Is Steel Essence Farming Really A Thing?

[(PSN)m3wheeling]

I have read the links below twice and Steel Essence only drops from Eidolons, Acolytes and the 5 daily alerts.  Eximus units now drop Riven Slivers.  In Recruit Chat I see people putting together teams w Nekros, Hydroid, and Khora doing dark sector survival talking about how many enemies spawn in these missions and I don't see the relevance.  Isn't the only way to farm the Steel Essence is to farm the Acolytes?  I assume they return every 5 minutes or so in endless missions?  I also can't find anything that says Loot Frames have any impact on Steel Essence drops as it only says Resource 2x Booster and Smeeta Charm have any impact.  Is there some other documentation I am missing that details that enemies can drop Steel Essence?  I would love to do more than just the daily alerts.  Thanks

 

https://warframe.fandom.com/wiki/Steel_Essence

https://warframe.fandom.com/wiki/The_Steel_Path

[hyzmarca]

Acoloytes show up every 5 minutes,  give or take,  but that timing isn't exact and it's influencde by how fast you kill. Higher enemy densities do result in slightly faster acolyte spawns.  

 

 

Loot frames have no impact on Steel Essence drops since Acolytes don't die when defeated and loot frames work on or after death.  

[Infirito]

Loot frames are there to keep the survival juices full and get you other stuff while you wait for acolytes.

[TARINunit9]

Loot frames are presumably for farming the life support, rather than the Essence. That said, Steel Path Eximus do drop riven slivers, so those CAN be farmed with loot frames

[Leqesai]

Loot frames are important if you're running with a team that has pretty poor damage output. IMO they're a waste of time and people are too fixated on them. I solo farm steeel essence and don't use loot frames. 

[--ZeRo--]

I just sit in a survival with Mag or Octavia until I get bored, their KPS is easily enough to keep life support up for as long as you need and their abilities will melt acolytes.

[kyori]

Loot frames has no effect on Steel Essence.

Loot frames does help with getting more life support and riven sliver + other resources.