Introduction:
- Warframe is no stranger to game modes. Dozens of mission types, dailies,
and alerts provide a great deal of variety to the game's core space looter
shooter rhythm. Out of all of these unique modes, Steel Path is the most
interesting, acting as a sort of New Game Plus for veteran players.
Originally pitched as "Hard Mode" for Warframe, Steel Path is a difficulty setting
that makes the Star Chart substantially harder, tuned for an endgame player's
arsenal of multi-Forma weapons and Warframes. Completing the Steel Path can be arduous,
but the rewards available are more than worth the trouble. Here is a complete guide to
Warframe's Steel Path mode.
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1. What is Steel Path?
- The Steel Path is Warframe's version of New Game Plus. Toggled from the Star Chart menu,
Steel Path is a drastically harder version of the standard Star Chart that comes with its
own daily missions, Acolyte minibosses, and dedicated rewards. These modifiers are active
while Steel Path difficulty is toggled on:
- Enemy Level: +100
- Archwing Enemy Level: +50
- Enemy Health: +250%
- Enemy Shield: +250%
- Enemy Armor: +250%
- Resource Drop: Chance +100%
- Mod drop Cahnce: +100%
- Additionally, Steel Path missions also contain a new miniboss type: Acolytes. These enemies
are variants of the Shadow Stalker that use certain Warframe abilities and weapons. Acolytes
spawn every five minutes in Steel Path missions. You won't find Acolytes in Archwing or
Assassination nodes. Defeating an Acolyte drops a Weapon Arcane and two Steel Essence,
a currency type exclusive to this difficulty mode.
2. Why Play Steel Path?
- The Steel Path has plenty of unique endgame rewards, notably Weapon Arcanes. Acolyte enemies
that spawn in the Steel Path drop Weapon Arcanes that grant up to +360% base damage for your weapons,
drastically increasing your total damage output. These Acolytes can also drop Steel Essence, a
currency that can be exchanged for cosmetic items, Arcane Adapters for your weapons, and Kuva.
3. Unlocking Steel Path:
- To unlock the Steel Path, you must complete every node on the Star Chart. This includes Dark Sectors,
Archwing nodes, and the Zariman Ten-Zero. Railjack, Golem Assassination, and Mutalist Alad V Assassination
nodes are excluded from this pre-requisite. Once every node is cleared, Teshin will ask you to visit a
Relay to speak with him. This unlocks the Steel Path difficulty mode, toggled on the right-hand side of
the Star Chart menu.
4. Starchart Progression:
- Steel Path has its own Star Chart progression. When you toggle the Steel Path for the first time, your
only accessible nodes will be on Earth. You must clear a planet's nodes and subsequent Junction to access
other planets, same as how the standard Star Chart works. If you need to access older Star Chart nodes, you
may toggle off Steel Path at any time. Incursion dailies bypass this restriction.
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