What is a ‘Prime’ and is it necessary?
Prime versions of Warframes, weapons, and companions are usually slightly improved versions of the normal variants. For example, the damage of weapons may be slightly increased, the reload speed may be faster, or the magazine may be enlarged. However, if the normal version of the weapon did not convince, the Prime variant probably won’t either. An exception is the Boltor Prime. If you have everything you need to build it, go ahead. Even if you might not think highly of the normal Boltor. It’s worth it.
Through the so-called Prime Access, these things are offered approximately every 3 months for real money. Usually, this includes a Prime Warframe and two Prime weapons. Additionally, you receive a decent amount of Platinum when purchasing.
Furthermore, there is a Prime Accessories Packet, which includes credit and experience boosters as well as Platinum, but only includes decorative items. These purely cosmetic items can indeed only be bought and are not found in the game.
Does Warframe have a fair free-to-play model?
In contrast, Prime Warframes and weapons are completely obtainable without spending a single Euro. Yes, you heard right! So, if you don’t feel like searching for the individual parts (or just want to support the game), you can buy it. However, it is not a must! And that is what sets Warframe apart from many other free-to-play titles: It is indeed free-to-play and as far from pay-to-win as it could possibly be.
Everything can be found in the game, every Warframe, every weapon, and every companion can be crafted with the resources and credits available in the game. Blueprints for this can be found in the market, and everything you can’t find there is either obtainable in the clan dojo (more on that shortly), or can be earned through quests. No one has to spend money to get as far as someone who is willing to throw money at the screen. ‘Warframe – Ninjas play free’. This saying rings true.
The relic system or “How do I get Prime items?”
To obtain said Prime items, it is first necessary to collect relics. These are divided into Lith, Meso, Neo, and Axi eras, indicating the corresponding mission difficulty to open a relic. But more on that shortly.
Relics can be obtained through daily logins, through the relic packages from syndicates for 20,000 reputation, or in theoretically endless missions like excavation. The ones you receive depend on the starting level of the enemies in the mission. If
you are on a planet with a lower enemy level, you will more likely find Lith and Meso relics rather than the other two.
Each relic contains 6 different rewards, some of which overlap. The chance of getting one of the first three rewards is highest, as these are classified as “common.” The next two are uncommon, and the last or lowest part is rare and has the lowest chance.
Now, you can increase this chance through the so-called “Void traces.” So if you want to snag the rare reward, you can upgrade the corresponding relic to “Radiant” with 100 Void traces.
Tip: Although you also have the less costly upgrades to “Exceptional” and “Flawless” available, these are not worth it. Even if you are looking for an uncommon part, using 100 Void traces will only make the first five parts have an equal chance of being the reward from the relic.
“Exceptional” and “Flawless” slightly increase the chances and is a waste of Void traces. Especially considering that a relic can only be upgraded once. Further upgrades are not possible.
Void traces can only be obtained in Void fissure missions. These changing missions can be found in the upper right overview of the star map. It is advisable to have unlocked as many planets as possible, as these missions may occur throughout the star system. If you have not unlocked the corresponding level, you cannot enter the Void fissure missions.
When you select a Void fissure mission, you will be asked if you want to equip a relic. If you only want to collect Void traces, you do not need to carry a relic and possibly waste it. Within the mission, you will need to gather 10 reactants dropped by corrupted enemies. Only then will you receive between 6 and 30 Void traces.
To obtain a reward from a relic, you also need to play Void fissure missions and collect 10 reactants. At the end of the mission, you’ll see your reward and that of any team members you may have played with. If you don’t like your reward here, you have 15 seconds to click on someone else’s reward instead.
And another tip: If you are searching for a specific, perhaps rare part that can only be found in a certain relic, upgrade it to “Radiant” and find a group that also has the same upgraded relic equipped to maximize your chances of the rare item.
Why buy Platinum or a Prime Access?
The only things that can be purchased in Warframe are, in addition to a time-saving and cosmetic changes, inventory slots.
Hence my tip: If you enjoy the game and want to own more than two different Warframes simultaneously, invest the free Starting Platinum in one or more inventory slots. These cost 20 Platinum each. The basic number for weapons is also limited. Here you can unlock even two weapon slots for 12 Platinum.
Considering that PS4 players with the free Warframe
