With the release of Dante, Warframe now boasts an impressive 56 frames. Of course, this is without counting their Prime and Umbra counterparts. You can think of these frames as the class system in Digital Extremes' space ninja looter.

For many players starting out in Warframe, deciding which frames to build and max out first can be overwhelming. While nearly all frames can get you through basic Star Chart content, different frames fill different niches, especially when you build them for specific late-game purposes.

As someone who first started playing Warframe in 2014 when it was still just a corridor shooter, I’ve seen frames rise and fall from the meta with every major update and new mission type introduced. For every Saryn or Mesa that has stood the test of time, there are frames like Loki and Nyx that have fallen out of favor.

That said, Warframe’s diverse roster ensures that there’s a frame for everyone, especially if you customize them to your needs. Warframe offers great customization options for every frame, firstly through mods, Arcanes, and Archon shards, and secondly through Helminth-subsumed abilities. This makes almost every Warframe viable in some way. Even lower-tier frames can be viable in certain mission types, effectively moving up a tier or two depending on how much you invest in them.