Best weapons to get early in Warframe

With the many changes Warframe has undergone, there are a lot more restrictions on what weapons you can obtain right from the get-go. This system seems to just restrict how easy it is to get some top-tier weapon and trivialize all the Star Chart content, which is fair. So with that out of the way, here are the best weapons to get early in Warframe, along with crafting requirements, acquisition, and mastery prerequisites.

Best weapons to get early in Warframe

Primary Weapons

Hek – Rank 4

This shotgun packs a huge punch and has the numbers to prove it. It may lack in its ability to clear rooms quickly, but for single-target damage, this is an early-game contender. Also, for a shotgun, this thing has some good range.

The Hek’s blueprint can be purchased in the market for 25,000 Credits and requires:

• 25,000 additional credits
• 5 Neurodes
• 900 Circuits
• 1,200 Salvage
• 1,000 Rubedo

Quanta – Rank 4

This weapon may look like those claw grabber toys turned into a gun, but there’s more than meets the eye. The Quanta is a laser rifle that deals decent damage that can be mixed with toxin damage to get corrosive damage. That alone can take you through a majority of the star chart. As long as you aren’t using the alt-fire, ammo efficiency makes this a  strong pick. Unfortunately, you do need to be in a clan to get this.

To craft the Quanta, you will need to spend 15,000 from the Energy Lab in a clan dojo and use:

• 25,000 additional credits
• 7 Fieldron
• 1,000 Circuits
• 7,000 Salvage
• 1 Forma

Dread – Rank 5

If you are lucky enough to defeat the Stalker early on in your Warframe journey and get this blueprint as a drop, you’re set until the endgame. The amazing critical stats and slash damage of this weapon chews through enemies. 

To craft the Dread, you will need:

• 15,000 Credits
• 6 Morphics
• 900 Circuits
• 750 Polymer Bundle
• 900 Plastids

Tonkor – Rank 5

Despite all the nerfs to this weapon and AoE weapons in general, the Tonkor is still a powerhouse of a grenade launcher. You can clear rooms with a semi-decent build and be well on your way to the harder content in Warframe. 

To craft the Tonkor, you will need to buy the blueprint for 30,000 credits and: 

• 60,000 additional credits
• 1,500 Salvage
• 200 Oxium
• 800 Cryotic
• 2 Argon Crystals

Secondary Weapons

Sonicor – Rank 2

To add to the AoE weapons, the Sonicor is a strong secondary to give your enemies a taste of a big bada-boom. On top of big splash damage, enemies get rag dolled which is a reliable source of crowd-control. 

To craft the Sonicor, you will need 20,000 credits and:

• 20,000 additional credits
• 6,500 Alloy Plate
• 600 Oxium
• 2,600 Plastids
• 2 Argon Crystals

Atomos – Rank 5

Despite the chain beam weapon nerfs, many of them are still extremely powerful. Though, the Atomos is one of the earliest ones you can get. Because of its innate fire damage, it’s already a high contender for one of the better weapons in the game. 

To get the Atomos, you will need to buy the blueprint from the market for 30,000 credits and:

• 60,000 additional credits
• 1,500 Salvage
• 1,300 Polymer Bundle
• 800 Rubedo
• 2 Argon Crystals

Melee Weapons

Galatine – Rank 3

This game is about ninjas, but if you can take a sword that’s as big as you into battle, take that chance. The Galatine is a monster of a melee weapon, having big damage and long range. It might be on the slower side, but you can blend enemies in the early game with it while using an unoptimized build.

To get the Galatine, you must buy its blueprint for 25,000 credits and craft it using:

• 30,000 additional credits
• 4 Gallium
• 750 Salvage
• 500 Rubedo
• 200 Alloy Plate

Tonbo – Rank 3

Polearm weapons are quite versatile. You can’t go wrong with them because of their reach and multi-hitting strikes. The Tonbo is the stepping stone for what’s to come in terms of other weapons in its class. 

To craft the Tonbo, you will need to buy it from the Tenno Lab in a clan dojo for 15,000 credits and use:

• 20,000 additional credits
• 2 Control Module
• 800 Plastids
• 2,000 Ferrite
• 100 Oxium

Guandao – Rank 4

This is basically a better version of the Tonbo in terms of raw damage. The Guandao has better crit stats, so it can carry you into the late game with ease. It’s also a bit more stylish because of the tassel right next to the blade.

To craft the Guandao, you will also need to obtain the blueprint from a Tenno Lab in a clan dojo for 15,000 and use the following:

• 15,000 additional credits
• 3 Gallium
• 65 Oxium
• 750 Polymer Bundle
• 2,500 Ferrite