Your First Warframe: Choosing and Understanding

New to Warframe? Learn how to choose your first Warframe, understand the basics of gameplay, and get started on your journey through the Origin System.

So, you're ready to jump into the Origin System and become a Tenno? That's awesome! The very first thing you'll do is pick your starter Warframe during the Awakening quest. It's a big decision, but don't stress too much – you'll eventually be able to get all of them. Think of it as choosing your starting flavor! During the Awakening quest, you'll also get your first primary weapon, secondary weapon, and melee weapon. You'll learn the ropes of Warframe's signature parkour, how to hack terminals, and even face your first boss battles. Once that's done, the whole universe of Warframe opens up to you! As you play, you'll encounter a lot of new systems. The game's progression is guided by quests and a rewarding feedback loop. You'll want to pay attention to the Tenno Guide, a UI element that pops up to let you know what to do next. You can toggle it on or off in the Options menu under Interface. Here's a quick rundown of what you'll be getting into: * Quest Progression: You'll follow a main story questline and unlock new planets on the Star Chart. Junctions act as gates between regions, and many quests will teach you lore and gameplay mechanics at the same time. * Equipment Modding: This is huge! You'll learn about Mods, how to upgrade them with Endo, and how things like Forma, Orokin Catalysts, Orokin Reactors, and Exilus Adapters work. Understanding Mod polarity is key here. * Ranking Up: You'll level up your Warframes, weapons, and companions. * The Foundry: This is where you'll build new gear using Credits and resources you gather from missions. * Damage System: Get a basic grasp of how damage works. * Mastery Rank: As you level up gear, you'll gain Mastery Rank experience, unlocking more of the game's content. * Mission Loop: You'll be running all sorts of missions – endless, bounties, Dark Sectors, and eventually Sorties. You'll also dabble in Archwing, Necramech, and Railjack gameplay. Don't forget minigames like hacking, fishing, and mining! * Codex: Use your Codex Scanner to unlock entries for enemies and gear. * Trading: You can trade with other players for items and Platinum. * Syndicates & Standing: Gain Standing with various factions. * Nightwave: Complete challenges for special rewards. * Market: Buy blueprints with Credits. * Orbiter: Navigate your personal ship. * Social Features: Join Clans, visit Clan Dojos, and meet others in Relay hubs and Maroo's Bazaar. * Post-Second Dream: Eventually, you'll unlock Focus, Operator mode, and Amps. Remember, the game is always evolving with updates like Update 31.0. Don't be afraid to explore and experiment. The most important thing is to have fun!