Warframe, the free-to-play cooperative third-person shooter from Digital Extremes, has maintained a sprawling roster of playable operatives since its initial Early Access launch in 2013. These warframes, distinct characters built around specific playstyles and aesthetics, form the core identity of the game, with new additions arriving consistently through expansions and updates. Understanding the complete lineage of these frames provides context for the game's evolution, tracing the journey from the foundational guardians of the Origin System to the cosmic entities that challenge the very fabric of reality. This list details every warframe introduced in the order they first became permanently available to players.
Foundational Warframes and the Star Chart Era
The earliest days of Warframe were defined by the "Old Blood" frames, a core group that established the game's signature movement and combat mechanics. These initial releases were followed by the introduction of the Star Chart, a mission selection system that gatekept access to new frames and story content for a significant period. The frames released during this era represent the baseline toolkit of the game, focusing on elemental damage types and straightforward loadouts that remain viable today.
The First Wave: Classic Origin System Frames
Mag (March 25, 2013): The first warframe ever released, Mag established the crowd-control oriented support role with her magnetic abilities.
Valkyr (March 25, 2013): A melee-focused berserker frame, Valkyr introduced the concept of high-risk, high-reward "berserk" gameplay.
Hydroid (March 25, 2013): The inaugural tank frame, Hydroid utilized shields and a protective bubble to absorb damage.
Excalibur (March 25, 2013): The classic balanced melee frame, Excalibur served as the standard against which future sword-wielding warframes were measured.
Loki (June 25, 2013): The first major stealth and deception frame, Loki popularized the use of invisibility and illusions.
Magyar (November 12, 2013): A frame centered on channeled, powerful melee attacks, later reworked into the more accessible Wukong.
Nova (November 12, 2013): A long-range elemental damage dealer, Nova specialized in Radiation and precision sniping.
Frost (November 12, 2013): The first true ice-based frame, Frost excelled at freezing enemies and controlling the battlefield.
The Expansion and Narrative Shift
As the game moved beyond the Origin System, Digital Extremes began tying warframe releases directly to major story arcs and new planetary locations. This period moved away from simple elemental reskins toward frames with unique mechanics and narrative significance. The introduction of companion creatures like K-Drives and the focus on specific factions also began to shape the design philosophy of new releases.
Frames of the Plains of Eidolon and Orb Vallis
Wukong (December 8, 2017): Released alongside the Plains of Eidolon, Wukong brought a transformative mechanic with his "Golden Lotus" invulnerability and clones.
Ember (March 21, 2018): A glass cannon frame focused on fire damage, Ember offered high mobility and a powerful fire-based kit.
Nekros (March 21, 20 Orb Vallis expansion): A frame centered on crowd control through "Desecrate" and "Soul Render," emphasizing strategic placement.
