powerful sword abilities, and a phenomenal ultimate (Exalted Blade). His Radial Blind can stun entire rooms of enemies. Excalibur scales surprisingly well into late game.
Volt uses electricity to devastate enemies and boost ally speed. His Speed ability makes missions feel incredible. Electric Shield buffs ally gunfire. Very versatile for players who like a technical playstyle.
Mag uses magnetism to control shields and enemies. Her Pull ability groups enemies, and Crush deals massive area damage. Very powerful against Corpus but weaker against Grineer. Harder to use effectively.
The Tutorial: Vor's Prize
After selecting your Warframe, you'll be dropped into Vor's Prize — the introductory quest set on Mercury. Captain Vor, a Grineer commander, has captured you and fitted you with a Manic Suppressant device to limit your powers. The Lotus guides you through your escape while teaching you the basics.
- ◆Movement tutorial — learn double jumping, sliding, bullet jumping, and wall running. These are the foundation of Warframe's combat.
- ◆Ability usage — you'll cast your Warframe's powers for the first time and feel their impact.
- ◆Modding introduction — a brief look at the mod system, which will be your primary power source.
- ◆Mission types — Exterminate (kill all enemies) is the first mission type you'll encounter.
- ◆The Codex scanner — introduced early; scanning enemies and objects builds lore and gives crafting bonuses.
Understanding the HUD
Once in a mission, your HUD (heads-up display) gives you critical real-time information:
| Health Bar (Red) | Your Warframe's hit points | Depleted after shields are gone; regenerates slowly out of combat |
| Shield Bar (Blue) | Energy barrier that absorbs damage first | Regenerates quickly when not taking fire; breaks completely at 0 |
| Energy (Blue) | Fuel for your abilities | Spent when casting abilities 1–4; refilled by Energy Orbs |
| Ability Icons (1–4) | Your four active powers with energy costs | Press 1/2/3/4 or hold for alternate cast |
| Minimap | Shows nearby area, objectives, and allies | White dots = allies, red dots = enemies |
| Ammo Counter | Current magazine / reserve ammo | Watch for Ammo Mutation mods if you run dry often |
First Things to Do After Tutorial
- ◆Complete more Mercury missions to get familiar with the map and movement. Mercury is forgiving and gives useful early mods.
- ◆Open your Codex (Esc → Codex) to review quest progress and game lore.
- ◆Visit your Foundry (in the Orbiter, the ship you navigate between missions) to review what you can craft.
- ◆Equip mods — check your mod collection (Esc → Mods) and start adding mods to your Warframe and weapons. Any bonuses help early on.
- ◆Unlock Venus by completing the junction on Mercury. The star chart opens up quickly.