Warframe Weapons Tier List – Updated (December 2024)

In the vast arsenal of Warframe, your choice of weapon can mean the difference between effortless victory and frustrating defeat. As we close out 2024, the weapon meta has undergone significant shifts following the Incarnon Evolution system, Abyss of Dagath expansion, and several balance passes that have reshaped how we approach combat.

This comprehensive tier list dives deep into the current state of Warframe‘s weapons, with a special focus on melee options—the bread and butter of many endgame builds. Drawing from thousands of hours of gameplay data, community testing, and official patch notes, I‘ve analyzed the current weapon landscape to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your forma and resources.

Understanding Warframe‘s Weapon Ecosystem in 2024

Before diving into specific rankings, it‘s important to understand the current state of Warframe‘s combat system. The December 2024 meta reflects several key developments:

• Incarnon Evolution: These adaptive weapons continue to dominate many categories with their unique evolution mechanics
• Status Changes: The armor scaling adjustments from earlier this year have further emphasized the importance of slash procs
• Steel Path Adaptation: Enemy scaling in Steel Path has pushed players toward weapons with exceptional scaling potential
• Archon Mods: The introduction of new Archon mods has created specialized niches for certain weapon types

The weapon landscape now favors versatility and scaling potential over raw damage numbers. This tier list reflects that reality, prioritizing weapons that perform well across various content types rather than those that excel only in specific scenarios.

Methodology: How Weapons Are Ranked

This tier list employs a data-driven approach based on several key metrics:

• Time-to-Kill (TTK): Measured against level 150-200 Steel Path heavy units
• Versatility: Performance across different mission types and enemy compositions
• Scaling Potential: How well the weapon performs as enemy levels increase
• Ease of Use: Learning curve and accessibility for average players
• Mod Flexibility: How dependent the weapon is on specific mod configurations
• Acquisition Difficulty: Availability and farming requirements

Each weapon is assigned to one of five tiers:

• S Tier: Meta-defining weapons that excel in all content types and scale exceptionally well
• A Tier: Excellent weapons that can handle all content with proper modding
• B Tier: Solid performers that work well in standard missions but may struggle in higher-level content
• C Tier: Functional weapons with specific niches or limitations
• D Tier: Underperforming weapons that need significant buffs or reworks

Primary and Secondary Weapons: A Brief Overview

While our focus is on melee weapons, a quick overview of the current primary and secondary meta provides context for overall weapon balance.

S-Tier Primary Weapons

S-Tier Secondary Weapons

Melee Weapons Tier List: Comprehensive Analysis

Now for our main focus—a detailed breakdown of melee weapons in Warframe as of December 2024, with particular attention to performance metrics, mod synergies, and practical applications.

S-Tier Melee Weapons: The Cream of the Crop

These weapons represent the absolute pinnacle of melee combat, capable of handling even the most demanding content with ease.

Glaive Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 174 (primarily Slash)
• Critical Chance: 30%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.4x
• Status Chance: 32%
• Attack Speed: 0.917
• Riven Disposition: 0.8

Why It‘s S-Tier: The Glaive Prime remains unmatched in its ability to clear rooms with a single heavy attack throw. When modded with Volatile Quick Return, its explosion radius creates guaranteed slash procs that bypass armor entirely. The December balance patch actually strengthened its position by improving explosion radius consistency.

Optimal Build:

• Sacrificial Steel
• Sacrificial Pressure
• Volatile Quick Return
• Killing Blow
• Corrupt Charge
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might
• Amalgam Organ Shatter

Pros:

• Unmatched room-clearing capability
• Heavy attacks bypass armor with slash procs
• Effective at all ranges
• Works well even without a combo counter

Cons:

• High mastery requirement (MR 14)
• Limited availability (Baro Ki‘Teer)
• Requires specific mods for optimal performance

Synergy: Pairs exceptionally well with Warframes that can group enemies, like Vauban or Khora.

Kronen Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 246
• Critical Chance: 30%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.5x
• Status Chance: 36%
• Attack Speed: 1.17
• Riven Disposition: 0.65

Why It‘s S-Tier: Kronen Prime exemplifies the perfect balance of stats, with exceptional critical and status chances, good attack speed, and the powerful Sovereign Outcast stance that provides forced slash procs. Its wide sweeping attacks make it ideal for crowd control.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Primed Reach
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might

Pros:

• Excellent balance of critical and status stats
• Wide attack radius with Sovereign Outcast stance
• Fast attack speed for combo building
• Strong slash procs for armor bypassing

Cons:

• Relatively short range compared to polearms
• Requires combo maintenance for optimal performance
• Prime parts can be expensive when vaulted

Synergy: Works particularly well with Warframes that can maintain combo counter, like Khora or Baruuk.

Reaper Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 258 (heavily weighted toward Slash)
• Critical Chance: 32%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.6x
• Status Chance: 32%
• Attack Speed: 0.917
• Riven Disposition: 0.9

Why It‘s S-Tier: Following the scythe buffs in Update 34.5, Reaper Prime has emerged as one of the most devastating melee weapons in the game. Its heavy slash weighting combined with the Stalking Fan stance‘s forced slash procs creates incredible damage against armored targets.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Primed Reach
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might

Pros:

• Exceptional slash damage for armor bypassing
• High critical stats for consistent orange and red crits
• Good range with Primed Reach
• Strong heavy attack potential

Cons:

• Slower base attack speed
• Stance can be awkward to master
• Limited availability due to vaulting

Synergy: Particularly effective with Nekros due to thematic and practical synergies with his kit.

Nikana Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 247
• Critical Chance: 28%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.8x
• Status Chance: 28%
• Attack Speed: 1.08
• Riven Disposition: 0.75

Why It‘s S-Tier: The Abyss of Dagath update revitalized this iconic weapon with improved stats and a new passive that increases critical chance on finishers. The Blind Justice stance provides exceptional mobility and damage multipliers.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Primed Reach
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might

Pros:

• Excellent critical multiplier
• Balanced damage distribution
• Blind Justice stance offers mobility and damage
• Stylish animations with practical benefits

Cons:

• Requires stance-specific mastery for optimal use
• Slightly lower status chance than other S-tier options
• Prime parts can be expensive when vaulted

Synergy: Excels with stealth frames like Ash or Ivara for finisher damage bonuses.

Venka Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 232
• Critical Chance: 30%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.6x
• Status Chance: 30%
• Attack Speed: 1.05
• Riven Disposition: 0.8
• Special: 13x max combo multiplier (vs standard 12x)

Why It‘s S-Tier: The unique ability to reach a 13x combo multiplier (versus 12x for other weapons) makes Venka Prime exceptional for scaling content. This translates to higher Blood Rush and Weeping Wounds effectiveness.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Body Count
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might

Pros:

• Exclusive higher combo multiplier
• Balanced critical and status stats
• Fast attack speed for combo building
• Excellent scaling potential

Cons:

• Limited range
• Requires combo maintenance
• Claw stances can be awkward for some players

Synergy: Particularly effective with Baruuk, whose Serene Storm benefits from the combo counter.

Guandao Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 238
• Critical Chance: 32%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.6x
• Status Chance: 32%
• Attack Speed: 1.0
• Riven Disposition: 0.7
• Range: Exceptional

Why It‘s S-Tier: Guandao Prime combines the longest reach in the game with excellent critical and status stats. The Twirling Spire stance provides wide, sweeping attacks that can hit multiple enemies at once.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Primed Reach
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might

Pros:

• Unmatched range with Primed Reach
• Excellent critical and status balance
• Wide attack arcs for crowd control
• Good attack speed

Cons:

• Large weapon can obscure vision
• Some stance combos have awkward pauses
• Prime parts can be expensive when vaulted

Synergy: Works exceptionally well with Wukong‘s clone, which can utilize its range effectively.

A-Tier Melee Weapons: Excellent Performers

These weapons are just a step below S-tier but remain excellent choices for all content types.

Gram Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 280 (highest in class)
• Critical Chance: 32%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.6x
• Status Chance: 32%
• Attack Speed: 0.8
• Riven Disposition: 0.85

Why It‘s A-Tier: Gram Prime boasts the highest base damage of any melee weapon, with excellent critical and status stats. Its only limitation is its slower attack speed, which can be mitigated with mods.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Primed Reach
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Primed Fury

Pros:

• Highest base damage in class
• Excellent critical and status balance
• Good range for a heavy blade
• Strong heavy attack potential

Cons:

• Slow base attack speed
• Heavy stance combos can be slow
• High mastery rank requirement (MR 14)

Synergy: Works well with Gauss for attack speed bonuses.

Tatsu Prime

Key Stats:

• Base Damage: 254
• Critical Chance: 28%
• Critical Multiplier: 2.4x
• Status Chance: 34%
• Attack Speed: 1.0
• Riven Disposition: 0.9
• Special: Projectile attack on slam

Why It‘s A-Tier: This unique hybrid two-handed nikana received significant buffs in recent updates. Its slam attack launches projectiles, adding ranged capability to an already strong melee weapon.

Optimal Build:

• Blood Rush
• Weeping Wounds
• Condition Overload
• Organ Shatter
• Primed Reach
• Berserker Fury
• Primed Fever Strike
• Gladiator Might

Pros:

• Unique projectile attack on slam
• Good status chance for condition overload
• Balanced stats across the board
• Strong against Sentient enemies

Cons:

• Two-handed nikana stances can be awkward
• Projectile damage falls off at higher levels
• Requires specific stance for optimal performance

Synergy: Pairs well with Revenant for thematic and practical synergies.

Tenet Agendus

![Tenet Agendus](https://i.imgur.com/tenetagendus.