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At first glance, a player can stick to the first Warframe they chose and modify it to their liking. However, people also have the opportunity to gain almost any Warframe for free – provided they have the patience to get their crafting materials. For players who want to dedicate time for a new Warframe, what exactly is their best option? Which Warframe should they avoid in the meantime?

Updated November 8th, 2021 by Russ Boswell: Warframe continues to slash, dash, and shoot its way through 2022, with many dedicated players logging in each day to farm resources, unlock warframes, and engage in events. Warframe is very much alive and shows no signs of stopping thanks to the veritable array of characters that developers keep releasing for action-hungry gamers. To better showcase the best warframes in 2022 and to shine a light on some of the best warframes that players may not know about, the following list has been updated and now includes even more entries.

15 Nezha

Players looking for an interesting, high-mobility warframe that is capable of filling multiple roles should check out Nezha. His high health pool, fast sprint speed, and crowd control make him a viable option as a tank or a DPS depending on how players build and use him. Fire Walker gives him great movement as it leaves a trail of flame which can end in an explosion of fire should players teleport.

Warding Halo gives him a safety bubble that will stun any enemies that get too close and Blazing Chakram acts as a ranged attack that simultaneously makes enemies more susceptible to damage and forces them to drop restorative orbs when they perish. Those that find themselves surrounded by foes can use Divine Spears to impale their attackers and then re-use the ability to slam any survivors harshly into the ground.

14 Nekros

Nekros has been a prominent part of the warframe universe since 2013 and still manages to be incredibly relevant in 2022. Those that are seeking a great beginner warframe, or need a hero that is exceptional at resource farming, will want to check out Nekros. He’s usable in almost any mission and is capable of being incredibly tanky if built correctly. His Soul Punch can transform enemies into projectiles, and mark them, transforming them into allied shadows should they perish while marked.

Terrify is a great way to create space, as it causes enemies nearby Nekros to flee in terror. Desecrate is the ultimate farming tool, as it forces enemies to drop even more loot when they die. When Nekros uses his Shadows of the Dead ability, he is capable of summoning defeated enemies to fight alongside him for a short time, giving him access to a veritable army.

13 Gara

Glass may not seem like the strongest choice when it comes to combat but the Warframe Gara makes incredible use of the material. This high-armor multi-class hero can use Glass to help defend herself and is also capable of turning her enemies into brittle versions of themselves before effortlessly shattering them into pieces. Her Splinter Storm is a dual-purpose AOE ability that will slice and dice through any enemies it contacts while simultaneously fortifying any allies that are caught in its range.

Shattered Lash gives her a solid damaging ability while Spectrorage will taunt enemies into attacking mirrors that actually damage them upon shattering, helping to draw fire away from teammates. While all of these abilities are good, the real showstopper is Mass Vitrify, which unleashes a circle of molten class that will encase enemies and then harden to block oncoming gunfire for a short time. Players that use Shattered Lash can effectively explode the ring and send shards flying in all directions.

Gara is unique, and a blast to play.

12 Rhino

Those looking for a solid tank will definitely want to consider Rhino. This hulking Warframe is capable of mitigating damage like an absolute beast, giving teams of fragile warframes a chance to burst out a massive amount of damage without the need to constantly dodge enemy attacks. Rhino can be a valuable asset in tons of situations, and is very rewarding to play for gamers looking to help the team.

Rhino’s Charge gives him a great gap closer, allowing him to quickly rush towards problematic enemies, and his powerful Stomp will temporarily stasis all nearby foes. He’s even got the ability to buff teammates, giving them increased damage with his Roar. To cap it all off, his Iron Skin helps him withstand attacks that would easily shred other warframes.

11 Protea

Players that want a warframe that offers up some variety and situational prowess should check out Protea. This interesting and entertaining warframe is well-rounded, providing players with a toolkit that has it filling a lot of roles in teamplay while also being a blast to use in solo situations. Unfortunately, its energy pool is a bit low for some and some of its abilities are a bit niche, but it does boast great damage potential.

Protea’s Grenade Fan gives it a solid damaging option that also doubles as a shield should it need extra protection in chaotic fights. Blaze Artillery is capable of nuking smaller enemies and provides a damage boost to deal with beefier opponents thanks to a power spike it gains for each enemy it hits. Dispensary can be invaluable for both Protea and their teammates, dropping an empowered health orb, energy orb, and universal ammo pack. One of her best abilities, Temporal Anchor, works as a damaging ability while also “saving Protea” if they are downed during its execution.

10 Saryn

Embodying malady and stagnation, Saryn uses decay and disease to gain the upper hand against her foes. Despite Infected tissue appearing around her body, Saryn boasts decent Health and Armor. These traits, combined with her extremely playable toolkit, boasts decent damage and enough flexibility for missions.

Saryn specializes in killing enemies over time. Her Spores (S1) spread continuously to targets, dealing more damage the longer it spreads. This ability ties well with Toxic Lash (S3), which grants all attacks Toxin damage that doubles for Saryn’s melee strikes. For quick escapes, Molt (S2) lets Saryn shed her skin and leave a decoy to dodge attacks. Finally, her Miasma (Ult) deals Viral damage to enemies within range, especially those infected by the Spores.

9 Wisp

Wisp embodies the mysterious Will-O-Wisps, popping in and out of the night like mysterious butterflies. As a mobility-oriented Warframe, Wisp capitalizes on dimensional breaches to catch enemies by surprise. At the right hands, Wisp excels as a versatile Warframe that excels in supporting her teammates.

With Reservoirs (S1), Wisp can summon Haste Motes or Vitality Motes that can buff the squad’s speed or heal them. Shock Motes, on the other hand, stun enemies. Wisp teleports with a variety of effects with her other abilities. Will-O-Wisp (S2) summons a spectral clone that can distract opponents or serve as an escape for Wisp. Her Breach Surge (S3) can damage enemies or become a gateway for Reservoirs. Lastly, Sol Gate (Ult) opens a portal to the Sun, damaging enemies with searing hot plasma.

8 Octavia

The siren Octavia uses the captivating power of music to sound the drums of battle, using rhythm to damage enemies. Unlike other Warframes, Octavia comes with a Mandachord, a step sequencer that allows players to compose actual songs for use in combat. Depending on the player’s choice, their songs can resonate with Octavia’s unique abilities.

Songs with percussive elements trigger Mallet (S1), a musical device that deals damage to nearby enemies and increases damage dealt based on damage taken. Her Resonator (S2) affects bass music, summoning a rollerball that charms and damages enemies. Moving with Metronome (S3) affects melodic songs, granting speed, stealth, multishot, and damage buffs. Finally, Amp (Ult) vastly improves damage for the whole squad and buffs range and damage of all nearby Mallets.

7 Sevagoth

Deathly Sevagoth manipulates the Void itself to cast shadows and darkness to devastate his enemies. Quite the versatile Warframe, Sevagoth acquires two “forms” when used: its base Warframe form and the Shadow. Upon death, Sevagoth summons his Shadow, which must harvest souls in order to revive his physical form. The Shadow has a separate form and base abilities, giving Sevagoth a second life to turn the tide of battle.

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The Shadow is also an integral part of Sevagoth’s skillset. Reap (S1) summons the Shadow to attack enemies at the front. Sevagoth also acquires a handy lifesteal ability with Sow (S2), which plants a leeching death seed, and Gloom, a shadow wave. Over time, Sevagoth can trigger Exalted Shadow (Ult) which unleashes the Shadow for devastating melee attacks.

6 Khora

Khora the huntress stalks her prey with her familiar, as they provide offensive support for her squad. Through her livewire, Khora can release a barrage of attacks – be it through her claws, whiplash, and sheer steel on steel action. Unlike other Warframes, Khora has a companion: Venari, complete with her own special traits and stances that affect her combat performance.

In battle, Khora has access to attacks that capitalize on various range options. Her Whipclaw (S1) is an extremely potent long-ranged attack. Ensnare (S2) can stun enemies, leaving them wide open for fierce combos. Meanwhile, Venari (S3) orders the companion to focus on a foe or get revived instantly. Lastly, Strangeldone (Ult) creates an ensnaring drone that strangles and damages enemies.

5 Nova

Nova unleashes the power of antimatter to devastate enemies that threaten her and her allies. Her Passive counters any knockdowns on her with another neat knockdown, while her Worm Hole (S3) gives her a handy warp portal. Nova possesses damage dealers via Null Star (S1) that unleashes seeker missiles and Antimatter Drop (S2) which is a collision AOE. Her Molecular Prime (Ult) primes enemies within radius with antimatter.

Given her abilities, Nova perhaps serves as the best example of a light-weight but devastating Mage class in Warframe. All her skills provide her with decent single-target and AOE damage. Despite her glass cannon nature, Nova actively encourages playing with elemental damage and even understanding how to boost the potency of her abilities with the right modding.

4 Mesa

Mesa stuns enemies with her bullets and sense of style. Despite Mesa coming with a handicap of having no melee weapon slot, she compensates with a decent health boost. Moreover, her Passive gives her a remarkable boost in ranged weapon proficiency. Mesa’s Ballistic Battery (S1) empowers her shots, while Peacemaker (Ult) transforms her shooting into a machine gun’s. She even comes with decent utilities such as Shooting Gallery (S2) that serves as a buff and enemy stagger and Shatter Shield (S3) that gives her a shield.

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Mesa demonstrates a Warframe’s potential in terms of ranged capabilities. Her kit boosts the potency of her firearms, encouraging players to maximize their weapon combinations. Considering most Warframeenemies wield guns, Mesa boasts the capability of doing quick clears. There’s no need for Mesa to have any CC abilities if she can kill enemies fast enough.

3 Trinity

Trinity is as straightforward as she can get – she’s a support Frame. Trinity’s Passive allows her to revive teammates much faster. Meanwhile, she boasts a unique “attack” in the form of Link (S3) that dissipates damage taken to nearby enemies. Trinity’s Well of Life (S1) grants lifesteal for allies against the targeted foe, while Energy Vampire (S2) does the same for energy. Lastly, her Blessing (Ult) not only heals the party’s HP and Shields but also grants some damage resistance.

Thanks to Trinity’s accessible kit, she easily boasts some of the most efficient defensive abilities out there. After all, Trinity’s skills help her replenish ally resources and even disperse enemy attacks back to their sources. While other Frames may boast better support skills, Trinity’s perfect for anyone who wants a healer role.

2 Volt

Sparky Volt has more to boast than his affinity with lightning. His Passive gives him a constant Electricity Damage boost, perfect for his abilities. His Shock (S1) hits and stuns opponents, while Speed (S2) gives Volt a decent mobility boost. Meanwhile, his Electric Shield (S3) gives him another shield source, while Discharge (Ult) stuns every opponent approaching him.

Volt boasts incredible versatility that makes him reliable even in the endgame. His flexible kit allows players to provide cover to allies, damage multiple enemies at once, and use his other skills to “flow” seamlessly with both his ranged and melee abilities.

1 Limbo

As his name suggests, Limbo traverses the paths between realms. His Passive introduces the Rift Plane, an entirely new mechanic that capitalizes on Warframe’s psychics. Banish (S1) lets enemies experience the wrath of the Rift. Meanwhile, Stasis (S2) stuns Banished opponents, while Rift Surge (S3) attacks them. Lastly, Cataclysm (Ult) summons a miniature black hole of sorts to mangle through enemies.

There’s no need to mention Limbo’s fame, thanks to his space-themed kit. All of Limbo’s abilities boast decent damage, all of which can be turned devastating with the right combos. Limbo can easily phase out enemies, stop projectiles, and even create miniature black holes.

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