Which Starting Warframe Should You Choose?
When you first boot up Warframe, you face an important decision that will shape your early game experience. The game offers three starting Warframes: Excalibur, Mag, and Volt. Each of these frames brings different abilities and playstyles to the table, making the choice feel overwhelming for new players.
Picking the right starter Warframe can make your first hours in the game much smoother and more enjoyable. While you can eventually unlock all three frames later in the game, your starter choice determines which abilities you will learn first and how you approach early missions. Understanding what each frame does and how they perform in beginner content helps you make a wise decision.
We also discuss which starting weapons are best; this is a surprisingly important choice for players.
3Volt
Electricity flows through Volt. His attacks deal high damage. Enemies will be shocked.
Volt is the most versatile all-rounder, with the broadest range of abilities in his kit. He brings a mix of mobility, defense, and area nuking that works in almost any mission type. Volt offers options for different playstyles and situations, making him ideal if you want flexibility and do not want to be locked into a single role.
2Excalibur
Excalibur epitomizes the warrior spirit. His master swordsmanship deals high damage. He is the embodiment of martial excellence.
Excalibur is the poster boy of Warframe and the easiest starter to play. He offers straightforward abilities that work well in almost any situation, making him the perfect pick if you want to keep things simple. His Exalted Blade ability gives you a powerful melee weapon that can carry you through the early star chart without needing to understand complex mechanics.
1Mag
Take down your enemies with magnetic Force. Mag alters magnetic fields to provide Crowd control and strip enemy defenses. Few can resist her attraction or her repulsion.
Mag has the potential to be the most powerful of the three starters, but she is also the most difficult to play well. She specializes in manipulating magnetic forces and shredding enemy shields, which becomes incredibly devastating once you master her ability combos. If you like a challenge and want the highest damage ceiling, Mag rewards skilled players who take the time to learn her kit.
The Best Character for you
The bottom line is simple: choose Excalibur for the easiest experience, Mag for maximum power potential and challenges, or Volt for versatility with multiple ability types.
Mag is best for those who will take the time to learn the Warframe and has the highest potential.
Excalibur is the best and simplest for those who want to clear the game quickly and will likely buy new warframes with paid currency, as it is the simplest and straightforward Character.
Volt is a mix of the other two, but it doesn’t excel at either.
Warframe Best Starting Weapons
Once you’ve selected your character, you are given two choices for Primary (Melee) and Secondary (Ranged) weapons. The choices are Skana and Bo for Melee. For Secondaries, the options are Kunai and Lato.
Starting Primary Weapon
Choosing your first melee weapon in Warframe comes down to picking between the Skana sword and the MK1-Bo staff. The Skana is a balanced sword that deals Slash damage and works great against light-armored enemies.
The MK1-Bo is a staff with longer range and higher damage that deals Impact damage, letting you hit multiple enemies and stagger them. If you picked Excalibur, the Skana is extra valuable because his passive gives 10% extra damage and attack speed with swords.
Most players recommend picking the Skana because it is much harder to get later. The Bo only costs 15,000 credits in the marketplace, but the Skana requires 150 Platinum or late-game crafting materials. Many players call choosing the Bo their biggest tutorial regret because picking the Skana first means you eventually have both weapons. Even though the Bo has better combat stats, the Skana is the smarter pick since you can buy the Bo easily after a few missions.
Starting Secondary Weapon
Your secondary weapon choice comes down to the MK1-Kunai throwing knives or the Lato pistol. The MK1-Kunai is a silent weapon with higher damage and two mod polarities that make upgrades cheaper, but it has a projectile with an arc that makes aiming harder. The Lato is a hitscan pistol that shoots instantly where you point with decent accuracy and fire rate, making it much easier to use for beginners.
Most experienced players recommend the MK1-Kunai because it is harder to get later. The Lato costs only 10,000 credits in the marketplace, but the MK1-Kunai costs 15,000 credits and requires Mastery Rank 2 to purchase. Many players regret picking the Lato first because reaching Mastery Rank 2 takes time for casual players. The Kunai does more damage and has better modding options with built-in polarities, plus it pairs well with the MK1-Braton if you want a stealth option.
