Warframe is Digital Extremes' free-to-play cooperative action game where you play as space ninjas (Tenno) piloting biomechanical suits (Warframes) with over 50 unique frames each having distinct abilities. The game features some of the best movement mechanics in gaming — bullet-jumping, wall-running, and sliding create fluid parkour combat. With 13+ years of continuous updates, Warframe has evolved from a simple corridor shooter into a massive game with open worlds, space combat, story quests, and a player-driven economy.
Warframe features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plains of Eidolon | MR 0+ (bounties), MR 10+ (Eidolons) | Eidolon Arcanes, Quill standing, Zaw weapons, operator upgrades | Mesa |
| 2 | Orb Vallis | MR 3+ (bounties), MR 15+ (Orb Mothers) | Orb Mother drops, Kitgun weapons, Moa companions, Conservation animals | Mesa |
| 3 | Cambion Drift | MR 5+ (bounties) | Helminth segment, Necramech, Xaku components, father tokens | Saryn |
| 4 | Steel Path | MR 10+ (star chart complete) | Steel Essence, Arcon Shards, increased drops, challenge content | Saryn |
| 5 | The Void | MR 2+ | Void Relics, Corrupted Mods (Dragon Key runs), Argon Crystals | Saryn |
Plains of Eidolon — Starting Area
The first open-world zone on Earth with day/night cycle. Daytime has bounties, mining, and fishing. Nighttime spawns Eidolons — massive boss enemies requiring specific gear. Eidolon Hunts are endgame group content rewarding Arcanes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | MR 0+ (bounties), MR 10+ (Eidolons) |
| Key Rewards | Eidolon Arcanes, Quill standing, Zaw weapons, operator upgrades |
| Recommended Role | Mesa |
| Key Weapons | Kuva Zarr |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of mod system — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Orb Vallis.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Orb Vallis — Early Game
A frozen open-world on Venus with Corpus enemies, K-Drive hoverboards, and Orb Mother boss fights. Contains Fortuna as its hub town. More mechanically complex than Plains with Conservation, mining, and fishing.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | MR 3+ (bounties), MR 15+ (Orb Mothers) |
| Key Rewards | Orb Mother drops, Kitgun weapons, Moa companions, Conservation animals |
| Recommended Role | Mesa |
| Key Weapons | Kuva Zarr |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering void relics — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Kuva Zarr if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Cambion Drift.
Cambion Drift — Mid Game
An Infested open-world on Deimos with unique Entrati-family vendors, Necramech combat, and Isolation Vault bounties. The most visually distinctive zone with biological horror aesthetics.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | MR 5+ (bounties) |
| Key Rewards | Helminth segment, Necramech, Xaku components, father tokens |
| Recommended Role | Saryn |
| Key Weapons | Kuva Zarr |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Kuva Bramma becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master mastery rank for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Steel Path — Late Game
A game-wide hard mode unlocked after completing every node on the star chart. All enemies are level 100+ with added armor and health. Steel Path rewards include Steel Essence (currency for unique rewards) and increased mod/resource drops.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | MR 10+ (star chart complete) |
| Key Rewards | Steel Essence, Arcon Shards, increased drops, challenge content |
| Recommended Role | Saryn |
| Key Weapons | Kuva Bramma |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Kuva Bramma should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Helminth system mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into The Void.
The Void — Endgame
Ancient Orokin towers containing challenging enemies and Void Relics as rewards. Void missions are part of the core progression loop. Corrupted enemies have randomized buffs. Void also contains Corrupted Mod farming via Dragon Key runs.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | MR 2+ |
| Key Rewards | Void Relics, Corrupted Mods (Dragon Key runs), Argon Crystals |
| Recommended Role | Saryn |
| Key Weapons | Kuva Bramma |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Octavia for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Plains of Eidolon → Orb Vallis → Cambion Drift → Steel Path → The Void. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons — Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Warframe Guides
- Warframe Warframe Overview
- Warframe Best Builds
- Warframe Tier List
- Warframe Walkthrough
- Warframe Beginner's Guide
- Warframe Tips & Tricks
- Warframe Weapons Guide
- Warframe Combat Guide
- Warframe Boss Guide
- Warframe Crafting Guide
- Warframe Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Warframe, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Maps & Locations — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Maps & Locations — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Maps & Locations — action game with similar mechanics
