Top 20 essential Warframe mods in 2024 – Destructoid

An assortment of Mods make up any build in Warframe, but there are several essential Mods that you must never go without having in your inventory. Don’t all need to be equipped at once, but just having them available makes formulating builds that much easier.

Best 20 Essential Mods in Warframe

Below, you will find a list of the most important Mods to get in Warframe. Whether you’re a new player, or a veteran trying to round out your mod collection, the following mods are must-haves and should be acquired as soon as possible.

Adaptation

Many Warframes have a built-in defensive system that allows them to survive in high-level content, but equally, many are lacking in the survivability department. Adaptation is a must-have Mod for this reason, as it solves this crucial problem in all but the most fringe situations. Why?

Adaptation provides any equipped Warframe with a ridiculous stacking damage reduction to any attack type that lands. The damage reduction increases by 10% for each hit (at max rank) for a max reduction of 90%. This makes your Warframe nearly immune to damage at low-level gameplay and makes high-level gameplay much comfier. Adaptation is one of the game’s best defense-oriented mods, and I cannot overstate this enough.

How to Obtain:

• Adaptation – Arbitration Runs, Trading

Core Damage Mods

Every weapon category (Primaries, Secondaries, Melee, Archguns, Incarnons included) in Warframe has access to Core Damage Mods that will buff up a weapon’s raw damage, and making use of these is extremely important in making your weapon viable for pretty much all of Warframe’s content.

These Mods may not fit into every weapon build, but they’re versatile and reliable, making them long staples in the Warframe community for years. While there are upgraded versions of many, their essential purpose remains unchanged, making them invaluable for both new and seasoned players. If you haven’t added these to your arsenal yet, now’s the perfect time to start playing and hunting them down to elevate your loadout.

How to Obtain:

• Serration (Primary) – Random Drops from most enemies in the game
• Point Blank (Primary) – Random Drops from most enemies in the game
• Hornet Strike (Secondary) – Random Drops from most enemies in the game
• Pressure Point (Melee) – Random Drops from most enemies in the game
• Primed Point Blank (Primary) – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)
• Amalgam Serration (Primary) – Orb Vallis Fractures (Venus)

Flow

Every Warframe, regardless of which type you’re using, requires Energy to make use of their unique abilities. As such, a large Energy Capacity is necessary, which is why Flow is yet another must-have Mod for any Warframe player.

Flow is a Mod that boosts a Warframe’s max Energy, doubling the amount at max rank (5), allowing for many more casts of a frame’s abilities. Like many Mods on this list, it is a staple Mod for many builds so it is highly valuable. Thankfully, it is very common, so it isn’t difficult to obtain if you don’t already have it.

Primed Flow is this mod’s evolved version, boosting a Warframe’s max Energy Capacity by a staggering 185% at max rank. It is much harder to obtain, however, as it cannot be farmed and is only purchased for Ducats from Baro Ki’teer.

How to Obtain:

• Flow – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
• Primed Flow – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)

Continuity

While not a Mod to be used with every Warframe build, Continuity increases the duration of time-based Warframe effects, letting them persist longer before ending. For many Warframes, it is a core Mod for making use of long-lasting buffs, indirectly reducing Energy usage, and allowing for powerful mechanics to persist over very long periods of time. Like Flow, it is not difficult to obtain.

However, also like Flow, there exists an evolved version of Continuity called Primed Continuity. This enhanced version further boosts the duration of Warframe-based effects, allowing for even more crazy builds that make use of long-term buffs. The Warframe, Wisp, for example, adores this Mod thanks to her Mote buffs.

How to Obtain:

• Continuity – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
• Primed Continuity – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)

Streamline

Many of the best Warframe builds make use of Streamline to reduce the Energy cost of their often expensive abilities. When used with Mods like Flow, Streamline makes using your abilities a matter of your choice rather than one influenced by how much Energy you have at any given time. Even without Flow though, Streamline is yet another staple Mod in the Warframe community, and you should have it ready to use at any given moment. Fortunately, it’s not hard to get your hands on.

How to Obtain:

• Streamline – Random Drop from most enemies in the game

Intensify

Intensify is a Mod that is commonly used in various Warframe builds that focus on empowering a Warframe’s abilities, strengthening their buffs, and improving offensive potency. Depending on which Warframe it is used on, Intensify can offer significant buffs with no downsides other than a meager Mod Capacity cost (5). As with the other Utility-based Mods on this list, you should always have a max rank Intensify on standby, just in case you need to use it.

However, if you’re looking to get even more power out of your frame, you can instead opt for Archon Intensify, which offers a large 30% boost when restoring health with abilities on top of its normal effects. Warframes like Wisp can take full advantage of this.

How to Obtain:

• Intensify – Alad V, Angels of the Zariman, Captain Vor, Stalker, Cetus Bounties (Earth)
• Archon Intensify – Garrison (New War)

Stretch

In the early days of Warframe, the Stretch Mod was one of the strongest Mods in the entire game thanks to the meta focus of deleting entirely rooms of enemies with wide-spread abilities. The mod allowed you to extend the maximum range of any Warframe abilities that had a Range stat. These days, large, widespread AOEs are still extremely strong and sought after, even if they aren’t nearly as oppressive, thus Stretch remains a hot commodity in the community for builds.

How to Obtain:

Stretch – Random Drop from most enemies in the game

Multishot Mods

Multishot Mods work with Core Damage Mods to greatly enhance the effective raw damage of any weapons they are attached to by allowing the weapon to fire extra bullets per normal standard bullets. These additional ‘shots’ receive all of the bonuses and benefits standard bullets do, thus making Multishot a multiplicative mod in terms of damage boost calculations. Without going to those, just know that Multshot Mods are must-have mods, and you should go pick them up immediately especially if you want to boost your weapon damage dramatically.

How to Obtain:

• Split Chamber (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game.
• Hell’s Chamber (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game.
• Galvanized Chamber (Primary) – Arbitration Runs
• Barrel Diffusion (Secondary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game.
• Galvanized Diffusion (Secondary) – Arbitration Runs
• Amalgam Barrel Diffusion (Secondary) – Orb Vallis Fractures (Venus)

Elemental Mods

When you combine Core Damage and Multishot Mods with Elemental Mods on a weapon, you get yourself a viable build that allows you to take that weapon into Warframe’s endgame. Thanks to Warframe’s robust Elemental System, the Elemental Mods you use on your weapon will greatly determine their effectiveness against enemies. Thus, it is important to get as many of these Mods in your inventory as possible so that you can mix and match them on different weapons for powerful results.

How to Obtain:

• Electricity
  • Charged Shell (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Primed Charge Shell (Primary) – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)
  • Stormbringer (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • High Voltage (Primary) – Tethra’s Doom and Eris: Naeglar Sabotage Runs
  • Shell Shock (Primary) – Tethra’s Doom and Eris: Naeglar Sabotage Runs
  • Convulsion (Secondary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Jolt (Secondary) – Tethra’s Doom
  • Shocking Touch (Melee) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Voltaic Strike (Melee) – Tethra’s Doom
• Fire
  • Hellfire (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Incendiary Coat (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Wildfire (Primary) – Nightmare Runs
  • Blaze (Primary) – Nightmare Runs
  • Thermite Rounds (Primary) – Neptune: Nereid, Kuva Fortress: Pago, Sedna: Kelpie
  • Heated Charge (Secondary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Primed Heated Charge (Secondary) – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)
  • Scorch (Secondary) – Neptune: Nereid, Kuva Fortress: Pago, Sedna: Kelpie
  • Molten Impact (Melee) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Volcanic Edge (Melee) – Earth: Cambria, Mars: Arval, Venus: Unda, Mercury: Suisei
• Cold
  • Cryo Rounds (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Primed Cryo Rounds (Primary) – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)
  • Chilling Grasp (Primary) – Corpus Enemies
  • Primed Chilling Grasp (Primary) – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)
  • Frigid Blast (Primary) – Neptune: Nereid, Kuva Fortress: Pago, Sedna: Kelpie
  • Rime Rounds (Primary) – Cryotic Front, Saturn: Dione, Ceries: Bode, Lua: Pavlov, Europa
  • Deep Freeze (Secondary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Ice Storm (Secondary) – Nightmare Runs
  • Frostbite (Secondary) – Cryotic Front, Saturn: Dione, Ceries: Bode, Lua: Pavlov, Europa
  • Northwind (Melee) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Vicious Frost (Melee) – Cryotic Front, Saturn: Dione, Ceries: Bode, Lua: Pavlov, Europa
• Toxin
  • Infected Clip (Primary) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game
  • Contagious Spread (Primary) – Electric Crawlers, Scavenger Drones, Eris: Naeglar Runs
  • Malignant Force (Primary) – Corrupted Vor
  • Toxic Barrage (Primary) – Corrupted Vor
  • Pistol Pestilence (Secondary) – Corrupted Vor
  • Pathogen Rounds (Secondary) – Corpus Enemies, Eris Naeglar Runs
  • Fever Strike (Melee) – Random Drop from most enemies in the game, The Duviri Circuit
  • Primed Fever Strike (Melee) – Bought from Baro Ki’teer (Ducats)
  • Virulent Scourge (Melee) – Corrupted Vor
• Radiation
  • Radiated Reload (Primary) – Albrecht’s Laboratories, Deimos
  • Atomic Fallout (Primary) – Albrecht’s Laboratories, Deimos
  • Accelerated Isotope (Secondary) – Albrecht’s Laboratories, Deimos
  • Focus Radon (Melee) – Albrecht’s Laboratories, Deimos

Rolling Guard

If you intend to run the hardest content Warframe has to offer, then you should consider obtaining Rolling Guard. When this Mod is equipped to your Warframe, rolling not only removes all DoT effects afflicting you but also makes you invulnerable for a few seconds. This is incredibly valuable in situations where dying is a real problem. The only downside to this Mod is that it should be used near max rank, which is rather expensive (12). However, if you can fit it on your build, it will be an incredibly strong safety net in the worst situations.

How to Obtain:

Growing Power

The first essential Aura Mod to make this list, Growing Power offer you and your entire squad a near-permanent 25% increase in Ability Strength with no downside and little mod power investment (7). Naturally, this effect stacks with all other increases in Ability Strength, making it one of the best Aura mods in the entire game. Everyone should have this mod, as it is nothing but net positive for everyone when equipped.

How to Obtain:

• Growing Power – Knave Specter

Handspring

Getting knocked down in Warframe can quickly lead to death, especially in endgame missions where enemies hit hard and fast. It’s a common and serious issue for many players. Enter the Handspring mod: a game-changer that significantly reduces Knockdown recovery time. With this mod equipped, you’ll bounce back almost instantly, keeping you mobile and ready to tackle even the most intense battles without missing a beat.

How to Obtain:

• Handspring – Random Drop from most enemies in the game

Power Drift

In a similar vein to Handspring, Power Drift aims to counter the effects of Knockdown by preventing them altogether. The Mod gives you a 30% chance to resist a Knockdown, which is rather substantial. As a bonus, Power Drift also grants you a nice 15% Ability Strength bonus on top. Finally, to tie everything together with this must-have mod, it can be equipped in the Exilus Mod slot on any Warframe, so it doesn’t even take up precious space.

How to Obtain:

• Power Drift – Orokin Moon Halls (Puzzle Room)

Blind Rage

Blind Rage functions similarly to Intensify, as both Mods provide you with increased Ability Strength. Where Blind Rage differs, however, is that it offers significantly more Ability Strength at the severe cost of Ability Efficiency, which makes your Warframe’s ability cost more Energy to use. Certain Warframes suffer this downside more than others. Even so, with a properly measured build, you can easily mitigate this downside and make of this must-have mod.

How to Obtain:

• Blind Rage – Orokin Vaults

Overextended

Overextended is like Blind Rage in that is provides a massive boost to Warframe Ability Range, at a significant cost of Ability Strength. Depending on which Warframe and build you’re using, this negative could have little to no consequence, making Overextended an absurdly powerful Mod in the right circumstances. For builds, Overextended is a must-get mod, as you can do some incredible things with it, if you know what you’re doing.

How to Obtain:

• Overextended – Orokin Vaults

Transient Fortitude

When you decide to use Transient Fortitude, you are willing to surrender a massive amount of Ability Duration for an equally significant amount of Ability Strength. Much like the other combination Mods already mentioned on this list, this Mod is exceptionally strong when paired with a build and Warframe that makes sense with it. While it is not used on every single frame, I highly recommend you pick this one up as well, as it is too potent to ignore.

How to Obtain:

• Transient Fortitude – Orokin Vaults

Galvanized Aptitude

One of the most potent damage mods in all of Warframe when used properly, Galvanized Aptitude is an endgame mod that provides your weapon with a significant increase in Status chance, while also granting it a stacking damage bonus when killing an enemy with Status effects.

The number of stacks gained on a kill is based on how many Status Effects the target had before death. This means you want to apply numerous Status effects to your target before killing them to gain the full benefit. This effect stacks up twice, nearly doubling your weapon’s damage in the process, and lasts for 20 seconds. Get this one.

How to Obtain:

• Galvanized Aptitude – Arbitration Runs

Mobilize

In Warframe, movement is everything. Whether you’re trying to survive an onslaught or free farming other loot, you want to be able to move as quickly as possible through any given level. Mobilize is a relatively cheap Mod (5) that boosts your Parkour Velocity, allowing you to move faster while already in motion. Along with its cheap cost, it can also be placed in the Exilus slot, thus not taking up necessary Mod space. These factors together make Mobilize a must-use Mod.

How to Obtain:

• Mobilize – Drekar Grineer, Uranus: Desdemona

Condition Overload

At Max Rank, Condition Overload boosts your melee weapon’s damage by 80% per Status effect on the target. To be clear, this is an absolutely game-changing Mod for any melee build. Why is it a must-have? Simply put, it’s one of the most powerful melee Mods in Warframe.

What makes it so devastating is how it synergizes with other damage bonuses like Combo Multiplier, buffs, and more, all while stacking its insane effect. The result? Massive damage potential that can obliterate even the toughest enemies. If you don’t already have Condition Overload in your arsenal, make it a top priority to acquire, especially if you’re a melee player. It’s a true powerhouse.

How to Obtain:

• Condition Overload – Deimos Infested

Narrow Minded

For certain Warframes and builds, Ability Range isn’t a top priority and can be traded off for more valuable stats. That’s where Narrow Minded shines, significantly boosting Ability Duration at the cost of Ability Range.

This Mod is incredibly powerful for Warframes that rely on long-lasting abilities rather than wide-reaching ones. If your build benefits more from extended duration than range, or just flat-out want more duration by any means necessary, Narrow Minded is an essential addition to maximize your Warframe’s potential.

How to Obtain:

• Narrow Minded – Orokin Vaults

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