Essential Frames, Or Frames To Master?

[(PSN)dice_thrown]

I have been playing on PS4 for a while and I have every frame except Hydroid (soon, very soon), but I just started playing on PC. I don't play nearly as much on PC so I need and actually want my set up to be much more efficient. I'm going to pick just THREE frames so I can focus, craft really nice builds, and really 'master' them (as much as I can). 

 

So my question is: Which frames would you pick?*

 

I'm really pleased with having started with Loki. He seems like the perfect example of a frame that requires some practice and some strategy to use him effectively. For the other two, I'd like frames with different skill sets, or ones that excel in different areas than Loki, but also require some skill to learn. What do you think?

 

 

 

* Yes, I know. Pick the ones you think are fun, why don't you just buy some more slots, and etc. Like I said, I've tried every frame and have ones I definitely like playing. I'm posting this because I'm interested in the discussion.  

 

 

UPDATE: 

Thanks for all of your responses!

 

After tallying mentions, here are the results so far: 

Sayrn: 1

Zephyr: 2

Ash: 2

Vauban: 1

Banshee: 2

Mag: 2

Valkyr: 5 (with much discussion)

Volt: 2

Nova: 3

Nekros: 3

Frost/Prime: 2

Hydroid: 1

Rhino: 6

Nyx: 5

Oberon: 2

Excalibur: 2

Trinity: 3

Loki: 6

 

The winning three then are: 

Loki (which I already have, which is good)

Rhino

Valkyr / Nyx

 

Now, I play plenty of Rhino and Nyx on PS4. They are two of my favorite frames and two of the first I potatod. Because of that, though I'm going to go another direction with my PC account. So, Valkyr and one more. 

 

By voting, the next spot is a tie between Nekros, Nova, and Trinity. I play too much Nekros on PS4 and Nova is over played (IMO) so I'm thinking Trinity. But, are Trinity and Valkyr too similar in their tankyness? Should I go for Nova to add some offensive variety?

 

So, if you have Loki and Valkyr, what third frame would you pair?

Edited May 17, 2014 by (PS4)dice_thrown

[Arvenski]

I'd recommend Frost Prime and Hydroid, but that's just me. I have a particularly tanky playstyle. :P

[(PSN)JuanitoRainman]

All of them, they are all useful in different aspects of the game.

 

Now, if the question is which ones to get first, i'd say, rhino, nova, frost... you can rank up, upgrade weapons and farm other stuff and you will always have a decent performance, i still believe the point of this game is to have all warframes, good luck!

[Liverslices]

Rhino is the go to tank frame, because he is so easy. Frost is another good option.

 

I suggest Nyx. Her Chaos is always useful, and Absorb is one of the best abilities in the game when facing a large group of enemies. Mod her for max range and power efficiency, dont mod her for duration.

[(PSN)headdrop2000]

I love Oberon he has a nice all around skillset and is able to heal and deal damage, he's a good balance between offense and support

[(PSN)witch3rDC52]

Loki, Excalibur and Nyx/Trinity. All good for individual survival as well as supporting a squad and can be modded for most mission types. All except Trinity cab be challenging to play do two lower health levels as I tend to play without defense mods.

Loki and Excalibur can be modded to use and benefit from all four of their abilities. As an example, combining super jump and radial javelin let's javelin both hit enemies behind cover plus do headshot damage. Always read here javelin was useless but it has helped clear out groups even in T3 survival. Excalibur is a frame I find I can use the most variety of mods on due to its neutral aura slot so I can experiment outside the standard mods required for frames.

[Brahmastra]

I'd say Loki, Rhino and probably Nekros (for farming) or a third frame just to mess around on.

[(PSN)Count_Dante]

Valkyr, only cause she is my favorite and "main", if such a thing in this game.

 

Rhino, will let you do all things, even if not the most exciting frame

 

Your Favorite Nuker/Utility, Volt for me, because Speed.

[Sloan441]

I like the utility 'frames, but it's mostly personal preference.

 

I generally find myself running Nyx or Valkyr lately, but I also favor Mag, Trinity, and the incomparable Banshee.

 

I was initially somewhat put off by Vaubon, and let him languish in inventory for months. After leveling him up, though, he's all kinds of stupid fun in the right environment.

 

I have some designs on Nekros. I suspect he'll be my next acquisition and leveling project when I find the time.

[Petersheikah]

My suggestion is Valkyr. It's a great warframe and she's really tanky even with a basic build, and once you find Rage... She'll become incredible. If you don't like warframe based on surviving and you want a offensive one, i'll suggest you Saryn or Mag: she ROCKS with corpus, and she's quite good even with other enemies.

[S7ORM]

[snip]

Loki ftw. He's the most fun warframe to play because you actually feel like you deserved to do well, since he takes skill and practice.

A lot of people here seem to be offering you the warframes that will help you get further in the game, faster. My interpretation of your post was that you dont really care about the whole farming thing or leveling stuff up, and just want to have a good time.

I'd also suggest, if you like fun warframes, Zephyr. Tailwind adds a ton of mobility and it's always nice to be able to redirect napalm blasts with the cloak thingy.

Nyx is a bit squishier of a frame, but she's interesting to play. Sadly, I've heard negative things about the recent change affecting her Absorb. Ah well, I just focused on Chaos anyways.

If you want to do Valkyr, focus on a build that doesn't require Hysteria (or at least, only as a panic button). She can be awesome without it, but it's not exactly end-game level quality.

 

Ash's recent buffs are pretty nice, and he makes a good cqc frame. Teleport and melee, if you like that kind of style.

 

Picking only 3, I'd suggest Loki, Ash (yes, you can have both. No, they're not the same) and Zephyr.

[Petersheikah]

Loki ftw. He's the most fun warframe to play because you actually feel like you deserved to do well, since he takes skill and practice.

A lot of people here seem to be offering you the warframes that will help you get further in the game, faster. My interpretation of your post was that you dont really care about the whole farming thing or leveling stuff up, and just want to have a good time.

I'd also suggest, if you like fun warframes, Zephyr. Tailwind adds a ton of mobility and it's always nice to be able to redirect napalm blasts with the cloak thingy.

Nyx is a bit squishier of a frame, but she's interesting to play. Sadly, I've heard negative things about the recent change affecting her Absorb. Ah well, I just focused on Chaos anyways.

If you want to do Valkyr, focus on a build that doesn't require Hysteria (or at least, only as a panic button). She can be awesome without it, but it's not exactly end-game level quality.

 

Ash's recent buffs are pretty nice, and he makes a good cqc frame. Teleport and melee, if you like that kind of style.

 

Picking only 3, I'd suggest Loki, Ash (yes, you can have both. No, they're not the same) and Zephyr.

I don't agree with you about Valkyr (yep, she's my favourite frame)

With a maxed steel fiber she has 1200 armor, that it's insane. Also, in a T3 survival you'll need Hysteria: YOU get damaged, you activate Hysteria and you restore all your health. With Rage and Warcry it's even stronger, 'cause Rage converts damage in energy and Hysteria uses energy to restore health; while War Cry is a perfect buff for Hysteria. I think she's pretty strong.

[(PSN)Count_Dante]

I don't agree with you about Valkyr (yep, she's my favourite frame)

With a maxed steel fiber she has 1200 armor, that it's insane. Also, in a T3 survival you'll need Hysteria: YOU get damaged, you activate Hysteria and you restore all your health. With Rage and Warcry it's even stronger, 'cause Rage converts damage in energy and Hysteria uses energy to restore health; while War Cry is a perfect buff for Hysteria. I think she's pretty strong.

 

I will take it one further. For fun, i have a Rejuv/Rage build, with max armor and vitality, life suckin on the weapon and Hysteria (but not built around).

 

Effective health I believe was in the 4000k range (dont quote me if I dont remember correctly), plus the 3 methods of getting health back. 

 

She is literally like playing Wolverine. It is really hard to die. 

[(PSN)supramurkat]

Excal (have)

Nyx (not yet, waiting... prime?)

Valkyr (my next warframe)

 

Hey dice!

[(PSN)SemiAiden]

I say to rhino nekros and ash I can change ash

[Ordel]

You can't spell function without fun.

Balance both.

I suggest one "main" or "most dependent" frame, such as Nova or Rhino. Frost Prime if you don't want either of those two. This will be the least fun of the frames but has the most offensive function (except in Frost's Case, who is unique.)

Your next slot would be fun; Zephyr, Valkyr, Banshee, etc. They're all funframes. This doesn't in ANY way mean that they're bad at doing damage or tanking or etc.

Your final slot would be a ultility slot- Volt, Oberon, Trinity, maybe even Frost Prime if you didn't get him in the first slot.

Again, just because they're in the utlity or fun slot doesn't mean they're bad at offense; and the opposite is true.

Each frame has their role. Comparing Vauban to Oberon is like comparing a potato to a balloon. They're two totally different things.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Ordel

[(PSN)YankeeClippah]

Top 3 frames for me

 

Saryn

Rhino

Loki

 

Saryn is the most fun in the game for me and she looks amazing, great abilities, and very high health.  Able to miasma for high damage and run long survivals alone when modded correct

 

Rhino or as most of the community call him the newb frame is easily my second fav frame.  I do not care at all what anyone says about him being easy or noobish he is a pure beast.  Go against the grain and build him for fun, he is very strong so you can mess around with just about every mod on him and still have a viable build

 

Loki is master race.  Invisibility for days, bonus damage while invisible and just a pure fun frame.  Get him in a group with nyx and watch the chaos / radial disarm shennanigans and tell me its not one of the best things in the game

 

Honorable mention, Vauban, Hydroid, Mag Prime

[(PSN)Hiero_Glyph]

If you want the three "go to" frames then my definition would be a frame that would be useful for every mission.  This limits a lot of frames due to being far too specialized, like Frost, Nekros and Vauban to name a few.  If I had to pick just 3, however, they would be Rhino (can mitigate damage taken, buff teammates, CC for 8 seconds, and is wicked fast), Nova (nerf incoming!...  but she is extremely mobile, can debuff entire rooms and cause insane damage in two ways), and Loki (one of the best utility frames in the game).

 

Please note that I personally use many different frames but if I had to pick the three that would work no matter the circumstance these would be the three I would choose.  The list for honorable mention is far too long so I won't bother listing them but limiting yourself to just 3 frames is an injustice.

[Petersheikah]

I will take it one further. For fun, i have a Rejuv/Rage build, with max armor and vitality, life suckin on the weapon and Hysteria (but not built around).

Effective health I believe was in the 4000k range (dont quote me if I dont remember correctly), plus the 3 methods of getting health back.

She is literally like playing Wolverine. It is really hard to die.

I use your excact build... Rejuvenation + Life Strike + Hysteria + Rage

Yep, she's really badass

[(PSN)dice_thrown]

Excal (have)

Nyx (not yet, waiting... prime?)

Valkyr (my next warframe)

 

Hey dice!

 

Hi supra!

[(PSN)Count_Dante]

I use your excact build... Rejuvenation + Life Strike + Hysteria + Rage

Yep, she's really badass

 

I have actually replaced Rejuv for Melee in the aura, but that build? NIGH invincible. You have to almost try to die. SO much fun.

I have also started playing around with reflection and some of the auto parry/dmg while parrying, warriors grip, stuff like that too. Best part about forma'd stuff... lets you play around.

 

That might be the biggest issue with Valkyr: It takes some levelled mods to make her sing. But I do love her, I just keep forma-ing and starting over. 

[(PSN)Hiero_Glyph]

Quick question for all the posters saying Valkyr but how does she benefit the team?

[(PSN)Count_Dante]

Quick question for all the posters saying Valkyr but how does she benefit the team?

 

Bad news is she doesnt much. Think of her as Wolverine on the Xmen team: You dont have to worry about him. 

 

For me? I dont die, can rez anyone easily and safely. You will pull your weight killin folks, but you are limited buy whatever weapon you use and SUPER speed but is still < #4 instant kill. Unless you have other melee-ers, but most likely those are Valkyr too. On the numbers, you will pull your weight on kills and dmg dealt, but I would be a liar if i said she was not a selfish toon. 

[(PSN)Count_Dante]

ADDENDUM:

 

If you are playing with heavy CC (Stomp, Puddle/Tentacles, Chaos, etc.), she does start to shine in higher levels as your melee will handle well into late stages. Mind you I dont do more than 30 or so due to boredom, but when I saw powers damage start to taper off, I was still right in there. 

 

Someone still needs to kill stuffs...

[Petersheikah]

Quick question for all the posters saying Valkyr but how does she benefit the team?

She boosts the team aswell. Have you ever tried to try to revive a player while in a T3 survival? It's hard to survive. Warcry can make enemie's fire soooooo slow, and boost your armor. Also, Warcry adds extra Melee speed to all the team, great combined with Loki's radial disarm or Volt's speed.

[(PSN)Hiero_Glyph]

Thank you for the replies.  Valkyr is a fantastic solo frame but I would consider her a specialty frame, not a frame that is applicable in every situation.  As such I strongly feel that she should not be included if limiting yourself to only 3 frames.