We all have our first-ever Warframe. While most players begin their journey with Excalibur, Mag, or Volt, there’s often that one elusive frame that ignites a spark of desire. For me, it was Garuda, the life-stealing gore queen. However, as a newcomer, mastering her abilities proved challenging. Instead, I found solace in Saryn Prime, a reward from a Twitch drop at Tennocon 2024. As a Shadow Priest main in World of Warcraft, I gravitate towards damage-over-time playstyles, and Saryn Prime was a perfect fit, allowing me to navigate the Orb Vallis with remarkable ease. Nowadays, my primary frames alternate between Nyx and the recent addition, Oraxia. Yet, my excitement has been piqued by the “fun guy” teased by Digital Extremes at this year’s Tennocon, and now that I’ve seen him, I find myself utterly captivated.
Exploring The Vallis Undermind
The highly anticipated fall update of Warframe, titled The Vallis Undermind, introduces players to a brand new area known as The Deepmines. This subterranean realm is filled with fungi and lies beneath the snow-covered plains of the Orb Vallis on Venus. To embark on this new adventure, players must connect with a new bounty vendor named Nightcap in Fortuna, who will guide them into the depths.
Accessible to those who have completed The New War, this update introduces Fergoline, the latest resource sought after by a mysterious creature known as ‘The Prince.’ By feeding this peculiar mushroom monster, players will unlock a series of visions that delve into the rich history of The Deepmines.
At the heart of this update is Nokko, the 62nd Warframe to join the roster. Described by the residents of Fortuna as the adoptive younger brother of the water-based Yareli, Nokko is primarily a support frame, dedicated to healing both himself and his allies. His abilities are as intriguing as they are effective:
- Stinkbrain: Scatters mushrooms across the battlefield that inflict Viral damage, a blend of Cold and Toxic.
- Brightbonnet: Boosts allies’ energy and enhances their strength.
- Reroot: Transforms Nokko back into his invulnerable, diminutive Sprodling form, allowing him to heal and spread sleep spores.
- Sporespring: Releases a bouncing mushroom that leaps between enemies, dealing damage.
Nokko also features a passive ability called Vital Decay, which enables him to revert to Sprodling form and rush to a previously placed mushroom. If successful, he can rejoin the fray; if not, he’ll require revival.
This addition of another support frame is particularly exciting, especially for those who appreciate the nuances of gameplay that come with such characters. Players can unlock Nokko through the familiar methods: either by purchasing him with Platinum or grinding Nightcap’s bounties for blueprints.
Alongside Nokko, The Vallis Undermind update also unveils The Teacher quest, which aims to educate players on modding—a significant boon for newcomers like myself who often rely on the ‘auto-mod’ feature. This mission becomes available shortly after completing Vor’s Prize, the game’s initial major story arc, and rewards players with the new Thornbak rifle upon completion.
Additionally, the update includes a much-anticipated rework of Oberon, enhancing the capabilities of this beloved Paladin. For those interested in the specifics, the details are readily available, but it’s clear that The Vallis Undermind is a delight for fans of support frames.
As a cherry on top, players can look forward to a variety of new cosmetics, including premium skins for Lavos and Wukong, as well as fresh TennoGen and Nights of Naberus drops. The Quest to Conquer Cancer also returns for its fourth year, offering more cosmetic unlocks for reaching specific donation tiers.
Mark your calendars: Warframe’s The Vallis Undermind update launches on Wednesday, October 15. Players who log in between October 15 and Tuesday, October 21 will receive the base Oberon frame for free, celebrating his rework.
For those enticed by this update, we have compiled a list of currently active Warframe codes to help you score some free cosmetics. If you’re returning after a break, we’ve also prepared a comprehensive rundown of the Warframe system requirements to ensure your setup can handle all that The Vallis Undermind has to offer.
Are you looking forward to the new update? Join the conversation on Discord and share your favorite frame. Personally, while I have a fear of spiders, I am quite fond of Oraxia, though my Nyx Protoframe skin, with Amelia Tyler’s whispers, may just sway my allegiance.
