Complete List of Warframes by Release Order: Every Hero Ranked

Complete List of Warframes by Release Order: Every Hero Ranked

Warframe is a dynamic action game that offers players an expansive roster of over 50 unique characters, known as Warframes. With new characters introduced every three to four months, the variety keeps growing. Below, we have a comprehensive list of Warframes released by Digital Extremes, including their Prime variants, meticulously ordered by their release date.

Table of Contents

Complete List of Warframes by Release Order

Warframe Date Released
Ash October 25, 2012
Ember October 25, 2012
Excalibur October 25, 2012
Loki October 25, 2012
Mag October 25, 2012
Rhino October 25, 2012
Trinity October 25, 2012
Volt November 1, 2012
Frost January 29, 2013
Nyx January 29, 2013
Banshee March 18, 2013
Saryn March 18, 2013
Vauban May 17, 2013
Nova July 13, 2013
Nekros September 13, 2013
Valkyr November 20, 2013
Oberon December 19, 2013
Zephyr February 5, 2014
Hydroid April 9, 2014
Mirage July 18, 2014
Limbo October 24, 2014
Mesa November 27, 2014
Chroma March 19, 2015
Equinox July 19, 2015
Atlas October 1, 2015
Wukong November 25, 2015
Ivara December 3, 2015
Nezha December 16, 2015
Inaros March 4, 2016
Titania August 19, 2016
Nidus December 22, 2016
Octavia March 24, 2017
Harrow June 29, 2017
Gara October 12, 2017
Khora April 20, 2018
Excalibur Umbra June 15, 2018
Revenant August 24, 2018
Garuda November 8, 2018
Baruuk December 18, 2018
Hildryn March 8, 2019
Wisp May 22, 2019
Gauss August 29, 2019
Grendel October 31, 2019
Protea June 11, 2020
Xaku August 25, 2020
Lavos December 18, 2020
Sevagoth April 13, 2021
Yareli July 6, 2021
Caliban December 15, 2021
Gyre April 27, 2022
Styanax September 7, 2022
Voruna November 30, 2022
Citrine February 15, 2023
Kullervo June 21, 2023
Dagath October 18, 2023
Qorvex December 13, 2023
Dante March 27, 2024
Jade June 18, 2024
Koumei October 2, 2024
Cyte-09 December 13, 2024
Temple March 19, 2025

Warframe Release Dates and Descriptions

A range of characters from Warframe.
Image via Digital Extremes

Ash Warframe — October 25, 2012

Ash is a swift and agile Warframe, renowned for its ability to inflict high damage while maintaining a stealthy presence. Purchase Ash from the in-game market. Its solid survivability makes Ash suitable for endurance missions.

Ember Warframe — October 25, 2012

Ember is a powerful damage dealer that shines in early-game stages but presents challenges in later content. Purchase her from the in-game market to harness her potential.

Excalibur — October 25, 2012

Excalibur is a top choice among starter Warframes, especially for players who prefer close combat. With melee-focused skills and a summoned sword, Excalibur is accessible in the in-game market as well.

Loki — October 25, 2012

Loki excels in stealth and can effectively assist with infiltration missions while also delivering significant damage in skilled hands. Obtainable via the in-game market, he remains a solid choice.

Mag — October 25, 2012

Mag provides exceptional crowd-control capabilities, making it easier to manage large enemy groups. This Warframe can be acquired through the market or during game initiation.

Rhino — October 25, 2012

Rhino serves as a formidable tank, designed for absorbing damage and controlling the battlefield through sheer power. Though his speed may be limited, he excels in surviving prolonged fights.

Trinity — October 25, 2012

Trinity is an essential support Warframe, providing healing and energy restoration to allies. Best suited for group scenarios, it is less effective in solo play.

Volt — November 1, 2012

Volt combines mobility and electric attacks, making him a versatile damage dealer. He is suitable for both solo and squad play and qualifies as one of the initial starter Warframes.

Frost — January 29, 2013

Frost excels in defense, capable of freezing opponents and providing protective barriers to allies. Ideal as a team player, Frost helps increase overall survivability in battles.

Nyx — January 29, 2013

Nyx enhances squad defense while stripping enemy capabilities. This versatile Warframe is ideally utilized in teams, performing excellently in support roles.

Banshee — March 18, 2013

Banshee is a crowd-control specialist that deals explosive damage using sound-based abilities. Successful gameplay often involves frequent ability usage for optimal damage.

Saryn — March 18, 2013

Saryn specializes in AoE damage through toxic abilities. Though lacking considerable survivability, this Warframe can still perform well in skilled hands, particularly in group settings.

Vauban — May 17, 2013

Vauban is a tactical mastermind using gadgets for crowd control. His traps and drones make him ideal for immobilizing enemies effectively.

Nova — July 13, 2013

Nova serves as a damage powerhouse, inflicting significant AoE damage at the cost of lower survivability. Ideal for aggressive players who can manage her health.

Nekros — September 13, 2013

Nekros is a necromancer-like Warframe, perfect for endurance missions. His ability to revive fallen foes adds an interesting strategic layer to gameplay.

Valkyr — November 20, 2013

Valkyr embodies the berserker archetype with high HP and rage-fueled abilities, making her an excellent choice for players who enjoy frontline battles.

Oberon — December 19, 2013

Oberon strikes a balance between offense and defense with health regeneration skills, making him adaptable for solo or group missions.

Zephyr — February 5, 2014

Zephyr commands the power of air to attack and disrupt enemies effectively. This makes her versatile for both solo endeavors and team missions.

Hydroid — April 9, 2014

Hydroid combines offensive capabilities with crowd control for AoE damage. Best suited for cooperative play alongside heavier allies.

Mirage — July 18, 2014

Mirage is a trickster Warframe, confusing foes and amplifying damage to herself and allies. Ideal for players focused on weapon damage.

Limbo — October 24, 2014

Limbo specializes in manipulating gameplay for solo players. His unique abilities reward skilled individuals capable of rapid regeneration.

Mesa — November 27, 2014

Mesa embodies the gunslinger format but may not outshine others in DPS. She is more of a stylistic choice than a competitive one.

Chroma — March 19, 2015

Chroma’s capacity for damage and team buffs make him a solid selection. He is notably effective during boss encounters like the Profit Taker.

Equinox — July 19, 2015

Equinox is multi-faceted, transitioning between offensive and defensive roles based on clearly executed plays which benefit teams significantly.

Atlas — October 1, 2015

Atlas excels in melee combat, suitable for solo and team play with a noteworthy ability set for handling crowds.

Wukong — November 25, 2015

Wukong provides utility through mobility and survivability and is effective in both independent plays and cooperative scenarios.

Ivara — December 3, 2015

Ivara is among the stealthiest characters, utilizing invisibility for stealth attacks. She thrives in solo challenges.

Nezha — December 16, 2015

Nezha specializes in fiery assaults while maintaining decent survivability. However, he may lack robustness in late-game situations.

Inaros — March 4, 2016

Inaros offers substantial survivability with his high health and lifesteal abilities, making him especially effective in endurance missions.

Titania — August 19, 2016

Titania focuses on high damage potentials and crowd control with mobility issues. She finds her limits with durability.

Nidus — December 22, 2016

Nidus flourishes in endurance-based gameplay with scaling damage that improves over time.

Octavia — March 24, 2017

Octavia delivers remarkable damage alongside supportive abilities in solos and team situations.

Harrow — June 29, 2017

Harrow acts as an offensive support, granting damage buffs to allies while enhancing their overall capability during battles.

Gara — October 12, 2017

Gara balances damage output with defensive abilities, making her versatile in both solo play and team configurations.

Khora — April 20, 2018

Khora stands as a flexible hybrid option capable of dealing damage, crowd controlling, and surviving various challenges.

Excalibur Umbra — June 15, 2018

Excalibur Umbra introduces self-awareness into gameplay, enhancing experience through strong abilities when using Transference.

Revenant — August 24, 2018

Revenant outperforms many Warframes with excellent survivability, effective crowd control, and significant damage potential.

Garuda — November 8, 2018

Garuda seamlessly blends tanking and support roles, capable of dealing damage while maintaining survivability.

Baruuk — December 18, 2018

Baruuk shines as a tank with melee damage capabilities, providing durability when played in a balanced team.

Hildryn — March 8, 2019

Hildryn’s unique abilities benefit allies while allowing for powerful offensive play, making her desirable in both settings.

Wisp — May 22, 2019

Wisp operates primarily as a support Warframe, providing essential bonuses to allies. Best suited for teams, her solo output is limited.

Gauss — August 29, 2019

Gauss features excellent survivability and damage output, although mastering his abilities may require practice.

Grendel — October 31, 2019

Grendel serves as an outstanding tank, with the capacity to consume enemies for health restoration and damage mitigation.

Protea — June 11, 2020

Protea is a versatile character capable of functioning in various roles, proving effective in solo and group settings when optimized.

Xaku — August 25, 2020

Xaku specializes in damage dealing and crowd control, rewarding skilled players who can harness their potential effectively.

Lavos — December 18, 2020

Lavos finds strengths in late-game situations, leveraging status effects and AOE damage for effective combat.

Sevagoth — April 13, 2021

Sevagoth offers versatility in combat with potent armor stripping and crowd control abilities, optimizing late-game potential.

Yareli — July 6, 2021

Yareli’s balance of damage and mobility makes her suitable for crowd control roles, though she requires teamwork for survival.

Caliban — December 15, 2021

Caliban is valuable for stripping away enemy armor, facilitating quick eliminations by teammates, improving combat efficiency.

Gyre — April 27, 2022

Gyre’s skill set excels in damage dealing and crowd control, providing quick clears to battlefields in her hands.

Styanax — September 7, 2022

Styanax performs well as a support with buffs and offensive capabilities, shining in teams more than solo play.

Voruna — November 30, 2022

Voruna focuses largely on melee combat, rewarding players who thrive on close-range engagements with high damage output.

Citrine — February 15, 2023

Citrine primarily serves as a support Warframe, excelling in team-focused healing efforts with lower that unit action output.

Kullervo — June 21, 2023

Kullervo caters to melee-oriented players, though his effectiveness may diminish in late-game scenarios.

Dagath — October 18, 2023

Dagath demonstrates strong crowd control capabilities with AoE debuffing potential, making her a viable choice for various playstyles.

Qorvex — December 13, 2023

Qorvex features weapon-based abilities and focuses on damage dealing, suitable for both solo play and teams.

Dante — March 27, 2024

Dante serves as a tank with support features, ensuring longevity in teams whilst contributing to damage outcomes.

Jade — June 18, 2024

Jade provides effective support with abilities to quickly eliminate foes, optimizing both solo and team experiences.

Koumei — October 2, 2024

Koumei specializes in crowd control by inflicting significant status effects to turn the tide of battles, requiring strategic builds for effectiveness.

Cyte-09 — December 13, 2024

Cyte-09 excels in stealth operations, utilizing invisibility and pinpoint precision to take down enemies efficiently, suited to players who favor reconnaissance.

Temple — March 19, 2025

Temple entertains players with heat damage abilities manifested through musical talents, offering a unique flair in battles.

Complete List of Prime Warframes

Below is a detailed list of all Prime Warframes released since the game launched:

Prime Warframe Date Released
Excalibur Prime December 18, 2012
Frost Prime May 3, 2013
Mag Prime September 13, 2013
Ember Prime November 20, 2013
Rhino Prime March 5, 2014
Loki Prime June 11, 2014
Nova Prime December 17, 2014
Volt Prime March 25, 2015
Ash Prime July 7, 2015
Trinity Prime October 6, 2015
Saryn Prime February 16, 2016
Vauban Prime May 17, 2016
Nekros Prime August 23, 2016
Valkyr Prime November 22, 2016
Banshee Prime February 28, 2017
Oberon Prime May 30, 2017
Hydroid Prime August 29, 2017
Mirage Prime December 13, 2017
Zephyr Prime March 20, 2018
Limbo Prime June 19, 2018
Chroma Prime September 25, 2018
Mesa Prime December 18, 2018
Equinox Prime April 2, 2019
Wukong Prime July 6, 2019
Atlas Prime October 1, 2019
Ivara Prime December 17, 2019
Titania Prime March 31, 2020
Inaros Prime July 14, 2020
Nezha Prime October 27, 2020
Octavia Prime February 23, 2021
Gara Prime May 25, 2021
Nidus Prime September 8, 2021
Harrow Prime December 15, 2021
Garuda Prime March 28, 2022
Khora Prime July 16, 2022
Revenant Prime October 5, 2022
Baruuk Prime December 14, 2022
Hildryn Prime March 15, 2023
Wisp Prime July 27, 2023
Grendel Prime October 18, 2023
Gauss Prime January 17, 2024
Protea Prime May 1, 2024
Sevagoth Prime August 21, 2024
Xaku Prime November 13, 2024

Note: All Prime Warframes listed can still be obtained in-game except for Excalibur Prime.

Warframe Dante
Image via Digital Extremes

Understanding the Warframe Release Cycle

The introduction of new Warframes typically occurs every three to four months. Ideal for players seeking fresh gameplay, they often coincide with significant updates, such as the Whispers in the Walls quest (Update 35). A new Warframe may also be part of interim updates.

In addition to new characters, these updates frequently include quests or new game modes, providing more than just the character for players to explore.

Lastly, Prime releases mainly occur on hotfix days, although some align with major updates. Keep an eye on Warframe’s social media for updates on forthcoming Prime drops.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Warframe for beginners?

Excalibur is widely considered the best for beginners due to its balanced abilities, easy-to-learn mechanics, and access at the game’s start.

How can I obtain Prime Warframes?

Prime Warframes can be acquired through Prime Access or by farming relics, which contain blueprints. Plan to join missions and trading for the components!

What sets Prime Warframes apart from regular Warframes?

Prime Warframes possess enhanced stats and unique abilities compared to their regular counterparts, making them more powerful and beneficial in missions.

Are Warframes free to play?

Yes, Warframe is free to play, allowing players to earn and develop all characters without cost through in-game acquisition.

How often does Digital Extremes update Warframe?

Digital Extremes updates Warframe every three to four months. These updates frequently include new characters, quests, or game modes to enrich gameplay.